PLANS for a new floating jetty at Mudeford Sandbank have been submitted to Bournemouth council.

The proposal was announced last year by the co-owner of the spit’s Beach House restaurant Jeremy Carpenter, and comprises a Versadock temporary jetty in place for part of the year, connected with decking in front of the eatery.

It comes after Christchurch Borough Council controversially installed a gate on the current pontoon two years ago.

The move prompted anger from beach hut owners and boat users as the gate prevented them from dropping people off at the jetty.

When he announced the plan in December, Mr Carpenter told the Echo the jetty “would be only for dropping on and off purposes and we would like to make it free, but that depends on the council”.

He said the scheme had got a “great reaction” and was “wanted by a lot of people”, and would operate for the general public and not just for Beach House customers.

There was also a fair amount praise for the plan online from Echo readers.

Despite this, several objections have been sent to the council.

In a letter, Mark Smith, of Gladstone Close, Christchurch, said: “The decking/seating area at the base of the proposed jetty would not only be an unnatural/unnecessary eyesore that would spoil the beautiful harbour.

“The seating area would create a significant noise disturbance not only to us but to many other huts especially at night, the café is expanding too far and while as neighbours we are fully aware of the need to be tolerant of noise etc this is taking things to another level that is going to spoil the beauty of the sandspit.”

A J Webb, of Castlemain Avenue, Bournemouth, also wrote to the council, stating: “The beach is losing its character slowly but surely due to the over-commercialisation by the Beach House.

“The residents and visitors are finding it harder and harder to relax and the drunken people leaving the Beach House in the early hours are intimidating and are the cause of many a sleepless night.

“Enough is enough. It’s not meant to be a money-making machine. It’s destroying the beautiful nature of the beach.”

Before Christmas, Mr Carpenter said the business was considering working with another company to ferry people from their boats to the jetty using a RIB or similar small boat.