CONCERNS have been raised that “ambitious” plans to rebuild a beachfront restaurant would attract large crowds to the beach at Southbourne.

At the end of last week, BCP Council unveiled its £7million proposals to replace Bistro on the Beach with a new expanded facility, including a lift to the top of the cliff.

But people living in the area have expressed fears could encourage an influx of visitors to one of the quieter areas of Bournemouth beach.

Details of the council’s plans for the site were revealed in a report due to be considered when its cabinet meets at the end of the month.

It follows concerns about the “very poor” state of the existing building.

In its place, the council is hoping to build a new centre with a larger restaurant, new public toilets and a beach office.

On top of this would be 16 new “premium” beach lodges with a private spa and a new lift, facilitating a “fully accessible” route to the beach at Southbourne for the first time.

The report says the development would “take advantage” of an expected rise in domestic tourism following the coronavirus outbreak.

“Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s tourism sector, through schemes such as this, has an opportunity to take advantage of a post-Covid increase in staycations,” it says.

“In order to turn a short-term bounce in demand into a longer-term trend, the resort will need to focus on improving the quality, authenticity of experience and environmental sustainability of its offer with many more tourists continuing to value the impact of their travel on the planet.

But this has drawn criticism from people living nearby who are concerned the extra facilities will attract more visitors to that part of the beach.

Many have urged the council to scale-back its development ambitions.

"Why on earth can they not leave things alone,” Ivor Morgan said. “Bournemouth is being spoilt by all this over-development. Let things be, for goodness sake.

“The town has been ruined over the last few years and retains nothing as it once was.”

Criticism has also been levelled at the proposed style of the new building which some have compared to an “unfinished helter skelter”.

But others have praised the council for both looking at improving access onto the beach and for the ambition to increase economic activity which would “benefit the whole town”.