OBJECTORS are preparing for another battle over caravans at Preston in Weymouth.

Waterside Holiday Park has called for a public inquiry to appeal against Weymouth and Portland Borough Council planning committee's November 2007 refusal to let the business replace 70 touring caravan pitches with 45 permanent caravans.

Resident Norman Day, who spoke against the plans at last year's committee, said today he was amazed that Waterside was appealing.

In 2006 a public inquiry into a plan for more caravans at the nearby Seaview Holiday Park saw inspector Jonathan Roberts dismiss the Seaview appeal, with comments about how visually intrusive the scheme was in an area where he felt there was an undesirable concentration of caravan sites.

Mr Day said: "Waterside's proposals are for a larger development.

"Caravans already dominate every view within Preston and nearly outnumber the 2,000 homes here."

Waterside said it planned to screen the 45 static caravans with trees and shrubs, but councillors said they were still concerned about their visual impact.

Preston councillor Peter Chapman said today that granting 45 static caravans would affect the very thing that people came to Dorset to see.

He added: "Visitors love our countryside and our views, not the sight of rank after rank of caravans.

"Weymouth and Portland needs to diversify its tourist market into walkers who want nice countryside, yachtsmen who love the coastline and visitors who are interested in our world heritage status. More static caravans would destroy the very views and environment that these people come to see."

Weymouth and Portland planning manager Simon Williams confirmed that Waterside was appealing against council refusal for the static caravans on an existing caravan touring field at Bowleaze Cove.

Waterside director Philip Jacobs said the company had no comment to make ahead of the inquiry.