The town council offices Picture: Trevor Bevins NEW town council offices being planned for Dorchester town council at the rear of the Municipal Buildings will not have disabled access to the first floor. Town policy chair Cllr Susie Hosford says there is no need because both the public and any staff with mobility difficulties will be able to fully access the ground floor. In response to a public question from Conservative Peter Stein she said the position for visitors would be much improved compared to the existing North Square offices where disabled visitors had to ring a bell and wait outside on the pavement for staff to come and help them up the outside step.
The proposal will be explained in papers for the Places & Resources Scrutiny Committee on March 25. As previously reported the move was thought likely with a relocation for staff based at the building to County Hall. The council has already disposed of the Princes House building in the town centre and former district council offices at Furzehill, Wimborne and Norden, Blandford. The Dorchester offices have been closed since the start of the lockdown and even with an easing of restrictions Dorset Council has said that it will continue to have many of its staff working from home, at least part-time. It is thought the library and learning centre, attached to the west end of the building, will remain open.
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Dorset Council plans to pull out of South Walks and move to County Hall, Dorchester DORSET Council is looking at pulling out of South Walks House in Dorchester and moving staff to County Hall. The idea is being suggested as part of an overall review of the council’s property and land holdings. Talks had been held about Dorset Police sharing the South Walks office, but the idea has now been shelved. Although the more modern building is cheaper to run, the County Hall site is larger with adequate car parking, while Government grants may be available to improve its energy efficiency.