Longtail birds and visitors alike will be catered for by future changes to The Reefs Beach Club that were given the green light by planning officials last week.

However, although approval has been given there remains a three-week window in which objectors can appeal and request Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield call in independent UK planning inspectors to reconsider the decision. The Reefs president David Dodwell said he was pleased by the planning decision but was remain ?realistic? about the prospect of the plan being implemented as it is still open to objectors to appeal.

The complex on South Shore have been given permission, subject to a last-minute appeal, to build 19 new tourist suites, a club room, gym and pool and new kitchen and housing keeping areas adjacent to the present resort.

And an integral part of the new concept will be the inclusion of 25 longtail nests ? half to be built into the actual walls of the new hotel buildings. Two previous planning applications for the site were turned down after concerns from neighbours about the height of the new buildings blocking the sea view. The new plans have been scaled back with two less guest suites and a lowering of the roof levels to avoid the sea view being restricted.

The idea to house longtail nests has been praised by environmentalist Dr. David Wingate, who said the birds would not be worried about colonising nest sites close to human activity.

In the planned redeveloped facilities there will also be a new receiving area, reception and laundry. A vacant piece of land to the west of the resort will be redeveloped to include 10 new units and has been reduced in height from five storeys in previous planning applications to four. A new east wing has also been reduced in height from four storeys to three to keep it below the level of South Road.