DELIGHTED residents took to the streets on Saturday to celebrate after controversial plans for a block of flats on their doorstep were thrown out.

Councillors in East Dorset went against the advice of their planning officers and refused proposals to demolish a house and instead build seven flats in Ringwood Road, Ferndown.

Access to the flats would have been via Sherwood Avenue, where residents were up in arms at the scheme.

Around 100 local people signed a petition urging the council not to grant the application and more than 20 letters were also sent in.

Fiona Moorey, whose son James, 13, and ten-year-old disabled daughter Holly play in the street, said: "We are absolutely delighted we have won.

"The committee took into account the issue of the kids playing in the street and the fact that we are a very close-knit community. The whole street united to oppose this application."

Jubilant residents from the street came out to party on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the councillors' decision, as the wet and windy conditions earlier in the day gave way to bright sunshine.

Fiona added: "We invited the whole street and apart from a couple of people who were on holiday, just about everybody said they would come along."

Objections to the plans had highlighted concerns about loss of privacy and light, parking, noise and pollution from traffic and fears that the development would be cramped.

Councillors on the planning committee visited the site before voting 10-1 against the scheme.

Officers had argued the new building would be in keeping with the character of the area and that loss of privacy for neighbouring residents was unlikely to be significant.

First published: May 23