A DORSET pub has been refused permission for five ‘eco’ camping pods in its grounds to help offset the effects of the pandemic on its business.

The Sandford Public House on the outskirts of Wareham said the pods, which would not have cooking facilities, would be put on a hard standing next to the beer garden, previously used for marquees.

The site lies outside but next to the Green Belt and within the 400m Heathland Buffer Zone.

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Each pods would have had a bedroom, shower room and lounge area with a small deck to the front.

The application won letters of support from some neighbours but Wareham St Martin Parish Council objected expressing concerns about sewerage and claimed the site is within the 400m zone of heathland where tourist accommodation is not allowed.

“Members understand the need for recovering income from the pandemic but cannot agree to the development when it reduces the buffer area,” said the parish. The view was shared by Natural England who said that the pods would add to the ‘cumulative impact’ on the Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The pub planning application argued that the development would “complement and enhance” the quality and choice of tourist accommodation in area and would not be harmful to the environment.

“The siting of the pods would enable the existing pub business to continue to be financially viable as a community facility … Whilst the pub has recently undergone refurbishment, the impacts from the 2020 Covid-19 restrictions has meant that the business has suffered immensely financially. The income from the camping pods would make the best viable use of the land and enable the existing pub business to invest, expand and adapt in order to have a reasonable opportunity to continue to operate viably following such uncertain and difficult times. This would have clear social and economic benefits to the local community,” said a statement from a planning agent.

The document also argued that there would be no noticeable or significant increase in visitor numbers or traffic movements to and from the site,but says that while there might be some addition noise from the camping pods this is likely to be minimal compared to the existing use of the pub garden area.

In rejecting the report a Dorset Council report concluded: “The proposal is unacceptable … due to the significant harm that would be generated by the proposed tourist lodges to nearby interests of nature importance.”

Pic The Sandford pub on the outskirts of Wareham