11:00am Saturday 3rd May 2008
By Sarah Goldthorpe
A WARM welcome and a warm day greeted Prince Charles when he visited Poundbury.
The prince led a group of international ambassadors, policy makers and environmentalists around the site - including Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith.
He gave a presentation to his guests about the urban development he inspired and stopped to chat to residents.
Mary Walker, 73, of Wardbrook Street, went outside to water her garden and got a shock when the Prince walked past and commented on her garden.
She said: "I came out to water the roses and there he was walking along.
"He asked how my back garden was going. I suppose I am lucky to have said hello to him."
Stacey Brook, 32, of Challacombe Street, met the Prince for the second time when he stopped to chat with her at her front door.
Miss Brook said: "He asked me if I liked living here and if we shopped in the local shop.
"He also asked if it was nice living in Poundbury and I said of course'.
"Some people don't take much notice when he is here but other people like to get out and meet him.
"He was very friendly."
In a speech at Brownsword Hall the prince told visitors how he wanted the development to reduce dependency on cars and put pedestrians first.
He said Poundbury showed how high-density housing could also be beautiful.
Visitor Simon Swanston said he was delighted to see the prince while staying with family in Poundbury. He and wife Sue want to move into the latest phase of the development.
Mr Swanston said: "What Prince Charles has done here has just been ignored. But it is just a lovely community."
After touring the houses, the prince visited Poundbury's allotments. He looked at a new wall built around the site and talked to gardeners working there.
Plot-holder Ellen Reading, 67, said: "He was asking what I was putting in here and was making nice remarks about how the whole site has come on. It was wonderful and he is a charming man."
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