It would appear that developers Simons want WDDC to build offices with taxpayer’s money and liability to enable them to develop Charles Street in to a shopping mall in an economic downturn.

It doesn’t seem to be about the needs of the town or the community, or indeed the taxpayer.

It seems to be a money-making exercise for the developer at the expense of Dorchester and the taxpayers of West Dorset, upon the back of WDDC who think they will make a lot of money from the increased value of Charles Street with a shopping mall on it, instead of just car parking and an open space amenity in the centre of the town.

Do we know the financial outcome of the entire project?

This may have made some kind of economic sense before the approval of the Brewery development for an increased number of shops and houses in Charles Street, but since then the economic condition of the country has changed dramatically.

WDDC appear to have lacked foresight or courage – or even been economically aware, when approached by Simons in 2008 for help to keep the development on track – by agreeing to build new offices there, instead of withdrawing the originally proposed scheme completely.

WDDC appear to have misinterpreted the economic climate and how in 2007 they might have been able to make money from this project at the expense of the real needs of the town centre, before the downturn.

But to then involve the taxpayer in an expensive and unnecessary new office and library building just to keep the project on track for the developer is indeed short sighted.

Perhaps we should look at the West Dorset District Council who made these decisions about the use of our money and the future of our town centre and question their positions now?

Surely it was their responsibility to advise the councillors, many of whom they know have no experience in corporate finance.

In a public listed company they would be liable for their decision making and would have to answer to the shareholders and take the consequences.

In the public sector, they are not liable and the taxpayer, who has had no say in the decision-making process, has to take all the consequences along with all the small business in the town centre who will also pay the price for this potential white elephant. It would appear the taxpayer and the people of Dorchester have been misled over the entire Charles Street development and the intentions of the district council.

WDDC’s 2006 Local Town Plan was an excellent summation for the future development of Charles Street.

We need to make sure that criteria in this plan are followed closely in the development proposed, to reflect the needs of Dorchester and the community going forward, as largely reflected in comments posted on dorchesterforum.com The Simons planning application for Charles Street should be available at WDDC from around now.

Sarah Wilkinson, Proposer of the Town Ballot, Dorchester.