MEMBERS at Dorset County Council have agreed to explore the preferred option to develop land behind the library, just off South Street, into a community hub for Bridport.
The council has pledged to invest £4.7 million to support the delivery of social care services in the town, including day services, care for older people and support for people to stay healthy and independent in the community.
A statement from Dorset County Council said that a more detailed feasibility study on this preferred option will now begin, looking at the facilities to be included in the hub. Once details have been drawn up, the public will have a chance to give their views before Cabinet makes a final decision in January. 
Cllr Jill Haynes, the council's Cabinet member for adult social care, said: “We have listened to local residents and people who use our services, who asked for a site that was central to town. This site certainly fulfils a lot of the criteria as well as giving us an opportunity to work closer with the CAB and the town library.
As this moves forward, we will be keeping our options open for possible sites for a new care home and extra care housing to replace Sidney Gale residential home sometime in the future.”