A COUNCILLOR who is planning a new ice cream business says he is just trying to do 'something positive' for West Bay.

As reported, Karl Wallace is seeking planning permission to covert an old garage in to an ice cream kiosk at the Station Yard car park.

He came under fire for starting work before getting approval from West Dorset District Council.

A planning application has now been lodged and a decision will be made on January 8.

But Cllr Wallace says he has been left 'disappointed' after the kiosk was targeted by vandals.

He says he wants to make clear that he has no control over a planning decision and is waiting 'on tenterhooks' like 'anyone else would be if they had submitted an application.'

His words came after concerns were voiced that the ice cream kiosk could take business away from other retailers.

Cllr Wallace said: “We don't want to take business away from other retailers, we're here to help.

“This is a positive thing for West Bay; we want to help the bay develop.

“We will be creating jobs, both full and part-time and paying the Living Wage.”

Cllr Wallace added that no ice creams would be sold from the window and there would be no loss of parking spaces.

As reported, fellow councillors discussed the application at a meeting earlier this month. Cllr Wallace was advised not to attend the meeting.

Cllr Gillian Summers said: “My feelings were very similar to the objector in that there are an awful lot of outlets for ice cream in the rest of the bay and that probably a car park is not the best place to have it.

“We have already have things on the other side of the car park when we have car boot sales who sell food and they have to have planning permission and I think they might not be too happy.”

Cllr Sarah Williams said Cllr Wallace should have put in planning applicant of change of use She said: “I would have thought there should have been a separate change of use application saying exactly what category the applicant wants to put the building into, without that I can't see that we can comment on this and that will then enable people in West Bay to comment on it.”

Cllr Eddie Colfox said: “I don't think it is such a bad location for a kiosk, it is not actually in the car park, it is adjacent.”