BOURNEMOUTH council’s head of planning has defended the authority’s policy on security shutters following criticism from a business owner.

Earlier this month, David Walters of We Fix in Holdenhurst Road described the six-month process to secure permission as “an absolute joke”.

However, the council’s most senior planner, Mark Axford, said that the visual impact was an important consideration.

Mr Walters applied for permission to install security shutters but was forced to change from a solid door to a slatted design after the council said it would “spoil the area”.

He said that businesses were being forced to ‘jump through hoops’ by the council in order to meet its requirements.

At Monday’s meeting of the council’s planning board, Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts sought clarification on what advice is given to people looking to install security shutters.

Mr Axford said that while solid designs might be effective, there were concerns about their visual impact.

“If you have got three or four in a row it really diminishes the character of the area – it’s really not conducive to getting an area back on its feet,” he said.

Committee chairman Cllr David Kelsey added that the council had a guide for shopfront designs outlining its policies which business owners can use to make sure they meet requirements.