PLANS for a camping and caravan site have been rejected by councillors.

A proposal for a site off Priory Road on Portland to be additionally used for a camping and caravaning site caused a divide of opinion between Weymouth and Portland councillors before being refused.

The proposed application related to the long-established Portland Market site at Tophill and involved an area of land of approximately 0.25 hectares to provide 117 pitches for the Camping and Caravan Club.

Council senior planning officer, Chris Moscrop, said Portland Town Council had previously rejected the plans.

He also expressed concerns of the Portland Heights Hotel who felt the camp and caravan site would impact on the use of hotel facilities and that their overnight car park would be abused, leaving no space for their hotel guests.

Mr Moscrop said: "It is not an appropriate site for camping and caravanning. It would be intrusive to Portland landscape and would have a serious detrimental impact on the area."

Cllr Margaret Leicester said: "It is the most unsuitable site and it will be detrimental to people in Fortuneswell. It only takes one car or bus to break down on the road into Portland and no one can move."

However Cllr Christine James welcomed the proposal. She said: "The Camping and Caravan Club is a large amout of people but I can't see it being full up constantly. It will be an additional attraction to get people to Portland and I think we will be discouraging people by refusing this."