MORE than 50 residents have objected to an application to transform a former hotel into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) after previous experiences with drug dealing, fireworks, and dog mess.

Residents in and around Studland Road in Alum Chine have expressed huge concerns that another HMO on their road will leave it in “rack and ruin” and impact a neighbouring business.

The application to turn the former Coniston B&B at 27 Studland Road into a bedsit-like HMO with nine people occupying nine recently refurbished rooms was reduced to six people following pressure over how the applicants, Maisone Ltd, planned to monitor occupant numbers.

Bournemouth Echo: 27 Studland Road, home of the former Coniston Bed & Breakfast27 Studland Road, home of the former Coniston Bed & Breakfast

The road has housed several HMOs in the past few years with some still open. Resident Colino Meah told the Echo: “The HMOs were treated like slums, to the point where people are afraid to walk down the road.

“We’ve had bonfires in the front gardens, squatters, dogs running loose and defecating in the road, even fireworks with no notice at 2am. On top of that is drug dealing and drug taking.

“We can only go by the years of experience we’ve had from the previous HMOs. We live in a beautiful place, but it’s being left to rack and ruin.”

Amanda Saunders said: “My main concern is that if they give permission for the six occupant HMO, they won’t adhere to that because financially it doesn’t make sense for them having nine rooms.

“How can you monitor that? What happens if one of the occupants meets someone and moves them in?

“We’re absolutely not at all saying that all the people who rent out the rooms will be bad people. For me it’s more the way [the applicants] have gone about it that we have no trust they’ll stick to six people.”

Bournemouth Echo: Studland Road residents Colino Meah, Amanda Saunders and Kathryn Black are objecting to another HMO in their roadStudland Road residents Colino Meah, Amanda Saunders and Kathryn Black are objecting to another HMO in their road

Kathryn Black has run the Fircliff Hotel next door to the proposed HMO for 32 years. She told the Echo: “Three years ago I thought about selling after my husband and daughter died. But I made the conscious decision to stay here because it’s a really nice area with lovely neighbours.

“It would be criminal to spoil the community we’ve got with a return to the drug dealing and crime. I just feel sad, it’s just a lovely community, it really is. I feel so supported and happy for the first time in years, and it feels like that’s in danger.”

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “The private sector housing enforcement team have a rolling HMO inspection programme in place that checks the property is suitably occupied and fully compliant in line with local policy and national legislation.

Bournemouth Echo: Studland Road in Alum Chine, BournemouthStudland Road in Alum Chine, Bournemouth

“Should concerns arise outside of our inspection programme about the level of occupancy, a combination of communities, neighbours, and property owners should contact BCP Council who will then investigate the matter further.

“Those who hold an HMO Licence are expected to ensure that they are compliant with the terms of the occupancy numbers as defined by the local authority.

“Appropriate enforcement action is taken should it be proven that the licence holder has not adhered to the licence conditions.

“Should the occupants decide to bring a partner or a friend to move in with them then the licence holder will be expected to take appropriate action in line with the terms of the tenancy.”