Wessex plans 'moving ahead'
By Laura Williams

Tuesday 15th November 2005

PLANS for the development of the Wessex Stadium site are gathering pace despite reservations over the need for further reports.

John Birtwistle, vice-chairman of the environment and conservation committee at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, believes more information is needed before a decision should be made.

During a meeting of the committee, Coun Birtwistle said: "It does worry me that we seem to be trying to second-guess something that maybe the inspector will say or maybe won't say.

"Can't we afford to wait until January until we know what the inspector thinks about it?

"Obviously we work with West Dorset, but how on earth can we work with West Dorset until they know what they are going to do?"

But principal planning officer at the borough council Karyn Punchard said the scheme was moving forward and a decision should be reached as quickly as possible.

West Dorset district councillor lan Gardener said his Chickerell constituents urgently need accessible convenience shopping.

Director for environment services at Weymouth and Portland borough council Richard Burgess said: "You give first preference for retail development to sites in the town centre, second to sites on the edge of the town centre and - third to out of town sites."

He added: "There is excess retail demand in the area."

The. supermarket chain Asda, which hopes to build a new superstore on the site, yesterday asked for the proposals to be accepted without further talks between the two councils and a group of consultants will also need to be appointed to look even further into the development.

However, Mr Burgess said the location meant that both the borough council and West Dorset District Council needed to work together.

He said: "The front corner is within the borough and while the site is predominantly in West Dorset the catchment is predominantly in Weymouth and Portland."

There was a retail survey carried out by Donaldsons in 2002 but the environment and conservation committee at the borough council has recommended that this be updated.