PLANS for a five-storey 105-bedroom Premier Inn hotel in Scarborough have been approved despite more than 300 people objecting to it.

Scarborough Borough Council’s planning and development committee voted through the application for the hotel, which will create 30 new full-time equivalent jobs.

The scheme was put forward by Benchmark Leisure Ltd, the developer of Scarborough’s £14 million Alpamare Water Park in Burniston Road. The Premier Inn hotel will sit in the car park of the water park, behind a pub.

During two public consultations, 304 letters of objection were lodged with the council. Six letters of support were also received.

A group, No To Premier Inn, was formed by residents and guesthouse owners, who said the hotel would have a negative impact on the North Bay area and businesses.

Opponents said the market was "saturated" but Cllr David Chance said there was a dearth of accommodation for the town to attract conferences in the winter.