| LOCAL NEWS |  | | | | OTHER SPORT | | |
|
|
|
View plans for £2.5m children's centre
 |
| ONE FOR THE FUTURE: Architects' design for new children's centre in Dorchester |
ARCHITECTS have unveiled plans for a modern children's centre in Dorchester.
Tonight and tomorrow parents will be able to view the designs for the proposed £2.5 million Maiden Castle Children's Centre.
The Dorchester Opportunity Group has spent two years working on the project with Ringwood-based architects Cube Design.
The building would be built on the site of the Prince of Wales Pre-School Centre in Maiden Castle Road.
Trust manager Joan Hickmott said: "This is a very big community project and it will benefit a tremendous amount of people.
"This is all part of the consultation phase. We have been in discussion with planners and it will go for planning permission next week."
The opportunity group is holding two launch events this weekend. The first is tonight, where councillors and local organisations which have expressed an interest in the project will get a chance to find out more about it.
The next day, from from 10am to noon, the plans will be on show for parents and interested locals at the Prince of Wales Pre-School Centre.
Miss Hickmott said: "Architects and stakeholders will be there to talk to people about the plans.
"There will be a tremendous number of facilities. It has a lot of play space, with two new play rooms - at the moment we are all crowded into one room.
"It will have a baby and toddler suite, soft play rooms, a speech therapy centre, social area, kitchen and dining room.
"There will be facilities for parents who need to meet with a range of professionals that there is just no space for at the moment and we are hoping to be able to facilitate a range of family planning activities and courses, such as parenting courses.
"Perhaps the most innovative part is the family support unit, which will offer overnight care.
"It will be a tremendous bonus for families." The scheme is being partly funded through donations and a contribution from SureStart, but the Dorchester Opportunity Group will have to raise a large amount of the money.
Miss Hickmott said: "The actual building looks like it will cost around £2.5 million but then there are all the fittings and equipment as well."
Miss Hickmott is encouraging people to check out the plans and find out more about the amenities.
10:11am Friday 28th March 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: sisyphus, Newtown on 12:41pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Two observations about the cost quoted as £2.5 million. In the private sector this building would be built and fitted out for at least 33% less, whereas in the bloated poorly audited and almost unaccountable public sector the final cost will come in at a lot more than £2.5 million, probably £3.5 million, but no one will be sacked for going way over the agreed and approved budget, far from it, the "project" will win awards and prizes, and the people involved will be promoted and given birthday honours gongs. Wait till these helpful public servants reveal the true running costs.
Two observations about the cost quoted as £2.5 million. In the private sector this building would be built and fitted out for at least 33% less, whereas in the bloated poorly audited and almost unaccountable public sector the final cost will come in at a lot more than £2.5 million, probably £3.5 million, but no one will be sacked for going way over the agreed and approved budget, far from it, the "project" will win awards and prizes, and the people involved will be promoted and given birthday honours gongs. Wait till these helpful public servants reveal the true running costs.
Posted by: dorch res, Dorchester on 12:58pm Fri 28 Mar 08
as a member of a group looking to fundraise we will pop along and see what this is all about tonight!
as a member of a group looking to fundraise we will pop along and see what this is all about tonight!
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
