STAND wrote to 33 candidates standing in the Dorset Council election, the Dorchester Town Council election, and the Charminster Parish Council election. We’ve had replies so far from 14 (42%), and they’re all opposed to the so-called “Norchester” development.
If elected, these candidates would represent the areas most likely to impacted by the controversial proposal.
Reasons for opposing the “Norchester” proposal included:
- Environmental damage, including destruction of important habitats.
- Pollution of the River Frome caused by run-off from roads and houses.
- The impact of the increased population on already stretched public services, including schools and hospitals.
- Increased risk of flooding.
- Loss of open space.
- Failure of the plan to meet Dorchester’s need for social housing.
Dorset Council has said it will start work on a new Local Plan in November, having failed to meet earlier government deadlines. The Dor 13 proposal attracted overwhelming opposition when it was first included in the Council’s draft local plan three years ago.
STAND Chair Jane Ashdown said “It’s vital that local residents are fully informed about the views of candidates from all parties concerning the proposed “Norchester” development before they go to the polls..”
Elections take place on May 2nd for Dorset Council, whose responsibility it is to produce the County Plan; Dorchester Town Council, and the parish councils of Stinsford and Charminster – the two villages which will be most affected by the proposed development. All three local councils have said they oppose the “Norchester” plan. STAND director Nigel Kay said voters should use the election to hammer home the message to all candidates that this is “the wrong development, in the wrong place.”
The following candidates have responded to the STAND survey:
Dorset Council
| Name | Ward | Party | For or against Dor 13 |
| Nigel McCrae | Charminster St Mary’s | Local Conservatives | Opposed |
| David Taylor | Charminster St Mary’s | Lib Dems | Opposed |
| Barry Thompson | Dorchester East | Labour | Opposed |
| Arash Mottaghi | Dorchester East | Labour | Opposed |
| Claudia Sorin | Dorchester West | Labour | Opposed |
| Andrew Wyatt | Dorchester West | Labour | Opposed |
| Nick Boothroyd | Poundbury | Labour | Opposed |
| Peter Stein | Poundbury | Local Conservatives | Opposed |
| Len Herbert | Poundbury | Green | Opposed |
| Kate Hebditch | Dorchester East | Green | Opposed |
Dorchester Town Council
| Name | Ward | Party | For or against Dor 13 |
| William Gibbons | Poundbury | Independent | Opposed |
| Poppy Farmer | Dorchester East | Green | Opposed |
| Frances Hogwood | Poundbury | Lib Dem | Opposed |
| Peter Stein | Poundbury | Local Conservatives | Opposed |
| Janet Hewitt | Dorchester West | Lib Dems | Opposed |
| Claudia Sorin | Dorchester West | Labour | Opposed |
| Andrew Wyatt | Dorchester West | Labour | Opposed |
| Barry Thompson | Dorchester East | Labour | Opposed |
Charminster Parish Council
| Name | Ward | Party | For or against Dor 13 |
| Nigel McCrae | Charminster South | Local Conservatives | Opposed |
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STAND wrote to 33 candidates standing in the Dorset Council election, the Dorchester Town Council election, and the Charminster Parish Council election. We’ve had replies so far from 14 , see what they say on our website. #EnvironmentalConcerns #Dorchester #LocalElections2024