PLANS to extract almost one million tonnes of sand and gravel from beneath Canford Magna golf course are set to come before councillors tomorrow - with a recommendation they grant permission.

The proposal, put forward by Canford Renewable energy, is for mineral extraction across 36 hectares at Canford Magna - excavating as deep as 3.9metres below ground to remove some 950,000 tonnes over the next five years.

It would also see the whole 95 hectare green belt site eventually given over to create a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace, or SANG - parkland open to the public aimed at mitigating the impact of new housing developments on nearby heathland.

The application, which follows the closure of the loss-making championship quality golf centre at the end of March, has proved controversial with many local people concerned about potential noise, dust and disturbance - particularly from heavy lorries transporting the aggregate. More than 100 letters of objection have been registered with the council.

Canford School, which is immediately next door to the extraction site, has also objected over the impact on hundreds of pupils in its boarding houses.

But the planning officer in the case, James Gilfillan, has recommended that the application is granted when it comes before Borough of Poole’s planning committee on Thursday.

In his report he writes that mineral extraction is not barred within the green belt, and it was “considered appropriate” to remove the minerals prior to the creation of the SANG to prevent then being made inaccessible. He was satisfied that dust could be managed on site and roads had “sufficient width and capacity” to cope with additional traffic.

Councillor Marion Pope describes residents of the area as “incandescent with rage” about the plans - which she points out were not included in Borough of Poole’s Minerals Sites plan - the subject of a public consultation as late as October 2015.

She added: “It is extraordinary that, while the presence of minerals on this site had been known since May 2014, ward members and the public generally were not made aware of this until the owners decided to bring it into the public domain.”

Borough of Poole’s planning committee will make the final decision tomorrow.