MORE than a hundred homes on the Vearse Farm development at Bridport will be allowed to go ahead before the new Miles Cross roundabout is built.

Dorset councillors have agreed that 109 of the homes, 76 of them affordable, can be allowed before the junction off the A35 is built.

An original condition was that none of the homes could be occupied before the roundabout was completed – although, since then, the original contracted road builder has gone into liquidation.

The developers of the 760-home scheme both told councillors that they remained committed to the new roundabout, that the funding was available, and the search for a new National Highways-approved contractor was well underway.

Cllr Simon Christopher, Marshwood Vale, complained that the decision was "truly shocking" and claimed to allow the 109 homes without the roundabout in place would add to the risk to road users in the area.

The proposal to amend the conditions were proposed and seconded by Weymouth councillors Matt Bell and David Northam and approved on a majority vote.

Both councillors said the authority had to trust the advice they were given by highways experts that to allow the 109 homes without the roundabout would not add to the risk for road users.

Concers about the change came from Barry Bates from AdVearse and Paul Hartman, Symondsbury Parish Council chair.

Mr Bates said many local people feared that with one delay already the roundabout might never be built: "Any other council would have ensured this roundabout had been completed… it was aware the developers were going ahead with houses and no effort had been made on roundabout," he said.

Mr Bates called for the situation to be closely monitored in the coming year to ensure that the roundabout was built.

Ralph Hawkins, managing director of Barrett David Wilson, told the meeting that the roundabout remained "fully secured, funded and needed" and his company and fellow developers, Vistry, remained committed to delivering it as soon as possible, the build time likely to be around nine months.

"We are working closely with highways to secure a replacement contractor and have been in discussions with another to deliver it. Is a shared commitment to progressing the works as swiftly as possible and deliver as soon as possible," he said.

Ben Winchester, technical director at Vistry said the change would allow 76 affordable homes and others for market sale to be occupied in the coming year, with the land already transferred to housing associations Abri and Magna.

"The roundabout remains fully secured, this is about timing, not safety.

This proposal allows affordable homes to be lived in now, supports local jobs and does so without causing material harm," he said.

Cllr Paul Hartman, Symondsbury Parish Council chairman said he had no doubt allowing the 109 homes before the roundabout was completed would add to the risks to public safety.

"It was felt there was no real commitment on behalf of the developers to deliver their commitment, which they have had ample time, to date, to do," he told the area planning committee.

Cllr Neil Eysenck, Eggardon said he drove through the area often and agreed with residents that the existing junction is far from ideal, and said it was disappointing for the council to have to re-visit its original decision.

Portland councillor Paul Kimber said that while he recognised the situation was not a happy one for Symondsbury resident – on the positive side there would be 76 starter homes available in the coming year for local people.