Jurassic Coast: Seatown beach sauna plans refused

Seatown is a small Dorset hamlet in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Proposals to make a seaside sauna permanent at a Jurassic Coast beach have been turned down.

Plans for the year-round sauna and temporary, van-based catering units for the seafront at Seatown, near Bridport, were refused by Dorset Council after dozens of objections.

A woodfired sauna is already operating part-time at the site.

Planning officers said a permanent sauna would negatively affect the "sensitive location".

There is currently a sauna opposite the Grade II listed Anchor Cottage pub

Some support for the application was received, including from the parish council, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

But among the objections was one from Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team, which raised concerns about the "excessive commercialisation of a sensitive location".

A resident from the neighbouring village of Chideock said the "attractions" would add to air pollution problems in the area, attracting additional traffic.

They went on to say that West Bay could be a better location for the sauna.

Another village resident raised similar views, saying: "Seatown is in a world heritage site and the quaint context alongside the natural beauty gains nothing from this application.

"It would be over commercialising one of the few areas left in this rural area."

Planning officers decided the application failed to meet most of the criteria for development in the protected coastal landscape.

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