Letters

Letters Strange and questionable assertions

Thank you for your excellent article in Edition No. 23 describing frustrations local groups are feeling with the lack of any response by Dorset Council to the 9,000 people that made the effort to respond to the publication of the draft Local Plan. No detailed feedback nor any sign of an amended draft in almost two years since the consultation period closed is simply not good enough. As quoted in your article, Cllr Walsh makes some strange and questionable assertions. He states that the “North Dorchester Garden Community is already part of the adopted West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland local plan and is part of the future of Dorset.” Really? According to Dorset Council’s own website, development north of Dorchester was first included in the 2018 Review of the (2015) Adopted Local Plan, when it was greeted by strong opposition. This opposition was ignored and a bid for Garden Community status was subsequently submitted. There was no mention of development north of Dorchester or a North Dorchester Garden Community in the 2015 adopted West Dorset Local Plan. Stating the development is already “part of the future of Dorset” proves Cllr Walsh’s determination to build these 4,000 non-affordable houses whatever the concerns expressed by local people and authorities such as Wessex Water and the Environment Agency. Such predetermination cannot be in the interest of the people of Dorset and is contrary to codes of conduct. It is also quite wrong to suggest that STAND, a group that has consistently opposed development north of Dorchester, is in any way compliant with “the placemaking work for the development.” Cllr Walsh banned so-called pressure groups from contacting Dorset Council planners directly, so representatives of STAND attended three Dorset Council workshops to understand exactly what is proposed. During the workshops, we stated our continued opposition and raised such vital issues as the threat to Dorchester’s water supply and increased risk of flooding to people’s homes in the northeast of the town. What is required is a truly community-led Local Plan that provides affordable housing where it is needed. Not a new town, the size of Wimborne, which threatens the viability of Dorchester itself. We also need to be able to rely on the veracity of comments expressed by our elected

Fruits of Peter’s labour

Since 2012, I have been growing my own full-size pineapples in my conservatory. This one is pineapple Number 4. All you do is plant the bit you throw away anyway, and after about two years of looking after the plant that it becomes, it starts pushing out a pineapple from the middle. I then start feeding it with tomato fertiliser. When it is full-size, I cut it off its main stem, and start the routine again, but plant the green top. Before you ask , yes it tastes lovely and sweet! By the way the free, West Dorset Magazine is brilliant. Yours, an 81-year-old pensioner Peter Pinker Bridport representatives. Neil Matthews Hon. Secretary, STAND (Save the Area North of Dorchester)

Dorset local plan – north of Dorchester Yes, time flies. I was first involved with this development scheme nearly 40 years ago. The then Dorset County and West Dorset District Councils pushed for this developer-led scheme in the 1980s. As the then Chair of the Dorchester Civic Society – it is still battling today – I called a public meeting and formed a campaign group – Cokers Frome Action – which forced the councils to approach the Duchy of Cornwall who, we were told, ‘...will never agree to releasing land ..’ The DCS' action group focused on land west of the town, now Poundbury, in view of its proximity to existing roads, services (water, sewerage etc) schools and hospital. Suddenly the Duchy and their design guru Leon Krier proposed a ‘hilltop village as seen in Italy’. This interesting and highly sought-after development is now a magnet for well-off retirees and younger professionals, and is now serviced by a primarily local-born work force. This popularity has raised house values beyond the purse of many of the indigenous young people. The Duchy has however provided a good percentage of affordable housing, including to-let social homes. The Norchester proposal will

Letters made by councillor on the Local Plan

have such staggering costs including a new road – the A35 to A37 link – and the full costs ad initio of the needed shops, schools for all ages, medical services (will doctors and shopkeepers risk founding businesses until fully developed? etc. As happens too often the percentage of affordable housing then has to be lowered to prove viability. Viability never was possible on this site. The link road proposed is in the style of Middle Farm Road at Poundbury. But it will have to take a large proportion of the through-traffic that no longer uses our overloaded by-pass and prefers the rat-run of Dorchester High Street. How will residents of Norchester reach all the shops, services etc if not by car? How safe will it be for school children to walk across the water meadows in the winter darkness if the proposed new schools are absent? The proposal is a non-starter that does not address the town centre's existing problems. Also it fails the need of the town for affordable housing for local people and a vibrant economy that works in harmony with the character and vital importance of its historic, landscape and literary settings. Having received Government funding to assist this scheme, Dorset Council still has not decided if this ‘garden village’ is a suburb or a free-standing town. Is it Milton Abbas or Milton Keynes ? Anthony Gannon Dorchester latest edition and must reply to the letter from Dave Edwards from Bridport who says that our MP, Chris Loder, only replies to constituents who are Tories. I am absolutely not a Tory voter, something I have made very clear in my communications to Mr Loder. I regularly write to Mr Loder (particularly so during the Boris Johnson premiership) and always received a reply, albeit it was sometimes a bit delayed. I couldn’t have been clearer in my emails to him during that time about my huge concern (and often considerable anger) about Mr Johnson’s behaviour, his fitness to hold high office and the damage (as I saw it) that he was doing to the

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk

country. I am certainly no fan of Chris Loder or his politics, but I am someone who tries to be fair. Heather Bland Alton Pancras

With reference to a letter from David Edwards subject Chris Loder. I do not like to see injustice, I am not a Tory and was helped recently with a problem from Chris when no one else could. So I suggest you write or email your local MP, do not be put off by a biased comment. David Ranger

In the cusp of austerity, many people will be considering spreading their meagre resources around to deal with today's cost of living crisis. I have taken the time to explain how we can continue to feed our garden birds with little more than everyday waste. You can feed garden birds and reduce food waste by using over-ripened fruit chopped up, peas, sweet corn and mashed potatoes, breakfast cereals and raw oats, unsalted nuts (crushed), bacon fat, grated cheese (not soft cheeses), cooked pasta pasta and rice without sauce. A boiled egg is considered a treat, leave the shell on, crush it up and serve. For best results look at what is being eaten by your garden birds, different species eat different food. Start with a little and increase until there is virtually nothing left by late afternoon. If possible, buy the cheaper bird feed with plenty of wheat which goes down a treat with sparrows and wood pigeons. You may attract a grey squirrel to your table – but they feel hunger too. Hygiene is of the utmost importance, it doesn't cost anything and clearing away uneaten food before it goes mouldy along with cleaning out your drinkers on a regular basis will help prevent diseases being spread. Stale bread, crusts, cakes and biscuits broken up along with anything else you may consider is worth trying. If the birds don't eat it, stop and try something else. Our song birds are decreasing at a worrying pace, I cant imagine a world without a dawn chorus. Mike Fry, Poole PS: So glad things worked out all right with your dog.