Preserving the West Dorset AONB

Final phase of the Duchy of Cornwall's Poundbury development

Dorset CPRE has welcomed new public access rights which have been agreed as part

of the final phase of the Duchy of Cornwall's Poundbury development in Dorchester.

The county branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England had expressed its

concerns about pedestrian and cycle access to the countryside around Maiden Castle

from the development.

But West Dorset planners heard today ( Thursday 15th September) that the CPRE

suggestion of providing access to footpaths via existing farm underpasses and creating

a new Right of  Way had been agreed by the Duchy and would be put in place before

the 1,200 house scheme gets underway.

Fears about the impact of the development on the landscape, another CPRE concern,

have also been largely addressed, by a tree planting scheme along the edge of the

development, running parallel with the A37 relief road.

"We are pleased that the Duchy has listened to people's concerns about access to the countryside from Poundbury and are especially delighted that it has agreed to

implement the paths before building work begins.

"The development will have an impact on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we

knew that when the scheme started back in the late 1980s, but the steps which are

now being taken will, we hope, negate or soften the development when viewed from the

West. Having so many trees and green spaces in this final phase of Poundbury is very

welcome," said CPRE Dorset Director, Trevor Bevins, who attended the planning

committee meeting.

He said that the district council officers appeared to have also taken on board the

suggestion of maximising the level of affordable housing to be included in the scheme.

CPRE had called for this to be at least 35 per cent.

Overall the scheme will provide Dorchester's housing needs for the next 15 years,

amounting to 1,200 homes, a 450-place Primary School and 25,000 square metres of

shops, offices and small factory units. The scheme also allows for improvement to the

Monkey Jump roundabout on the A35.

West Dorset Group AGM

Thank you to everyone who attended the AGM held in the Brownsword Hall, Poundbury, Dorchester on Monday 24th October 2011. Guest Speaker was Matilda Bark. She spoke about current  Projects and developments on the Dorset Coast including Marine Planning.