Residents 'exasperated' by unauthorised coach park

A councillor has said residents are "exasperated" no action has been taken against a site being used as a coach park near a busy dual carriageway.

Lib Dem Robin Legg told Dorset Council the "unregulated" minibus and coach park on the outskirts of Sherborne, Dorset, had caused upset among local people.

He said the site's location presented "an obvious and continuing risk of death or serious injury".

Shane Bartlett, portfolio holder for planning, said there was an enforcement case regarding the coach park in progress.

Mr Legg said it was "at least a year" since the unauthorised coach park at Loscombe Cross, in the parish of Bradford Abbas, first appeared.

He said it was of "grave concern" to both Bradford Abbas and the Queen Thorne group parish councils, because there had been four road fatalities nearby in recent years.

Mr Legg also said in January he was told a planning enforcement case had been opened but the coach park, with an entrance off Old Compton Lane, remained in operation.

Mr Bartlett said none of the collisions were attributable to the coach park, where a 60mph speed limit was now in force nearby.

"As with all enforcement cases, action should be proportionate to the breach and taken when it is expedient to do so," he said.

He said officers had been liaising with highway colleagues and were in discussion with the property owner regarding the change of use of the land.

A retrospective planning application had been submitted but had not met validation requirements so the enforcement team were following it up "in order to seek a resolution", he added.

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