RESIDENTS have given a mixed response to plans to build 450 new homes on the outskirts of Weymouth.

A consultation event was held at Willowbed Hall yesterday to discuss a 26-hectare development on land east of Chickerell.

This development also includes a primary school and community centre. The strip of land lies between Chickerell and the electricity sub-station behind Wessex Golf Centre.

The consultation saw a variety of views aired and was well-attended by residents.

Carol Dadds, from Chickerell, sat outside the hall with a petition saying no to more housing estates in Chickerell.

She said: “I’m coming at it from the destruction of the environment and wildlife habitat in this area.

“This year in Chickerell there have been over 350 houses built or being built all on green field sites.

“They haven’t thought it through - the increase in traffic. It’s just too much.”

Ms Dadds said she was keen to speak to the developers to ascertain how many people had turned up at the consultation, to compare against the number of signatures collected.

When asked what she would do with the petition, she said: “I will probably send it to the town council and the district council and try to urge these people to write in individual letters.”

Barry Gasson, 68, from Podington Meadows, Chickerell, said he hadn’t received the answers he wanted.

He said: “They’ve gone against everything that the public wanted and the council have told them. I think it’s a bit of a worthless exercise coming here.”

Meanwhile, Terry Stone, 67, from Chickerell, said he was in favour of the development.

He said: “I hope that local youngsters will have the opportunity to buy houses in the village.

“If they can cover a whole range of people - youngsters, the elderly and first time buyers - I think it will be a good thing.”

The Pegasus Group are the developers behind the proposal. Representatives from Persimmon Homes, the client, were at the consultation yesterday.

Paul Bedford, senior land and planning manager at Persimmon Homes, said they had received a ‘polite’ response.

He said: “There’s been a lot more people here than we expected, which is good.

“Most people realise the site is allocated in the local plan so the principle is established.

“Most of the questions have been about drainage, traffic, schools and community facilities, which isn’t surprising.

“They are not going to change the principle (of the plan) but there’s certainly scope to change the details.”

A further consultation will be held after the plans are submitted to the council.