The use of a converted shipping container for a pizza takeaway in West Bay has been approved by Dorset Council, despite local concerns about extra litter.

The planning application led to comments from local councillors highlighting the inadequate number of public bins in the area, especially those which resist the attempts of seagulls to get into them.

Dorset councillors decided that the Pizza Box application at the West Bay Holiday Park entrance, off Forty Foot Way, just off the mini-roundabout, should be allowed.

A planning case officer said the container's use was appropriate for the area with the business proposing measures to deal with noise and smells.

The unit will also be bolted to the ground as additional protection against flooding, with the operators providing additional litter bins on its site.

Said the case officer report: "Although relatively utilitarian in appearance, that is moderated by the provision of signage. The development would be seen in the context of existing buildings of limited architectural merit and views from within the conservation area to the east would be filtered through the seating area to the adjacent café which incorporates railings, parasols and festoon lights."

The West Bay Community Forum raised concerns that the container would not be in keeping with the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and was worried that it would result in an increase in rubbish from discarded pizza boxes in the area which, it says, already suffers from insufficient bins.

Cllr Sarah Williams picked up the point at the area planning committee, commenting: "Some of the concern is that people will buy pizza there and then take them away and there's a real feeling there is a lack of bins in West Bay and a lack of seagull-proof bins, maybe they should provide an extra bin in West Bay as well."

Proposing the Pizza Box be approved, Cllr John Worth said there was already multiple food outlets in West Bay and he saw no objection to adding one more.