RESIDENTS of Broadstone will not lose a much-used footpath after a developer responded to comments from the public.

The proposed McCarthy & Stone development of 36 retirement flats at 2-14 Dunyeats Road, along with three retail units including new premises for the post office, would have lost the pathway between Macaulay Road and Dunyeats Road.

However, the company took notice of comments on Borough of Poole’s planning website and now intends to retain the footpath.

“During our consultation for the proposals for the site throughout May, June and July the retention of the pathway had not been raised as a major point of discussion in our conversations with residents and in the feedback received from the public exhibition,” said Shane Paull, regional managing director of McCarthy & Stone.

“We had decided not to include the informal pathway within the planning application because of concerns it would encourage anti-social behaviour along the boundary with the proposed building, affecting future occupiers of the retail units and apartments and neighbouring properties if the scheme were approved.

“Having reviewed resident comments on the council’s planning file, we have noted the level of community interest in retaining the pathway and as a result we are now looking to retain the footpath within our plans,” he said.

He said they had already made a number of changes responding to public feedback, including increasing the amount of visitor parking to the retail units, adding a delivery space, increasing the width of the pavement at the front and changing the building’s colour from orange and red on balconies and bay windows.

Cllr Mike Brooke, who chairs the Neighbourhood Forum, said they had submitted an application to have the path classified as a public right of way.

The forum held an exhibition of the plans and Cllr Brooke said: “From all the comments received during the morning it was very clear that the vast majority, about 97 per cent, were very unhappy with the proposals.”