Police, wildlife trust and two council bosses say no - but Eddie's Sandbanks arena set for approval anyway

Property mogul Eddie Mitchell wants to build a scaled-back version of the larger 3,900 seat arena he first proposed in December 2014.

Council officers recommend Borough of Poole's (BOP) planning committee gives the revised stadium project the green light when the scheme comes before them next week.

However, this recommendation follows objections from Dorset Police, Dorset Wildlife Trust and even the council's own transport head and environment bosses. Planning officers have also reiterated the site is owned by the council, not the applicant, and the recommendation to grant planning permission should not imply support for the project.

The existing footprint on the left and the planned stadium on the right

Planning committee members will decide whether or not to grant permission, subject to conditions, at a Civic Centre meeting on Thursday. One condition is that the site is cleared of all reptiles and amphibians before any construction could begin, as the area is home to sand lizards whose habitat is protected.

Mr Mitchell told the Echo he'd listened to feedback on the first application which he admitted was "too ambitious" and after "considerable thought and consideration" had decided on the revised plan.

He added: "I think Sandbanks is wonderful as it is now but it does need some essential maintenance and upgrading. We are proposing to upgrade the existing building and to fund that through having beach huts on the top."

Elite Skills Arena, the company part-owned by Eddie Mitchell, has lodged the application. The new scheme would retain the 1928 pavilion, but with the addition of a predominantly glass second floor, providing 44 beach huts.

The plans also include a children's play area, an outside classroom and education area, and a single-storey detached ticket office.

Police object to the proposals on the grounds of likely harm to the local highway infrastructure and lack of adequate parking. BOP's head of transportation also objects because of inadequate parking provision.

However, council officers confirm Mr Mitchell is willing to restrict events to the period from October through to April, outside the peak period for car parking at Sandbanks.

Meanwhile, the council's environment head and Dorset Wildlife Trust both object on the grounds of possible environmental damage. Part of the dune system, which is a European Protected Habitat, would be destroyed by construction work, they say.

The report recommending approval read: "None of the application site is in the ownership of the applicant and the grant of planning permission would not imply any suggestion of the support or otherwise for the implementation of the proposals by the Borough of Poole in its capacity as the land owner."