CONCERNED residents have come together to attempt to maintain the heritage of their rural village.

The action has been taken by the community in Throop after council plans for Hicks Farm came to light.

Bournemouth Borough Council is in the process of formalising proposals to redevelop the site, which a ward councillor admits has been “neglected” for some time.

Residents became aware of an outline talk of potential concepts for the council owned location, with a meeting held at Kingfisher Barn.

After attending the discussion, members of the community set up the Throop Village Conservation Group.

The groups overall aim is to preserve the historic heritage of Throop and Muccleshell.

Julie-Anne Houldey, group committee member, said: “We all agree something needs to be done because the council have let Hicks Farm fall into a bad state.

“We want to see it restored but we would have liked to have been consulted from the start as we are people with a vested interest.

“It feels like they did not want to get us involved. Our group wants to protect the rural environment.

“The main worry is the potential traffic. There will have to be a car park and we are trying to deal with traffic management issues as it is.”

Details of the council’s plans for Hicks Farm are currently limited. However, a public consultation is expected to be launched this month.

Last month around 80 residents gathered at the conservation group’s first meeting since forming to discuss Hicks Farm.

Throop and Muscliff ward councillor Kieron Wilson was the only elected representative at the meeting and he said it was great to see the community coming together to voice their concerns.

“You understand the residents' fears with the issue of traffic. They are absolutely justified,” Cllr Wilson said.

“The plans for Hicks Farm are still in the early stages. It has been neglected for a number of years and something needs to be done.

“I think it is really positive how many people came to the meeting.

“It is great to see community spirit in action, with people having an open honest discussion”

Cllr Wilson, one of just two independent Bournemouth Borough Council members, joined his fellow ward representatives Cllr Derek Borthwick and Cllr Ian Clark recently to meet with officers to discuss the Hicks Farm development.