RESIDENTS staged a funeral for their village in response to a development that would double its size.

Members of the campaign group Action4Alderholt came together on Friday, April 21, to record the demonstration.

It followed a 1,700-home planning application submitted to Dorset Council by developer Dudsbury Homes.

Debbie Jacobs led a small procession, trudging through mud dressed as the 'grim reaper' with a sign stating 'I am Dudsbury destroyer of villages' stuck to her chest.

Sombre music was played in the background while a pony walked behind them and Angela Connal dragged a coffin on wheels.

Debbie then put down boxes with photographs from around Alderholt attached to them and stamped on them as each point is read out, effectively showing how fields, animals and roads would be 'killed'.

Salisbury Journal: Debbie Jacobs, dressed as the grim reaper, stamping on a box with a photograph of farmland stuck to it.Debbie Jacobs, dressed as the grim reaper, stamping on a box with a photograph of farmland stuck to it. (Image: Angela Connal)

Angela lives on Ringwood Road and organised the fake funeral with the hope of "stirring up more people to object to the proposal".

She said: "It’s very important to us that the threat to the village is taken seriously."

However, the performance was met with an unwanted response.

Angela added: "We were trying to send a grim message but some people thought it was funny so I think we didn’t get it right."

Watch the full video here

Prior to the procession, the trio gathered outside Alderholt's Co-Operative to speak to people and hand out leaflets.

A Dudsbury Homes spokesperson said the plans would "positively transform the local area", adding: "The proposals consist of 1,700 family homes, including 600 affordable homes, a modern medical centre, significant improvements to St. James’ School, and a new 6-day hourly bus service from Cranborne-Alderholt-Fordingbridge-Ringwood. 

"The development will be transformative for the local area, providing much-needed housing and facilities for local families and enabling younger people to get onto the housing ladder. 

"The proposals will also support new business opportunities in Alderholt through a new 10,000 sqm employment hub that will provide a multitude of opportunities. New serviced office space and fibre internet will also make it easier for people to work from home."

To view the planning application (ref P/OUT/2023/01166) click here.