PROTESTERS took to the streets of Upton as opposition over government plans to build 2,750 new homes in the area mounts.

Dozens of residents gathered at the Upton crossroads to voice their disapproval at the vast "western extension" recommended in a South West Regional Spatial Strategy report.

Green belt land would be destroyed by the proposed development for Upton, Lytchett Minster and Lytchett Matravers, intended to help meet housing need in Dorset by 2026.

Annette Brooke, MP for Mid-Dorset and North Poole, lent her support to the protesters, who waved banners and handed out information to drivers inconvenienced while using the crossings.

Simon Thomson, chairman of Lytchett Minster and Upton Community Association (LUCA), said: "The reason for using the crossroads as a focal point for the demonstration was to draw people's attention to the extra traffic that would be introduced to the junction.

"The government's plans to build this extension would cause so many problems to the community as well as to others using the local infrastructure."

An estimated 5,000 extra vehicles could be added to the already creaking roads every day, with doctors, schools and shops also placed under huge pressure.

The recently launched town plan for Upton and Lytchett Minster found a large percentage of the population was against the planned project.

Purbeck council is vowing to oppose the RSS recommendations to build 5,000 new homes across the district by 2026, but communities and local government secretary Hazel Blears is due to rubber-stamp the figures soon.

The Upton RSS Action Group (URAG) holds its next open meeting at the Upton Community Centre, on Wednesday, August 27, at 8pm.

Contact Simon Thomson on 01202 621574 for more information.