A Poole councillor who backed a town green application for Baiter has now withdrawn his support.

Cllr Chris Bulteel, a Conservative who represents Poole Town, was an original signatory to Parkstone Bay Association’s application for town green status for Harbourside Park – Baiter and Whitecliff.

Having carried out some research into the vexed subjects of town greens, he says he has now decided there is already enough protection in place.

He pointed out that each application – the council currently has two – would cost £50,000 to process.

“I think it’s a waste of public money when they are already extremely well protected,” he said.

“I signed the original application because I thought it would further safeguard the area. I am now convinced it has enough safeguards as it is with the new core strategy that Borough of Poole has passed.”

His U-turn has disappointed Parkstone Bay Association, whose chairman David Howard said he was one of several councillors to sign the application.

He said the council’s leadership had decided to “oppose every town green application which effectively protects precious open space against exploitation or development”.

“The cost is a red herring. There is virtually no cost involved if Poole council makes a voluntary application for a town green. There is only a cost if it is opposed,” he said.