Save The Area North of Dorchester hangs banner in town centre after it is removed by Dorset Council

As reported, the banner was hung in South Street by STAND campaign group (Save The Area North of Dorchester) before being promptly removed by Dorset Council on Thursday morning.

The council says the banner does not conform to its rules, which state only charity and community event notices can be displayed, and that it is "unimpartial."

But STAND argues the proposed housing development - which is several times larger than Poundbury, on an historic area of countryside - is arguably the most important community event to happen to the town for a generation.

The red and yellow areas show the size of the proposed development Picture: STAND

STAND also said it is doing the council a favour, because the banner encourages people to take part in the authority's own Local Plan consultation.

And in an act of "undiluted mischief," after reclaiming the banner from the council on Friday, the group has hung it up once more in the centre of town.

"I'm not sure how long it will stay up for," said Dorchester councillor and STAND member Alistair Chisholm. "But it is important that people understand what is being proposed - this is a huge development and would mean Dorchester will be forever changed - from a small market town into an urban sprawl.

The banner is back! Picture: Gerald Duke

"The scale of the issue reflects the scale of the development - we're not talking 50 new homes tucked into a corner - the plan is to build more than 4000 houses - it is absolutely massive.

"It's important people realise how vast this is.

"Our main aim at STAND is to ensure people are aware of what is going on. In a way I think that Dorchester is being dumped on in order to fulfil the Government's housing criteria for Dorset. However it is vital that we use all available brownfield sites before carving up the countryside."

View of the proposed development area, which received a dusting of snow today Picture: Ellie Maslin

The current Dorset Local Plan consultation document suggests that Dorchester's Charles Street car park could potentially be used for retail space in an expansion of the town centre.

Mr Chisholm said this does not reflect the fact that town centres are in decline, and that sites such as this would be better used for housing.

"I'm not against house building," he added. "However the proposed new homes will not solve the shortage of affordable housing for local people - what we have is not a housing crisis - it is an affordability crisis.

"There will be many people in this county, who work bloody hard, possibly having to do two jobs, who won't have a hope in hell of affording the new homes being built there."

Under Government rules, developers are allowed to charge up to £250,000 for 'affordable' homes built in areas outside of London.

The proposed development land during today's snow Picture: Ellie Maslin

Mr Chisholm also expressed concerns about the Local Plan document - which sets a blue print for developments in the county until 2038.

"People who made objections to the Local Plan that was drawn up in 2018 by the former West Dorset District Council will need to resubmit their comments as these will not be counted," he said.

"That's around 1400 people who will need to write in again."

Meanwhile, fellow STAND member Gerald Duke said: "I would like to be referred to the policy that prompted Dorset Council's uncharacteristically prompt actions."

Cllr Gerald Duke

Commenting on the banner's removal, councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council Portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “We grant the permission for banners to be installed over the highways. These banners should only promote community or charity events.

"Permission was refused as the content of the banner was not promoting community or charity events. We advised the group before it was displayed that the banner would be removed if installed.

“We want as many people as possible to take part in the Dorset Council Local Plan consultation. We have displays in empty shop windows in Dorchester, and many other towns across Dorset, to make sure people are aware of the plan and how they can have their say. There are also paper copies available as part of the click and collect offer of our libraries.”