RESIDENTS from a village near Dorchester voiced their disproval at plans to build dozens of homes in a small Dorset hamlet at a protest held outside Kingston Maurward College.

The college is seeking planning permission to build up to 70 homes across two sites at Lower Bockhampton and an action group has been set up by residents to try and fight the application.

Around 15 members protested outside the college on Monday morning to voice their anger at the proposals as they say the development is too big the village, which is currently made up of just 28 dwellings, will “destroy” the local area which has strong links to education and influenced Thomas Hardy’s writing, and environmental concerns for the nearby River Frome.

Speaking on behalf of the action group, Lynda Pain said: “The protest went very well, we got a lot of support from the staff at the college, and some of the staff didn’t know anything about the plans.

“We felt very positive after and we are hoping it will alert the college to how strongly we are against it. The plans are supposedly to provide funds for the college and while we understand the need for the college to raise money, this is just a short term fix.

“The college is destroying the natural environment around it in what is a very sensitive area and we are trying to protect that.”

The outline plans for the development will be discussed by Stinsford Parish Council at a meeting at Kingston Maurward from 7pm on Tuesday evening.