CIVIC officials have started proceedings that could free up Canford Cliffs' Beach Road car park for possible redevelopment.

Neighbours of the Poole car park have been contacted by the council, to be told the local authority has applied to release a restrictive covenant in place on the site, which is just five minutes walk from Branksome Beach

The letter, from Tanya Coulter - head of Borough of Poole's (BOP) legal and democratic services - informed residents that the council was seeking removal and/or modification of the covenant "to provide for new residential properties to be built thereon subject to planning permission being granted."

Last year the council launched a consultation on proposals to develop the southern, upper section of the 350 space car park.

That move angered some residents, particularly those who had been campaigning, at that time, against controversial plans to introduce new parking charges along some of the town's seafront roads.

Robert Reid, chairman of the Branksome Park Canford Cliffs Resident's Association, told the Echo: "At our last AGM we took a vote on this and there was only a handful of people who thought we should get rid of the car park, which is one of the closest to the beach.

"A huge majority, over 90 per cent of the people there, thought it should be retained as a car park - so that is our position.

"We are aware of the letters going out and have sent a Freedom of Information Request to find out exactly what the letter means and who it is being sent to."

The Echo understands the land was handed to the council with a covenant that it only be used for car parking.

Julian McLaughlin, head of growth and infrastructure, said: "Last year we consulted on a development brief which outlined options for the redevelopment of part of the Beach Road car park site while improving the parking available for beach users.

"We are now looking to amend the restrictive covenants on this land to enable all options to be fully explored. No decision has been made on the future of this site.”

Beach Road car park has already been identified as one of the preferred sites for redevelopment in the Poole Local Plan.

This document sets out BOP's preferred sites for building 14,200 new homes up until 2033. Following approval by the Planning Inspectorate, the document should be officially adopted next year.

Of the 14,200 new homes needed - a figure set out by government - around 12,900 could be developed on urban sites, a BOP spokesman said.

The borough says the shortfall of 1,300 homes can only be met through release of green belt land.