SHAFTESBURY residents are being invited to have their say on an ambitious plan for a new “community hub” for the town.

A “one stop shop”, providing conference facilities, a private nursery, and offices for community bodies, is envisaged for a flagship building on the site of the youth club at Christy’s Lane.

New teaching facilities for Yeovil College at the heart of the proposal set the plans apart from other projects in the district.

Cllr Lester Dibben, the town’s deputy mayor and chairman of the task force, said the facility would help the area to retain its young talent.

“It’s been known in Dorset for sometime that we lose our young people. They go away for training and stay away, finding jobs near the places in which they’ve been educated,” said Mr Dibben.

Specialist teaching facilities for subjects as diverse as construction and beauty are among those suggested in a consultation document for the proposed hub.

The centre would also fill a need for the district’s business, said the deputy mayor, providing easy access to conference facilities to firms in Shaftesbury, Gillingham and South West Wiltshire.

“This is a very important consultation, and I hope people will realise the possible benefits to education and the economy of the town,” said Mr Dibben.

The proposals follow a joint initiative from Shaftesbury Town Council, and community group the Shaftesbury Task Force, working in partnership with Yeovil College.

Other key stakeholders in the project include local and national educational bodies.

Interactive drawings and detailed information on objectives for the proposed facility will soon go on display at Shaftesbury Town Hall.

People can call in to view the plans on January 23 from 2-8pm, and on January 24 from 9am-noon.


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