PLANS for a slurry lagoon close to the heart of a village near Dorchester have been approved despite strong objections from local residents.

Crossways villagers unhappy at the proposals for a slurry pit measuring 48.5metres by 24.5m at Summer Farm off Warmwell Road packed into a meeting of West Dorset District Council’s development control committee to make their feelings known about the application.

The committee was told that the nearest residential property was just 48m from the site of the proposed slurry lagoon, while properties in Old Farm Way were 72m away.

Councillors heard from local residents who had concerns about potential toxic gases coming from the slurry pit as well as the potential odours.

Old Farm Way resident Gay Pusey said: “We are seriously concerned about the lack of consideration for the dangerous gases which could result in fatalities should this proposal go ahead.

“The residents have come together to fight this outrageous proposal.

“We believe the lagoon is too large and should be located well away from residential properties.”

An application for the slurry lagoon was first submitted last summer but was soon withdrawn before being re-submitted with an attached odour management plan.

Vice-chairman of Crossways Parish Council Nigel Bundy said: “This and the previous withdrawn applications are the most contentious planning applications that have come before the parish council in recent times.

“The parish council and Crossways community strongly object to this application.”

Robert Paley, representing the applicant Robin Joyce, said that the farmer was legally obliged to provide the slurry pit as the current disposal facilities were deemed inadequate.

He said that if the scheme was not approved Mr Joyce could be forced to cease his dairy farm operations at Summer Farm, which has been in use for over 100 years.

In relation to the size of the proposed slurry lagoon Mr Paley said: “This is the size that has been calculated that is required to deal with the amount of slurry.”

He added: “The total elimination of odour is an impossibility in a farming area.

“This is a predominantly agricultural area.”

Despite concerns raised by some members of the committee, councillors approved the application with six members voting in favour and four against the proposed lagoon.