The future of a long-standing association that helps local residents is at a ‘crucial point,’ with doubts that it will continue without new volunteers.

The Poundbury Residents Association has been going as long as the development west of Dorchester.

Over that period of time, the association has been active in raising awareness and tackling issues facing residents.

Over the last year, the association launched ‘the Big Conversation,’ a project with the aim of getting everyone in the area talking about the issues that matter to them - with more than 850 people taking part in surveys and meetings.

Now the association is looking to involve itself more in matters of the community, but to do so needs a new chair and younger volunteer members to take the vision forward.

A community meeting  for residents will be held at Brownsword Hall on Middlemarsh Street on Wednesday, January 24 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Simon Standish is co-chair of the Residents Association with Mike Stear since Rob Hattersley stood down at the end of last year due to work commitments.

A statement from the association described the meeting as a ‘crucial point’ as they decide whether there is enough enthusiasm to take on a wider community agenda or close it without a successor.

Mr Standish said: “This will be an important meeting as it will shape what we do - it’s just a case of who will step up and do it.

“Since we were founded, we have provided a useful role on development issues mainly to homeowners.

“It’s been more of a representational role, but over the past year we’ve needed to re-evaluate the needs of the total community.”

The Big Conversation highlighted a number of issues, not only in terms of development such as finishing off homes, but also social and environmental issues facing residents.

Data from the association’s research found that two thirds of the population in Poundbury are below the age of retirement.

The association is looking for someone that is young and ‘enthusiastic’ to fit their plans, as Mr Standish says that the association is currently not representative of these views.

Mr Standish added that residents in the Big Conversation have asked for more of a night life in Poundbury among other plans to make the community more representative.

He said: “We’re not short of ambition, but we are short of people- it’s a big debate to be had.

“We need to hear more from people that work, young families. The surveys have found increasingly more that there is not enough for teens to do - we have adults talking about what they need.”

An alternative proposal to broaden the Residents Association to the wider community has also been tabled that could allow it to involve local businesses and areas ‘on the periphery of Poundbury.’