DOZENS of objections have been made to expansion plans at a popular Weymouth holiday park.

Waterside Holiday Group submitted plans for 56 ‘high end’ residences at Weymouth’s Bowleaze Cove. The plan is for an 18-acre site next to the existing Waterside Holiday Park and Spa, with 31 cedar-clad static homes and 25 ‘round houses’. The company says the homes would blend in with the environment and deliver vital jobs and spending to Dorset’s economy.

A second area would be developed for recreation use, with landscaping work across the site.

Revised plans have since been submitted by Waterside Holiday Group scaling down the expansion.

However 80 objections have been submitted by concerned residents to Dorset Council - with concerns raised that the expansion would be ‘detrimental’ to the area and would negatively impact traffic, parking, wildlife and pollution levels.

Comments made in an objection submitted by Mrs Antonia Savva said: “This is on the world famous Jurassic Coast, and close to SSSI sites and Conservation Areas. It represents a large increase to the size of the current site, which is tolerated but unsightly in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“To allow such an extension would send a message to the wider world, that the area isn’t that important or significant. It could also open the flood gates to more development, and expose our beautiful surroundings to more environmentally detrimental pressures.”

An objection made by Mr Benjamin Teversham reads: “During the summer especially, the road is not suitable for the traffic as it is currently, so the additional amount of people will be extremely detrimental to the area as the road is not suitable as a one way in and out.”

An objection from Mrs Theresa Newton raised concerns the development would ‘adversely affect wildlife in the area’.

Dave Bennett, chief executive of Waterside Holiday Group, said: “The proposed development has been carefully planned to bring multiple benefits to the area. We have devised a sympathetic landscaping strategy and layout plan to help the development integrate seamlessly into the local environment. What we wanted to do was a development of the future. We wanted it to look and feel different and naturalistic, like it really blends into the environment.”

A statement submitted with the plans says it would be “possible to conclude” that the scheme could generate £1.5million in gross value added (GVA) to the local economy. Planning documents say six full-time jobs will be created along with more generated by using local contractors for building work.