A LANDMARK hotel on the edge of the New Forest could be demolished - despite objections from neighbours and local councillors.

New Forest District Council has received an application to bulldoze the Old Coastguard Hotel, which occupies a prominent position at Barton-on-Sea. The plan to replace the hotel with four flats has resulted in 21 letters of objection.

Campaigners say the scheme would result in an over-intensive use of the site, reducing the privacy enjoyed by families in neighbouring homes.

They fear it would also lead to other blocks of flats being built along the cliff top and altering the village's character.

The application was shelved at a meeting of the district council's development control sub-committee.

Members were addressed by Fred Binnis, whose home at Greenside Court, Marine Drive East, is next door to the hotel.

He said: "All 70 properties in Marine Drive East and Marine Drive West conform to a very clear building line, but this application will breach the line by five metres.

"What's proposed is quite unacceptable to the neighbours, whose view will be obscured by walls."

Ward councillor Paul Woods said: "If this is allowed it's possible that many other properties will be replaced by blocks of flats as well.

"More weight on top of the cliffs could cause further erosion."

A report to councillors said the applicants had reduced the size of the proposed development by cutting the number of flats from five to four.

It added: "The size of the site is considered acceptable for four two-bedroom flats."

The report recommended the committee to grant planning permission but the application was deferred for negotiations with the applicants, Ian and Dorothy Philpott.