the community news that matters
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Repairs are being planned by the National Trust for Thomas Hardy’s former home at Max Gate, Dorchester.
Changes to the Alington Avenue home, a listed building, include external alterations to the rainwater goods on ...
Dorset communities urged to prepare for groundwater flooding
Residents and businesses across Dorset are being urged to be prepared as groundwater levels in the county reach unprecedented levels.
Dorset Council and the Environment Agency are raising awareness as groundwater levels in some parts of the county reach historic ...
Tractor stolen from farm in Plush – appeal for information
Officers investigating a tractor theft near Dorchester are appealing for information and issuing an image of the stolen vehicle.
It is reported that overnight between Friday 30 January and Saturday 31 January 2026 a red Massey Ferguson tractor was stolen ...
Review of the former Gibbs & Dandy site in Dorchester
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
A design panel has met to try and find a way forward for a key Dorchester redevelopment.
The proposals for the former builders merchants’ site at Great Western Cross had stalled with reported differences ...
More Dorchester 20 mph limits ?
by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Lower speed limits for Dorchester are unlikely to be achieved this year.
The town council has agreed to spend a thousand pounds on traffic speed counts for four roads in preparation for the possibility ...
Weymouth have recently beaten the top two teams in the Southern Premier League to move clear of the drop zone, although they have played more games than most of the teams around them.
A fortnight ago, the Terras beat league leaders Walton & Hersham ...
SEN specialist SWRAC to host Open Day in Dorchester this month
A specialist education provider recently praised by Ofsted for “removing the barriers” facing students with SEND – is throwing its doors open to prospective new students, parents, and sector professionals this month.
SWRAC will host an Open Day at its ...
Delightfully Different, every time
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Is your organisation running an event which the community needs to know about? You can promote a charitable or non-profit event on our popular What’s On page, FREE OF CHARGE, to boost interest.
Below are the next 5 upcoming events. There’s much more in the Local Events Diary…
Thu 5 Feb
A local Shoot, life and wildlife – A talk by Mark Philips
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: PIP Cafe, St John’s Way, Poundbury, DT1 2FGMark Philips who runs a local shoot will talk to us about the conservational, social and wildlife benefits that a small rough shoot brings to the land.
Contact: The Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows | 07788436797 | Email | MapFri 6 Feb to Sat 7 Feb
Dorchester Beerex 2026
11:00 am to 11:30 pm
Location: The Corn Exchange, High East Street, Dorchester, DT1 1HFWest Dorset CAMRA and Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary Club proudly present the 37th Dorchester Beerex. Over the years, Dorchester Beerex has raised over £300,000 for local good causes. This year’s event takes place on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th February 2026. We will have 84 real ales, a large selection of ciders and perry, seating for 100 upstairs and 50 downstairs.
Contact: West Dorset CAMRA | Email | Web | MapSun 8 Feb
New members recruitment day
11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: Nothe Fort, Barracks Road, Weymouth, DT4 8UFThe Nothe Fort Garrison, are looking for additional members to join the group, giving authentic Victorian military displays at Nothe Fort and at other events and brining history to life.
We are looking for people to join all aspects of the group, infantry, artillery, engineers and also people I treated in starting a military band. If uniform isn’t your thing there could still be a way to join in.
Mon 9 Feb
An afternoon of table top games
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: PIP Cafe, St John Way, Poundbury, DT1 2FGThis is a free event. Come and play or learn to play Canasta, mah jong, Scrabble, Rummicub, Upwords and much much more. Refreshments provided.
Contact: The Loyal Hand in Hand Lodge of Oddfellows | 07788436797 | Email | MapMon 9 Feb
Winter Tea with Dorset Apple Cake and Crumpets
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Location: St George’s Church Hall, High Street, Fordington, Dorchester, DT1 1LBThe Dorchester Committee of The Children’s Society invite you to a winter tea at St George’s Hall, Fordington on Monday 9th February from 2.30 – 4 pm. Tickets are £4 per person (pay on the door) for tea, Dorset Apple Cake and crumpets. There is waitress service and some accompanying background music. The atmosphere is always friendly with everyone welcome. Bring a friend or meet some new ones.
Contact: Dorchester Committee of the Children’s Society | 07747 623139 | Email | MapOn demand, at your convenience
The memories of a record plugger, Part one
After leaving school and trying his hand at several jobs, KeeP 106 presenter Geoff Atherton – “the host with the toast” – found his calling in music. He went on to become a record plugger representing some of the ...
Local musician Nigel Martin performs live in the studio
Local musician Nigel Martin likes to take time out from his normal day job as a delivery driver and perform his own compositions.
Nigel called in to the studio and performed some of his work for us live on Andy ...
Countryside Matters 54, 19.01.26
In this edition, Mike Burks cheers us up with thoughts of planning our gardens and expounds on the intricacies of growing camellias • Neil Walker, instigator of Wild Sherborne, explains why he started this wildlife and environment initiative and ...
Urgent brain tumour fundraising required for 23 year old medical student son
Weymouth’s Ian and Indira Warwick are facing every parent’s nightmare. Their 23-year-old son Alex, a medical student at Liverpool University, has been diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive brain tumour. NHS treatment hasn’t worked, but there is new ...
Remembering 60 years of broadcasting from Dorchester
2026 marks the 6oth anniversary of radio broadcasting in Dorchester which started with the hospital radio in 1966. Peter Foster, one of the founders of the hospital radio service in the county town, joined us to introduce his audio ...
A visit to KeeP 106 by Pastor Mark Topp
A regular visitor to the station is Pastor Mark Topp from the Storehouse Church in Cambridge Road. Amongst other topics Mark explained to Andy Senior that the church is looking to expand their meetings to Weymouth and have found ...
