PEOPLE will be asked for their views on a masterplan for future development in Weymouth and Portland.

It comes after a confusing Weymouth and Portland Borough Council vote and a debate on the allocation of housing.

The Local Plan, a joint document drawn up in conjunction with West Dorset District Council, proposes a long-term planning strategy for the next 20 years.

It considers things like housing, employment, community needs and tourism.

The borough’s management committee will send the draft Local Plan to consultation, with an amendment that housing allocation for Markham and Little Francis near Lanehouse rises from 200 to up to 500 homes.

This was despite a plea not to tamper with the document before it went to the public.

The committee was addressed by Councillor Gill Taylor speaking up for Markham and Little Francis and also by representatives from the Westham Crossroads Allotments Association concerned about development there.

The allotments land is protected but could be built on if alternative provision for plots was made and if approved by the government.

Latest household forecasts predict an additional 160 homes a year in Weymouth and Portland over the plan period which is lower than the average rate of 250 a year achieved in the last 20 years.

For this reason the Local Plan allocates land for a greater number of houses than needed.

Sites include Markham and Little Francis, Littlemoor, Lorton Lane, Weymouth town centre and the former Hardy complex on Portland.

Environment and sustainability spokesman Ian Roebuck said the document was an important ‘marker’ for planning applications.

He said the document had been drawn up following numerous meetings and workshops with input from the public, and warned against interfering with that.

Coun Ian Roebuck said: “This plan is a vision of how to have a thriving Weymouth and Portland over the next 20 years.

“Population pressures will drive more elderly into the area but we need to make sure we have the jobs and houses to allow people to bring up their families and lead working lives.

“We can’t survive with a mixture of wealthy retirees and breadline young people.” Coun Kate Wheller said: “I’d like to see the document go in its entirety out to consultation and listen to what residents have to say.”

Committee chairman Mike Goodman was concerned about the housing allocation at Redlands in Littlemoor, which would be ‘overdevelopment’.

He said the original housing allocation for Markham and Little Francis was 500 but this had been reduced to 200 during workshops.

He described the figure as ‘minute’ and called for a vote that it be changed.

Coun Howard Legg asked: “Why tinker with it now?”

Councillors voted for the recommendation with the amendment from Coun Goodman after which Coun Roebuck and Coun Howard Legg questioned if the amendment had been included in the vote.

Coun Goodman said it had and suggested that councillors could ‘call in’ the decision if they so wished.