DORCHESTER Town Council has recommended that plans for the former Dorchester prison site should be rejected – as residents had their say on the scheme.

The council's planning and environment committee agreed to recommend rejecting the plans on several grounds.

The main issue of contention was that the plans contain no affordable housing with councillors saying this goes against local planning regulations which state new developments should have 35 percent affordable housing.

However, developers City and Country said that to make it viable to provide affordable housing, there would have to be more units on the site.

The plans are for 190 homes and a commercial unit, with the listed gatehouse to be retained to house either a museum or an interpretive space.

Residents and councillors also raised issues including the impact of traffic on Friary Hill and the Bow as well as objecting on grounds of only one entrance for traffic.

Members of the public also called for St Peter's Church and the Corn Exchange to be protected from any potential damage from the development.

There was also concerns raised over the fact the development could potentially overbear on residents in North Square.

One previous issue had been the inclusion of the commercial unit but associate director at City and Country Richard Winsborough confirmed that the firm will be amending the plans to remove the unit.

Resident, Anna Killick, said that without the affordable housing, young people from the town could be left with nowhere to live.

She said: "For me, this town is a community but I'm not sure it will continue being a community for that much longer if we don't have some affordable housing for people."

Cllr Andy Canning said: "This town and West Dorset desperately needs affordable housing.

"I think we have to reject on the ground that there is no affordable housing.

"It's just not acceptable."

Chairman of the committee Susie Hosford acknowledged that the committee and the town do want to see something done with the site just not with the lack of affordable housing.

As well as recommending rejection on grounds of the lack of social housing and the lack of a traffic entrance and the overbearing on North Square, the council made requests for the site.

These included an archaeological dig under the site and any trees that are dug up as a result of the development are replaced one for one.

A further consultation took place yesterday (Thursday) at the prison with the developers.

The event was once again busy and Mr Winsborough associate director and City and Country was once again happy with the turnout and just how much people care about the site.

He said: "We're really dealing with something special here.

"They're such incredible buildings but not just the buildings, Dorchester too is something special."

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