OPPOSITION to the construction of more beach huts at Flaghead Chine has been withdrawn after plans were scaled back for a third time.

Dorset Wildlife Trust said it was “pleased” by changes put forward by Flagcliff Management to reduce the amount of the cliff it builds on.

Twenty-eight huts were originally proposed for the site but the latest revisions have now brought the figure down to 12.

The change allows a “corridor” to be created for the protected site of nature conservation interest (SNCI).

In a letter to BCP Council, Dorset Wildlife Trust conservation officer Leanne Butt said that as long as measures were enforced through conditions on any approval, the organisation had “no further comments”.

“We are pleased to see that our previous concerns in relation to the Flaghead Chine SNCI have been taken into consideration and the proposals revised as a result,” she said.

“The removal of beach huts immediately adjacent to the SNCI to avoid negative impacts is welcomed, as well as the removal of all forms of construction in the area to avoid disturbance.”

In a letter to the council, Flagcliff Management's agent James Munday said his clients wanted to reduce the impact of the scheme.

"Having lived in the vicinity of the cliff for more than 35 years they neither wish to see it overdeveloped nor the natural habitat destroyed," he said.

Despite the change overcoming the trust’s concerns, an objection still remains from council tourism officer Andrew Emery.

He said the beach huts would be “visually intrusive” and “would have a negative visual impact on the exposed cliffs”.

His concerns have also been echoed by The Society for Poole.

A final decision on whether to approve the plans will be made at a future meeting of the council’s planning committee after the application was called-in by Canford Cliffs ward councillor May Haines.

She described the scheme as “very intrusive” and said it would “harm the shoreline character”.

The application is expected to come before councillors in the coming weeks.