Dorset Council WON'T debate 5,000 signature petition on Dorchester housing scheme
Campaigners presented the petition over 4,000 new homes for the North of Dorchester at a full council meeting
Last updated 16th Jul 2021
Dorset Council say they won't be debating a petition to stop the development of 4,000 homes north of Dorchester.
It's been signed by 5,000 people which would ordinarily prompt the council to debate the matter.
Campaigners presented it to a full council meeting last night. They say the development would negatively impact the environment and isn't right for the area.
Nigel Kay is one of the campaigners. He said:
"One of the things that really concerns us is the way this council operates. We're presenting a petition of more than 5,000 signatures which under the council's own rules really requires them to debate it now.
"They say they're not prepared to. They say they want to wait for 12 months before they consider this petition.
"We're worried about the transparency of this council, and we're worried about the apparent secrecy."
Cllr Val Pothecary, Chair of Dorset Council, addressed the matter at full council. She said:
"A petition has been received from the STAND group, requesting that the council rejects the inclusion in the Local Plan of the site north of Dorchester as a preferred option for major building development. This petition has also been submitted as a duly made representation to the local plan consultation and is being considered alongside all the other responses received during the consultation period.
"I’m afraid we cannot currently debate this petition as it relates to a planning decision, and we could be seen to be pre-determining the outcomes of the Local Plan consultation and development process. Openly debating the petition at this early stage, especially in isolation from all the other feedback we received, could potentially leave the Plan vulnerable to legal challenge in the future.
"In April next year, Full Council will make the decision about the content of the plan for the next stage, the publication plan. This will then be published in May 2022, with the opportunity for people to make comments. All responses made at that stage will be considered by the inspector who will hold the public examination.
"So I am pleased that in April next year the full council will be able to consider the STAND petition and the very many other responses to our consultation. All Cllrs will have the opportunity to take part in deciding what proposals go forward for publication. Therefore although the Petition will not be debated today, I can assure everyone that it will be debated as part of the Local Plan process."
The public petition, against the Dorchester North plans, started in September 2018 and has now closed with well over 5,000 people signing it.
STAND for Dorchester say the plans will impact the town in a number of ways. They say it will increase population here by around 35%, increasing pressure on healthcare, parking and other services.
They also say plans would impact a Site of Special Scientific Interest along the river Frome. It is an important habitat for water voles and bats and there are veteran trees and rare lichens.
Instead they believe the 4,000 homes should instead be built across a number of other Dorset villages to improve housing there.