CONTROVERSIAL plans for seven more new flats on land off Peel Close in Verwood have been given the go-ahead by East Dorset

district council.

The planning committee agreed to the application from Bloor Holdings despite angry protests from Verwood town council and neighbours over a lack of car parking spaces.

Earlier this year, Bloor was given the green light to build 53 flats on the same site.

The latest scheme to replace 13 car parking spaces with seven flats and two parking spaces attracted fierce criticism from town councillors, who highlighted their plight to local MP Christopher Chope.

They were concerned that the development would exacerbate the problem of limited parking in the town centre.

They also feared that the problems might jeopardise the proposed Community Centre.

They feared owners or visitors to the flats would use the public car park, putting people off attending functions at the community centre.

And they claimed that Verwood was a special case for parking due to a serious and continuous lack of parking facilities in the town.

But the applicants successfully argued that the planning guidelines set out by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minster require only enough parking provision as is "operationally necessary".

And they said because the development would be in the town centre, and therefore close to transport links and amenties, less parking spaces would be needed than if the development were outside the

centre.

This would also ensure the best use of space and a means of persuading people to use alternatives to cars.

But despite objections from the town council, EDDC members agreed with the officers' recommendation that the application be accepted because of its position near the town centre.

They said it fell within the policy guidelines, as minimum needs for parking would be met by the overall development, which will have 60 flats and 68 spaces.