RESIDENTS in Chickerell are urging developers and local authorities to invest in the community’s infrastructure as the area ‘struggles to cope’ amid large-scale housing developments.

More than 1,000 homes are being built in the booming west Dorset community with around a third already completed or nearly finished.

Now, a group of residents have gathered together to call on builders and local authorities to not only invest money into the infrastructure of the village so that it can cope with a huge increase in population, but to also complete work during development.

In the previous two local plans more than 1,000 homes were designated to be built in Chickerell. In 2006, up to 330 homes planned – between 60 and 70 at Flood’s Yard near the Fleet, and another 260 homes on Putton Lane.

In the 2011 local plan, 850 homes were pencilled in to be built at Bank and Ridge Farms on the northern edge of the village. This will take the amount of new homes in Chickerell to an estimated 1,170.

A consultation on the plans for the latest development is currently being held by C G Fry and Son, and residents decided to voice their concerns to encourage more people participate in the consultation.

Residents say the current drainage systems are not good enough to cope with the population increase with increased fears of flooding, the road system and public transport is below standard, there are not enough school places, people would not be able to access healthcare at local GPs, there is no supermarket and there are not enough open spaces.

Lee-Ann Carter, one of the campaigners, said: “There are no facilities at all.

“The school at the moment is already overcrowded with a lot of children there, and with these homes there would be even more children that would need school places.

“There isn’t a supermarket and not enough shops, we struggle to get a doctor’s appointment now never mind at the end of the development.

“The infrastructure is just not good enough to add all these homes on to as well.”

Mandy Murphy, of Grebe Close, said: “We just don’t have the right amenities. They should be building the infrastructure as the developments are being built, not right at the end.”

Ralph Nubeebuckus, who manages the Lugger Inn, said: “The water pressure is notoriously low in Chickerell and with more housing, more water will be consumed decreasing the pressure still.

“I’m also worried about the electricity supply.

"We have a lot of power cuts in Chickerell and that needs to be sorted as that would also be a problem.”

Julie Cleaver, a resident of Chickerell, added: “We want to know what the developers have planned for the local infrastructure."

“We struggle to cope now, and we will so even more if the infrastructure is not improved, but we want to know what is being planned for it, and what residents can do to help.”

The consultation on the Bank and Ridge farms development will close on Thursday.

For more information visit cgfryandson.co.uk/info

Issues are being considered

TWO local councillors have attempted to reassure the community they are addressing the issues.

Chickerell Town Council, West Dorset District Council and Dorset County Council have been in talks with developers and other organisations interested in setting up in the village.

Cllr Ian Gardner, who represents the village at district and county level, said: “As part of the local plan inquiry, the inspectorate had to be satisfied that there was provision for schools, health centres and everything else.

“A site has been provisionally allocated for a new school, a site has been provisionally allocated for a health centre, there’s provision for more open spaces and allotments and provision for burial grounds.

“All these things have been and are being considered. The developers will provide the infrastructure.

“We can’t be precise on what and where at the moment, because it’s in the negotiation phase, but everyone is aware of the need to provide infrastructure.”

Mayor of Chickerell John Worth added: “We have got it all in hand. We reviewed what Chickerell needs and what the future infrastructure should be.

“A lot of these things we can’t talk about at the moment because it’s confidential, but we have talked about all of the issues that have been bought up. Companies and organisations are interested in potential sites, but there are ongoing negotiations.”