The 17th January saw the launch of the ‘Dorset Deserves Better’ campaign which aims to change the Dorset Local Plan. In the Plan Dorset Council proposes to build over 39,000 new dwellings – plus roads, car parks & services – which, according to the campaign alliance, encroaches on the Green Belt and famous Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – AONB – together with other locally valued greenfield land.
38 Dorset-based organisations – representing over 20,000 local people – have come together in a Campaign Alliance led by Dorset Climate Action Network (Dorset CAN) to press Dorset Council to re-think its damaging Local Plan.
In an Open Letter delivered to the Leader of Dorset Council, Cllr. Spencer Flower, the Campaign Alliance states that the draft Local Plan would:
- Do great harm to Dorset, through adverse impact on its natural environment, landscape and historical character
- Fall short of meeting the needs of Dorset’s population for the right houses in the right place at the right price
- Fail to face up to the global challenges of climate change and reversing the loss of wildlife.
The Campaign Alliance notes that many respondents opposed the Local Plan. “91 per cent of those represented in the public consultation rejected the development strategy at the heart of the Plan.” Instead, the Alliance suggests ways to transform the Local Plan into a visionary programme that enriches the county and serves the people of Dorset – especially the young and those most in need.
Michael Dower, of Dorset CAN, said: “We sincerely hope to persuade Dorset Council to deliver an optimistic and forward-looking Local Plan that values our landscape, supports environmental regeneration, provides affordable housing for local families, reduces our carbon footprint and encourages a thriving green economy in Dorset. We believe this can be done within the existing regulations and without wholesale destruction of our green spaces. We hope to work with Dorset Council to achieve this.”
Useful links relating to this story:
Interview with Michael Dower from Dorset CAN
Further discussion on the Dorset Local Plan and the ‘Dorset Derseves Better’ campaign (interviews with Alistair Chisholm from ‘Dorset Deserves Better’ campaign and Hilary Jordon from Dorset Council)
To read the open letter go to the Dorset CAN website
