CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans that could pave the way for thousands of new homes to be built in Purbeck have accused the district council of "failing to engage fully" with local communities.

Pan Purbeck Action Campaign (PPAC) members say their questions on the Purbeck Local Plan, the blueprint setting out preferred development sites in Purbeck up until 2033, have gone mostly unanswered.

PPAC chairman Peter Bower said: "Purbeck District Council (PDC) and its officers are not enabling communities and their residents to shape any development activities or consultation.

"Officers seem hell bent on developing the area without a mandate from our community."

The PPAC also criticised PDC's decision, earlier this year, to cancel the local area forums, which had been proposed to enable local people to have their say on the local plan.

However, earlier this month, PDC confirmed a public consultation exercise would be taking place, likely to be late 2017.

The council says it has been working to update the local plan, with a number of studies ongoing in relation to it. Once these studies have been complete the dates for the next public consultation will be confirmed.

National planning guidelines, established in a bid to address the current nationwide housing shortage, call for Purbeck to build an additional 3,080 homes over the next 16 years - on top of the 2,520 already identified. The PPAC has protested against these numbers.

The district council's 2016 consultation on the partial review attracted 3,300 comments, highlighting a range of concerns - including worries about possible new housing at Wool, Wareham, Lytchett Minster and Lytchett Matravers.

Mr Bower said: "Major issues of economic development, population growth, the nature and extent of affordable housing and environmental constraints to development are not being given an adequate hearing.

"No progress appears to be made on policies for second homes and truly affordable housing.

"Residents are angry with inappropriate approaches to the area.

"Purbeck will be trashed unless the area is adequately defended by our councillors."