Dorchester Town Centre Redevelopment Issues (Charles Street)

BBC report 1 on Charles Street

BBC Report 2

Sadly, these problems were entirely predictable.

Dorset Echo report

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An email message just received from Andy Canning:

“A Nightmare on Charles Street” is what the Dorset Echo has called West Dorset District Council’s failure to develop this town centre site in Dorchester and the new proposal to use £2 million of public money to subsidise a revised project.

Already £16 million of taxpayers money has been used to build new Council Offices and a library on this site but they have failed to build any shops.

In the first phase of this project the Council was criticised by the independent auditor for not engaging with the public. This is the first major decision to be taken since this report and yet again the Council is refusing to consult the public.

I have therefore launched a petition calling on WDDC to think again, postpone its decision (currently due on the 25th October) and instead engage in a full and real consultation with the public.

This is important as it is yet another big spending of public money on what should really be a private sector development. It will also effect the centre of Dorchester for decades.

It is vital that you are allowed to have your say.

If you agree please sign the petition and please forward this e-mail to anyone you know who lives or works in West Dorset.

Yours sincerely,



Cllr Andy Canning
Chair, West Dorset Liberal Democrats