FLOODING at Poundbury has created a few headaches for Dorchester Town Council, a report says.

The annual report by the chairman of the council's planning and environment committee, Coun Fiona Kent-Ledger, says drainage works at the Great Field have slowed 'almost to a halt' while surveys are carried out.

She adds that the situation for residents in the original Poundbury is unacceptable and that the issue should have been dealt with earlier by the Duchy of Cornwall.

Her report points out that Poundbury continues to develop at a steady pace, with a surgery, clinic and two dental practices having been completed there earlier in the year.

Miss Kent-Ledger adds: "The development at the Great Field has slowed almost to a halt while drainage surveys are undertaken.

"It is a great shame that this was not dealt with earlier, but it is a priority that this is dealt with correctly as the current impact on the residents of the original Poundbury site is not acceptable and needs remedying before anything further is done on this site."

She adds: "The Duchy and residents seem to have a clear line of communication, which has seemed to result in more consultation not just in Poundbury but also in other areas of the town.

"There have been a few glitches and breakdowns, I guess that is only understandable with an organisation the size of the Duchy.

"However, it has caused a few headaches for us where they are perhaps not as clear on our policy as they thought we were."

Elsewhere in her report, Miss Kent-Ledger says there was some disappointment for town councillors when their objections to the height of some buildings at the brewery development in Weymouth Avenue were not fully supported at district council level.

She says that a 'full house of upset members of the public' attended a district council meeting with herself and Coun Susie Hosford but the application was passed to officers to decide on under delegated powers.

She adds that it was good for residents to see town councillors defending their views and that people should start to see buildings rise above the green boards soon.

She also urges people to have their say on the proposed Charles Street development.

The report will be presented to the annual meeting of councillors on Tuesday.