News Archive

In an exciting step for the new unitary authority in Dorset, the first recommended appointment has been announced. The Shadow Senior Appointments Committee has recommended that Matt Prosser should be appointed as the Chief Executive of Dorset Council, which goes live in April 2019. This recommendation will be put forward to the full Shadow Council ...

No good can come of carrying a knife, so bin it. This is the message from Dorset Police as it launches a knife amnesty in the county. Between Tuesday 18 September and Friday 21 September 2018 members of the public can dispose of unwanted knives and bladed items at designated police stations without fear of ...

Woman who failed to stop at the scene of a fatal collision sentenced A woman who admitted failing to stop at the scene of a collision in which a pedestrian died has been sentenced. Melissa Lewis, 47 and of Pound Close in Charminster, Dorchester, appeared at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Wednesday 12 September 2018, after pleading ...

Dorset Police are warning Dorset residents of the increasing use of scams where iTunes vouchers are requested as payment to the fraudsters. Telephone and email scammers tell the victims that the payment can be for any number of purported reasons, including alleged PPI refunds, debts repayments, utility costs etc. Legitimate companies will never use iTunes or other ...

A new kind of vending machine is being trialled in Dorchester in partnership with Litter Free Dorset. Residents can come and try out the ‘reverse vending machine’ – a new scheme that pays people to pick litter – on Thursday 13 September outside Lloyds bank, South Street. What is a reverse vending machine? . ...

High West and High East Streets in Dorchester will be closed to traffic between 10am and 4pm on Sunday 16th September 2018. This initiative, by the Dorchester Heritage Committee together with the Dorchester Civic Society, local Blue badge tourist guides, the Dorchester BID and local volunteers will be the first time both these streets have ...

A woman who has been given a ‘second chance at life’ is backing calls for people to sign up to become an organ donor this Organ Donation Week. Katrina Vernon’s kidneys first failed in 2012, before failing again in 2014. She received dialysis treatment at Dorset County Hospital three times a week and her life was ...

On 3rd September Dorset County Council re-opened its Community Innovation fund to back inventive community projects that can help improve local people’s lives. There is a total of £75,000 available to Dorset-based community organisations that can show how their project would help achieve the outcomes for local people set out in the county council’s corporate plan You can ...

Dorset County Show welcomed more than 55,000 visitors on Saturday September 1 and Sunday September 2, at Dorchester Showground. Organised and run by Dorchester Agricultural Society, the annual two day event which is now in its 178th year, was a roaring success which entertained thousands of people including local families and Dorset’s agricultural community. For the first ...

Dorset Police is organising a 10km walk to raise money for a new memorial to remember fallen officers and staff. Every year, the Dorset Police Chief Constable selects a charity to support, with James Vaughan choosing to support the UK Police Memorial Trust which is fundraising for a new memorial to be built at the ...

A prestigious award that recognises the best green spaces in the UK has been given to nine Dorset parks – and now the scheme wants to know which one is your favourite. The list of Green Flag Award winners, which recognises and rewards excellence in recreational spaces as well as encouraging high environmental standards, includes: . Avon ...

Air Ambulance charities across the country are once again coming together to celebrate National Air Ambulance Week (NAAW) which takes place between 10th – 16th September 2018. Operational every single day, air ambulances are funded by the generosity of the public and treat over 25,000 patients throughout the year. On average, an air ambulance is deployed ...

A hoard of knitted ducks invaded Dorset County Hospital this summer – and they had an important message. The Little Yellow Duck Project was taken on by the Renal Dialysis department at the hospital in efforts to raise awareness of organ donation, as well as keeping their patients upbeat and positive. Linda Woodsford, Deputy Sister at the ...

During the last week, a series of search warrants have been executed in Swanage, Wareham and Bovington in relation to the supply of controlled drugs. Officers from Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Poole and Purbeck as well as other specialist departments undertook a total of six warrants across the Purbeck area. Drugs were located at five of the ...

Two men are due to appear in court in connection with a reported burglary near Dorchester. It was reported at around 7.50am on Sunday 15 October 2017 that a break-in had occurred overnight at The Wardon Hill Trading Post on the Clay Pigeon Industrial Site at Wardon Hill, with several items of high value jewellery, ...

Two giant tortoises reported stolen from Kingston Maurward College have been located. An appeal was issued after a total of four Sulcata tortoises were stolen from the college overnight between Wednesday 22 August and Thursday 23 August 2018. Officers can now confirm that two of the tortoises – Blastoise and Jeffery – have been located ...

Dorset Police are expecting a busy bank holiday weekend across the county. They are encouraging us all to consider the way we contact the police and they have provided an online service for non-emergency enquiries… Ask NED! The non-emergency online directory will help you to get your enquiry answered by the most appropriate means. It can also ...

Detectives investigating an altercation in Wareham are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At around 9.20pm yesterday, Wednesday 22 August 2018, Dorset Police received reports of a disturbance in the area of Mill Lane. Officers attended and found a 15-year-old local boy receiving medical treatment for a small puncture wound to his leg ...

  Appeal after giant tortoises stolen from Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester Officers in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information after four giant tortoises were stolen from Kingston Maurward College. The incident happened overnight between Wednesday 22 August and Thursday 23 August 2018. The offenders gained entry to a shed on the site and took four ...

The deadline is approaching to claim up to 30 hours free childcare from September and many Dorset families are at risk of missing out. Eligible parents of 3 and 4 year olds need to apply and get their eligibility code by 31 August in order to claim from September. Most working parents, whether they work part ...

With GCSE results coming up this week, young people in Dorset will be looking to the future. Dorset County Council has created a handy guide to help them and their families choose the next step in their education. Young people are now expected to stay in education or training until they’re 18, but it doesn’t have to ...

To enjoy Dorset’s iconic wildlife tomorrow, we need to safeguard it today. Dorset Wildlife Trust works hard to manage, maintain and develop conservation and look after some of the most beautiful places in this unique county. Despite this there is so much more we could do to transform our nature reserves and wild places if ...

There are just weeks left to go until this year’s Dorset County Show, one of the county’s largest agricultural shows, that takes place at Dorchester Showground. Organised by Dorchester Agricultural Society, the two-day annual show began in 1840 and will take place on Saturday September 1 and Sunday September 2. Over the weekend there are a ...

Dorchester NPT would like you to be aware of the following suspicious vehicle – B*08 *WY White Ford Transit with rear black flat bed. This vehicle was seen in suspicious circumstances in the area of Charminster , Dorchester at approximately 11.20 on Monday 20th August. The 4 male occupants of the vehicle were seen knocking ...

Over £1,000 has been donated to the Stratton defibrillator & CPR awareness project. A defibrillator (AED) is the key treatment for someone in cardiac arrest. When this strikes, minuets matter and having an AED close by will give that individual the best possible chance of survival! A revised ‘Just Giving’ total to aim for is £1,250 and ...

On Wednesday (22 August) local action groups and residents with concerns about elements of the Clinical Services Review will discuss the proposals with county and district councillors. Dorset’s Health and Scrutiny Committee has created a special task and finish group to look at, and consider, concerns from residents about the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group’s review. The ...

The closure of Dorchester bypass is causing delays across Dorchester this afternoon. The welfare of a women on a bridge is the upmost concern of the emergency services at present and they wish to thank drivers for their patience at this time. The closure effects the section between football stadium and Monkeys Jump roundabout. Traffic delays in Dorchester ...

Dorset County Council is teaming up with another local authority as part of a Government initiative to improve children’’s social care across the country. Partners in Practice gives councils the opportunity to work together and share best practice to strengthen the way they support the most vulnerable children. Dorset will be working with Essex County Council – ...

Following on from last years popular event, WDDC are organising another public event on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 August. The event will take place at the West Dorset District Council offices, South Walks House, Dorchester. The format of the event will be a presentation, followed by a Question and Answer session. The timings are ...

A man is due to appear at court in connection with a fatal road traffic collision near Dorchester. At around 6.25am on Monday 16 October 2017 a road traffic collision occurred on the A352 at Whitcombe. The collision involved a red Honda Civic and a silver Peugeot 206. The passenger of the Honda – named by her family ...

*During the busy summer for policing in Dorset discussions have been continuing about the creation of a new force incorporating Dorset Police and Devon & Cornwall Police.* Chief Constable James Vaughan said: “The summer months are always some of the most challenging Dorset Police face and this year has been no exception. Tourists flock to this ...

First 100 health and social care professionals sign up to the Dorset Care Record. More than 100 health and social care professionals have signed up to the Dorset Care Record (DCR), marking a milestone for the project which aims to create a comprehensive and up to date record for every resident having treatment in the county. Representatives ...

Officers searching for a man who had gone missing from Dorset County Hospital can confirm he has been located safe and well. Piotr Tutak, 38, had been receiving medical treatment at the hospital when he left unexpectedly on Friday 10 August 2018. He was located in the Basingstoke area. Officers would like to thank everyone for sharing ...

The new Bere Regis primary school, which was completed in December 2016, has been shortlisted for the Civic Building of the Year Awards, promoted through the Society for Public Architecture, Construction, Engineering and Surveying (SPACES). The school was constructed as part of Dorset County Council’s Purbeck Reorganisation programme and followed the ‘baseline design’ approach developed by ...

A second man has been arrested in connection with a fatal collision near Bere Regis. At 4.40pm on Saturday 14 July 2018 Dorset Police was called to reports of a three-vehicle collision on the westbound lane of the A35 Dorchester bypass near Bere Regis, just before the single carriageway becomes a dual carriageway. The collision involved a ...

Charity organisation ORIGIN will be hosting a pop-up shop in Brewery Square, Dorchester, from Thursday 16 until Sunday August 19, selling sustainable fashion. Its signature sweatshirts feature pockets which are hand-woven and hand-dyed in Mopti (Mali), Brikama (Gambia) and the Simien Mountains (Ethiopia). As a not-for-profit organisation, 100 per cent of profits are reinvested back into ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward after a two-year-old girl was bitten by a dog in Dorchester. The girl was with her family in the garden of the Trumpet Major pub at around 8.30pm on Friday 3 August 2018 when she went with her sister up to another family ...

Straw and heath land fires aren’t the only unfavourable effects of the current heatwave. KeeP 106 was put off the air for a time tonight due to the intense heat causing a fault in our transmitter. Fortunately our engineers were able to cool it down and reinforce some solder joints (that’s for the technically minded) ...

2 fire engines from Poole fire station and 1 land rover from Bere Regis attended reports of a field of straw alight off of Church Lane, Anderson near Bere Regis. Shortly after arrival crews requested further assistance by way of 2 further land rovers and 2 further off road fire engines, these came from Wimborne, Blandford, ...

Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill is holding a series of public meetings across Dorset to speak about the proposed merger between Dorset Police and Devon & Cornwall Police. At the meetings he will answer your questions and explain what it could mean for the county. The aim of the meetings is to help the public ...

Amanda has been fostering for 10 years and recently left an independent agency to foster with Dorset County Council again. Here’s her story: Amanda has four children of her own aged 19, 15, 12 and 5. She was originally approved as a Dorset County Council carer and fostered with the local authority for the first four ...

Shoppers and visitors have been enjoying the free, fast and reliable WiFi in Dorchester town centre for the last few weeks and has proved a huge success. From meeting up with friends via social media, finding out about events, getting directions or paying for parking . . . we rely on a good, stable internet connection ...

It’s Love Parks Day at the Borough Gardens until 3.30 today! A fantastic family friendly event with lots of special activities. Past years has seen activities such as bird box making alongside a variety of food stalls. Today you’ll find a bouncy castle, face painting, Punch and Judy and animal stands including Donkey rides too! Events for everyone ...

Walk in the footsteps of Romans this summer and discover Dorchester’s hidden past. This Summer visitors will have the opportunity to meet the Roman reenactors from Cohor I Durotriga and be guided round some of the historic sites of Roman Dorchester ‘Durnovaria’ including the Roman Wall, The Roman Town House, the only example of a fully ...

Weldmar’s solar panels have just been installed at their inpatient unit in Dorchester. The panels will save Weldmar around £30,000 in electricity a year. Weldmar wish to thank all those who voted for them in the Marks and Spencer bid in 2017. Thanks also go to the Anton Jurgens Charitable Trust and the Autumn Trust for helping ...

If you were wondering what the noise was this morning, the National Police Air Support (NPAS) Bournemouth helicopter was above Crossways in the early hours (31 July) approximately 1AM to locate a person on the railway tracks. The air support unit located the individual and guided in police on the ground with dogs. If you see someone ...

Listen to an edited version of the Launch Show broadcast at Midday on 28th July 2018. Join Rob Mott and the team of presenters along with lots of guests. 1hr 24mins       Also view a selection of photos of the occasion kindly supplied by Howard Payton… (Click a photo to enlarge)

Kieran Williams, Rob Mott and Andy Worth outside the Little Keep Studios preparing for the launch of KeeP 106 at midday today.

What’s the heatwave doing for tourism here in Dorset? Andy Worth talks to Amanda Park from Visit Dorset to find out….(Click play to listen) The Heatwave and Dorset tourism and visit the Visit Dorset website

A Community First Responder has just celebrated his 10th year supporting the ambulance service in the Dorchester area! “I am Dave Carr and I have just completed my 10th year as a Community First Responder (CFR) for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. I began my medical interest at 10 years old by joining Portland ...

Crews across the county have been dealing with a large fire in the open at Cheselbourne yesterday. Multiple crews from Dorchester, Bere Regis, Maiden Newton, Blandford, Poole, Wimborne, Sturminster Newton, Weymouth, Wareham and Bridport have been in attendance. A fire involving 17 hectares of straw and stubble fields was extinguished using multiple beaters and hose reel jets. ...

It’s the start of the school summer holidays for many this week and the South Western Ambulance Service (SWAST) are expecting an influx of visitors across Dorset. With more people visiting Dorchester and it’s historic monuments, shopping facilities, Brewery Square, transport links to London and Weymouth… SWAST are xpecting a busy Summer! With the expectation of ...

Dorset County Council’s Parks are recognised as some of the UK’s very best green spaces! Four Dorset County Council parks have been awarded a national Green Flag Award. Hardy’s Birthplace Thorncombe Woods near Dorchester, Avon Heath Country Park near Ringwood, Milldown and Stour meadows near Blandford have been recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme as some of ...

A charity walk is being organised in memory of Professor Peter Rowe, a remarkable Poundbury resident who recently passed away. His widow, Anne, is organising a Coastal Charity ‘Stroll’ and Picnic starting at The Hive Cafe, Burton Bradstock on Sunday 5th August at 10AM. You may wish to join the family for the walk, which is ...

Five new bases to help support children with special educational needs (SEN) in Dorset will open this September. In April, Dorset County Council agreed to invest £3M (including a £1m grant from the Government) in SEN provision, including creating eight specialist bases in mainstream schools to cater for children who have significant issues with social interaction ...

Kingston Lacy explores the lives of its most influential women as part of the 2018 centenary of women’s suffrage. Beyond the Portrait, a new installation at Kingston Lacy in Dorset, is one of a wide range of exhibitions and events as part of the National Trust’s Women and Power programme. The exhibition examines Mary, Frances, Anne and ...

A book weekend specifically for children takes place in Dorchester this weekend.  As families prepare for their summer holidays, a team of children’s authors and performers, supported by Waterstones, are running a programme of events to fire the imaginations of children. Rob Mott spoke to author Liz Poulain and Waterstones shop manager Jan Jaggard. Click play ...

Transmitter installation The last couple of days have been tough, but rewarding,  since the transmitter and aerial array are being installed. There is still much to do but hopefully test transmissions will start soon. The photos below record some of the activity – thank goodness the weather improved….if only for a couple of days. Click a picture ...

Is this the cat who got the cream? No it’s a happy Rob receiving the new transmitter from Adrian Stuart, the Town Clerk, Dorchester Town Council having generously donated the new equipment. Click on a picture to enlarge.

Ofcom allocate our frequency As some of you will already know Ofcom have allocated 106.3 Mhz FM as our frequency. This is a good allocation as the only stations using this frequency in the south of the UK are a station in Bridgend in South Wales and according to Ofcom a station in the Exeter area ...