BUSINESS leaders have launched a blistering attack on a multi-million pound Dorchester development.

Members of Dorchester Chamber of Commerce have demanded a meeting with council chiefs to voice their concerns about the lack of public debate on selecting Simons Developments Ltd as the chosen developer for the new council offices.

Chamber president Alistair Chisholm said he finds the selection of the Charles Street site for West Dorset District Council’s new offices ‘extraordinary’ in a testing economic climate.

He claims the council could have saved £5million in cash and public assets by opting to relocate to the town’s Brewery Square development instead.

This cash could come from the sale of the council-owned Charles Street site for housing and by selecting rival developer Brewery Square, which offered a £1.85million cheaper bid for the job, he said.

“It seems strange that such a large element of the Charles Street project has been decided behind closed doors against the round of consultations.

“Suddenly, there’s a deal done – no members of the public have had a chance to comment on it.

“We find it little short of extraordinary that, after a protracted series of consultations on the project, the decision was made to relocate the WDDC offices without any public debate whatsoever,” he said.

Instead of pushing ahead with two major developments, Mr Chisholm said, the council should give Brewery Square a boost – which is now in its second phase of development.

“We fear that WDDC, by selecting Charles Street over Brewery Square, may be contributing to a scenario whereby we finish up with two partially-developed town centre sites rather than one successfully completed site.”

Mr Chisholm said the council’s claim that the project will give Dorchester an economic lift is ‘puzzling’ and that the town’s prospects would be better improved by developing a theatre and implementing the Dorchester Transport and Environment Plan.

He adds: “At a time when public funds are in short supply it is inexcusable for our district council to waste some £5million of public funds in this way.”

A meeting has been arranged between council leader Robert Gould and chamber members for September 8.

Mr Gould said: “Councillors considered the bids from Simons and Brewery Square to provide new district council offices in Dorchester.

“After careful consideration of the professional assessment and report they concluded that the bid by Simons Developments represents the best way forward.

“Moving offices is part of the council’s cost-cutting review to increase efficiency and reduce the burden on the taxpayer.”