Parish Website Update – Halstock Leigh Development

Members of the Parish Council met with our MP, Edward Morello on Tuesday 25th August to discuss the ongoing development at Halstock Leigh and the concerns raised by residents.

The MP and Dorset Councillor, Chris Kippax, expressed their concerns about the continued works taking place without a validated planning application, the lack of clear procedural responses from Dorset Council, and the inconsistency between the Enforcement officers’ comments on site and the subsequent management position. The MP will be raising these matters directly with the Chief Executive of Dorset Council and has said he will update us once he receives a response.

The Parish Council also outlined the unsuitability of the Halstock Leigh site for Gypsy and Traveller use, based on Dorset Council’s own published criteria. These include:

safe access for larger vehicles

proximity to essential services

landscape and visual impact considerations

fire safety separation distances

compatibility with neighbouring residential properties

The site does not meet several of these requirements.

The MP has encouraged any resident who has concerns about the situation — whether directly affected or not — to write to Dorset Council and to copy him into their correspondence so he can monitor the issue.

How to Raise Concerns

If you have concerns about the development at Halstock Leigh, or if you have witnessed activity on the site, you may wish to report this directly to Dorset Council. Resident reports form part of the evidence used when assessing harm, proportionality, and the need for intervention.

Reports can be submitted via Dorset Council’s Planning Enforcement page: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/planning-buildings-land/planning/planning-enforcement(dorsetcouncil.gov.uk in Bing)

Residents may also copy their correspondence to our MP so he can monitor the issue: “Edward Morello MP” <edward.morello.mp@parliament.uk>

Please keep any reports factual and based on what you have directly observed or are concerned about.

The Parish Council will continue to keep residents updated as further information becomes available