Great Field Images

First picture shows the size of houses to be built, Second two show the area to be developed. Then the contrasting plans, original and latest. Final picture shows what the whole area might look like and how the new houses dominate the old.

Houses might be like this

Area concerned looking towards housing to be affected

Another view of development area

Original Great Field plan

Plan of new houses

What other houses built by developer look like

The Great Field at Poundbury. Part 2

Changes to the plans for the northern part of this area have been denied by the powers that be (local planning authority), ignoring what was contained in the development brief (see part 1). Seems to me they have conveniently forgotten about what was originaly planned (and promised to local residents as what would happen) to suit themselves.

All of this fits in with an 'Us and Them' culture between Poundbury and Dorchester. Poundbury is supposed to be part of Dorchester but has been designed and built to be distinct and seperated from the main town. There are few direct road or pedestrian links between the two areas and there has been an increasing trend towards screening off parts of suburban Dorchester from the new developments. These latest plans for houses on the Great Field are intended to screen off the last part of suburban Dorchester from Poundbury by creating a focal point of Poundbury-style houses in that area, thereby reinforcing the division between the old and new.

The Great Field at Poundbury. Part 1


https://www.dorsetforyou.com/poundbury

This is a large area of public recreational space between Dorchester and Poundbury as detailed within the Poundbury Development Brief. It was expected to be planted with areas of grassland, trees, shrubs and a series of paths across it. To date only half of this parkland areas has been 'finished' (i use the term loosely) with the northern half until recently still being used as farmland. To date little in the way of planting has been carried out and no paths have been created.

The northern half is now under threat. Instead of a semi rural area along the Dorchester side, it is now proposed to build 5 £1m houses over looking the Great Field, effectively suburbanising the park and changing the character of the area. Existing houses will be overlooked and loose rural veiws, wildlife habitat will be lost.

Relocation of Damers First School - Part 2

There is also the issue of location. Whilst the planned location is fine for Poundbury residents it places residents of other parts of Dorchester within the Damers catchment area at a distinct disadvantage. Imagine if you are the parent of a Damers pupil currently within walking distance of the school. With the relocation your child now has to travel much further across town to get to school, to the extent that it is no longer within practical walking distance. You now have to take your child to school by car. I think most of us would be pretty annoyed by this. 

If more parents have to use cars to get their children to school as a result od this this not only adds to household expenses, but adds extra cars to Dorchester/Poundbury roads at a busy time of day, with the consequent increase in pollution etc. Doesn't make sense when we are all being encouraged to cut down car use these days.

Issue 1 Relocation of Damers First School to Poundbury

Work is due to begin soon on the new Poundbury First School which will replace Damers First School. I am not completely against the building of a new First School. However i do not agree it should replace an existing school but rather compliment it. Surely with all the new homes being built on Poundbury in the coming years, Poundbury needs its own First School, not one shared with parts of Dorchester as well.

Whats going to happen when this school gets full up and Damers Road has long since been closed and redeveloped? We will need to spend yet more money to build another school or extend Poundbury First to meet the demand. Crazy and very short sighted in my view when a perfectly good First School already exists.

Welcome to the Save Dorchester blog

I have decided to start this blog to talk about issues affecting my home town of Dorchester, Dorset, UK. I have also set up a Facebook page of the same name to promote discussion of the same issues.