Letter to

Dorset Highways

National Highways

Barratts

Bovis/ Vistry

DC Planning Team

Bridport’s DC Councillors

Foundry Lea (FL) and the Miles Cross Roundabout (MC)

I am writing on behalf of ADVEARSE which has since 2012 been involved in monitoring the plans for the massive development at Vearse Farm Bridport. We are writing to the organisations listed above all to seek assurances about the development of the roundabout at Miles Cross. ( thereafter MCR ) We would ask for a response from each of you which will be shared.

For the moment we will not dwell on the absurdity of the Dorset Council decision to allow construction before the roundabout is completed or the failure of any party to give the local community assurance that the Construction Traffic Management Plans for FL (Foundry Lea) and MCR will be coordinated.

The Foundry Lea Working Group meeting on Feb 26th was postponed because the developers had yet to resolve issues with both Dorset Council and National Highways about MC. There is mounting concern in the community about whether the roundabout will be built. Foundations for houses are going up and we anticipate pressure from the developers to sell and occupy houses. The FL Newsletter which talked about MC work starting in September 2024 with completion by September 2025.

With the holiday periods fast approaching we cannot see completion before summer 2026. Granted the legal agreement which will not permit occupation until the roundabout is complete, we might have anticipated greater urgency from the developers to resolve the issues with DC Highways and National Highways. There has been no FL Newsletter since May 2024, and we would ask for some assurances.

1.Can all parties recommit to the construction of the roundabout at MC?

2. Will Dorset Planners confirm that they will uphold the legal agreement to the letter?

3. Will Dorset Councillors ensure that the Planners uphold the legal agreement.?

It would be helpful for the local community to know from National Highways and Dorset Highways what are the issues which remain to be resolved.

We had hoped to have raised this issue within the FL Working Group but at 5 weeks from the postponed meeting and no word we will be going public with our concerns

We look forward to hearing from you.

Barry Bates – Chair

WHERE IS THE PROMISED ROUNDABOUT AT MILES CROSS BRIDPORT ?

ADVEARSE has written to all parties involved in the planning for a roundabout at Miles Cross demanding assurances that it will be built before any properties are occupied on the massive housing development at Foundry Lea, Bridport.

Miles Cross has long been an accident black spot on the A35. It was made part of the legal agreement that the developers would provide a roundabout to cope with the additional traffic generated by the housing development and associated employment businesses. ( National Highways are not responsible for the construction of the roundabout but are key players in approving the construction plans.) The legal agreement clearly stated that no occupation of houses would be permitted until the roundabout was open to traffic.

ADVEARSE had argued for the past 10 years that, in common with similar developments across the country, Dorset Council should have insisted that the roundabout should be completed before the construction on site started.

Barry Bates commented ‘Because of the failure to take that sensible decision, we now face the chaos of construction traffic approaching 2 sites in close proximity ‘

ADVEARSE has been forced to seek reassurances because houses are being erected on the site, and we are being asked on a regular basis to find out when the Roundabout work will commence. The cynics tell us it will never get built.

The last Foundry Lea newsletter was published in May 2024, and it stated work on the roundabout would start in September 2024 and be completed by September 2025. At this rate the roundabout will not be completed until well into 2026!

We have tried to get answers and have found out that the scheme has yet to be fully approved. We had hoped to find out more at the February Foundry Lea Working Group meeting, but that meeting was cancelled at the developers request because they would not have been able to answer questions about the roundabout .

The ADVEARSE letter to the developers and Dorset Council asks for reassurance on the following

Can all parties recommit to the construction of the roundabout at MC?

2. Will Dorset Planners confirm that they will uphold the legal agreement to the letter?

3. Will Dorset Councillors ensure that the Planners uphold the legal agreement.?

Barry Bates commented ‘We appreciate that this is a complex development. There will be times when the holiday traffic will mean a pause in construction. Commonsense would suggest that once the developers get the approvals to build the roundabout, they pause build construction to allow a speedy and safe completion of the roundabout.

Locals have welcomed the plans for a roundabout to tackle the dangers of this junction and are desperate for reassurance. It is vital that the Council uphold the agreement on behalf of its residents. ‘

Attachment

Copy of the letter sent to the developers (Barratt and Bovis) ; Dorset Council; the Bridport Councillors on the Dorset Council and National Highways.

For any queries regarding this press release contact

badbates@btinternet.com

To Dorset Echo

Bridport News

BNP Bournemouth

Spotlight

ITV West

Developers started work on Foundry Lea (Vearse Farm) 760 housing development in February but certain conditions connected with the proposed roundabout at the A35 Miles Cross junction were required to have been met before construction work commenced.

The news article linked below explains the details and gives the shocking reponse from Dorset Council (who are responsible for enuring that the planning conditions are met). We are talking here about the safety of public using the A35 Miles Cross junction (a notorious accident black spot) and West Road – so this is not some minor technicality. Already large numbers of HGV lorries are making their way to and from the Foundry Lea development and will be increasing to upto 100 lorry movements a day.. Cases have been reported of lorries parking on West Road pavement opposite Foundry Lea forcing pedestrians to walk in the road.

Dorset Council response (excuse) is that National Highways advised the developer what further information was needed regarding the Miles Cross part of the works before they would sign off on the construction traffic management plan. No explanation from Dorset Council as to why allowed the developers to carry on with construction work breaching the planning conditions. No apology for putting road users at risk and no assurance that they will stop construction work until the conditions are properly met!

The arrogance of Dorset Council planners is typified by a comment made when challenged about the breach of planning controls – you can complain if you like but “I suspect that it would be inexpedient” for the Council to do anything about it!

The photo below shows the construction work (building of access road) that is taking place and breaching the planning conditions. Perhaps Dorset Council planning officers should pay a visit.

https://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/24353632.claims-foundry-lea-developer-breach-planning-conditions/

To Alistair Trendell – Dorset Council, Flood Risk Management Team

Place Services, County Hall, Dorchester

03 May 2024

Dear Mr Trendell,

Ref Surface Water Management – Vearse Farm Bridport

My colleagues on the ADVEARSE group have long been concerned about the increased flooding risk arising from the massive housing development. The last winter has exacerbated our concerns and indeed there was flooding on site yesterday. It has been very difficult for us to obtain a reliable analysis of both the flood risk and the measures which flood experts feel are required. It is sad to see the Environment Agency so enfeebled. I have been contacted by members of the public who are concerned about the threat – indeed it is the most common concern people have.

I was interested in your submission on the Vearse Farm planning portal dated 15 November 2023. I note that you have lifted an objection but laid down the attached condition.

No development shall take place until details of maintenance & management of both the surface water sustainable drainage scheme and any receiving system have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The scheme shall be implemented and thereafter managed and maintained in accordance with the approved details. These should include a plan for the lifetime of the development, the arrangements for adoption by any public body or statutory undertaker, or any other arrangements to secure the operation of the surface water drainage scheme throughout its lifetime.

Construction work has appeared to have started and I therefore asked Mr Lytton -Trevers for clarification. He has informed me that the condition was cleared on 08/06/2023 and 21/12/2023. I find this hard to believe – the first date predates your letter and the second would require a speed of working in response which we have yet to see with this application.

Can I therefore ask you?

1. To explain if the condition has been met and if so

2. Where can I obtain the details referred to by you.

I am not alone in wanting, as a member of the Bridport population likely to affected by this, to be given a clear explanation of how the surface water and indeed extra sewage will be managed.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Barry Bates

It is with heavy hearts that the Advearse team have to report that one of the founder members Gavin Fryer sadly passed away last month after a brief illness. His funeral was held at St Swithuns on 12 March and was very well attended by over 100 people. Our condolences go to Gavin’s wife Sue and his three daughters.

Gavin had been a lynch pin of the team for well over a decade, helping us to stay focused on our opposition to the Vearse Farm development and the damage it would inflict on Bridport. He had considerable knowledge of planning regulations and the challenges of dealing with local authorities. And was always ready to share this knowledge.

But along with Gavin’s knowledge and experience he brought a wry and indefatigable sense of humour that helped keep us all going during some of our most frustrating periods when dealing with Dorset Council, the developers et al.

Gavin was never one to back down from a challenge and was able to put our case bluntly at the various planning committee meetings. He was able to give voice to the strong local opposition to the Vearse Farm development and challenge the committee members on their weak acquiescence to the council officer demands.

Over the last few months we have been putting together an archive of our documents to go to the Dorchester Archive office. Our aim is to ensure that there is access for journalists, academics or other interested parties to be able to study the Vearse Farm development and its chequered history. We did not want all our efforts and those of the local community in opposing the development to get lost in the mist of history. We only realised when Gavin bought to a meeting his boxes (and boxes!) of documents just how much effort and dedication he had put in over the years.

Gavin had a love for the local Dorset countryside and one of his initiatives was to raise with the developers (Barratts) the possibility of restoring a walk way close to the Founry Lea estate which was called Lovers Grove. This tree lined walkway dated back over 100 years and Gavin was able to find photos showing Lovers Grove in its heyday. Sadly now it is in a sorry state with many of the stone slabs missing and some trees diseased or missing. We are in discussion with Barratts about a restoration project which would be a wonderful epitaph for Gavin.

ADVEARSE is fielding queries about the work which has started around the Vearse Farm development . Unfortunately the next meeting of the Foundry Lea working Group has been postponed  which means it is difficult to ask the questions directly to the developers in an open forum. There is no recent information on the Foundry Lea website .We are seeking advice about how best to air your concerns.

Please contact us via the website if you have any concerns 

At the last FLWG meeting on 30 January the developer provided an update and the notes below were made by an Advearse representative at the meeting:

From mid February work starts on site fencing, site segregation fencing and tree management. This will last for about 6 weeks.

First phase infrastructure commences including first half of link road starting on the east side. In 2 months the off-site service work will have been completed.

The Miles Cross roundabout detailed plans have been held up by National Highways reviews. No further comments are expected from them.. Formal sign off of the detailed plans is expected in a few weeks time. The tender for the roundabout construction work will then be placed.

The CTMP needs to be agreed and there are outstanding H&S issues being considered. Dorset Council have some minor comments and the draft CTMP will be circulated once updated and should be signed off once the roundabout contractor has been appointed.

No final decision has been made on the Miles Cross right hand turn issue. This will wait for the roundabout constructor input. Over the next 2 months the volume of site traffic will be minimal so no issue for Miles Cross safety. So CTMP does not need to be in place.

Water table hight and recent flooding are not considered to be an issue and are addressed by the current approved plans.

The proposed building regulations changes in 2025 relating to banning gas boilers apply from when the foundations are dug out. So those houses with foundations dug before June 2025 would have gas boilers. .

Barratts working on updated newsletter for local people. Possible press release. Also looking at a site opening ceremony.

We are grateful that the latest proposals for surface water management at Foundry Lea have been opened for public consultation. The changes are of themselves minor and as such hard to object to. However, the Flood Risk Engineer report is most concerning.

The report sets out conditions which should be met before any development takes place. The most significant clause reads ‘No development shall take place until details of the maintenance and management of both surface water, sustainable drainage scheme and any receiving system have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority’.

This week we have had disruptive floods in West Dorset. These confirm the fears of the impact of climate change. Whilst these were not confined to Vearse Farm they do highlight the concerns that have been expressed since 2012 about the threat downstream from run off from this massive site. Taylor Wimpey cited this as one reason why they considered the site inappropriate for large scale development.

As yet Wessex Water have failed to respond to our repeated requests for details on how it will manage the extra demand created by sewage and run off. Given the discharges into the sea seen this summer at West Bay, this is extremely concerning. It is not clear that the plans reflect the updated flood risk projections of the Environment Agency which featured in the Bridport News earlier this year. Local residents are unlikely to be reassured by the rebuttals from LRM Planning who are after all engaged by the developers. An independent review the Environment Agency is required.

We, therefore, have asked that the Dorset Council Planning Committee accept the recommendation to include the conditions in any approval notice and to ensure that the condition is met in full before development commences.

https://bridport.nub.news/news/local-news/bridport-campaign-group-calls-for-improvements-to-dangerous-junction-to-be-completed-before-work-starts-on-foundry-lea-development-172344

Barrats and Vistry will be holding on 1 March from 2pm to 7pm at the Town Hall for local people to attend and find out more about the planned development. They will provide information including about the timeframe and other aspects of the build.

We encourage everyone to attend andf take the opportunity to raise any concerns and ask questions. We have recently made a number of posts on our website about issues that continue to be of concern. In particular the potential for water pollution, flood risk and the impact of construction traffic on the town and local roads.

The latter point is particulalry relevant given that the developers currently plan to start work on the site before/during construction of the roundabout at Miles Cross.

The Vearse Farm/Foundry Lea developers have issued a plan for replacement of the trees and hedgerow erroneously removed from Symondsbury Estates Land,

To replace the loss of the mature trees, 26 standard trees — English oak (12), field maple (7) and hornbeam (7) — will be planted on and behind the hedge bank to advance the maturity of the hedge feature. Due to English oak trees of the specified size not being available until Autumn 2023, these will be planted after September 2023.

A new hedgerow will be planted with the species mix proposed for other new hedgerows across the site. The species proposed are targeted to benefit dormice and a range of important invertebrate species including green hairstreak butterflies.

All stumps are to be retained where possible and will produce new coppice growth within the first year to contribute to hedgerow structure.