Verwood Dental Application Turned Down

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An application to build a new dental practice on empty land in Verwood has been turned down by East Dorset District Council for the second time.

Ian Spencer, the owner of the land, was angered by the decision, which was made by councillors and planning officers on Tuesday and believes that he has “been stitched up.” Mr Spencer was not informed that there was insufficient parking in last year’s application, but this year, he was told that there was too much parking.

Mr Spencer is particularly angry because there is a sports hall, two schools and a youth centre opposite the site, all of which have parking. He now believes that the council has let local people down by depriving them of a facility, which would benefit thousands of people.

Mrs Macy, a resident who backed the campaign and stood in for Mr Spencer at the meeting on Tuesday while he was abroad, said that the shortage of dentists in Verwood is resulting in people taking long drives to larger towns for a 5 minute appointment. She said that the decision was very disappointing, especially as the land is disused and constitutes an “eyesore.”

Planning officers rejected the application due to concerns about the size of the plot and the interference with the character of the local area. The added that four applications for housing developments have already been turned down for the same area. Councillors also raised concerns about parking, congestion and the aesthetic of the building, but some agreed that a dental surgery would benefit the community, especially as the population is growing.

The application was turned down after councillors voted seven to five in favour of refusal.

Join this Discussion

March 5th, 2014 at 08:47 PM
David Purchase Says :

A shame that the landowner did not read the reasons for the initial site rejection and make the changes requested.
Maybe they should apply for an optician, as the family are blind, possibly a mental health centre which they could happily attend, rather than st. anne’s.
The article is incorrect, there was zero support and 5 abstentions.
Mrs Macy mentioned in this article is the daughter of Ian Spencer, which the family seems to forget. More basis for the mental health centre possibly?
Mr D Purchase, Three Legged Cross xx