ADVEARSE is writing to urge everyone concerned about the future of Bridport to respond to the announcement that West Dorset District Council is running a further consultation on the Local Plan.

The council withdrew the plan following concerns expressed by the inspector.

Additional work has been done, notably the research of a team of consultants, who have looked again at the housing market requirements.

The changes to the plan are minimal – increasing the annual target to 775 homes in the West Dorset and Weymouth area per year and reducing the time for which the plan will run.

Readers can access the plan at dorsetforyou.com/localplanexamination/west/weymouth On the site you can follow directions which will allow you to comment on the changes to the plan. Responses have to be received by September 11.

ADVEARSE urges everyone who is concerned about this plan to respond.

We have placed on our website advearse.org.uk our response to the council which will give more detail about our objections to the plan. The following points may be useful:

1. WDDC only want responses about the changes – If, like virtually everyone else in Bridport, you feel that you were not consulted in the first place, you may want to make this point.

2. There is no reduction in the allocation for Bridport.

ADVEARSE has consistently stated against the scale of the Vearse Farm 750 house development. It is inappropriate for a town of the size and character of Bridport.

3. Although the changes are entitled ‘Sustained Pattern of Development’ there has been no attempt to address the concerns we have expressed about the Vearse Farm site – flooding, traffic problems, loss of good agricultural land, impact on a designated area of outstanding beauty.

4. The Housing Report fails to identify accurately the actual local housing need. Many of the houses are built in Bridport they will be sold to people migrating in.

5. ADVEARSE further contends that there is no real analysis in the plan about how the council will ensure that the developers will actually build affordable houses.

6. In short the plan serves the interests of landowners and builders. It will not serve the long term needs of Bridport.

WDDC has chosen to continue down the path of creeping suburbanisation for Bridport – another Poundbury on its side.

ADVEARSE has met virtually no one in favour of the development and it is essential that people who are against the plans for Bridport make their concerns known.

ADVEARSE