A PLAN for up to 20 houses in Maiden Newton was rejected following strong local opposition.

West Dorset District Council’s Development Control Committee was considering the outline application for up to 20 houses to the west of Cattistock Road. 

It had been recommended that the committee approve the plan subject to agreements being reached on certain conditions but the committee voted to reject the plan. 

Prior to the meeting, local residents and the parish council had voiced their opposition with around 80 letters received from residents objecting to the plans. 

Objections were voiced as the plan is outside the defined development boundary, within an Area of Outstanding National Beauty, within the Maiden Newton Conservation Area and due to the effect it could on a nearby grade one listed church. 

The committee rejected the plan to protect the AONB and to protect the area’s heritage, namely the nearby water meadows.

Concerns were also raised about a proposed access to the site which residents said was on a sharp bend and would cause traffic and safety issues. 

Several residents spoke at the meeting to voice their objections to the plans. 

One, Christopher Tripp, described the proposed site for a road access to the site as ‘very very dangerous’. 

Paul Valinski, vice-chairman of Maiden Newton Parish Council discussed the strength of opposition local people had to the plans.

He said: “When these plans came to us we had a lot of people coming to the parish council talking to us so we decided to have a meeting.

“There are in excess of 100 chairs at the community centre, which were all full there were so many people in it. 

“I was quite neutral, there was no debate – every single person at the meeting was opposed to the application.”

Members of the public also spoke out on the fact there was no need for more affordable housing in Maiden Newton and that with other recent developments the cumulative effect of developments on the village would be severe. 

Member of the committee, Cllr Simon Christopher, described the application as ‘miserable’ and called for the conservation area to be protected. 

Cllr Fred Horsington, chairman of the committee and Cllr Robin Legg, both said they found it difficult to support the plan as it went against the local plan.