CHARLES STREET, DORCHESTER, LOCAL ELECTION ISSUE on 5 MAY: Size of financial penalty if Charles Street development is cancelled following local elections on 5th May.

Having made a Freedom of Information request to West Dorset District Council on 19 April, I have received this reply to my enquiry about this important issue which is central to the Local Elections tomorrow:

On 19 April 2011, I requested this information:

Dear West Dorset District Council,

It is a matter of considerable importance to be informed of the
financial consequences and penalties if the Charles Street
Development in Dorchester should be cancelled or renegotiated in
whole or part (ie new Council Offices and library) should the local
election give the majority to another party which claims to be
opposed to the development. This information needs to be in the
public domain well before the election on May 5 (ie well before the
end of April), in order for voters to make up their minds about
this absolutely central policy issue which divides the
Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. To keep the size of the
potential penalty secret means that voters have no way of judging
the reality of the claims of competing party candidates.


(signed)

I have just received this reply (this is the relevant paragraph), from David Wignall, West Dorset District Council, dated 4 May 2011:

I have passed on your enquiry to the Technical Services Manager who has informed me that there is no provision in the contract with Simons to cancel the project. In this event WDDC would be in breach of contract and would be liable for several million pounds of compensation for loss of earnings etc.

I hope this concludes your enquiry to your satisfaction. If you have any concerns in respect of our response to your information request, please contact me again.

Yours sincerely

David Wignall
Freedom of information officer
West Dorset District Council
Legal Services Division

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I wonder where this leaves the issue. Would there be a Dorset-wide referendum on the issue, in the event of a change in the balance of power in WDDC?

Voters have (or had) a democratic right to unambiguous answers on policies, the feasibility and affordability of their implementation.