Dorchester residents and organisations have had their say on the draft local plan, highlighting housing developments, car parking and more.

Organisations and residents shared their views during the first consultation between January and March and these can be found on the council's website.

Comments of employment land, retail space, housing - including the controversial development north of Dorchester - and more in the town have been submitted, as well as one resident stating that the plan is "based on the misunderstanding of the basic fundamentals of town planning within the historic countryside".

One resident, Caroline Taylor, said: "The town has done well to preserve its Hardy heritage and the adjacent landscape is a vital part of this. The proposed housing development north of the town would completely destroy this and forever. It it went ahead, those responsible would inflict a great loss on the whole county."

Commenting on the overall plan, especially the north Dorchester expansion, David Copas, said: "It seems like far too large a development in a very short time. It will erode the character of Dorchester as a historic market/county town. The development should be far slower allowing the ton to grow organically and allowing the essential services - shops, schools, police, fire, NHS - to grow steadily to cope with the increase in population. The road system around Dorchester is already chronically overloaded, this will bring it to a grinding halt with a very significant increase in pollution.."

Resident Les Fry commented: "DOR 13 [land to the north of Dorchester] should be completely excluded, the number of houses being allocated to Dorset is far too high and is simply to resolve an over optimistic allocation of houses by the Government. The approach is wrong and has caused significant community upset at its proposal."

Nick Pollock, on behalf of the Duchy of Cornwall, Poundbury, said: "We support DOR 5 Dorchester park and ride site [near the stadium roundabout] under the Dorchester transport and environment plan but consider the allocation should be extended to circa 270 metres the south to the hedge boundary so that the combined land provides for: park and ride, trunk road service area, electric vehicle charging station."

The Dorset Council Local Plan aims to outline the strategy for ensuring the growth that the area needs happens in the right places. This includes housing, retail space, employment land and green spaces.

Councillor David Walsh, Dorset Council portfolio holder for planning, said: "We continue to work on the policies that underpin the plan. This includes research and gathering information to make sure the plan delivers what it needs to for Dorset's next generations.

"I am very proud of the work the team is doing. We have had representations from across the Dorset Council area. There will be a further chance to comment upon the plan before it is voted on by our full council next year."

For more information on the Dorset Council Local Plan, visit dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

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