SQUAWKING seagulls, noisy neighbours and parking chaos is feared if a new hotel and flats is given the go-ahead.

Tendring Council has already received 55 objections to the plans for the Cliff Hotel on Marine Parade, Dovercourt.

Developers claim the run-down 130-year-old building can’t be salvaged in their redevelopment plans and want to knock down the building and replace it with 20 flats, a 61-bed hotel and a bar/restaurant.

But concerned residents have objected to the proposals, claiming it is an over-development of the site.

Patricia Crawford, who lives next to the Cliff Hotel, said: “At the moment at the back is a one-storey ballroom and facilities. This would be replaced by a five-storey hotel.

“This would be overwhelming and unsightly for residents at the Mariners apartments and neighbouring houses.

“A smaller hotel with less storeys would be more in keeping.”

Colin Crawford added: “If the hotel is too big, the operators may end up offering space to councils for temporary accommodation which will not please the new flats or us.

“The restaurant should be sited in the middle of the development instead of at the western end. If the tables are not cleared quickly enough, they could attract swooping and squawking seagulls.”

Other concerns in the objections included mixing “prestige apartments cheek by jowl alongside low-budget short-term overnight sleep pods”, reduced sunlight to neighbouring gardens and inadequate parking.

Harwich town councillor Maison Urwin said people were not against the idea of developing the site, but more about the size.

He said: “No-one thinks the Cliff should sit there and rot.

“People want it to be replaced and would be happy to have a restaurant and some flats and maybe a hotel, but they are worried about the size.”

A spokesman for the developer said: “Following feedback from two rounds of public consultation, we made final amendments to the plans prior to submitting the application to accommodate certain queries raised, particularly in respect of access and siting.“The design of the new development has been done to minimise impact and specifically to avoid overlooking of nearby properties.

“Following the Harwich Town Council meeting, we held a further open evening on Monday with residents of Brooklyn Road and Oakland Road and were able to address concerns.

“On the whole, we have had positive feedback confirming it will be good for the town, regenerating what is becoming a derelict site and creating new jobs.”

Tendring Council has final say on the plans.