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CONTROVERSIAL plans to demolish a Bournemouth sports club and replace it with 68 flats should be taken out of the council's hands, an MP has claimed.

Sir John Butterfill, MP for Bournemouth West, believes the future of the David Lloyd Centre at Knole Road should be "called in" by the government and decided at a public inquiry.

Currently, the plans are due to go the council's planning board next Thursday, and are being recommended for approval.

But Sir John is hopeful Baroness Andrews, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for communities and local government, will intervene and remove the item from next Monday's agenda.

He said: "I think the council officers are worried that if they refuse the application and then lose a subsequent appeal, they will have to pay costs. But if it is called in by the government, that will no longer be an issue."

The developer Kings Oak Homes has offered to make a financial contribution of £180,000 to provide three replacement badminton courts at Portchester School - an offer deemed acceptable by the council's head of leisure.

But Sir John said: "Compared to what they are going to make from the redevelopment of the site, this is peanuts.

"It doesn't compensate us for the lost badminton courts, the five squash courts, the gymnasium, the swimming pool or all the social facilities at the club."

The David Lloyd Bournemouth action group said the importance of the council's decision could not be under-estimated. A group statement said: "The council is about to show what its values really are. It is a decision that should not be taken lightly as it will give the residents of Bournemouth a very clear picture of what the future holds for them, their children and future generations."

7:00pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008

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