Dorchester council offices to close for the final time

12:23pm Friday 18th January 2013 in Latest

Stratton House in Dorchester Stratton House in Dorchester

WEST Dorset District Council is to close its offices at Stratton House in Dorchester for the final time this afternoon.

The authority has been in the process of moving to new offices in South Walks Road for several weeks and the process will be complete by Monday.

It claims the new, smaller offices will be cheaper to run and more energy efficient as well as offering improved access for people with disabilities.

They will also offer modern customer facilities including self service points where customers can access computers and online information themselves and a spacious reception area with comfortable waiting areas and interview rooms.

West Dorset District Council leader Robert Gould said: “The new offices will save us £200,000 a year and will go on saving us money each year and every year.

“Importantly, we can also now offer a better service to the people of West Dorset as we now have a building fit to do business in.

“I am very pleased that for the first time ever, people in wheelchairs can access the whole building.”     

All phone numbers remain the same and the new postal address is West Dorset District Council, South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, DT1 1UZ.

Comments(8)

JamesYoung says...
1:30pm Fri 18 Jan 13

"West Dorset District Council leader Robert Gould said: “The new offices will save us £200,000 a year and will go on saving us money each year and every year."

Indeed, but what is the payback on the new offices? After all, you've not sold the old ones yet.

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unexpected error says...
4:26pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Went by the new offices yesterday for the first since they've been completed and thought they looked great. I don't think they look out of place, in fact they look pretty smart. Just what Dorchester needs to bring it up to date along with the new development in Brewery Square.

It's a shame Weymouth didn't adopt the same attitude rather than just allowing loads of flats to be built in the town centre and around the harbour.

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CoogarUK.com says...
6:26pm Fri 18 Jan 13

West Dorset District Council's new multimillion-pound office block HQ will cost us all a lot more than they will save for a very long time to come yet. Fact.

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wessex-andy says...
7:56am Sat 19 Jan 13

They may well save £200K per year. How many years will it take for that to cover the cost of building the new offices?

In addition to that, why would anyone want the old building if it costs so much per year to run? (£200K plus rent, rates, power, etc.).

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leo210856 says...
9:15am Sat 19 Jan 13

It really is about time that the Ohec started to do a real story and as they say drill down into the figures and using the councils own figures expose the myth of saving £200k pa or confirm it as being so
It really wouldnt take a lot of work either by way of the internet or requsets under the freedom of information .
I personally dread to think what the implications are in terms of business rates that will have still to be paid on the old complex, insurance,that will still have to be paid etc also how is the building being funded in view of the failure to sell Stratton House.
The story quite possibly could be dynamite but yet again the Ohec bases its stories on an interview and very much with a one sided slant.

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Oldgrumblebelly says...
5:26pm Sat 19 Jan 13

I guess the savings will go towards powering all those pointless, self-aggrandizing, 30+ lights around the new office block, not to mention the ones lighting the empty car park and empty rooms all night every night.
It would be good to see the council leading the way by switching off unnecessary lights but I'm sure there will be a good reason for having inside and outside lit up all night. Maybe it's H&S ? Yes, of couse. That'll be it. Dorchester residents were so surprised to see such a huge, unexpected monstrosity blocking the sun out during the day I assume council leaders wouldn't want us bumping into it at night.

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I'mavoter says...
5:46pm Sat 19 Jan 13

CoogarUK.com wrote:
West Dorset District Council's new multimillion-pound office block HQ will cost us all a lot more than they will save for a very long time to come yet. Fact.
Figures please, to back up what you claim as 'fact'.

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CoogarUK.com says...
3:01pm Sun 20 Jan 13

I'mavoter wrote:
CoogarUK.com wrote:
West Dorset District Council's new multimillion-pound office block HQ will cost us all a lot more than they will save for a very long time to come yet. Fact.
Figures please, to back up what you claim as 'fact'.
Just for starters:-

Cost of loss of parking revenue on site of HQ

Cost of Stratton House not reaching anything like WDDC's £3.5m valuation

Additional £2m cost of relocating Community to Church to Trinity Street not included in original scheme, plus further loss of parking revenue there.

Cost of loss of business rates for every business that has closed down as a result of 'Death by Charles Street' and lack of WDDC support.

Even if WDDC's figures were believable (which they're not) it would still take many, many years simply to recoup the costs of their folly - Work it out!

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