PETERSFIELD traders are pleading with East Hampshire planners not to turn down the latest application for an hotel in the town.

They believe the proposal by Whitbread at the Red Lion would boost trade and be the perfect antidote to the problem of cafes, restaurants and other non-retail units appearing throughout Petersfield.

But town councillors gave only a cautious welcome to the plans and were concerned that they included the use of spaces at the Festival Hall car park.

Sandra Humphrey, who runs the Atmosphere store opposite the Red Lion as well as the Hand in Marriage shop in Lavant Street, said the 41-bedroom hotel would bring extra trade to the town.

She believes the parking requirement would have little impact on the Festival Hall car park, which she said was not used as much as people think.

"We have got two shops in town and I use the Festival Hall car park every day. It's always half empty."

She added: "We have got a shop right opposite and an hotel at the Red Lion would certainly bring more trade to this side of the town.

"People are always saying that the town is being turned into a town full of cafes, restaurants and other eating places. This would be a great boost for retail at this end of Petersfield."

Plans for an 84-bedroom hotel on the edge of Petersfield, close to the new McDonald's restaurant, have been withdrawn.

Mrs Humphrey said there was a great demand for an hotel in the town and urged the district council to support the plans.

Rams Walk manager Maggi Bennet said Petersfield desperately needed an hotel to help fuel trade as well as the leisure economy.

She said: "We have desperately needed an hotel for a long time. We do have good b-and-bs but there are simply not enough places to stay. We are losing a lot of trade in this town.

"The downside is that we also need more parking spaces and I completely understand where Petersfield Town Council is coming from. We need to find a happy medium."

But town councillor and district councillor for Petersfield, John Crowhurst, said he had serious concerns about any loss of public car parking space.

He said: "I believe the bulk of the building in that position may be unacceptable and, in spite of the new government directives on parking, I feel the district council should not be making available public car parking space for this hotel."

Chairman of Petersfield First Trevor Boyden told The Herald that he would support the concept of a new hotel as long as no parking facilities were lost in the town.

Members of the town council's planning committee discussed the plans recently and decided to ask for advice from an EHDC planner.