DOZENS of people lobbied a government inspector over plans to knock down a historic beach café and replace it with flats.

An appeal hearing held at Bournemouth town hall about Point House Café on Harbour Road, Southbourne, included 40 members of the public.

Up to 15 residents also joined the site visit after the meeting.

Hundreds of locals had signed a petition against the plans.

Harrison Developments was refused permission to demolish the building and erect eight flats in a building up to four storeys high with basement parking.

Its resubmission for a reduced size building was refused in August 2007, and its appeal over that refusal was rejected in February 2008.

A revised application for seven flats plus underground parking was refused in September 2008.

Now the developer is appealing to overturn the council’s most recent refusal, giving it permission to build the flats.

Ward councillor Eddie Coope said the inspector allowed all views to be represented.

“On behalf of the residents I thanked him for allowing them to speak in the council chamber in the morning and hearing their views on the site visit in the afternoon,” he said.

Cllr Coope said: “I think a lot of the local residents would like it reopened as a café, for locals and for visitors alike.”

Residents who could not make the hearing and site visit were told what happened at a ward meeting on Wednesday night.

The inspector is due to make his decision within seven weeks.