COUNCILLORS and residents have claimed that plans to relocate the Dorchester Community Church to Poundbury will not provide the community space needed.

The church is set to relocate to a hall adjacent to the new Damers School building on Poundbury from its present site in Dorchester town centre after West Dorset District Council agreed to purchase its existing town centre premises.

However, concerns have been raised that this could mean the Duchy of Cornwall will no longer have to provide a 300 seater community hall, something it is currently required to do by planning obligations.

The fears were first raised at a special meeting of the district council's efficiency scrutiny committee to discuss the church move by local councillor Susie Hosford.

She said that there would be limits on what the hall could be used for if it was owned by the church so it would not be a true community space.

Cllr Hosford added that because the Dorchester Community Church was quite an active church throughout the week, the time it would be available for community use would also be limited.

The Duchy of Cornwall was initially required to provide a 300-seater community facility for Poundbury.

Cllr Hosford said: "What the church would be offering would not be a 300-seater community space, it's a limited community space."

The council is currently carrying out an audit of the community space available in Dorchester, but Cllr Hosford said she was certain there was a need for more in Poundbury.

She said: "The town is getting bigger and we need to provide appropriate community spaces in various localities and there is certainly not adequate community space in Poundbury, it's extremely limited."

Cllr Hosford's views were supported by fellow councillor Jacqui Sewell, who said: "I do not think a church and a community hall are the same thing."

A Poundbury resident, who did not wish to be named, also raised concerns at the prospect of the church hall being seen as fulfilling the requirement for a community space and said other residents felt the same.

He added: "The bigger picture is that there are no big halls in Dorchester.

"We need a large community hall on Poundbury."

The Duchy of Cornwall's estate director for Dorchester Simon Conibear said: "The Duchy will welcome the move of Dorchester Community Church to Poundbury.

"We believe they will make a positive contribution to the community as well as bringing the first dedicated place of worship here, complementing the work of the Quiet Space.

"The Duchy will work with the district council in reviewing all options for future community hall provision at Poundbury in the best interests of the town as a whole.

"A review is currently being undertaken of existing and proposed facilities."