PROPOSALS to transfer 40 assets, including various areas of land, to town and parish councils in East Dorset are set to take place ahead of Local Government Reorganisation in Dorset.

As reported by the Daily Echo several premises, such as the Allendale House and Community Centre will be handed over to the new Dorset unitary authority due to their “strategic significance”.

However, East Dorset District Council (EDDC) has resolved to transfer other assets from across the district area, including 16 which are deemed to be open spaces.

Cllr Simon Tong, chair of the cabinet committee (One Year Strategy), said: “East Dorset District Council recognised that transferring assets to our local town and parish councils will help ensure that the assets continue to be managed locally.

“I’m pleased that we have been able to move quickly on this issue and that we are working so closely with the town and parish councils to ensure that they are in a position to take on the management of the assets as soon as possible.”

Those assets which remain in the ownership of EDDC will pass to the new Dorset Council on April 1 next year and will continue to be maintained by the new authority.