CONCERNED residents of Moreton have said proposals to create four quarries and develop 900 homes is putting the area in 'jeopardy'.

As reported in the Echo, plans which could see four quarries totalling 150 hectares and the construction of hundreds of home have been described as "crazy and ridiculous" by residents, who have said it would completely destroy the village community.

Speaking at a consultation event at Moreton Village Hall yesterday, Mike Garrity, Dorset County Council's team leader of the county's mineral and waste team, said: "We are here to today to pick up some people's concerns about the quarries in the area. There are concerns surrounding the proposed site which is the resting place of T.E. Lawrence.

"The sites we are planning on using will not go through Moreton, they would use other roads. Moreton shouldn't be directly affected by the quarry traffic.

"At this stage it is just a consultation. We need to address the key concerns of the residents and give people more of an idea and explain more about the process before any decisions are made."

Neighbours Beverley Rooney, Vicky Andrews and Pat Parnell, who live near Moreton train station, said they were 'devastated' about the proposals.

Ms Rooney said: "It is the access that is our main concern and the additional traffic. Two quarries are on the same road so there will be a huge increase in traffic. We were told there would be one additional lorry every three minutes.

"The proposal of the 900 homes worries me too. Who is going to want to live in these homes in an area that has so many working quarries?

"Dorset is famous for its Jurassic Coast and its history.

"This area attracts a lot of tourists. The Lawrence of Arabia site is history and people come to visit it. What is this going to do to tourism?

"Everything this area is known for is in jeopardy."

Ms Andrews said: "It seems to be quite excessive for a small attractive area. Where we live you see a lot of people walking down towards the station. It will be dangerous for them with lorries coming down all the time. There isn't a path on one part, which is dangerous enough - with the increase in traffic I worry what could happen."

Ms Parnell said: "The only positive I can see is that it will create more jobs in the quarries.

"We are being a bit overwhelmed."

Ms Rooney added: "I can't seem to see any positives. It will give jobs but it will also take jobs away. I can't see the caravan site by us doing well following this."

A Moreton quarries petition against the proposal has been set up and will be discussed at the next Moreton Parish Meeting on Thursday September 10 from 7pm at Moreton Village Hall.