A DECISION looms over controversial plans to convert 30 acres of farmland in Talbot village into a publicly-accessible park.

Talbot Village Trust’s plans to designate the land at Highmoor Farm as a heathland support area have been met with hundreds of objections.

Many residents feared the plan was brought forward as a precursor for further proposals for a business park on a neighbouring site.

Despite the opposition, a BCP Council officer’s report is recommending planning committee members approve the application at a special meeting, which is due to take place at Poole Civic Centre today, May 24.

The officer’s report says the change of use would relieve recreational pressure on the adjacent Talbot Heath itself.

“Overall, it is considered that the proposed change of use would not significantly alter the character and appearance of the area, but it would retain and respect its rural open character, which contributes positively to the character of Talbot Village,” the report says.

The report says the proposal is a standalone change of use application which is line with the provisions of the Poole Local Plan.

Its author accepted the application would result in the eventual loss of Highmoor Farm, which is “valued by residents due to its historic association with the Talbot sisters and their charitable work”.

A statement from Talbot Village Trust said: “The biodiversity of Talbot Heath is currently adversely impacted by human pressures, which are caused inadvertently by informal recreation, as well as deliberately through misuse such as arson and fly tipping.

“The trust’s planning application for a heathland support area at Highmoor Farm, which is currently private land, will provide public access to an extensive area of greenspace that will act as an attractive alternative to the protected heath for informal recreation, including dog walking.”

The application is supported by Natural England, the council’s biodiversity officer and arboricultural, highways and flood risk teams, as well as the Dorset Ramblers organisation.

Alongside opposition from many residents, the Society for Poole, Talbot and Branksome Woods Residents’ Association, Talbot Village Residents Association and Neighbourhood Watch, The East Dorset Friends of the Earth and the Poole and Purbeck Group of Dorset CPRE have all filed their own objections.

Nick Dodds, admin of the 1,600-member Preserve Talbot Heath Facebook group, told the Daily Echo: “Compelling reasons and technical arguments will be presented at the hearing as to why the Heathland Support Area planning application is neither needed or wanted.

“The very survival of Highmoor Farm and longer term future of Talbot Heath as an extraordinary area for nature is now in the hands of our elected councillors.

“We cannot and should not keep destroying our natural heritage.”

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