Setback for open space campaign
11:22am Monday 19th May 2008
Comments (9)REGIONAL planners have ruled out leaving a green space on Portland untouched, despite public protests.
The South West Regional Development Agency is planning to release half the land at Officers Field, Underhill to developers for housing.
Head of regeneration for the agency Bruce Voss added that an area about the size of a football pitch would be retained there for public use under the plans, and that talks with developers were continuing.
He said: "We have development proposals from a range of house builders and are pleased that a number of them want to build to a high environmental standard.
"The next step for us would be to work with the community in terms of making sure the open space that's left is useable."
Mr Voss pointed out that SWRDA gained planning permission to develop the area in 2002.
He added: "The local planning authority felt the plan was an acceptable balance of use for the site.
"Clearly housing, particularly low cost housing, is needed and is of great public benefit.
"The development will preserve a significant area of open space."
SWRDA's area director, Tony Bray, said: "I think our message is that Portland needs affordable housing as well as areas of open space and we have got to get that balance right."
More than 1,500 people signed a petition sent to SWRDA earlier this month objecting to plans to build around 50 homes on the former HMS Osprey site.
Former Portland Mayor, Coun Tim Munro, who has helped lead the campaign to prevent the development, said: "I can't understand SWRDA.
"They seem absolutely determined to build on Officers Field.
"Local lads will not be able to play football there even if some land is retained.
"The area that remains will be surrounded by houses."
He added: "People on the island will continue to campaign against this.
"It seems as though the SWRDA are the big boys and they just want to give the little guys on Portland a good kicking."
Your Say YourDorset Echo
nige, dorchester says...
12:00pm Mon 19 May 08
Mike, Portland says...
2:43pm Mon 19 May 08
underhills last piece of land. I am all in favour of house building but i think this is a step to far, only if all the houses built on this site are social housing can it be justified although i still think it is wrong to build on this site.
simone, weymouth says...
6:00pm Mon 19 May 08
maximus wrote:On the ever growing list of councilors in the regional assembly there is Nigel Reed, but as he has lost this election perhaps they are choosing someone else. It used to be Howard Legg.
So much for consultation with this un-elected, unwanted tax-payer funded quango, a member of which, I believe is our Mr Hollings
Portland nipper, Portland, Underhill says...
6:33pm Mon 19 May 08
There were no families picnicing. No lads playing football. The place was deserted.
Maybe not when you visited nige...My house overlooks the field, I regularly see boys playing footie, Dogs with their dog owners and some people even practice golf on Our Field. So, the day you came was just a coincident that you felt you needed to comment on.
Put yourself in our shoes. there is not 1 patch of flat grass that we can play football or have a run around with a frizbee with our young sons and daughters in underhill. If Houses are erected, then along with the comer homes development (Which was also thrust on us) Portland has no structure to cope with the extra people. I can't get an appointment to see my doctor as it is now, let alone up to a Thousand others. Our schools are full already, let alone up to 350 otherkids... and where will they play??
Portland has a very rarely seen police force, and a council who very rarely spend any money on the island, and one of the poorest wards in the country So Sir... we have every right to defend our small green land. Even if on one occasion, it wasn't being used.
bosun, worldwide says...
7:10pm Mon 19 May 08
well i went to dorchester and on the cricket field by tesco i have only ever seen a few times people playing there mybe if dorchester need some more houses you could build there then i am sure mr nige would be putting up a fight the same as us on sunny portland.
DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire says...
10:07pm Mon 19 May 08
Mike, Portland says...
2:40pm Tue 20 May 08
Portland nipper wrote:I agree with most of the comments made by Portland Nipper but must take him/her to task on his comment about not being able to get a doctors appointment i have never had any trouble getting an appointment & i would go so far as to say that Royal Manor Health Care are first class & we are very lucky to have them & i can only suggest that he/she talks to people living in other areas then he/she might appreciate what we have.
There were no families picnicing. No lads playing football. The place was deserted.Maybe not when you visited nige...My house overlooks the field, I regularly see boys playing footie, Dogs with their dog owners and some people even practice golf on Our Field. So, the day you came was just a coincident that you felt you needed to comment on. Put yourself in our shoes. there is not 1 patch of flat grass that we can play football or have a run around with a frizbee with our young sons and daughters in underhill. If Houses are erected, then along with the comer homes development (Which was also thrust on us) Portland has no structure to cope with the extra people. I can't get an appointment to see my doctor as it is now, let alone up to a Thousand others. Our schools are full already, let alone up to 350 otherkids... and where will they play?? Portland has a very rarely seen police force, and a council who very rarely spend any money on the island, and one of the poorest wards in the country So Sir... we have every right to defend our small green land. Even if on one occasion, it wasn't being used.
Portland nipper, Portland, Underhill says...
7:27pm Tue 20 May 08
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maximus, Weymouth says...
11:52am Mon 19 May 08