I attended a meeting of objectors to the new council offices in Dorchester.

We gathered at the scene of crime as the noise from councillor Gould’s first gang of workers commenced the despoliation of The Walks.

I listened to some informed and detailed accounts of the background to this monumental act of misgovernment and hypocrisy with a sense of horror, anger and disbelief.

Whatever the political leanings of West Dorset’s electors, when they eventually see the size and nature of coun Gould’s new palace, they will all feel betrayed by what can only be described as an act of politically inspired vandalism. One can only question how much longer people will be prepared to sit back and watch a supposedly democratically-elected council use its own planning department to rubber-stamp a colossally expensive monstrosity on flimsy financial credentials.

As Alistair Chisholm repeatedly stated to the objectors, no one was objecting to the development itself; only to the fact that a totally inappropriate and huge building (resembling in size Buckingham Palace as seen from The Mall) is being constructed in our small but lovely little town.

I sincerely hope that if, as seems certain, democracy is to be temporarily suspended in this part of the world, that in sight of Gould’s Folly, a tablet engraved with this verse is displayed for all to see.

“Look over there towards South Walks In that huge building power stalks It’s now the symbol of autocracy and caused the death of our democracy Remember that it was your duty To protect that goddess and her beauty”

Mike Joslin, Garfield Avenue, Dorchester