RESIDENTS in Poole have objected to plans to open a new café at Whitecliff Recreation Ground until 11pm every day.

The café, which is yet to be built, would form part of the revamped Whitecliff Pavilion. Poole council’s outline proposals to develop the site to provide public toilets and sports changing facilities were approved last year. A more detailed planning application is yet to be submitted.

A tender exercise to find a commercial partner to take the proposals for the pavilion forward is set to take place this autumn.

In the meantime, the council has submitted a planning application to change the new pavilion’s opening hours so it can open between 7am and 11pm.

The current agreed opening hours are 8am-6pm, Monday to Saturday, and 9am-5pm on Sundays.

In a report to the planning committee, which meets on Thursday, case officer Eleanor Godesar said extending the opening hours until 11pm could create a “restaurant like operation in the evening, entirely disconnected from the recreational activities of the park”.

Residents living near the park have raised concerns over potential noise, anti-social behaviour and increased parking difficulties with extending opening hours.

Whitecliff Road residents Steve and Teresa Town, who have submitted a letter of objection to the plans, accused the council of showing “disregard for local residents’ quality of life and amenity, all to enable the council to improve the commercial return it might get from a tenderer”.

Parkstone Bay Association has also objected, saying any noise from the pavilion early morning and late evening would have a “detrimental effect on the quality of life of residents in the area”.

However, a supporter of the proposals says sports in the park, such as cricket games, can continue until 9pm.

Seasonal opening hours for the new pavilion are being recommended to the planning committee, i.e. 7am-6pm daily from October 1-March 31 and 7am-9pm daily from April 1-September 30.

In her report Ms Godesar said seasonal opening hours would “support and enhance the recreational role of the park”.

The council previously stated, once a commercial partner is found for the pavilion, detailed plans will be drawn up over the winter, with construction scheduled to take place in the spring.