Community leaders are urging refusal of new plans to transform the site of a former seafront attraction into new flats and tourism facilities.

Family Amusements withdrew its original plans for the Adventure Golf site in Sea Road and has scaled-down its proposals following consultation with planners.

East Suffolk Council officials were particularly concerned at the design and size of the proposed new building.

The new £3million plans feature 14 flats - four of which will be short-term holiday lets - instead of the original 16 apartments, and tourism-related uses, possibly shops and cafes, on the ground floor.

However, Felixstowe Town Council is urging planners to refuse the development because it is contrary to policy which states “proposals should consider the whole site for resort-related uses to provide a vibrant mix of activities” and "clearly this application does not fulfil this criterion".

The town council is also concerned over the flood risk to the site, and feels access and parking is not adequate, and disputes the applicant’s claim that it is not financially viable to provide affordable dwellings as part of the project.

A number of nearby residents have also written to object over an "unacceptable" loss of privacy and overlooking of their homes and the design of the rear of the new flats.

But East Suffolk's principal design and conservation officer Robert Scrimgeour, who objected to the previous plans because they were "out-of-proportion" for the area, supports the new plans and says his concerns have been "fully overcome".

The site has been home to the golf attraction since 1998, and before that was a beach hut site.

In a planning statement on behalf of the Family Amusements, East Coast Planning Services said commercial uses on Sea Road "struggle to survive and the current miniature golf facility is no exception", saying it is no longer viable due to lack of footfall.

It said: "Moreover, the miniature golf facility did not make efficient use of this prominently located site. It is the applicants’ firm belief that redevelopment of the site for residential purposes with commercial uses at ground floor level represents the optimum use of the site.

"This meets the council’s aspirations relating to the promotion of tourism and leisure, whilst boosting the supply of housing and presenting an opportunity for significant environmental enhancement."