AN objection from official wildlife conservation watchdog Natural England prevented Purbeck council from giving planning backing to a plans for an indoor bowling rink at a golf and country club along with additional security staff accommodation.

Planners said they thought the scheme - being put forward to reverse a fall in business from a severe drop in hotel and lodge occupancy rates during the winter months - was acceptable.

The Dorset Golf and Country Club at Hyde which is south of Bere Regis has been established 30 years and now employs a total of 80-plus staff, including part-time workers.

Development control manager Alan Davies said the objection from Natural England had come over the proposal for three single bedsitters for staff as they were within 400 metres of a European conservation site of designated heathland.

Councillors heard that because of that objection if the council approved the scheme, it could be challenged with the decision taken to judicial review - and that would be of no help to the club.

But there was in existence a planning permission for twice that number of larger bedsitters which it could trade in with negotiations with Natural England.

He said: "We will continue to talk with the applicants and Natural England to see if we can find a way forward for them."

If the club then was able to put in a revised application within the year there would be no additional fee payable.

The club's case was that surveys found there was an increasingly popular market for indoor bowling holidays.

John Champion, for the club, said as well as the golf course there was a 16-bedroom hotel and a dozen lodge homes on the site and the additional staff accommodation was urgently needed.

It had become well established as a tourist facility. He said: "We are committed to improving the environment to encourage nature conservation and the quality of the area."