DORSET COUNCIL has been accused of ‘riding roughshod’ over the views of some Weymouth residents to sell land it owns to a developer.

There is also criticism that the planning decision on the council-owned plot, a field between Spa Road and Roman Road, will be made by a council officer, not councillors.

The area has been long used for informal recreation and by dog walkers.

One objector calls for the planning decision to be taken out of the council’s hands altogether while another reminds the authority: “The site is owned by Dorset Council and councillors and those advising them will be aware that the prospect of a capital receipt is not a material planning consideration and not therefore a factor to take into account when considering this application.”

Said resident Mrs Glenda Fraser: “On a whim, to raise funds, the council proposes selling the land for development, ignoring the objections of the local community and the adopted Local Plan.”

But Dorset Council says it is obliged to sell under-used sites it owns and has no choice in being the judge of the planning application from a developers, even though it will gain financially from the sale of the site.

More than forty objections have been made to the application for houses and flats on a triangular-shaped former pony paddock which is owned by the unitary council, bordered by the Roman and Spa roads and Weymouth Way.

The developers say the homes will help local people, including offering some lower priced flats, and make good use of a piece of redundant land.

But objector, Mr Andrew Heath, in a letter to the planning department, questions the council decision to sell the plot: “These decisions ride roughshod over the opinions of existing residents and are akin to the despotic indifference shown by our so called leader of the free world on the other side of the pond whose prejudices against those with differing opinions are all too apparent at this time.

“I would therefore urge you to reconsider the plans that have been submitted and seek a revision that does not involve the destruction of the wildlife habitats or create the traffic hazards that could lead to life changing injury or even death for those pedestrians who rely on council policies that ensure their safety rather than jeopardising it.”

Included among the objectors to the Devon and Dorset Properties Ltd scheme is Weymouth Town Council.

It says the proposal is outside the development boundary for the area and is not included in the Local Plan for housing. Town councillors were also concerned about the loss of habitat for wildlife, as wlell as the future of a 120-year-old Cyprus tree; extra traffic and the effect on neighbouring homes and nearby roads. Its planning committee said the scheme should have a minimum of 35 per cent affordable homes.

The site, which is west of Roman Road and north of Spa Road, running alongside the Weymouth Way, is proposed for six four-bed detached houses, six semi-detached houses, four one-bed flats and six two-bed flats.

The one-bed flats and two of the two-bed flats will be allocated for ‘affordable’ housing at 70 per cent of the market value.

A planning consultant acting for the company says in his report: “This type of provision has the support of the council’s housing enabling officer who considers there is a shortage of such homes, which allow young people/ first time buyers access to the housing market, in the Weymouth area. There would be a small balancing payment so that the total provision equates to 35% as required by the Local Plan.”

The developer says the scheme contributes towards the area shortfall in the Government housing target of having a five year supply of land for homes.

It says the development has been designed to reflect the character of the Spa area of Weymouth with access partly from Roman Road, which would be extended with a turning head provided, and another entrance in Spa Rd where a mix of properties fronting onto the street are proposed. It believes that the new accesses and additional homes would not create traffic problems in the area. Provision is also being made for a new footpath along the western side of the site connecting Dorchester Rd, Roman Rd and Spa Rd.

“We would submit that this application represents a modest, carefully designed and appropriate response to the development of this sustainable site which has been released for development by the local authority. Indeed its release reflects the instruction from Government contained in the National Planning Policy Framework for local authorities to take a proactive role in releasing their underutilised land for development,” said the planning consultant.

But despite the benefits outlined by the developer a letter to the council from Roman Road resident Mrs Brenda Pickett, reflects the views of many who ask for the plot to remain as it is. She says the site has long been used by dog walkers and for informal recreation with its value recognised in a previous local plan: “It was also designated for Open Space in the 2005 Local Plan, and proposed as a 'Pocket Park' by the Borough Council in the 1990s, for "local people who wish to use the land for recreation purposes.

“It is evident from the responses to this planning application how much local people value and observe all the varied wildlife seen in the field and its immediate surroundings and the role it plays as a habitat for many species,” she says.

There is no provision in planning law for the council not to consider an application on land it owns and may financially, benefit, from. The only exception is large scale strategic applications which may be referred to the Secretary of State for a decision.