A protest walk is being held in Dorchester on Easter Bank Holiday Monday to oppose plans for 3,500 homes on farmland north of the county town.

The walk, due to start at 11am from North Square on April 22nd, will make its way via public paths to part of the area proposed for development via John’s Pond and Blue Bridge footpaths.

Organisers are also encouraging people to sign the online petition against the housing development, chosen by members of the former district council as the preferred option to housing growth in the revised Local Plan.

Kate Hebditch, from the STAND Up for Dorchester! Group, says in the period up to the coming May 2nd elections local people might want to question candidates on their view of the development proposals, which has been formally opposed by Dorchester Town Council.

At the time the scheme was selected for inclusion as a preferred option in the Local Plan the district council argued that it would provide much of the additional housing the Government says the area needs in a location which would offer ready links to the county town and be able to provide 35 per cent ‘affordable’ housing as well as family homes which should be less expensive than others in Dorchester.

The plan proposals includes sites for a new school, supermarket and a medical practise with cycle and walking routes into Dorchester.

The STAND petition is available at –

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stand-save-the-area-north-of-dorchester

Further information about STAND can be found at https://stand-dorchester.net