PLANNERS are poised to back a scheme for nine homes on land used for part of Portland Fair, despite claims that it would destroy the character of the area.

The scheme proposes a mix of detached and terrace three and four-bedroom homes and applicants Weymouth and Portland Housing are also offering £7,500 towards improving Victoria Gar-dens for their new residents and the benefit of the local community.

But Chiswell Community Group opposes the development at Bakers Ground, which they say goes against the Local Plan and is 'an exploitation' of their community.

Environmental services director Richard Burgess says in a report to this Wednesday's Weymouth and Portland planning sub-committee that the group feels Bakers Ground has been open space for a long time and an area used for recreation such as the fair.

He says they are worried about problems with access, traffic and overdevelopment and their concerns are shared by the Association for Portland Archaeology, which feels that the development is excessive and will destroy the unique character of Chiswell as a typical old world fishing village.

They are worried that the scheme 'will appear as another estate dumped in the middle of a conservation area', says Mr Burgess, with a design which would be out of keeping with the traditional character of the neighbourhood.

They feel that only five homes built to a more traditional Portland design would be much better, says Mr Burgess, with more discrete parking spaces and some space retained so it can be used for fairs and public events.

But Mr Burgess will advise councillors that the circumstances relating to the development of small areas of land such as this within an urban environment has changed in the last nine years.

He says the Government suggestion now is that more efficient use should be made of such urban land, subject to the use of quality designs and there being no other serious overriding concerns.

Mr Burgess also adds that the site is now a housing allocation and the Weymouth and Portland Local Plan Review suggests that ten units might be possible.

He concludes: "Under these circumstances I am satisfied that the application has demonstrated that nine units can be acceptably accommodated on this site and furthermore the small area of open space, financial contribution towards Victoria Gardens and the proposed six public car parking spaces are, on balance, reasonable when considering policy requirements."

He will recommend members to approve the scheme, subject to 22 conditions including open space, parking, materials, boundary walls, landscaping, access and drainage.