Will You Vote For Or Against West Dorset District Council’s New Offices?

A ballot will be taking place today for Dorchester residents to vote either

for or against West Dorset District Council’s new offices.

The ballot, organised by Dorchester Forum asks the question: “Do you agree with the proposal

of West Dorset District Council to move from their present head-quarters in

High West Street to a new multi-million pound office block which they propose

to build?”

Local activists have launched their own website to encourage locals to communicate their thoughts on the new plans. The website

‘Dorchester Forum’ aims to gain views from the public on the development plans

and has its own survey on the subject. Dorchester Forum is 'a small group of non-political

taxpaying residents' who have called for the town ballot today, Thursday 22nd April.

Dorchester Forum is asking local residents to vote today at

their local polling stations between 4pm and 9pm. Most

residents will have received a pink A5 leaflet through the door about this

recently.

There is also a Facebook group called ‘Vote against the new West Dorset

District Council offices’ which rivals efforts by the council to encourage enthusiasm

for the new development.

A video by WDDC explaining the reasons for the move was

recently published on dorchesterpeople.co.uk called ‘West

Dorset District Council

Development Plans On You Tube’ in which chief executive David Clarke

communicates the plans to local residents.

Another website, ‘Charles Street Project’ explains in

further detail the proposed Charles Street development and says that a planning

application will be submitted in Spring 2010. If it is granted, phase one of

the project will begin in early 2011.

There is also an online version of the ballot which has been launched by the Liberal Democrats, asking the same question. You can take the online poll here: Office Poll

Will you vote for or against the move? Why?