Weymouth: When Princess Anne opened council offices in 1971

Many claimed that they were built on the wrong site as a number of alternative venues were mentioned including the Burdon Hotel and Radipole House in Dorchester Road.

However after long deliberation it was decided, controversially, to use the site on North Quay and High Street, which had been purchased by the council over a number of years.

Now, discussion rages on about the future. The cost of maintaining them is £700k per year. Many think that they should be demolished, whilst a smaller number think that they should be converted. Both schemes cost money, but doing nothing is not an option.

Crowds wait for the celebrations to begin as the North Quay Municipal Offices are opened

Today we are taken back to June 1 1971 when the new building was opened by HRH Princess Anne as part of the Quatercentenary Celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the amalgamation of the two Boroughs of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.

People wait for Royalty to arrive (Image: Newsquest)

Here in these photos crowds expectantly await the celebrations to begin. The distinguished guest has arrived and is escorted into the building accompanied by H.M.Lord Lieutenant, Colonel Sir Joseph Weld, and the Macebearers Jim Goodenough and Sid Ley.

Local government joint working with West Dorset in 2016 and the Unitary Authority created in 2019 made the building obsolescent and staff moved from there in 2016 – a lifetime of 45 years.