WITH West Dorset District Council in its death throes; it seems the silly season seems to have descended on it, on some of its past and future plans for Dorchester?

Dorchester Prison site, where it seems City & Country may not proceed and the planned housing scheme is in doubt? Then today's headline!

A £2 million scheme to relocate the Market from Fairfield to Charles Street car park! Where I believe it will sit aside the 23 (twenty-three) most expensive parking spaces at £40.5k each! This will allow Fairfield to be redeveloped for retail? High Streets are in decline at the moment! Look at the empty units in town and especially the flagship Brewery Square development!

More retail is not needed.

A better solution leave the market where it is and use some of the £2 million and buy the prison site from City & Country (they bought it for a pittance) then let a housing association build social housing for local residents!

Hence stopping the ‘steady gentrification’ of Dorchester by the building of high cost flats & housing.

Barry Thompson

Vice chairman, Dorchester & District Labour Party