PLANNERS have backed a scheme to knock down one home and build seven flats in its place, despite nearly 100 objections to the development.

The proposal for the site, off Goldcroft Avenue, Weymouth, drew furious opposition from nearby residents who packed yesterday's Weymouth and Portland Borough Council planning and traffic committee meeting.

Mike Maber, who lives just a few yards from the site, said protestors were not Luddites committed to opposing any change, just people trying to defend their homes and a quiet life.

He said the flats scheme was 'completely out of character with the area' and an exercise in maximising development profits at the expense of residents.

Supporters agreed and said their privacy would be ruined, that parking was inadequate and that access was a danger, particularly during any significant winter weather.

Goldcroft Avenue resident Mike White said the flats were just not suitable for the site and would cause overlooking, noise, disturbance and potential pedestrian danger as well as threatening the character of the area with 'an oversized development on a postage stamp site'.

County councillor Mike Byatt agreed and said that there were 'serious concerns' over the scale of the development which was totally out of character with the area.

But site agent Paul Scott said he did not accept that the flats were out of character, adding that other flats developments in Weymouth were now liked by the very people who had originally opposed them.

Coun Christine James said the scheme would set a precedent and Coun Anne Kenwood said there were too many flats off a poor access, but other councillors liked the scheme.

Coun John Nash said: "We need more properties, we need more flats and I think this scheme blends in as the existing property is a bit of an eyesore."

Coun Margaret Leicester said: "I know people don't like flats coming into their area, but I think these would blend in and, purely on planning reasons, I think we would be hard pressed to find a reason for refusing it."

Members narrowly agreed and approved the scheme on a 7-5 vote.

Afterwards residents' spokesman Mr White said: "It was a fairly close-run thing, but we are very sad that this precedent has been allowed.

"I am sure everyone is disappointed and thinks that the committee has made the wrong decision.

"We must now make sure that no developer ever gets another chance to buy a house in Goldcroft Avenue to be demolished for flats."