Dorset Council Planning Committee met to hear a request from the developers to amend the legal agreement which forbids occupation of any houses at Foundry Lea until the roundabout is opened at Miles Cross. The developers will finance and manage this project.

The developers original request was to be allowed to sell 335 houses for occupation before the roundabout is opened. This had been reduced to 109 made up as follows

Barratts – open market houses 23 / affordables 0

Vistry – open market10 / affordables 76

There were 2 speakers for the proposal – Barratt’s and Vistry . Both insisted they were fully committed to building it and they confirmed that the funding is in place.

Barry Bates spoke against the proposal and the Chair of Symondsbury Parish Council talked through the Council’s opposition.

National Highways and Dorset Highways had indicated that they would not object to the 109 figure which meant that the Councillors voted 8 -1 to accept the proposal.

The Councillors were aware of community concerns and were concerned themselves that it had taken the developers so long to start the Miles Cross roundabout.

ADVEARSE COMMENTS

1. We are grateful to the Bridport News for keeping the issue in the public mind.

2. The developers have behaved in an unacceptable way – they have pushed on building houses and yet shown no urgency in starting the roundabout.

3. We are pleased that our MP has expressed his concern.

4. We remain concerned that the developers will try to renege on the commitment and urge people to maintain the pressure for the roundabout to be built.

Discussion by Councillors – mindful of residents’ concerns / aware of the affordables ‘bribe’ / not convinced as to why it has taken 7 years from OPP to still not have the roundabout / but accepted that Nat Highways and Dorset Council Highways would accept the 109 figures.