A PROPOSAL to divert two public footpaths across fields south of the Duchy of Cornwall’s Poundbury development will be heard next week.

The application has been made to avoid crossing the A35 although it doubles the length of one of the paths.

Dorset Council’s strategic planning committee will take evidence when it meets on Monday, September 23 at South Walks House in Dorchester.

The Duchy application has attracted views both for and against the proposed changes to footpath 51 in Dorchester and footpath 6 which links to it in Winterborne Monkton parish.

The proposed new route would run along the Middle Farm Way business park access road, using a farm underpass to avoid walkers having to cross the main road, as they do now.

The Duchy says that the new route would not only be safer but would also be beneficial for land management as it follows existing tracks and field edge paths.

One of the ward councillors, Richard Biggs, has not objected to the proposed changes but his neighbouring ward councillor Roland Tarr, who represents parishes to the south of Dorchester, has. He claims the proposed new route is not acceptable as a replacement and would be almost 750 metres longer.

Adjacent ward councillor Les Fry has supported the proposal as does Highways England and Dorchester Town Council. The Highways Agency says there are no reported accidents on the road but says it would be a safety improvement to offer another route where pedestrians do no have to cross a 60mph road.

Three formal objections in addition to Cllr Tarr have been lodged – from the Open Spaces Society, the Ramblers and a local resident.

The un-named resident claims that the views of farmland and towards Maiden Castle from the current route are better with hedging blocking the views on half the length of the proposed route.

There are also concerns over traffic noise from the new route which would run through the business park and parallel to the western bypass for part of its length, closest to the town.

A statement to councillors who will decide the application says that most walkers are already using the proposed alternative, opting to cross the road via the farm underpass.