The recent appeal decision on Curtis Fields reflects the mayhem that this government has introduced into planning.

Will it help to solve local housing problems? Not much.

The Inspector’s report clearly says that the problem in Weymouth and Portland is the gap between house prices, rental levels and incomes. But then goes on to note “building more houses will not necessarily resolve the problem in itself”. Have local people been allowed their say?

The WEY 10 proposal to allow building on Curtis Fields drew the most objections in the draft Local Plan.

And Labour councillors voted to keep Curtis Fields outside the development boundary.

Is it premature to grant in favour of this development? In her findings, the Inspector states that the “it cannot be guaranteed that draft Policy WEY 10 will be adopted as there are understood to be local objections to it”.

But then goes on to grant the appeal to build on the same piece of land covered by WEY 10.

We need fair rents, we need reform of the housing market and we need development by plan, with public consent, not by appeal.

Lucy Hamilton Cllr, Westham West Weymouth