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Southsea’s tourist industry is being eroded at its foundations by the number of hotels closing down, hoteliers fear.

The President of Southsea Hotels, Guest House and Caterers Association (Mr Tony Knight) has urged a tough line to help preserve the resort.

Hotel owners have watched with increasing concern at the number of hotels which have changed their uses in recent months.

But previous attempts to get city planners to block applications for changes of use, into rest homes and nursing homes, have failed.

Mr Knight said: ‘I view the trend of hotel closures as a worrying erosion of the base of the city’s tourist industry.’