PLANS to extract almost one million tonnes of sand and gravel from beneath Canford Magna golf course have been submitted to Borough of Poole.

An application, put in by Canford Renewable energy, lays out proposals for mineral extraction across 36.7ha of land at Canford Magna.

Under the scheme excavations would go as deep as 3.9metres below ground level, to extract a total of 950,000 tonnes, at a rate of around 200,000 tonnes a year for five years.

Ultimately the plan is for the land to be turned into a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace, or SANG - a parkland open to the public with walks, woodland, grassed areas and water bodies.

The existing golf centre, which has three courses built to championship specification set on 350 acres, closed at the end of March after making losses over the past few years.

When the shock announcement was made last year many speculated that the land - which is part of the Green Belt - would be sold for housing.

Merley and Bearwood ward councillor David Brown said this new mineral extraction application would still be a big cause for concern.

"The biggest concern for local residents is the vehicle movement needed to move that volume of material along Merley Road," he added. "With HGVs damaging the road and causing disturbance to people living along it."

He added: "The closure of a public sports facility is one thing - but to lose that space for a number of years while the ground is dug out is a big loss to the local area."

Fellow ward councillor Marion Pope, who last year, campaigned for protection of the South East Dorset Green Belt, said she was opposed to plan, calling it a "speculative application", adding that the proposal "does not form part of Poole’s Core Strategy neither was it included in the Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole Minerals and Waste Plan which went out to public consultation last year."

Under the scheme the new SANG would be delivered in two phases. The eastern half of the site alongside the River Stour,

has been deemed largely unsuitable for mineral extraction due to the potential negative impact the the river and habitats. This 45.9ha area, would be given new paths, signs, seats as well as a temporary parking area, before opening to the public.

Land to the west of the site - the current Parkland Course abutting the Canford School Site - would be dug up, with the aim of completing all of the restoration work within 18 months of completion of the mineral extraction. The plans also include the provision of flood storage capacity for the River Stour.