Construction work on new tennis courts now underway

Once the new courts are in action it will free up two courts, on the opposite side of West Walks, for affordable housing.

Ground works on converting the former Borough Gardens' bowling green has been underway for several weeks – resulting in the closure of the southern end of the Walks and West Walks Road to both pedestrians and cars for safety reasons.

Town councillors are now being told that the construction phase of the project is underway with the new courts expected to be completed by mid-May and painted two weeks later once the hard surface had settled and dried.

Tons of topsoil from the site has been moved to the Castle Park play area at the end of Maiden Castle Road for future re-use.

The Dorchester Town Council project to offer land it owns for affordable housing has been cited at county council level as a possible model for the larger authority to study and, possibly, to follow.

Environment Director Mike Harries has told county councillors that while the larger authority is not a housing provider the town council model could be something which Dorset County Council should look at when considering selling off land it owns.

Dorchester Town Council hopes to be able to donate the tennis court site to a Community Land Trust and put in place guarantees that the homes built there will remain only for the use of local people at prices they can afford into the future.

Providing affordable housing for Dorchester residents is one of the key priorities of the town council in its forward plan.