The development of 10 homes in West Stafford has been refused on the grounds that it is unsustainable.

The proposal was discussed by West Dorset District Council planning committee members last week.

Submitted by West Stafford LVA LLP, the proposal sought to build 10 dwellings with associated parking, access and landscaping on the land to the east of Wynd Close and was recommended for refusal.

Case officer David Hodges explained that a survey was carried out within the village of West Stafford to assess the merits of the proposed application, with 69 per cent rejecting it and 17 per cent agreeing, with the remainder being undecided.

The report read that the provision of 10 houses on this site would "fail to comply with the spatial strategy and would also be contrary to the strategic objectives of the Local Plan to provide greater opportunities to reduce car use and to support sustainable, safe and healthy communities with accessibility to a range of services and facilities".

Speaking at the meeting, West Stafford resident, Sandy Tubby, raised concerns over the increase in the number of vehicles to the area if the houses were built.

She added that the village has no shops, no Post Office and all shopping has to be done in other towns.

She also expressed her fear of danger to cyclists who regularly go through the village training for triathlons.

A statement from Mundford Parish Council also opposed the proposal and raised concerns over the the fact that a bus will no longer be running through the village, except the school bus.

Vice-chairman of the meeting, Cllr Nigel Bundy, said: "I know the area, my wife lived in West Stafford for the first 30 years of her life. My in-laws lived there for 60 years.

"It is a lovely village. People don't want it to change. But change is inevitable. But I support the refusal on building on this site on the basis that it is not a sustainable village to put this on."

Cllr Stella Jones added: "If we start saying nothing is sustainable because it doesn't have a bus then we are very soon not going to develop anywhere as so many places are losing their buses."

The application was refused by a majority of seven councillors.