We held a mock funeral for our Dorset village as huge change is going to kill it off and we're furio

FURIOUS residents have held a mock funeral for their village over plans to double its size. Livid locals have formed a resistance group against plans for 1,700 new homes in the small village of Alderholt in Dorset.

FURIOUS residents have held a mock funeral for their village over plans to double its size.

Livid locals have formed a resistance group against plans for 1,700 new homes in the small village of Alderholt in Dorset.

If the new houses are built the village, which currently has a population of 3,000, will become a town.

Locals claim the changes will destroy their community.

Organiser Angela Connal said: "It will kill our village, the surrounding fields and animals.

"It is very important to us that the threat to the village is taken seriously."

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Members of the opposition group Action4Alderholt filmed a video of their leader Debbie Jacobs dressed as the grim reaper trudging through the village.

On her black robe "I am Dudsbury destroyer of villages" was written.

Behind the grim reaper Angela dragged a coffin representing the death of Alderholt.

Sombre music was played as the funeral procession made its way through the village to mourn plans proposed by developers Dudsbury Homes.

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On the outskirts of the village Debbie presented different boxes with locations from around Alderholt pictured on them.

She then performed a ceremonial stamping on those boxes to represent their destruction.

Angela organised the fake funeral in order to stir up feeling in the area.

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

"The whole character of the village will be destroyed.

"Alderholt does not need or want development of this size and the local plan consultation report has stated that Alderholt is not suitable for this sort of development."

Alderholt currently has a population of around 2,872, according to 2021 Census data.

If the 1,700-home development were to go ahead, the population of Alderholt would more than double.

A Dudsbury Homes spokesperson said: "The development will be transformative for the local area, providing much needed housing and facilities for local families."

Alongside almost 2,000 homes a modern medical centre will be built, improvements to the local school made and a new six-day hourly bus service from Cranborne-Alderholt-Fordingbridge-Ringwood brought in.

The spokesman added: "Hopefully it will enable younger people to get on 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."

Adrian Hibberd, chairman of Alderholt Parish Council, confirmed that Dorset Council had received the proposal and said he had seen Dudsbury Homes' "wishlist".

He said he's waiting to see something "in black and white" before taking a stance on the plans, adding: "Until an application comes forward we're not having a view as such.

"There are more developers than just Dudsbury Homes trying to do the same thing at the moment.

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"Alderholt is surrounded by land that wants to be built on."

It comes after residents in one of the UK's poshest villages revealed why it's a hidden gem despite sky-high property prices.

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