A THREAT of legal action over the controversial re-development of a holiday park could be averted by the promise of a pioneering hotel scheme there.

Planners at Christchurch Council are unhappy that 12 new homes have already gone up at the former Pontins camp at Wick Ferry without a single brick being laid for the 60-bed hotel which was a pivotal part of the application.

Councillors have the power to impose an injunction halting the development - but a local leisure operator has come forward who could provide the authority, and disgruntled town traders, with the kind of tourist facility they have been crying out for.

Demolition teams moved onto the defunct riverside chalet complex in May after Christchurch thrashed out a deal with developers over the construction of 45 terrace and town houses, plus 12 flats.

Shopkeepers feared the deal would wipe out the £3.5 million annual revenue they used to reap from holiday-makers, so the council insisted on a luxury hotel as part of the project.

However, while Prowting Homes has completed 12 properties already, partner developer Berkeley Homes has yet to make a start on the hotel. But at the council's latest development control committee meeting, development services manager David Groom said there was light at the end of the tunnel.

"A local leisure company has expressed strong interest in securing the site for just the right hotel use we are looking for," he revealed.

"We are hopeful a plan will be submitted next month, and that construction could begin by March.

"We could serve an injunction over the lack of progress tomorrow, but if we can get an operator providing an active facility rather than an empty shell, it would worth holding out for."

Though declining to name the company involved or any details, planning director Nigel Davies added: "This is a very exciting proposal which would fit in with the character of Christchurch extremely well.

"I believe the whole town would applaud this scheme, and it could prove a benchmark development for the whole region, if not nationally."