The consultation for the Dorset Local Plan is halfway through, but there’s still plenty of time to have your say. The consultation closes on 15 March.
Dorset Council have found innovative ways to explain the themes and areas covered in the plan, including podcasts that are available online on audio streaming services, and webinars which are available on the council’s YouTube channel. To date our podcasts have received almost 600 plays and we have had more than 2,000 views of our webinars.
To maintain a Covid-secure way of viewing plans, we have put displays in the windows of empty shops, libraries with public facing windows and Tourist Information Centres in 12 towns around the county. And paper copies of the plan can be loaned from the libraries as part of their order and collect service.
Online surgeries have been taken up by groups including Weymouth Town Council, Wimborne Town Council and the CPRE.
A dedicated phone line, 01305 252500, is available Monday to Friday 10am – 2pm for people to phone in with issues about viewing the plan or ask questions of the planning team. Questions asked as part of the Webinar series are being answered on the local plan website so that all can benefit from seeing the responses.
The main way people have added their comments to the survey is on the council website.
Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council’s Portfolio holder for planning, said:
“We haven’t been able to go to towns and hold information events for people to ask their questions because of the pandemic. Instead, the team have approached consultation with innovative solutions such as increasing the availability of the team to respond to questions, trying to explain planning in new ways through webinars and podcasts and using an interactive consultation to make it as easy as possible for our residents to find out about the plan and submit their comments.
“We have used our social media channels and online advertising to expand our audience as well as using local radio stations and newspapers. In fact the activity that is happening is much more than we’ve ever done before and we are reaching many more people.
“This is the time for local residents to have their say on the future of Dorset. We want to get everyone’s views on the consultation proposals.”
The consultation is open for eight weeks, which is two weeks longer than on previous Local Plans.
The consultation is open until 15 March. Once adopted, the Local Plan will guide decisions on planning applications in Dorset until 2038.
I have tried to access the webinar concerning South Eastern Dorset and have not been successful. I can access all the others. Is there a problem
Hi Joan – I’ve just tried it and it runs ok. Have you tried again? Here’s the link https://youtu.be/2QHNO8abakk
Rarely discussed is Dorset’s infamous reputation regarding the A31 main trunk road running through Dorset and the Canford Bottom Roundabout with its associated complex of 5 roads converging onto a small diameter circular circus. As a regular daily user it is not uncommon to see cars ” jumping” red traffic lights, either out of mistakes due to the complexity of the roundabout lane system or intentional red light jumping, which I am told, is quite risk free of any legal persecution!
The debate on Dorset’s poor road transport has strangely become somewhat muted. Vehicles travelling from Southampton westward on the M3 enjoy 3 lanes, at Cadnam it is down to 2 lanes, then on the Ferndown by-pass it is down to 1 lane – hence 3 into 1 = excessive congestion – resulting in long delays, driver frustration, high vehicle emissions etc.
Yet, here is Dorset County Council proposing extensive construction projects for thousands more houses, new industrial estates BUT – no forward planning for our outdated road system.
Professional Community Planning – which even the Romans practised – advocates that community planning requires good roads etc suitable for the health and wellbeing of today’s society.
Dorset County Council – can we hear you views on this?
Hi Derek – As part of the Dorset Council Local Plan process we look at infrastructure including roads. Main trunk roads such as the A31 is managed by Highways England. We are reliant on Government grants for infrastructure projects and we work with neighbouring councils to lobby for this.
I am compelled to make contact regarding the shameful state of the litter on the A31 roadside from Merley to Westmoors (Wimborne and Ferndown By Passes).
I feel ashamed of our local area. Due to the pandemic we are likely to be welcoming many more holiday makers to the area this year. What a terrible impression we are giving to our important visitors. It looks like we just don’t care.
I realize the public are a lot to blame for this problem but I also am of the opinion that the large recycling and refuse collection companies, including the local council, are hugely responsible for litter spilling from lorries. These companies must be made to ensure that their loads are secure and possibly be requested to contribute to the cost of litter picking along these major roadsides. Builders and other tradesmen with flatbed trucks should be encouraged to consider how to secure their loads are too.
I haven’t noticed any signage asking for care to be taking regarding disposal of litter along the way, but perhaps the ‘Don’t be a Tosser’ campaign needs to have a higher profile (although I feel this is in bad taste and could be improved somewhat).
There has to be a way to improve this situation.
Please, please arrange for litter to be cleared from this busy route.
I thought too send this idea for a electric bus as is going a long and it starts running out of power some of the energy from the bus will start a basic fan on the roof and then the wind power will take over and have some kind of little sort of flag blow gently and also the bus stop shelters there be a fan on it where the bus can runs against is fan on the bus that can help make more power to start the fan and the wind power will take over so every time it stopped even if is just a bus stop with a signal with no shelter can put a fan on the bus stop signal and that will do the same and that’s how you can charge it you can have chargers like a normal one where you plug it in to at the bus yard so it starts off as having power when it goes and they can still fill it up with a charger thank you thought to give a public transport idea for a electric bus
Hi Clare – thank you for your suggestion. Unfortunately we are unable to influence the comapnies that manufacture buses in this way. Fiona