THE Dorchester Civic Society is encouraging as much public debate as possible prior to the next stage of the local plan.

The society remains anxious over the next stage of the West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Joint Local Plan and believes that councils should define a broad strategy for Dorchester and it hinterland, looking at opportunities in all the main settlements and making the most of the strong synergy that exists between Dorchester and Weymouth.

The local plan highlighted that growth options for Dorchester were being reviewed, with the need to identify additional land.

The report read that the inspector highlighted that considering growth options at Dorchester is "a crucial, albeit difficult, matter for the councils to resolve but one which it is vital to address when examining options for further growth".

A consultation on the document ended in April.

Anthony Gannon from the committee said: "We feel strongly that a community-based approach is needed which aims to resolve

existing problems and strengthen what is valued in Dorchester and its surrounding villages.

"The small towns and villages have a positive role to play and there needs to be a discussion about whether any new housing would be welcomed, for example to help support local facilities such as schools.

"The society has set out in its statement what it considers are the main issues and has asked several questions, particularly relating to how many houses out of the total needed in the two council areas are specifically needed in the Dorchester area.

"The society would like to know if local people agree with its position statement and the issues raised, and would encourage local communities and interest groups to discuss the matter locally."

In their response to the councils, the society said it was "essential that the green spaces around Dorchester are protected and not allowed to become degraded and ‘municipalised’".

The society is anxious to encourage as much public debate as possible prior to the next stage when the councils will be asking for comments on specific housing allocations.

Trevor Warrick, spatial policy and implementation manager at West Dorset District Council and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “The ‘issues and options’ exhibitions for the local plan review were well attended with over 1,700 people visiting the 10 events. We have also had a good response to the consultation with submissions received from over 900 residents and organisations.

“We are currently processing and reviewing the responses to this round of consultation and these will inform the next stage, which will be to develop a set of ‘preferred options’. We aim to produce a summary report on the ‘issues and options’ consultation in summer 2017 and hope to consult on the ‘preferred options’ in early 2018.”