DEVELOPERS behind plans to build housing on the Thomas Hardye School playing fields in Dorchester have insisted nothing has been set in stone.

They spoke out after hundreds of people attended a drop-in information event at the school on Wednesday evening to discuss the proposals.

The proposals, which include a new link road to serve buses to the school and up to 50 homes, have raised a number of concerns.

Representatives from the school and developers ZeroC were at the information event to speak to residents.

Speaking at the event, Kim Slowe, managing director of ZeroC, said: “I think the point to make is nothing is set in concrete.

“We have got representatives here from the school, the Duchy of Cornwall, the school bus managers, highway engineers and the potential housing developers just to listen to all of the issues.

“All of those issues will then be debated and considered. A revised plan, if indeed one is going to come forward, will be considered and then it will come back to consultation.”

The land in question is being leased from the Duchy of Cornwall. Simon Conibear, estate director, also attended the drop-in event to speak to residents.

He said: “It complies with the master plan that was put forward 20 years for this site, so we are not opposed to it as an idea for solving various problems and meeting housing needs in Dorchester.

“We are here for a consultation and I think it is important for everyone to express their views.”

Residents had been urged to attend the event by campaigner Julie-Ann Booker, who runs the DT Green Spaces Facebook page and opposes the potential development.

She said: “It’s been brilliant that so many people are here. A big pat on the back to DT Green Spaces because we have done more advertising for this than the school, the Duchy or ZeroC.

“We have spoken to a number of people coming out. Everyone seems quite happy to give us their details to be kept informed about what we are going to do to oppose this, which is great.

“This is more than just putting some houses up. It’s about losing an open space that’s used by a large number of people.”

A large number of residents said they were concerned about the traffic implications and potential highway issues.

Alberta Boyce, of James Road, said: “I don’t agree with it. I just think it’s going to spoil the whole area and I think it’s dangerous to the kids, not just up here but the ones on Maiden Castle Road as well.”

Suzanne Hooper, of Camden Way, said: “I think it’s going to be made a rat run through Celtic Crescent. When the buses are taking the children to and fro from school, the public will then go around Celtic Crescent.

"Our access to our road is from Celtic Crescent and that’s going to make a huge difference to a lot of the traffic.

“I’m very disappointed with this meeting because I thought it was going to be a meeting where we could sit down and ask questions.”

Michael Foley, headteacher for the Thomas Hardye School, said he was pleased with the turnout.

He said: “Everybody that I’ve spoken to has had really good questions or constructive comments and even people who have disagreed with the proposal - and obviously several have - what people have said has been very constructive and reasonable.

“I feel as though all those comments do need to be fed back in and considered. There have been several really helpful, really useful suggestions about that I think will improve what we are proposing.

“We have not done this before so we took advice from people about what was the best way to organise this event and for people to get information and talk to each other.”