THE new Bridport community ‘hub’ is now likely to be built on the site of Fisherman’s Arms in South Street.

The choice could involve the relocation of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau to incorporate it in the £4.7 million development.

In September last year Cllr Jill Haynes, Dorset County Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care said the favoured site was the old Wessex Water site behind the library.

But a detailed feasibility study has shown the site unsuitable due to problems with listed buildings and traffic.

A recent county council survey looked at traffic movement for the current day centres and also traffic movement into the car park at South Street.

This survey indicated that traffic volume to the proposed site could be a major problem, and there were also limited flexibility due to the listed buildings and road side walls.

A detailed study of the plot at Fisherman’s Arms will now begin, and the initial design for the new hub will be presented to cabinet in March.

People who use the services and local residents will continue to be involved in the design process of the new hub said Cllr Haynes.

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 for as long as possible. Cllr Haynes added: “We have listened to local residents and people who use our services, who asked for a site that was central to town. “The area of Fisherman’s Arms certainly fulfils a lot of the criteria, and we look forward to working with the local community on these exciting developments.

“We will be liaising closely with Citizens Advice Bureau on the next stage of the development and hope they will be moving into the new hub once it is built.”

Cllr Haynes told Bridport Town Councillors last autumn that initial feasibility studies had been done on both The Fisherman’s Arms and the Wessex land and that the waterworks site had come out on top.

She said its main attraction was its central location and the opportunity to work with CAB and the library.