A PUBLIC inquiry over plans for a block of flats on the former Weymouth Sailing Centre site has collapsed after developer Saxon Homes withdrew.

The inquiry had been called over Saxon's appeal against Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's refusal to grant permission for the flats on the former centre site at the end of Old Castle Road.

Council planners had received an outline planning application for permission to build 15 apartments on the site with demolition of the clubhouse.

But before the council could reach a decision, Saxon - who met fierce local opposition to the scheme - launched an appeal to the Government for non-determination on the grounds that it had taken the council more than the required eight weeks to deal with their application.

Councillors said that if the application had reached the committee stage they would have turned it down.

They said the scheme was contrary to plans allocating the site for water sports, that it was outside development boundaries, that it was against allocations for local open spaces and that it had an inappropriate design in a prominent foreshore location. The council and residents wanted the area to remain for water sports and leisure.

Now the whole inquiry has collapsed after Robin Tetlow of Saxon agents Oldfield King said that the developers had decided to withdraw from the inquiry to concentrate on company personnel matters.

He said that Saxon managing director Jonathon Spencer had recently resigned and Saxon felt that it now needed to concentrate on personnel matters within the company.

He added that this did not mean that Saxon was abandoning the Old Castle Road site.

Weymouth and Portland Principal Planning Office Debbie Redding said: "The withdrawal of Saxon has closed the case at present."

Phil and Sandra Gollop, who own the former sailing centre site, declined to comment.