THERE are fears a controversial Roeshot Hill development could be "catastrophic" for the people of Christchurch.

The chairman of Christchurch Citizens' Association, Sue Bungey, said she "absolutely fears" for the future of children in the area after the outline application for 875 new homes was approved.

Mrs Bungey said residents are concerned by the lack of schools in the area, contradicting the local education authority, Dorset County Council, who say Somerford Primary School and The Grange can deal with the additional pupils.

She said: "For the people living here it’s going to be catastrophic.

"They’re not going to have the number of schools they should have, it’s very disappointing. It’s bizarre, absolutely bizarre the whole thing. I fear for Christchurch in the years to come as far as the schools, GPs and traffic is concerned."

Concerns about schooling, a lack of doctors and additional traffic meant Christchurch Citizens' Association objected to the plan before it had its outline plan approved.

On the traffic, Mrs Bungey says the town will be brought to a "standstill" due to "disastrous" traffic problems. She is also concerned about the plans to have 120 lorries a day extracting gravel in the area.

Mrs Bungey believes Christchurch will be "gridlocked" within the next ten years, despite Highways England arguing that traffic will not be a major issue.

Asked about the concerns raised at last month's planning meeting, a spokesperson from the developers, Taylor Wimpey, said: "We are pleased that Christchurch Borough Council has resolved to grant outline planning permission to our proposals at Roeshot Hill.

"Important questions were raised by members in the committee debate, which were then discussed and addressed by the local authority’s planning officers.

"We are now continuing to proactively work with the council’s officers in the next steps of bringing forward the details of the new houses and associated infrastructure provisions."

The proposal would see homes built on a huge green belt site, just north of the A35 between Somerford and Hinton.