A holiday homes application which has divided local opinion will be decided by councillors this week (Oct 3).

The Hare and Hounds at Waytown, between Bridport and Beaminster, has asked for permission to use part of its garden for up to four holiday home shepherd’s huts.

Some argue that the homes will detract from the pub while others say it could help keep it going. The parish council was initially for the application, but later objected after a number of residents expressed their concerns.

In all 31 letters of objection have been received by Dorset Council ranging from concerns about views, parking, the loss of some of the garden and the claim there could be an impact on other holiday businesses in the area.

Dorset Council planning committee members are being recommended to approve the application when they meet in Dorchester.

Said one objector: “The financial imperative to the owners would in time mean that the interests of the campers using the site would take precedence over those of regular pub visitors/users and residents living in the immediate vicinity.”

The pub was declared a ‘community asset’ in 2016 after a campaign by the Supporters of The Hare and Hounds (SHH) group, which has 150 members.

The group says the new site would be an eyesore on the Bride Valley skyline and that the plan would make the pub less viable as it would drive away much of the summer business on which it depends.

An architect and design consultant letter to councillors says the huts are now more randomly configured than in the initial application and the toilet and shower block has been moved to the far end of the field with the car parking for the huts now adjacent to the existing car park to take into account some of the previous comments.

“This will also enable the continued use of the open area for outside functions; the loss of which appears to be the main reason for public objection to the (previous) scheme,” said Robbie Reskell, acting for Palmers brewery.

“The limited scale of the proposal will ensure that there will be minimal visual intrusion within the landscape, which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and would therefore be compliant with (environmental) policy which aims to protect the visual character of the area,” he said.

In recommending approval a planning officer says that it is considered the proposal would be in keeping with the rural character of the area and is ‘acceptably located’ in relation to existing facilities.

The recommendation also says there is not considered to be a significant adverse effect to ‘neighbouring residential amenity’ and says: 'the proposed application would encourage tourists to the area therefore spending extra money in the local vicinity adding to the local economy.'