Despite this, the council’s planning committee unanimously agreed to approve the scheme in March. "This is a place where there will be a development at some point, regardless of whether it's this application or another," councillor Toby Johnson said. "Therefore, it's about picking the right one that comes forward. I think this is as good as it gets for a community in this area." But the committee was warned by former Poole councillor Marion Pope that the application “did not comply” with planning policy due to the use of still designated green belt land for a foul water pumping station.