Leaders fight green belt proposal

The leader of the council said the plan was a "catastrophic threat"

Council leaders are vowing to fight plans which will see thousands of homes built on green belt land in Dorset.

Purbeck residents have until Friday to help the council prepare its case against the development around Lytchett Matravers, Lytchett Minster and Upton.

The government has given its support to the proposal, but a final decision is not expected until later in the year.

Leader of the council, Councillor Gary Suttle, urged angry residents to help fight "this catastrophic threat".

He added: "Hundreds of residents have already completed their questionnaire, and I urge anyone who hasn't yet completed one to do so.

"[It will] help us fight this catastrophic threat to this exceptional part of the country."

Councillor David Budd, leader of the opposition, said: "The whole council is bitterly disappointed the Secretary of State supports the building of these houses on the green belt."

Purbeck District Council will make formal opposition to the Secretary of State using the feedback in a bid to block the plans.

In January 2007, an independent panel recommended that 5,150 dwellings be built in Purbeck by 2026.

As part of a review, 2,750 of these are proposed for the green belt around Lytchett Matravers, Lytchett Minster and Upton as an extension of Poole into Purbeck.