WORKERS in Dorchester are being given some festive cheer with the news that more parking spaces are going to be made available to them.

The new owners of the Stratton House site, formerly owned by West Dorset District Council, have agreed to make some extra spaces available in lower Colliton Street for traders in the town.

It will also help to free up parking in the town centre for shoppers and visitors.

Project director of the Dorchester BID (Business Improvement District) Phil Gordon negotiated the arrangement with Dave Kelleway of Stratton House Developments.

Mr Kelleway said: “When the BID approached my company I thought, what a good idea.

“We are delighted to be in Dorchester and very much look forward to an exciting future for the Stratton House site and surrounding properties in which we have an interest.

“We are committed to Dorchester and pleased to be able to do this to help some of our new businesses neighbours in town.”

Mr Gordon said: “Originally I asked if there was a chance of using the main car park behind Stratton house itself but although David was keen to help, after making some enquiries we soon realised that it was a non-starter.

“It’s very frustrating but using that large car park would have invoked a massive cost of possibly over £60,000 in rates and there were also crippling insurance ramifications together, making the idea at the moment impossible.

“David suggested that we could however use another smaller car park as a pilot to see how it went, which was great news.”

BID board member Nick Rawlings, from Goulds department store, also welcomed the move to make the car park available.

He said: “It’s definitely a good idea because parking in Dorchester is an issue and this will benefit traders.”

BID levy players are being asked if they are interested in a place in the car park, and as spaces are limited, anyone expressing an interest will be put into a draw on Christmas Eve to pick the first users.

There will be a cost involved that will be in line with the current all day parking charges in the town.

Permits will be issued for two months and then another draw will take place for the next two months.

Anyone interested is asked to email info@dorchesterdorset.co.uk