Crown Estates defends development plans

ALLEGATIONS that consultation documents for proposed development on part of the Crown Meadows and former deer park in Blandford contain unsubstantiated statements have been refuted by Crown Estates.

Local resident Jack Greaves says their suggestion that the location will produce less traffic because it is closer to the town centre is disproved by market research which supports the view that busy people do not walk long distances to shop but use the car, as proved by the success of out of town supermarkets.

Mr Greaves says the other two sites identified in the draft core strategy as having potential for development, to the north east and south of the town, have direct access to the Blandford bypass, so residents need never come into town unless they want to use town facilities. He also disputes the suggestion that the Crown Meadows location is preferable because it is near to health and education facilities, including a primary and secondary school, a community hospital and two surgeries, saying that new locations will be needed for currently oversubscribed services for both to cope with another 200 households.

And he argues that direct access to and from the bypass will be beneficial for potential residents who are likely to be working in Poole, Bournemouth or Dorchester.

A Crown Estates spokesman said: "The benefit of the west Blandford site is that it is easier for people to access local services by walking or cycling, and has the potential to offer shared pedestrian and cycle access to the town centre.

"One of the messages to come out so far from the recent consultation was that any new housing for Blandford should benefit the town centre.

"Developing housing out of town where people cannot easily access local services by foot and by bicycle, for example, would not encourage visits to the town centre and is more likely to encourage car use, rather than reduce it.

"Any new housing development for Blandford, whether it is at the West Blandford site or elsewhere, may be required under a planning consent to provide a significant financial contributions to local facilities, including health care to cater to new residents where a need is identified at the time of any planning application."

Nicci Brown