War games and Ghost hunts to continue at Dorchester Prison
Owner's say they've still got plans to turn the historical site into 185 homes
Dorchester Prison is to continue being used for war games and ghost hunts – a use which first started in early 2019.
Dorset Council has now given formal permission for the games to continue although the proposals met with opposition from some neighbours.
Dorchester town council did not object to the change of use application but asked for restrictions on hours.
Objections included fears about disturbance, the impact on the tranquillity of the riverside walk and a claim that paranormal tours are disrespectful.
On the plus side those in support of the application said it would bring some use to a vacant historical site, would benefit the local economy and provide an additional tourist attraction for the county town.
Owners, City & Country, which has owned the site since 2013 says it has not abandoned proposals for 185 homes on the town centre site, mainly by converting the cell blocks and other buildings.
The developers have struggled to bring the housing scheme about and have been looking for other companies to join them, or for someone else to take over the housing project.
Local campaigners have called for the Dorset Council to use a housing fund it has, set up by the former West Dorset District Council, to buy the site and use it for affordable housing.
Airsoft games organisers, Cracking Day Limited, have used the prison occasionally for its games sessions. These involve firing non-marking pellets at other competitors while ‘capturing’ various objectives. The company holds similar events in the former Gloucester Prison.
“This will give members of the public a new, exciting way to enjoy the historic spaces that has been closed to the public for its entire history and will be out of bounds as a construction site for a number of years whilst the site is being redeveloped,” said the company’s application to Dorset Council.
Other activities may include ghost hunts and other community events such as open days.
Parking for all events will be around the gatehouse area and to the west of it – with the ability to accommodate around 60 cars.
“These proposals present an opportunity to maintain a beneficial ‘meanwhile’ leisure use of the historic buildings at the former HMP Dorchester site until the residential-led redevelopment of the site commences,” said the City & Country application.
Conditions on the continued use include airsoft gaming being limited to no more than four weekend events and two weekday events per calendar month with airsoft gaming limited to between 10am and 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and between 5pm and 10pm Monday to Fridays. The permission will be limited to three years with an expiry date of 15 April 2024 to allow the site to operate over the Easter holidays.