We were glad to see the Echo’s coverage on Charles Street on February 25 – the issue is democracy in local government.

The crunch issue is how West Dorset District Council (WDDC) managed to start phase one, putting their new offices on the previous 226-space Charles Street South car park.

That left the 280 spaces at Charles Street North. But who would have given approval to phase one offices if they’d known ‘the new public car-park with 485 spaces’ wouldn’t be ready until three years and a month after phase two even starts?

Council leader Robert Gould said last week phase two construction would now start mid-2013, so it would be mid-2016 before any new Charles Street parking would emerge.

Does anyone think the 48 WDDC councillors, 200 Dorchester retailers and West Dorset public would have been in favour of and voted for that?

The reality for democracy is this crucial fact was never discussed in the council’s executive or full council meetings, nor appeared in their minutes, so most councillors remained totally unaware, as did Dorchester’s retailers and West Dorset public.

I’ve talked with many councillors, who see new offices going up but never knew phase two construction would get underway before any new public parking becomes available for Charles Street North or Charles Street South car parks.

Retailers are bemused. Councill-ors say they didn’t know, saying it’s maybe too late to stop the offices now, despite the consequences.

If offices are allowed, what hope for our future democracy?

The last council meeting took just over an hour, half being public questions. A parking issue was raised by a councillor but not accepted. There was no debate that afternoon at all.

The overall parking debacle – crucial as it is – reflects a breakdown of true democracy.

John Grantham Burton Bradstock