BRIDPORT: The campaign group opposing major development of nearly 800 homes at Vearse Farm in Briport collected petition signatures at the weekend – and now have enough to force a new debate.

An Advearse spokesman said they reached their target of 1,000 signatures for its petition to West Dorset District Council.

The petition demands that the authority rethink the inclusion of Vearse Farm in its Local Plan.

To gather the signatures volunteers spent a morning campaigning in Bucky Doo Square.

An Advearse spokesman said: “We are delighted that we achieved our target in just one morning.

“It shows the strength of feeling about this issue.

“People came up willingly to sign without us having to approach them.

“A number signing were totally unaware of the scale of the proposed development. This gives the lie to the council stance that the consultation exercise was properly conducted in the first place.

“It is important that the council now accepts that public opinion in Bridport is against this proposal.”

Advearse had to reach the 1,000 signature target to force a debate on the issue at a full council meeting. The campaign group has also been invited to speak at the hearing in late November or early December at which a government inspector will be present to inspect the soundness of the Local Plan.

The spokesman added: “We intend to give a voice to the many in the town who feel that its character is threatened by unwanted developers and a council whose interests lie in the other West Dorset towns.”