WORK will begin in the coming days to dig up some of Dorchester’s past ahead of the town’s proposed new redevelopment scheme.

West Dorset District Council has commissioned some excavation work on the Fairfield car park – a location earmarked for shops and restaurants as part of regeneration plans.

The excavations, carried out by Context One in phases over three weeks, will involve digging four trenches in different areas of the long stay car park to explore any archaeological interest that may exist beneath the site.

The public have been assured that the dig has been arranged to “minimise the impact on parking and the Dorchester Market”, which is held on Wednesdays.

Barriers will go up tomorrow with digging set to begin on Tuesday.

The work will take up to three working days per trench, and take place over the course of about three weeks.

West Dorset District Council said in a statement: “The Dorchester retail proposals are underway, with the masterplan being drafted. Each element of the masterplan is being carefully considered and appraised.

“We value and respect Dorchester’s history and heritage. While looking to the future, we would also seek to protect Dorchester’s history.”

The location of the four trenches have been chosen on the advice of the county archaeologist to compliment the previous seven sites dug in 2009.

The statement said: “A mechanical excavator will dig below the surface, and any layer of archaeology will then be hand dug. Any archaeological interest will be recorded and taken for review. The results of this will inform future work on the site.”

The Fairfield site is central to the council’s future vision for Dorchester town centre. Building there means the historic market will have to be relocated.

Campaigners have spoke of their concern about the redevelopment proposals.

They are worried about the effect on the existing town centre, and believe that more should be made of the county town’s history, rather than focusing on building big stores.