OPPONENTS to West Dorset District Council’s office move have hit back at suggestions they cost the council £600,000.

At a meeting of the council’s executive committee, councillors against the move voiced anger at a report that stated a delay to the proposed offices at Charles Street caused by the threat of a judicial review had resulted in the council missing out on potential savings.

The report stated that in autumn last year Wates Construction was identified as the preferred builder for the scheme but developers Simons was unable to award the contract until the issue of a judicial review was resolved.

When the deadline for judicial review had passed and no application had been made, Simons re-engaged with Wates but, due to increased prices in steel and stone, the firm had increased its priced by around £700,000.

As a result Cowlin, the second place tenderer, was approached and a deal was agreed, however it was more expensive than the one that had initially been agreed with Wates.

The report stated: “As a result of the threat of a JR [judicial review] the project has been delayed by more than three months and this delay has lost the council £600,000 of additional potential savings.

However, councillor Alistair Chisholm hit back by saying the council and Simons should always have factored in the potential of a judicial review period when considering such a major town centre development.

He added: “Trying to blame those opposed to the scheme for the loss of £600,000 of public money is I think disingenuous.”

Council leader Robert Gould responded: “It’s regrettable that we had to delay the scheme for that reason.

“Costs have gone up because of this wholly unnecessary delay.”

Work on the controversial scheme is to begin on June 6.

Meanwhile, businesses have raised concerns over the loss of car parking spaces.

The southern half of the existing car park containing 226 spaces is due to close.

The authority claims it will compensate for the loss of parking at Charles Street by converting 154 long-stay spaces at nearby Wollaston Field to short-stay.

It also claims that, on all days apart from Wednesdays, there are at least a further 72 spaces vacant at the Fairfield car park at Dorchester Market.

Councillor Alistair Chisholm said: “People will know there are already a number of businesses that are already struggling at the moment and the slightest increased difficulty to parking in the town centre could lead to a loss of business.”