A HORTICULTURAL expert has warned that Dorchester will lose part of its heritage if the planned Charles Street development goes ahead.

Keith Hix, a former lecturer at Kingston Maurward College and county adviser, claimed the scheme will lead to the loss of dozens of mature trees on the existing Charles Street car park.

Mr Hix said that the car park is presently home to 49 healthy mature trees, including one of Dorset’s finest norway maples, and around 150 flowering shrubs.

Plans drawn up for the proposed development show only a fraction of that number will be planted when the car park is converted into a mixed scheme involving shops, flats, a hotel, library and new offices for West Dorset District Council.

Mr Hix, of Manor Road, Dorchester, said: “The destruction of this large number of established trees which have thrived happily for decades in Charles Street’s soil would detract greatly from the character of our town.

“The town is renowned throughout Britain for its greenery and tree-lined streets.

“Local residents, visitors and tourists alike would deplore the loss of this living part of Dorchester.”

Mr Hix added that a secondary issue resulting from the loss of trees and building work on site would be the impact on local wildlife – which included Britain’s largest colony of in-town rooks.

A spokesman for developer Simons said the scheme provided extensive green space and the issue of trees has been covered in depth in an ecology report and tree survey submitted with the planning application.

The tree survey states: “The proposals, while reducing the total number of trees, would seek to replace the tree stock with a longer term and coherent scheme with better quality individual specimens.”

Special projects manager for West Dorset District Council Andrew Martin said: “The impact of the development upon the ecological value of the site is one of many considerations in determining the planning application.

“The applicants have submitted a landscape and visual impact assessment and an ecological survey report.

“Natural England has been consulted and has stated that it is satisfied with the proposed protected species assessments and related ecological reports and has no objection to this aspect of the proposals.

“The applicants have also submitted a Landscape and Public Realm Strategy for new landscape and planting proposals in association with the entire development.”