At this moment as I write, six children are playing on Fortress Green in Dorchester. Obviously a brilliant amenity that needs keeping.

But this is not my main reason for objecting to the council’s and Magna’s idea about developing recreational open spaces around Dorchester. Is there any sort of covenant on Fortress Green specifying it as a recreational area?

We know Elizabeth Place has such a limitation . I will find out if you can’t. To go on, I think that these proposals are an example of lazy thinking.

Magna and the council see this as an easy way to fill the need for affordable housing. Did they fight that hard to get affordable housing on the Dorchester Prison site?

The developers plead that their developments will not be viable if they build cheaper housing. All the developers are pleading this excuse. I don’t remember any of the local councils making much of a fight for it, only the Dorchester Labour Party made any attempt to help local working people.

Now, no developer is involved, they own the land so, no problem.

Couldn’t be better, flat, easy to develop sites, good access, roads, utilities: a developers dream.

I live in Rampart Walk, but I am not opposing this because of that.

It is simply that Magna and the council seem unable to think outside the box. Why lump all their properties or developments together.

Spreading their property portfolio over the area would be much healthier.

Why not: Look for brownfield sites. Magna has access to finance that many others would not have?

Why not: Buy property for sale locally, or dilapidated sites and redevelop/update and then rent out to tenants or help to buy?

Why not: Offer mortgages. Magna has the facility to borrow and have an endless list of people in need?

Why not: When they sell one of their properties to a sitting tenant, buy two more?

Why not: Develop on the Charles Street site, or would that spoil the view for the WDDC offices, or of course the council could always build on the Borough Gardens?

JOHN SKEVINGTON
Rampart Walk, Dorchester