News Archive

Officers investigating a serious road traffic collision north of Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At approximately 9.15pm on Monday 22 November 2021, Dorset Police was called to attend a road traffic collision on the A37 Yeovil Road at Melbury Osmond. The collision involved two vehicles going in opposite directions, which ...

It’s Electrical Fire Safety Week this week (22-28 November), so Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people of the importance of using electrical appliances and devices correctly. Overloading sockets, using the wrong chargers, and not checking the wiring on items are all causes of fire, yet are all easily avoided. Safe & Well Manager ...

Officers investigating the theft of a phone from a man on Weymouth seafront are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 10.50pm on Monday 15 November the 18-year-old victim was walking along The Esplanade, near to Greenhill Gardens, when he was approached by two men on bicycles, who were asking for ...

A man has come forward following an image appeal in relation to a reported dog bite incident in Weymouth. The incident occurred at around 11.30am on Saturday 9 October 2021 in a field from Littlemoor toward Bincombe. It is reported that the victim – a local man aged in his 60s – was walking with his wife ...

Public Health Dorset reports that after a short period of declining case rates, we’ve seen cases rise again over the past week across Dorset. Both the Dorset Council and BCP Council areas remain significantly above the average case rate for England, as well as above the regional average in the South West. Cases remain highest ...

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted in not one, not two, but five categories at this year’s Air Ambulances UK Awards of Excellence. The prestigious awards, which are sponsored by BMW Group, recognise the professionalism, excellence and dedication of the air ambulance community across the UK. The ...

Two men caught dealing drugs in Weymouth have been jailed. Karan Patel, aged 26 and of Holdenhurst Road in Bournemouth, and Grantley Woodall, aged 23 and of Kittiwake Close in Bournemouth, were sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday 18 November 2021. Patel had been found guilty of being concerned in the supply of cocaine at ...

Children’s Services at Dorset Council have been judged as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, following an inspection of local authority children’s services (ILACS) in September. The report, published 19th Nov 2021, by Ofsted confirms the overall effectiveness of Dorset Council Children’s Services are of a “good quality and are continuing to improve” and that the council has delivered “an impressive pace and effectiveness of change, in the ...

The Weymouth Farmers and Makers Market on 14th November was the biggest yet when four organisations got together to give local Dorset food producers and crafts people the chance to sell their work to Weymouth residents and visitors, as part of the economic recovery. Best in Dorset and Weymouth Area Development Trust were joined this ...

Starting Saturday 20th November the Dorchester BID in association with Dorchester Town Council have agreed with Dorset Council to run Park4Free days on selected dates during November and December, with another one in January. The Park4FREE days are Saturday 20th and 27th November. Saturday 4th and Wednesday 22nd December, plus 27th and 28th December and January ...

Police officers investigating a burglary at a store in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. Dorset Police received a report at 9.48pm on Saturday 13 November 2021 of a burglary at EE in Cornhill. Entry was gained to the building and a number of mobile phones were stolen. Police Constable Nathan Boisse, ...

Officers investigating a serious road traffic collision in West Dorset are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. Dorset Police received a report at 7.50am on Monday 15 November 2021 of a collision on the westbound carriageway of the A35 near Litton Cheney involving a black Citroen Relay panel van and ...

Officers investigating a fatal road traffic collision on Portland are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. Dorset Police received a report at 6.53am on Monday 15 November 2021 of a collision involving a cyclist and a black Ford Focus on the A354 Portland Beach Road. The cyclist – a local man ...

Case rates have decreased across both council areas since last week. Despite this, cases remain at high levels locally. Both areas are now above the South West regional average and remain significantly above the England average. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 across Dorset is now 70. With high case rates locally, it’s important ...

Weymouth RNLI lifeboat station’s annual Christmas Bazaar returned to the Pavilion Ocean Room on the 10th November to a record turnout of supporters and helped to raise £1500 for the charity that saves lives at sea. The Ocean Room was filled with stalls selling everything from cakes to books, jewellery, bric-a-brac, and of course a raffle ...

A man who sexually assaulted a woman as she slept in Weymouth has been jailed. Aaron Michael Kennedy, aged 31 and of Tamworth, Staffordshire, was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Wednesday 10 November 2021 to 15 months in prison after being found guilty of the offence at an earlier trial. Kennedy was also placed on the ...

Thanks to Ken Francis who has sent KeeP 106 some photos of the enormous crane installed between the Pavilion in Weymouth and the Harbourside. Following the placement in the water of an oil boom, the crane from Ainscough Crane Hire has been brought in to raise a fishing vessel which has sunk in the harbour. See ...

Drivers using Dorset Council car parks are being asked to use cashless payments due to ongoing disruption to many ticket machines across the county. If a machine is currently unable to accept cash payment, drivers will still need to pay for parking via a cashless method. This may involve using a phone and will require locating the ...

Dorset Museum is proud to have hosted its first wedding for locals Mike and Rachel, after recently being granted their wedding license for Civil Marriages and Partnerships. The Museum is able to boast eight fantastic spaces available for varying sizes of weddings and budgets. At the heart of Dorset Museum is the stunning Victorian Hall with ...

Local homeless charities have had a lunchtime fish feast – thanks to award winning local chippy, Fish ‘n’ Fritz. Let down by a coach party at the last moment left award winning chippy owner, Paul Hay with 45 portions of hot fish and chips dinners on Wednesday lunchtime (9th November) and no diners! But quick thinking ...

Dorset health organisations are delighted to have opened the new temporary Outpatient Assessment Centre at South Walks House in Dorchester to patients this week. The centre for rapid access clinics is operating out of the ground floor of the former Dorset Council offices for six months as part of a county-wide effort to tackle NHS waiting ...

The Net Zero Strategy announced by the government recently commits £2 billion investment in active travel infrastructure to enable half of journeys in towns and cities to be cycled or walked by 2030. Owners Peter Claxton and Josephine Parker have been actively championing an active lifestyle, healthier eating and positive mental wellbeing through their venture EBIKE ...

Weymouth was alive on Saturday with the sound of samba as approximately 400 climate protesters took to the streets. With climate justice at its core, over 20 organisations and groups came together under the COP26 Dorset Coalition umbrella to highlight climate inaction and how it disproportionately affects those who are least responsible for it. The event ...

Case rates across both Dorset Council and BCP Council areas have decreased since last week, but we have seen a small increase in rates over the past couple of days. After a steep rise in cases during October, infection levels across the county remain high. Following this rise, the number of people in Dorset hospitals ...

As COP26 continues, Dorset Council has sent letters to key members of central government calling for further help in tackling the Climate and Ecological Emergency. The following summarises the key points within the correspondence. Among those with whom the letter has been shared are all local MPs whose constituencies are based within the Dorset Council area, and detailed letters ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service would like to remind the public of the importance of carbon monoxide alarms following an incident this morning (3rd November). Two people staying in a beach hut raised the alarm when they were overcome by gas fumes. Two crews from Portland were mobilised to the scene and had to ...

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is delighted to announce the launch of its ‘Share the Gift of Life this Christmas’ campaign. ‘Share the Gift of Life this Christmas’ is the charity’s latest fundraising initiative, which asks members of the public to show their support and raise funds by either ‘buying a bauble’, ‘giving a gift’ or ...

This year’s Bonfire Night promises to be a lot busier than in 2020, due to the lifting of Covid restrictions. As such, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging local people to attend organised displays rather than holding their own at home. Ian Hopkins, Prevention Delivery Manager, said: “We fully understand that there may be ...

Officers investigating an incident involving men reportedly in possession of a knife at a nightclub in Weymouth are appealing for information. At around 2.40am on Monday 1 November 2021 Dorset Police received a report that three men were in possession of a knife at Actors nightclub in Maiden Street. It was further reported that a knife ...

The organisers of Dorchester Beerex, West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and charity partner Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary club are delighted to announce that the 33rd Dorchester Beerex held in the Corn Exchange will be taking place next February. The popular event which attracts beer connoisseurs from near and far along with local customers returns ...

Officers investigating an alleged burglary and criminal damage to shop windows in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses to come forward – with two people arrested. At around 1.10am on Sunday 31 October 2021 it is reported that a number of shops had their windows smashed in South Street and Hardy Arcade. The shops include JoJo Maman Bébé, ...

Officers investigating a fatal road traffic collision on the A35 in West Dorset are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. Dorset Police received a report at 5.46am on Sunday 31 October 2021 of a single vehicle collision involving a silver Vauxhall Astra that had left the carriageway west of Charmouth ...

Locally, cases have risen again since last week and remain at very high levels. The South West region has recently seen very rapid growth in cases, however Dorset and BCP case rates are below both the South West and national average. There are some signs from the national data that regional and national cases are ...

Weymouth & Portland were scheduled to play hosts to visitors Sherborne second xv at Monmouth Avenue on Saturday, and would have started the game as clear favourites to emerge victors, however the north Dorset side have cancelled the fixture citing to few players to field a competitive side. The Seasiders head coach Rich Bament said: “To ...

National Highways and the British Deer Society are warning drivers to be extra vigilant for deer on or near roads after the clocks go back this weekend. There is a substantial increase in deer vehicle collisions from October to December. Poorer driving conditions and fewer hours of daylight, coupled with the annual breeding season (the rut) ...

Dorset Council is preparing to upgrade the existing painted cycle lane along Dorchester Road, Weymouth with some new features, making it safer for cyclists. The new intermittent ‘bolt-down’ kerbing and wands will be installed early in the new year and will enable more school children to travel safely by bicycle to Wey Valley Academy. The improvements ...

With COVID-19 cases increasing across Dorset, local NHS clinicians are urging people to get a booster jab if they are eligible. Getting vaccinated is the best way of protecting yourself and those around you, and the booster vaccination is vital in maintaining protection against severe COVID-19 this winter. The appeal comes as Dorset continues the roll out ...

Work to improve the Emergency Department (ED) at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) is underway. The Trust has received one-off funding from NHS England of £15million, as part of a drive to upgrade a number of Emergency Departments across the country. The scheme aims to enhance infection prevention and control measures and reduce the risk of ‘corridor care’ ...

A generous donation from Battens Charitable Trust will support the ongoing care of cancer patients at Dorset County Hospital. The recent donation of £1500 will go towards the DCH Chemotherapy Appeal which is funding the complete redevelopment of the Fortuneswell Chemotherapy Unit at the hospital. When the project is complete it will provide a more pleasing environment ...

KeeP 106 has been told by Extinction Rebellion that eco-campaigners have broken into ExxonMobil’s Fawley Oil terminal in Hampshire today (28 October), just three days before the COP26 Climate Summit, to demand that the Government listens to the people and stops all fossil fuel investments now. The protestors, who include British Olympians Laura Baldwin and Etienne ...

Teacher Carolyn Jenner develops a gift for fortune telling but wants to know the extent of her skills. Actors Wilf, George and Alice haunt the remains of a burnt out theatre now built over by a Price Low supermarket. The owner has plans for expansion, which could mean the destruction of their home. With the assistance ...

Doc Martin and Manhunt star Martin Clunes organised a special treat for patients at Weldmar Hospicecare in Dorset this week, with a visit to the charity’s Inpatient Unit in Dorchester along with his horse, Bruce. Bruce, a Clydesdale, was introduced to patients staying at the hospice, and patients attending Day Services, on Tuesday. For any patients not ...

West Dorset MP Chris Loder has welcomed the completion of drainage works at Monkeys Jump roundabout in Dorchester. With a new road surface now applied and road markings completed, it is hoped that the roundabout’s status as a notorious flooding hotspot will be over. Mr Loder told KeeP 106: “National Highways confirmed to me last week that ...

Dorset Council has secured £37.5m for the next five years to help deliver a bold and ambitious strategy to provide the best education for all of Dorset’s children and young people with Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND). A spokesperson from the council told KeeP 106: “Our bold and ambitious SEND Capital Strategy focuses on creating ...

Dorset Council has launched a public consultation to inform how they develop and deliver their library service in the future. Library users and non-users are being asked to share their views. The consultation runs from 25 2021 October to 7 January 2022. Libraries are at the heart of Dorset’s communities and provide highly valued services, including ...

Dorset Police have recently received reports of drivers ignoring the NO LEFT TURN, at the junction of Great Western Road and Damers Road, Dorchester. This is potentially dangerous especially for pedestrians at the crossing on Cornwall Road. Vehicles seen contravening the NO LEFT TURN sign may be liable to a £50 fine. Due to ongoing concerns in the ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is warning people to not let Halloween become scary for all the wrong reasons. Every year on 31 October, children and adults are injured in accidents where candles or fireworks have set fire to costumes and hair. Plastic capes and bin liners, often used as costumes, are also fire ...

Weymouth & Portland centre Ryan Lewendon crossed the Salisbury whitewash 3 times to bank a hat trick of tries for the visitors and he also added a total of 6 conversions to take his personal tally of points to 27 in this one sided Wiltshire v Dorset clash. Head coach Rich Bament said after the game, ...

Flags at fire stations and workplaces across Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are flying at half mast this weekend in memory of former Chief Fire Officer Darran Gunter QFSM, who died yesterday (21 October) at the age of 55 following a battle with cancer. Darran was the first CFO of Dorset & Wiltshire FRS, ...

The Dorset Local Access Forum are looking for people who want to improve Dorset’s paths and open spaces for local people and visitors. The Dorset Local Access Forum (DLAF) considers all the issues relating to the county’s Public Rights of Way and public green spaces. They find solutions to matters such as the coast path being ...

COVID-19 cases are rising in Dorset: Know the risk, act now and protect yourself and others. Public Health Dorset give the following advice. As COVID-19 cases rise across the county, Public Health Dorset is asking residents to be aware of the risks that the virus still poses. Case rates have risen sharply in the South West over ...

A new access ramp has been officially unveiled at Dorchester West station by Network Rail and Dorset Council to give passengers step-free access to platform one and Dorset County hospital. The £350,000 ramp will significantly improve access for people with buggies, disabled people and people of restricted mobility to and from Dorchester West station and improve ...

Patients have praised the level of care experienced at Dorset County Hospital. The latest inpatient survey, carried out by the Picker Institute on behalf of the Care Quality Commission, captured the views and experience of 592 patients admitted to DCH in November 2020. The results revealed that 86% of patients rated their experience as a 7/10 ...

Weymouth and Portland’s Argentine “Facundo” returns after a two week absence and quickly steps straight into the back row on Saturday. The team: 1, Tim Comben, 2, Billy Hayne, 3, Ben Davis, 4, Will Eckersley, 5, Dave Oaksford captain,6, Chris Norton, 7, Facundo, 8, Dan Bowditch, 9, Josh Cameron, 10, Rory Legg, 11, Todd Purcell, 12,Ryan ...

Detectives have launched an investigation into reports of a serious assault in Dorchester – with two people arrested. Dorset Police received a report relating to a fight that occurred outside the One Stop store in Kings Road at around 2am on Wednesday 20 October 2021 involving two groups of people who were believed to be known ...

Could you volunteer for the RNLI at Weymouth Lifeboat Station as lifeboat press officer? They are looking for a willing and available volunteer to build and maintain friendly relationships with local press, radio, television and online media. You’ll be involved in keeping the community informed of operational activity, promote newsworthy rescues and lifeboat station events, using ...

Thirty plus local food producers, farmers and makers will be taking part in the November  Weymouth Farmers and Makers Market on Sunday the 14th in New Bond Street. That’s three times the size it was when it started in over year ago. Best in Dorset, who run the monthly market and Dorset Food and Drink, have joined ...

Drivers were caught up on the A35 just east of Winterbourne Abbas this morning, after a single vehicle collision. Emergency services responded just after 8.30 this morning after reports that a vehicle had left the road and ended up in a field. It’s understood that the vehicle, a white van, lost control in the poor weather, rolled ...

Ingleside Residential Home, situated in Upwey, has been bringing smiles to their residents’ faces recently by attempting to grant as many of their wishes as possible. Wishes so far have included a trip to Bovington Tank Museum for a resident who has fond memories of his time in the army and a visit from a local ...

Green groups are to hold a “Climate Conversation” Global Day of Action and Justice event in Dorchester next month ahead of the vital Conference of the Parties (COP-26) negotiations taking place in Glasgow. The Climate Conversation will take place at 12 noon on 6 November around the Town Pump in South Street, Dorchester. Organised by the Dorchester ...