LITTLEMOOR residents have raised concerns over a compound that has sprung up to serve as a base for archaeological works ahead of the proposed Weymouth Relief Road.

Locals have been taken aback by the size of the development and suggested that work on the road might already be under way, even though it is yet to get official government approval.

Dorset County Council is still waiting for the results of a public inquiry into compulsory purchase and side road orders before it gets the official go-ahead for the £84 million scheme.

Esmee Nicholls, who lives near the compound in Bayard Road, said: "I think the new road is a good thing but they should at least tell us the truth and put us in the picture.

"It's a pretty extensive site just for archaeological works. It's obviously the beginning of the new road even though they haven't got the green light, it's obviously going to go ahead anyway.

"I'm sure they are not just doing an archaeological dig with all those people working up there seven days a week."

Norman Kyte, who lives in Coppice Court, was also shocked by the scale of the development.

He said: "I am surprised at the size of it, I thought it was just going to be a couple of cabins but now there's about 50 people up there and containers all over the place. At first I thought there was a circus going on up there."

Not all local residents were upset by the compound that has suddenly sprung up in their neighbourhood.

Mary Byrne, who lives across from the site in Nuthatch Close, said: "I can't see that it's doing any harm, I am surprised at the size of it but if it's going to be for the bypass then there will probably be people living on the site. I have lived here a long time and the relief road has always been on and off. I don't really see the point in it but if it's going to happen I just hope they get it done."

Irene Key, who also lives opposite, said: "We weren't told anything about it - at first somebody said they were building a petrol station there.

"It's a bit of a nuisance and a bit noisy, but we're not too bothered by it."

Dorset County Council head of highways Andy Ackerman said: "At this stage, the site compound is being set up purely for the archaeological investigations.

"No other work will start on the relief road until the outcome of the public inquiry into the compulsory purchase of land needed for the road, which we expect at the end of September.

"Getting the compound up and running is very important, it means that we will be in a position to start the archaeological investigations in the autumn, and that the proposed road building programme can be achieved."