Campaigners opposed to a major housing development quizzed council representatives at a roadshow.

Protestors from Advearse, a group opposed to the Vearse Farm development in Bridport, attended a Local Plan Review roadshow to air their views to West Dorset District Council officers.

Advearse says members were left unsatisfied with responses from WDDC about the development – for up to 930 homes- and regard the Local Plan Review (LPR) to be ‘an abject failure.’

The group is unhappy the LPR has increased the number of houses it wishes to be built in West Dorset from the ‘objectively assessed’ number of 15,880 to 19,016, which ‘significantly exceeds projected need.’

The West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Local Plan review, which covers which sites are suitable for development in West Dorset, took place in early 2017 on the issues and options available.

As a result, a ‘Preferred Options’ document was produced and has since been put out for consultation.

Part of the plan covers land at Vearse Farm and identifies the site's capacity to deliver 930 homes, as opposed to the 760 first envisaged.

Advearse accuses the LPR of having ‘sneaked in’ plans to increase the number of houses at Vearse Farm and has criticised the fact the site involves an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), claiming it to be ‘a national scandal.’

An Advearse spokesman said: “The LPR proposes a gross excess of the wrong houses in the wrong place for the wrong people and the wrong reasons. Rather than being properly strategic, WDDC are throwing expensive free-market houses at the crisis while admitting they know this will not make it go away.”

The group is urging residents to have their say by responding to the public consultation, which ends on October 8.

The spokesman added: “Advearse believes it is vital that the people of Bridport have their say before it is too late. Please take the opportunity to raise your concerns.”

To respond to the consultation, visit dorsetforyou.gov.uk