By Marilyn Barber | newseditor@dorstview.co.uk

The area of green belt land that forms the site of the outline planning application for 55 houses consists of 5.47 hectares of pasture, formerly known as Leigh Farm, off Birchdale Road.

Dorset Council has already received a huge amount of letters of objection to the proposal with comments including the lack of new GP surgeries in the area and the roads being unable to take any more cars. Respondents also urge the council to not permit building on the last remaining piece of green belt in the area.

One local resident said: “This is an area of considerable biodiversity interest. Deer are frequently seen there, as are foxes, and there is evidence of badgers. A large number of invertebrates and small mammals make their homes on this field including grass snakes, slow worms, frogs and bats. The site is also part of a wildlife corridor and a break between Wimborne and Colehill.”

The consultation period extends until 8 March and local residents are invited to make their comments known at: planning.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. The application number is P/OUT/2024/00563

There is a Facebook site ‘Save Wimborne Green Belt from Developers’.

The clerk to Colehill Parish Council said the authority couldn’t really comment as the application wasn’t scheduled to be discussed until their next planning committee meeting on 27 February.