WEST Dorset District Council says it is ‘confident’ a bid for lottery funding to transform Dorchester’s historic Shire Hall will be successful.

The council has been asked to provide more details after submitting an application from the Heritage Lottery Fund in November for a contribution to the £1.5million project.

It is currently working on the proposals and is due to re-submit the application in the spring.

If the scheme goes ahead it will see the historic old Crown Court, which held the Tolpuddle Martyrs trial in 1834, and cells restored to provide a major visitor attraction for the area.

The Heritage Lottery Fund asked for more information on the project’s business plan in order to assess the long-term sustainability of the plans.

West Dorset District Council leader Cllr Anthony Alford said: “We are working extremely closely with The Heritage Lottery Fund in order to make our proposal for the Shire Hall project as strong as possible. We are currently adding more detail to our business plan for the project and intend to resubmit a proposal in the spring and are confident of hearing positive news about funding for the scheme.”

The Shire Hall will still be open to the public this summer, with a range of tours available and events at the venue planned.