PLANNING bosses have ruled against proposals to tear down a former Royal British Legion clubhouse to make way for a nine new houses.

Members of Purbeck District Council's (PDC) planning committee refused to back the scheme, lodged by Bracken Developments Limited, at the site in Wimborne Road, Lytchett Matravers.

The committee described the proposals as "overdevelopment of the site" and argued it would be "harmful to the character and appearance of the area."

They also agreed the plan was contrary to the Lytchett Matravers Neighbourhood Plan Policy.

Some Lytchett Matravers villagers had also opposed the plans for the former legion clubhouse site, which has now stood empty for a number of years.

Neighbours said the site represented an essential community facility in its day, and should be retained along the same lines.

Other residents argued the plans were inappropriate in terms of density, parking provision and could lead to environmental harm.

In reaching its decision, PDC's planning committee also ruled: "The scheme is of poor design that fails to take the opportunity available for improving the character and quality of this sensitive edge of settlement location and the way in which this previously developed site functions."

Before Wednesday's (May 30) PDC planning meeting, held at Westport House, Worgret Road, Wareham, a number of villagers had made representations to the council.

Neighbours Tim and Pam Smith, of Charborough Close, said: "We wish to object on the grounds of high density, inadequate parking, inappropriate building materials and lack opf regard to environmental conditions."

Meanwhile, resident Samantha Lewis said: "The Wimborne Road already has a high level of traffic and vehicles travelling at speed and the entrance could prove potentially dangerous."

Developers had wanted to build an access road to the 0.37-hectare brownfield site.