A neighbourhood plan for the Piddle Valley has been approved – but has already been corrected because of an error at the time of the referendum.

The majority of the 21 per cent of eligible residents who voted in April said ‘yes’ to the plan which will help shape future development in the area.

West Dorset District Councillors were told on Thursday (10th) that an area of land East of the Old Rectory at Alton Pancras had been incorrectly described when the vote was taken.

The description said that the space “is used for many local events by Alton Pancras residents and on occasions also for the wider Piddle Valley community”.

However, district councillors were told that the site has only been used infrequently at the invitation of the owner. The wording will now be amended to reflect this and has already been approved by a valley parish council meeting held within a week of the referendum.

On the day of the referendum, April 19th, just two out of ten eligible residents voted - only 217 people.

Of those who did cast their vote 75 per cent were in favour of the plan and 25 per cent against.

The exercise has not been fully costed but an estimate, given to councillors, puts the expense of the referendum and the time of an Inspector who assessed the plan at up to £10,000.

Council officer Trevor Warwick said that the day-long referendum was likely to have cost between £3,000 and £5,000, with a similar sum for the time of the examiner. The figure does not account for officer time at West Dorset District Council or for the time of Piddle Valley councillors and others who collated the document.

Mr Warwick, the Spatial Policy and Implementation Manager, told councillors that Neighbourhood Plans for larger areas would cost significantly more than the maximum grant available of £20,000.

The plan has been almost three years in preparation and was submitted to an independent examiner in 2016.

A news release issued by West Dorset District Council after Thursday’s full council meeting made no direct mention to the error in the Plan at the time people voted on it, although it was pointed out to councillors at their meeting in Dorchester.

In their statement Cllr Ian Gardner, West Dorset District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: “The Piddle Valley Neighbourhood Plan is the fourth to be approved In West Dorset. It takes enormous hard work and commitment to produce a plan and I congratulate all those involved.”

The Piddle Valley Neighbourhood plan will now be used alongside West Dorset District Council’s adopted local plan, when making planning decisions in the parish area.

The plan can be seen via the website dorsetforyou.gov.uk.