News Archive

Residents of a pioneering Dorset Council scheme for adults in social care – a first of its kind in the United Kingdom – are celebrating one year of living independently. Dorset Council’s initiative enables adults with learning disabilities, mental health issues or physical impairments, to take their first steps to independent living. Their individual needs are ...

The first round of Dorset Council’s community and culture project has awarded £42,484 to 15 local organisations. The new small project was launched in April and provides funding for arts, museums, heritage, community, physical and play activities to help make a difference to people living in Dorset’s communities. The fund was able to provide grants of up ...

Public Health Dorset reports that COVID-19 case rates remain high across Dorset. Dorset Council’s case rate has continued to increase and is similar to the average rate for England, whilst a small decrease has been seen in the case rate for BCP Council since last week, but it remains significantly above the averages for the South West ...

Following feedback from residents, town and parish councils, businesses and other stakeholders, Dorset Council is planning the introduction of two new parking permits, as well as changes to proposed charges in its car parks. Following a successful survey which had over 1,900 responses, a proposed new permit scheme to benefit the people of Dorset, whilst reducing the potential impact of the higher parking charges, proved to be very popular. Short stay ...

As part of the ‘Love Your Verge’ campaign, Dorset Council has published a series of videos to explain its approach to roadside management in Dorset. Dorset Council has made changes to its verge management policy in recent years. Safety remains the top priority, so the approach strikes a balance between cutting verges regularly where needed for ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward following a road traffic collision near Dorchester. Dorset Police was called at around 4.05pm on Monday 9 August 2021 to a report of a collision involving a black BMW 1 Series and a blue Kia Niro on the B3159 between Monkton Park ...

Dorset Police is reminding residents and visitors to keep an eye on their belongings while enjoying the county’s beaches to avoid becoming a victim of theft. With a good weekend of warm weather on its way, officers are keen to ensure people don’t fall victim to theft and are issuing some crime prevention advice: If you don’t ...

During lockdown the Children’s Society charity have not been able to conduct a great deal of fundraising. They have, however, during this time, accumulated a lot of items to sell! Rita, from the Society, told KeeP 106: “The last shop was many moons ago and we took the decision then not to have any more because of ...

Officers investigating a report of suspicious behaviour in Bridport are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. At around 10pm on Sunday 1 August 2021 it was reported that a 15-year-old girl was walking in the area of Foundry Lane, toward Skilling, when she noticed a man walking in the opposite direction. The man appeared ...

Dorset’s Police and Crime Panel has approved the selection of Scott Chilton as the next Chief Constable of Dorset Police. Mr Chilton, who has been serving as the Force’s Deputy Chief Constable for the last year, was confirmed in post by the panel on Thursday August 12. He will take over the role from James Vaughan, who ...

Officers searching for a diver who went missing off the coast of Lulworth in Purbeck have sadly found a body of a man. Carvalho Ildelindo da Silveira, aged in his 60s and from Bramdean in Hampshire, was diving off the coast of Lulworth Cove on Saturday 7 August 2021. He was last seen in the water ...

Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward and urging members of the public to remain vigilant following reports of drink spiking incidents in Weymouth. Dorset Police received two reports relating to people needing medical treatment after possibly having their drinks spiked on the night of Friday 30 July into the early hours of ...

Following an unusual year of study – which saw students and staff work with and adapt to the often changing limitations and restrictions imposed by the pandemic – Weymouth College are particularly proud to be celebrating another year of outstanding student achievement. A Level course results were published across the country today (10th August) and the ...

The team at Poundbury Patients Group, the patient participation group for Poundbury Doctors’ Surgery, have come up with a fun and invigorating activity to do over the summer holidays or on autumnal weekends – this is either an exercise you can do alone, with children or as a group. Poundbury Patients (PPG) is inviting patients of ...

Weymouth RNLI Inshore lifeboat was tasked by Solent Coastguard to investigate reports of a lone yachtsman requiring medical assistance. Apparently a 74-year-old lone yachtsman had sustained a head injury shortly after setting sail from Portland heading for Gosport. He decided to anchor his yacht close to the North entrance to Portland Harbour at approx. 7am on ...

The Keep Military Museum has informed us about two important commemoration days in the County Town which are being held following the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions. Restrictions prevented the nation from commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day in May and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day in August in a manner fitting the ...

Two new machines will be hitting the road from this summer to help keep Dorset’s roads clear of rainwater. Dorset Highways has taken ownership of a new gully cart along with a new jetter to support the essential work of its drainage fleet, which forms part of the council’s preventative maintenance programme. Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder ...

A man has been jailed for a violent domestic assault in Weymouth after detectives successfully pursued an evidence-led prosecution. Lee Gerrard Slator, aged 41 and of Beverley Road, Weymouth, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday 5 August 2021 after admitting an offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent at a previous hearing at ...

Dorset Council, in partnership with the Alliance for Beverage Cartons & the Environment (ACE UK), is launching a new recycling service for paper containers with metal ends, such as Pringles tubes, hot chocolate, nuts and other products. Local residents can now recycle these containers alongside food and drink cartons at existing specialist recycling banks located at ...

After a short period of seeing case rates fall in our local area, they have begun to increase again over the past week. At 510.1 per 100,000, the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council case rate is above the England average of 283.7 and the South West average of 307.2. Dorset Council’s case rate is also ...

The A35 Eastbound carriageway between the Stinsford roundabout and the Troy Town turn-off was closed today (6th August) due to a bin lorry which had caught fire . Three fire crews attended the incident and reported that there had been oil spillage making the road slippery. There is congestion back to the Monkey’s Jump roundabout and although ...

Dorset County Hospital’s annual awards are now open for nominations. The Going the Extra Mile (GEM) Awards recognise individual members of staff, teams and volunteers who have gone over and above what is expected to make a difference to people’s lives. Over the past 18 months everyone at DCH has worked incredibly hard to provide the best ...

Dorchester’s Brewery Square is welcoming an array of free entertainment for its 13th birthday event this summer, as it hosts a Punch & Judy show and live music on Saturday 14th August. The Square will embrace a true seaside experience as it’s kitted out with vibrant deckchairs, with families invited to enjoy the classic slapstick humour ...

Since the spring, Artsreach has worked with poet Liv Torc to creatively celebrate Dorset’s outstanding local food and drink producers, and to thank those who choose to shop locally, particularly since the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Liv’s exciting new poem has since been captured on film and is set for public release online on ...

KeeP 106 has been told about a potential hazard for swimmers in the River Frome near Grey’s Bridge in Dorchester at a location known as ‘Swimmos’. Janet Hewitt and Sharon Morgan said “Someone has tipped a shopping trolley into the water right where the kids jump in and it is not easily seen. Fortunately I don’t ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue reported at 13:25 on Saturday 31st July that two fire crews attended a car fire on the A35 Puddletown bypass near Bere Regis. One vehicle had been been fully involved in fire. Firefighters used two hose reels and two breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire. The road was closed in both ...

Officers searching for missing man Scott Deakin in the Weymouth area are pleased to confirm he has been found safe. Scott was reported missing having last been seen in the area on the evening of Friday 30 July 2021. Following searches by officers, he has now been located. Police would like to thank everyone who shared their appeal.    

Weymouth & Portland Lions roared back after a year’s absence with their ever-popular live music street busk. The Lions entertained the Weymouth crowds with a wide variety of live music events, including Replay, Julie Storey’s ‘Let’s Dance’, Abbi Brewster, Anniemac & Norman, Tony Lowe, Ed Hintze, Wyke Ukedelics, Brian Lincoln, solo guitarist, Ken Watkins and, for ...

West Dorset MP Chris Loder’s campaign to improve the condition of one of West Dorset’s flagship railway stations was given a boost earlier this month, when work finally began on the construction of a new boundary fence in the second week of July, to replace the collapsed wall which separated Dorchester South Station from Cromwell ...

Over the month of June, 120 litter heroes took part in a month-long litter picking challenge in their local areas of Dorset. Signed up to the challenge were a real mix of participants, from families with young children, to young adults and older residents of Dorset. For the duration of June, the participating litter heroes took ...

Public Health update on COVID-19 in Dorset. In line with the national picture, we have seen a decrease in COVID-19 cases across the county over the past week. The Dorset Council area case rate has decreased slightly from 265 per 100k to 256 in a week. The average rate for the South West is 362 per ...

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is off to a flying start with over 1,000 children in Dorset signing up in the last 3 weeks. The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge is delivered in partnership with public libraries. This year, they have teamed up with WWF for the theme ‘Wild World Heroes’, inspiring children to explore ...

While Weymouth RNLI lifeboat station will not be having a ‘Lifeboat week’ this year, some of the station volunteer fund raisers will still be out and about around the town from the 1st to 7th August raising awareness of the RNLI and fundraising by shaking a bucket. No cash? Well don’t worry they will be ...

Officers investigating the theft of a high-value watch in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 2.30pm on Saturday 17 July 2021 an elderly man was approached on Woodlands Crescent in Poundbury by a woman asking for donations toward a charity for blind and deaf people. The victim told the ...

Detectives investigating an alleged attempted robbery at a store in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Dorset Police received a report at 1.05pm on Saturday 24 July 2021 of a man who was reported to be in possession of a knife near to Broadwey Village Stores in Dorchester Road. It was further reported that the ...

Both of Weymouth RNLI lifeboats were launched shortly before midnight on Sunday 25th July following reports of an overdue dingy sailor who had launched into Portland Harbour. Arriving on scene at 00.15am on Monday 26th an intensive search of Portland Harbour was carried out, with the Coastguard carrying out a shoreline search. The search continued until ...

Weymouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched at 3.15pm on Sunday 25th July 2021 at the request of Solent Coastguard, to assist with a diver with a suspected case of the bends. At the time of launching, it was not known whether an ambulance or the Coastguard rescue helicopter would be available. On arrival at 3.30pm at a ...

Stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 As England has moved into Step 4 and most legal restrictions have been lifted, everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious. The requirement to wear face coverings in law has been lifted. However, it is recommended that people wear face coverings in crowded areas including ...

Drivers are being urged to take extra care on motorways and major A roads overnight and through the weekend due to the potential for heavy rain. Following Met Office yellow warnings for rain, wind and thunderstorms, through tonight, tomorrow and into Sunday, Highways England is asking drivers in the South West, South East, East and South ...

Officers in the Highways team at Dorset Council will begin removing the old bike shelter on Westham Bridge in Weymouth after a recent survey showed overwhelming support for relocating the facilities. As reported early last month, the existing cycle shelter has been set fire to, broken into and damaged from vandals climbing on it. Maintenance and ...

Deputy Chief Constable Scott Chilton has been chosen as the preferred candidate for Chief Constable of Dorset Police. The decision was announced on Wednesday, 21 July, by Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick, but will be subject to a confirmation hearing by the Dorset Police and Crime Panel taking place in August. If confirmed, he will take ...

A new multi-agency initiative has been launched to help look after vulnerable people on nights out in Weymouth, taking pressure off the ambulance service and A&E wards. The Safe Space project ensures that people have a safe place to go when they are vulnerable or unable to get back to their accommodation. The Safe Space can ...

Dorset Police has seen a 13.4 per cent drop in recorded crime, according to new figures released on Thursday 22 July 2021, and has the ninth lowest crime rate in England & Wales. Data released by the Office for National Statistics show the Force has continued to see a drop in overall crime for the fifth ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward following an assault in Weymouth. At around 7pm on Monday 19 July 2021 the victim – a 16-year-old girl from Somerset – approached a group of people on the Pleasure Pier to speak to them about their behaviour toward another individual. One of the group ...

Ron Kingman is auctioning his 1948 MG TC classic car on Friday 30th July and is hoping that it will raise thousands of pounds for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA). After approaching South Western Vehicle Auctions (SWVA) in Poole, Ron amazingly informed them that he wanted all proceeds from the sale to be donated to ...

On Monday 2nd of August, Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum will be launching a Memory Cafe, a relaxed drop-in session for those with memory difficulties and their carers and/or family members. The sessions will run from 1 0AM-12PM every first Monday of the month. The first session wilI be starting with a coffee and chat, and ...

‘Weldmar at Home’ – a brand new service to provide care and support at home for patients and their loved ones. Weldmar Hospicecare in Dorset has launched a brand new service today, with the aim of providing care to patients who are in their last weeks and days of life, as well as support for their ...

Detectives investigating an attempted robbery in Blandford are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 9am on Monday 19 July 2021 the victim, a woman aged her 50s, was walking along an alleyway that runs from Barnes Close to Salisbury Road, behind Damory Garage, when she felt someone grab hold of ...

The Met Office are warning residents of Dorset, and the South-West in general, that high temperatures both by day and night will continue this week leading to public health impacts until midnight on Thursday 22nd July. It is believed that temperatures will fall on Friday. Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable ...

Detectives investigating a report of rape in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward – with one man arrested. Dorset Police received a report at around 10.15pm on Friday 16 July 2021 that a woman – aged in her 40s and from Weymouth – had been raped in St John’s Gardens ...

Officers investigating a fatal road traffic collision in Blandford are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. At approximately 12.30am on Saturday 17 July 2021 a collision occurred involving a silver Vauxhall Insignia and a pedestrian on the A354 Blandford bypass between the Badger Roundabout and Two Gates Roundabout, also known ...

A farming couple from Dorchester have come up with a colourful way to raise money for the Special Care Baby Unit which helped their premature son, as he celebrates his18th birthday. Organisers Richard and Hazel Hoskin have created a 20 acre Dorset Sunflower Trail on their land at Maiden Castle Farm, which is nestled at the ...

Emergency services in Dorset have met to discuss resilience issues in the county and are working together to ensure a safe level of service is maintained across the weekend. The ambulance service, Dorset Police and the county’s hospitals are currently under strain due to staffing shortages and high numbers of emergency call outs. This pressure is ...

The latest public health update on COVID-19 in Dorset shows that, whilst cases of COVID-19 continue to rise across the county, case rates in both the Dorset Council and BCP Council areas are below the average rates for the South West and England. Cases are increasing across all age groups, but the majority of infections continue ...

People in Dorset are being urged to bring forward their second life-saving COVID-19 vaccination to eight weeks to protect themselves and others. They can either attend a walk-in clinic or rebook their appointment at one of the many vaccine clinics being held across Dorset. All adults are now eligible to have the second dose of their COVID-19 ...

Dorset Police remind the public that, as of Wednesday 14th July, changes to legislation brought about by the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 mean that all weapons banned in public by the Criminal Justice Act 1988, including zombie knives, shuriken or death stars and knuckledusters, will now also be banned in private, meaning people can no ...

Weymouth RNLI All–Weather lifeboat was launched at the request of Solent Coastguard to assess and assist, if required, a yacht off Portland Bill. It was reported that the 40′ vessel had suffered engine failure and had issued a Pan Pan radio message. (A Pan Pan message means “I need assistance, but it is not life ...

General Practice in Dorset is well above the national average in all areas of a newly published patient survey. According to the national 2021 GP Patient Survey, 88% of patients describe their overall experience of their GP practice as good – well above the national average. Patients across Dorset were asked to provide their insight into their ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward after damage was caused to a taxi in Weymouth. Dorset Police was called at 10.23pm on Saturday 10 July 2021 to reports that something had been fired at the rear windscreen of a taxi as it was being driven along Radipole Lane toward Spa Road. It is reported ...

As part of their campaign to stop the proposed development of over 4,000 houses to the North of Dorchester, STAND (Save the Area North of Dorchester), started a public petition in September 2018. The petition has now closed with well over 5,000 people signing it. STAND have told KeeP 106 that they are going to present ...