PLANS to provide a Hampshire town with its only hotel have been withdrawn by the applicant.

Civic chiefs are no longer studying an application to build a 24-bedroom complex on a site overlooking the eastern entrance to Totton.

Proposals for a two and three-storey building opposite a retail park in Commercial Road were submitted towards the end of last year.

But the application has now been withdrawn after several aspects of the scheme came under fire from councillors and people living near the site.

In a letter to New Forest District Council the town council said it supported the application "in principle".

It added: "The location has long been unsightly and is currently being used for parking and storage. The new use would add employment and greatly improve the aesthetics of this prominent area."

But the council raised concerns about the quality of the proposed development, the "low" number of parking spaces and the safety of the access.

It added: "It is clearly believed that a regular entrance and exit would not be safe and a unique and substantial solution would have to be found."

The proposal also came under fire from people living near the site.

In a letter to the district council Elizabeth Richard, of Causeway Crescent, said: "The parking for the hotel is insufficient. People would use my street to park in. We are already swamped with commuters."

Others critics were worried about noise and light pollution and the size of the hotel.

Amy Hardingson, of Causeway Crescent said: "Three storeys seems a bit high in comparison to the buildings nearby. Those living closest to the site are going to be very overlooked."

Now the council has confirmed that the application has been withdrawn.

A report produced by planning officers says: "The objections to the proposal have been discussed with the agent and it is considered that the changes would need to be submitted as part of a further planning application."

The scheme, which aimed to provide Totton with the only facility of its type, was submitted last autumn.

A design and access statement that formed part of the application said: "The proposal seeks to inject life into a dormant site, replacing tall fencing with an attractive, active frontage.

"The building would add interest to the area, create employment and vastly improve the streetscape."

Supporters of the scheme said it would benefit Totton by removing an eyesore that had "blighted the town for years".