A councillor has hit out at Dorset Council for a lack of social housing in the area.

Councillor Anna Killick claims that prime land in Bridport, which could have been used for social housing, has been sold to a developer.

Bridport Labour Party launched the petition this week to demand more housing for social rent for local people of working age. They are hoping to reach a total of 5,000 signatures to force Dorset Council to debate the issue.

This comes after Bridport Town Councillor Cllr Killick says she was told by an estate agent that a sale of the former Jewson’s site at Fairfield on South Street has 'been agreed by a cash buyer on an unconditional basis'.

Cllr Killick has raised concerns about the council not purchasing properties in the area, with thoughts that the town is ‘unbalanced’ with too many retirees, and not enough workers.

She said: “We already have too many luxury retirement flats; at the old Mountjoy school and the J.C. Phillips site which Churchill is developing.

"Yet another opportunity to build homes for Bridport workers, on the Jewson's site, has just been lost to a private developer. It could have been an ideal site for the council to buy so that they could provide homes for social rent.

“Social housing is the single most important issue facing Bridport.

"Bridport will stop functioning as a town if people are living under pressure. We cannot have people living in work vans. How can you expect people to live like that?

“Family with children are living in overcrowded conditions, and every time a developer builds retirement flats it sucks in new richer people.

"Looking at Churchill’s luxury retirement complex at the former J.C. Phillips site, there is no social housing, but 100 retired people with an average age of 80 will be moving in. They are going to need GPs and care assistants, but where are they coming from?”

Cllr Killick believes that the town will support the petition, saying: “It’s just launched now but we think there will be a lot of people backing the petition, and we want to get as many people involved as possible, no matter the party.”

According to Cllr Killick, no planning applications for the site have been submitted to Bridport Town Council.

Supermarket giants Aldi has previously stated interest in opening a store in Bridport.

An Aldi spokesperson said: “We are always considering new locations for stores in areas across the UK, including in Bridport. If and when we have confirmed a location for a new store, we will update the community.”

A spokesperson for Dorset Council responded to the criticisms from Cllr Killick, saying that the council has supported the Bridport Cohousing scheme, as well as developments at Coals Yard and Vearse Farm in recent months. 

The online petition can be found https://www.bridportlabour.org.uk/housing-petition