Local residents want the old hotel listed by Cadw

More than 60 people attended a meeting to voice their concerns at the proposal for 28 apartments.

They also want historic buildings body Cadw to list the old Bryn Tirion hotel at Red Wharf Bay, which would make way for the flats.

But Anglesey-based John Wood said it was a "quality investment" which had been carefully thought through.

The investment company behind the plans, Red Wharf Bay Group, which includes Mr Wood, has pledged to reinvest some of the profits generated by the scheme into other local initiatives on the island, including more affordable housing for local homebuyers.

The Red Wharf Point apartments will be sold on a "reside and let" principle, with residents able to stay there for six weeks a year and rent out the flats the rest of the year.

Developers say it will attract the 'highest calibre of visitor'

Mr Wood said the complex would attract a "high calibre of holidaymaker," which would help the local economy.

He said the old hotel building, which has been empty for more than a year, had no architectural merit, although he said he would use some of the stone in the new development.

He said: "It will only be three storeys, with 24-hours-a-day management.

"It will be far less disruptive than the hotel was, when it was open with a hotel licence for functions for 120 guests as well as 20 bedrooms and a flat on top for people who worked there."

He has also promised that local workers will be employed on the construction project - which would take two years to complete.

Villagers have formed a residents' association to oppose the plans

He also said workers from the island were also being used on another development south of Manchester.

Gordon Brown, chairman of the newly-formed Red Wharf Bay residents' association, said they would "fight this all the way".

He said: "The building would be more at home in Canary Wharf, not in our village like ours."

A petition of more than 100 names has already been gathered, along with letters of objection.

Mr Brown said he also disputed the developer's estimates of traffic generated.

Hotelier Barrie Durkin, from the Benllech residents' and road safety association, has written to Cadw asking it to list all or part of the building in an attempt to save the old hotel.

"I'm all for modernisation and moving forward but this is totally out of place, it's outrageous.

"I know something myself about taking over a derelict hotel and making it viable and I know what could be done with this building."