BRIDPORT: Town councillors have accused Vearse Farm developers of failing to consult on plans for the 70 hectare site.

Hallam Land Management is planning to build 760 new homes with allocation of land for a primary school, a care home, business units and open space.

At their meeting on Tuesday But town councillors (Jan 27) say the developers haven’t done what the district council asked them to – that is consult with local town and parish councils.

Cllr Ros Kayes said: “I know the developers were tasked by district to prepare a master plan in consultation with the local parish councils.

“This hasn’t happened and it essentially gives the developers a carte blanche to do what they want.

“I wonder the reason why they haven’t done it is because the council has asked serious questions about plans for that site.

“It seems to me singularly anti democratic pathway to have taken.

“If there is development it needs to provide affordable houses and jobs before it provides anything else - not just nice bijou houses for people from London to come and buy, doubling the population of the town without any appropriate infrastructure.”

Cllr Dave Rickard said: “I think we need to go back to West Dorset District Council and make repeated strong claims that the developers have failed to comply.”

Councillors agreed the developers should be asked to talk to the council and the new neighbourhood plan steering group.

Town clerk Bob Gillis was keen to see the developers talk to the neighbourhood plan committee.

He said: “It was always envisaged that the neighbourhood plan group would have a big influence on the delivery of the site. So it is important to involve the group in all aspects.”

But some councillors thought the neighbourhood plan was nowhere near advanced enough to be helpful.

Cllr Kayes said: “The neighbourhood plan committee unfortunately is in such early days it hasn’t formulated what it wants.

“If it had started two or three years and had come up with concrete proposals then it might have been able to be in a better position to say this is what the community wants. But it hasn’t got that far.”

Cllr Sarah Williams added: “We should ask the developers to consult as widely as possible with everybody on something that is going to affect Bridport for centuries.”

Andy Birch, area manager for Hallam, said: “The proposal at Vearse Farm has been in the public domain for a number of years and is an identified site in the draft West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Joint Local Plan.

“The Local Plan is yet to be adopted although the Inspector's report is expected soon. It is only recently, as the Local Plan is now nearing a conclusion, that we have turned our minds to a planning application, and with that, public consultation.

“We have over the last few years gathered a wide range of technical information in order to support the proposed allocation and in turn a planning application, but we have only recently begun to draw up proposals for the site.

“As we advised the inspector and those who attended the Local Plan examination hearing sessions in December, we are keen to consult with town and parish councils; local people; the Neighbourhood Plan steering group; and district and county council officers before an application is submitted."