Despite claims to want to create a ‘pedestrian friendly public space’ in Poundbury in Dorset, the Duchy of Cornwall is instead creating ‘an urban ghetto’ forcing the public onto busy roads and cutting off access to the countryside – so claims the Ramblers.

South Dorset Ramblers are formally objecting to an expansion of Poundbury, Prince Charles’ model town development in Dorset. Members of the national walking charity have joined forces with concerned locals who fear that the Duchy’s plans will cut off access to the surrounding countryside and force walkers onto busy, unsafe roads.

Poundbury is a stone’s throw to Maiden Castle – an iron age fort considered by English Heritage to be the finest in Britain – yet if the new plans get the go-ahead from West Dorset District Council people will end up driving to it because there will be no easy pedestrian route.

The Duchy of Cornwall has applied for planning permission to build another 1,200 homes, a primary school and further business premises. The Ramblers believes that the rights of way outlined in the application strongly differ from the access measures that were proposed and agreed after significant local consultation in the 2006 Development Brief.

Peter Evans, representing South Dorset Ramblers, comments: “It’s shocking that we have ended up with proposals that hinder walkers when the Prince himself said he wanted a plan that put the pedestrian at the heart of the design, instead of the car”.

He added: “We have tried unsuccessfully to negotiate alternatives with the Duchy so have no choice but to lodge an objection because the new routes are just downright unsafe.”

http://www.ramblers.org.uk/