A BACKLASH against £100 million plans to develop Salterns Marina has begun as residents flood the council with objections.

The application, spearheaded by property consultant Richard Carr, is for the demolition of the existing hotel and other buildings at Salterns Way, and construction of two multi-storey blocks containing 73 flats and a 60-bedroom hotel.

But neighbours and residents associations have slammed it as gross overdevelopment of the site, which they fear will play havoc with traffic and parking in the area.

More than 50 responses have come in to Borough of Poole planners - the majority unhappy about the plans.

Charles Stickler, president of the residents' association at The Patchins on Sandbanks Road, said the development would create "an unsightly wall of buildings" and called it "excessive" and "nothing short of developer greed."

Bertie Bowman, president of the Lilliput and Neighbourhood Association, wrote on behalf of members and residents calling the proposals "far too large for the site." He said the "overbearing development" would "seriously harm the visual appearance and character of the local area," and called Salterns Way "quite inadequate" for the additional traffic.

Jeremy Waters, of Lagoon Road, a chartered surveyor, said the 'massive' seven storey hotel would be "highly visible from Sandbanks, Evening Hill, Brownsea Island, Baiter, Poole Quay and from every ferry, yacht and cruse ship which uses the harbour."

The application follows a recent proposal to replace the existing hotel with a a 22-suite hotel. That application - branded a 'Trojan horse' by some residents - was granted outline planning permission in December.

The latest scheme is for one six-storey block of 49 flats with parking for 99 cars on the present hotel site, and a second seven-storey block, located at the end of the quay, containing a 60-suite hotel and an additional 24 flats. A rooftop restaurant, a spa and gym, and new marina facilities would also be built on the quayside.

Another resident Dr Alan Hearne of Salterns Way, responded with: "The speed at which the applicants have abandoned the recently approved hotel scheme, suggests it was never the intention to construct that hotel."

A consultation exercise by the developers brought in only five responses - two of which were in favour. Their design and access statement supporting the application calls it: "an innovative regeneration vision" which has been "designed holistically to bring Salterns Marina in the 21st century."