SUPPORT is still coming in for a campaign to protect Dorchester's archaeology from the threat of development.

The Defend Our Rich Cultural Heritage (DORCH) campaign group was launched after concerns that developers Simons were pressing ahead with the second phase of the county town's Charles Street development without a proper archaeological investigation.

An online petition was set up and has now attracted more than 3,700 signatures and counting.

The petition is calling on West Dorset District Council (WDDC) to ensure that Simons carry out extensive archaeological investigations before the site is developed.

English Heritage was among the organisations to support the campaign as support came flooding in for the petition and the efforts to protect the county town's history.

Jerry Bird, who organised the petition, said: "I am very pleased with the way in which the petition has garnered so much support, both locally, nationally, and even from overseas.

"It has raised the profile of Dorchester's archaeology and alerted many professional bodies and experts to this potentially damaging situation.

"It is vital that we keep up a sustained effort to remind the council and the developers of their obligations to investigate, record and conserve Dorchester's unique archaeological heritage wherever it is impossible to preserve it in situ."

Mr Bird was keen to point out that the petition and those supporting the campaign were not against the principle of development of the Charles Street site in principle.

They were purely concerned at ensuring any development was carried out with proper respect for the archaeology that lies beneath the historic town.

Mr Bird said: "The development is, in fact, a wonderful opportunity to excavate a large town centre site, an opportunity which we may not ever have again on this scale."

Expert support for the campaign has previously come from former county archaeologist Laurence Keen, while another archaeologist and Dorchester resident Mike Trevarthen has added his voice to the efforts.

He said in an objection letter to West Dorset District Council: "Reductions in heritage-related development costs must be achieved through sympathetic design solutions that viably preserve heritage assets in-situ, rather than by expedient reductions in the requirement for developers to offset the historic environment impacts of their proposals.

"To sanction the latter is unacceptable.

"It would deny the acknowledged interest of this and future generations in the archaeological significance of the site."

Mr Bird added: "If WDDC are allowed to get away with this it would set a dangerous precedent both for the future heritage of Dorset and, possibly for the country."

Developers Simons has told the Echo it was holding discussions with stakeholders and hopes to find a ‘mutually acceptable way forward’ for the site.

For more information on the DORCH campaign visit facebook.com/savedorch