A COUNCIL department was ordered to remove signs from the site of a controversial green belt nature park after breaching planning conditions set by the local authority.

BCP Council’s planning team had to inform officers working on the Throop Nature Park project on the outskirts of Bournemouth that banners did not comply with the planning approval granted by councillors last summer.

Earlier this month cabinet members approved the funding arrangement to deliver and maintain the Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) at Hicks Farm.

The SANG is seen by civic leaders as crucial to future of the conurbation as it will offset the impact of major development schemes, including the Winter Gardens.

Throop Nature Park could require more £10million of investment over the next 80 years and this will be funded through contributions from developers.

While competition of the park is still some way off, the council has already breached planning conditions its own planning department proposed to a committee meeting last August.

Councillors on the planning committee voted to approve the revised scheme despite hundreds of objections.

This included a number of conditions linked to the delivery of the nature park.

However, Throop resident Sarah Fisher reported two planning breaches to BCP Council, which were subsequently looked into. She also raised the matter at this month’s cabinet meeting when the funding of the SANG was on the agenda.

A BCP Council spokeswoman told the Daily Echo: “BCP Council have had to remove some information signs that were erected to inform local people of the next steps of the delivery of the SANG.

“The necessary planning conditions were not discharged prior to this work taking place and the project team had thought that this temporary signage was outside of the scope of the conditions.

"Planning officers informed colleagues working on the project of this and the banners have been removed.”

A report to cabinet said the implementation of the SANG will take place over the next two financial years using a total of £618,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy.

The maintenance of the nature park will be supported through £1000,000 a year, rising with inflation, for 80 years.

Senior councillors approved the funding arrangements following a short discussion.