A PETITION to save a Dorchester garden wall from being taken down has started.

The wall, adjacent to the One Stop store in Kings Road has twice been refused planning permission by Dorset Council – although some town councillors agree it is an improvement over the previous structure.

It came to attention because of rules which protect walls, fences and other boundary structures in the county town's Conservation Area, with any changes needing planning consent before changes are made.

In the case of the Fordington wall the old wall, with crumbling brickwork, was taken down and rebuilt before planning consent from Dorset Council was applied for.

A retrospective request to the unitary council for consent was refused with council officers saying the wall should be taken down and rebuilt, using the original bricks, if possible.

A more recent application asked for the wall to remain in place but with the wooden panels which top the brickwork removed and making changes to the new gate. That too was rejected.

Fordington resident Thomas Harris has now started a Change.org petition to save the wall.

In his post he says that demolition would add unnecessarily to landfill and would increase the costs to the owner.

"In a time when budget cuts are prevalent, it seems counterproductive to spend money on unnecessary demolition.

The old wall.

"Our council should opt for preservation and conservation, not destruction. Help us to save the newly built Fordington wall and protect the environment and save our council funds. Please sign this petition to voice your support," said Mr Thomas.

To date, in less than a week, the petition has attracted 120 people in support.

The petition can be found on the Change.org website at https://chng.it/2k2yPtmd5Z