The decision by Dorset Council not to hold a meeting in Gillingham as part of the council’s ‘Big Conversation’ public consultation process has annoyed local councillors.

The new Liberal Democrat-run administration in Dorchester is holding a series of meetings around the county for its initiative asking residents to ‘help shape their plans and priorities for the next five years’.

But the nearest meeting to Gillingham will be held at Shaftesbury.

At a full council meeting of Gillingham Town Council on Monday, former mayor Barry von Clemens made clear what he called his ‘displeasure’ at the omission of Gillingham from the chosen locations for the consultation process.

‘It seems that it was not only the old administrations that didn’t notice that Gillingham existed but the new one also,’ Councillor von Clemens told fellow councillors.

He said that Gillingham was a growing town of more than 12,000 people and yet had been ignored both for this and a recent consultation over buses.

‘There are residents in this town who would like to give their input at the beginning of a new five-year term. I’m sure that the new administration would like to hear that input from the residents of the town.

‘But I fear that sticking it up in Shaftesbury is going to limit the input from Gillingham. I would like to note my displeasure that, once again, we have been left off the list,’ said Councillor von Clemens.

Two of the town’s Dorset councillors, Councillor Belinda Ridout and Councillor Valerie Pothecary, who both attended Monday’s town council meeting, said they had already made ‘representations’ to Dorset Council about the issue.

Councillor Ryan Hope, Dorset Council cabinet member for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement told Gillingham News: ‘We are limited on the locations where we can host the pop up events. We have tried to get as broad a mix of places as we can in the time available. The activity is also available to residents in all Dorset libraries and online.’

‘Hopefully, both the town council and local members will be able to promote this to ensure we get input from the residents of Gillingham.’

The council says its current top four proposed priorities are:

1. Communities for all

2. Responding to the climate crisis

3. Providing high quality housing

      4. Growing the economy

As part of the ‘Big Conversation’ councillors and Dorset Council officers will be at eight locations in all across the summer. They are at:

• Bridport (Bucky Doo Square) Wednesday 24 July: 10am to 3pm

• Dorchester (Food and Arts Festival) Saturday 3 August: 10am to 3pm

• Wimborne (Town Square) Friday 16 August: 9am to 2pm

• Portland (Easton Gardens) Saturday 24 August: 10am to 3pm

• Shaftesbury (Town Market) Thursday 29 August: 9:30am to 2:30pm

• Wareham (The Quay) Saturday 31 August: 8am to 1pm

• Weymouth (New Bond Street) Saturday 7 September: 10am to 3pm

• Sherborne (Market) Sunday 15 September: 10am to 3pm

Residents can also give their thoughts and feedback online. Find out more via www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/a-big-conversation. This can be accessed on computers at libraries and there will also be paper copies available there, the council says.