News Archive

The annual GP Patient Survey (GPPS) conducted by Ipsos MORI has once again seen GP practices in Dorset score highly. Across the NHS Dorset CCG area over 21,813 questionnaires were sent out between January and March 2020 asking people for their opinions on everything from their overall experience to how involved they felt with their treatment ...

As hairdressers, restaurants and pubs reopened their doors, more than 40 Special Constables gave up their free time to help police the easing of lockdown across Dorset. Special Constabulary officers joined regular officers on the frontline to ensure residents and visitors remained safe as they enjoyed new freedoms across the weekend of Saturday 4 July and Sunday ...

Apply for childcare funding, even if you’re not using childcare right now. While saving money on your childcare costs might not seem like a priority right now, applying for funding could help you save money in the coming months. Childcare providers can now open to more children if they can meet government guidelines. Some providers may not ...

Reopening date announced for Dorset Council’s leisure centres. Dorset’s sports and leisure centres are set to reopen, following the recent announcement by the Government. The centres managed by Dorset Council will be welcoming back customers from Saturday 25 July. The news comes after the facilities closed in March due to COVID-19. Guidance published by the Government outlines measures ...

The more time children spend at home, the more time they will be spending in the kitchen. It could be from lending a hand to searching for snacks. It is important to make sure that children know the hazards of a hot hob. As part of the Fire Kills campaign, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue ...

A £50,000 Coastal Revival Fund grant has enabled Weymouth’s historic Nothe Fort to transform its North Terrace and open it to the public. The newly landscaped Terrace now has two special stone benches, was unveiled on Friday 10 July by KeeP 106 contributor, BBC antiques expert and Bounce Back Arts Director, Paul Atterbury, at a private ...

West Dorset MP Chris Loder has called on Government ministers in the House of Commons to ensure West Dorset gets its fair share of funding and investment in the future. The MP and his small team have assisted thousands of local businesses and constituents access the grants, income support and loans they have needed, often ...

Dorset Police are reminding the Dorchester community to be alert to fraudulent telephone crimes, as more have been reported this week. PCSO Mark Wodarek-Black said, “Unfortunately my shift today (Saturday 11 June) has involved visiting several victims of fraudulent telephone crimes, where local people have lost money to this type of scam” “If you receive a call ...

Following the Government’s recent announcement, libraries managed by Dorset Council will start a phased re-opening from 8 July by introducing an order and collect service for existing users. Customers will be able to order online their preferred categories of books, DVDs and talking books and to collect at an allocated time from 22 of Dorset’s 23 ...

Dorset Council has today, 9th July, approved the following two applications: • Ringstead’s Creek Caravan Site has been granted an extension to its season. It will now be allowed to open for all but two months of the year – and will have to shut between mid January and mid March. It had asked Dorset Council ...

UPDATE 9th July – The travellers have left the Great Field at Poundbury. They were gone when our reporter was there on Wednesday afternoon with very little rubbish left behind, apart from a few branches from a tree or hedge. The travellers had arrived several days ago causing some concern to local people. Around 10 caravans and ...

Three controversial planning applications are being decided today, Thursday. An online committee will vote on an application to demolish a Weymouth church and replace it with 18 affordable flats. Other applications being debated include knocking down a bungalow in East Street, Beaminster to build five new houses while the Creek caravan park at Ringstead wants to ...

Weymouth’s park and ride is due to be re-opened by July 17 – in time for the start of the school holidays. The car park is currently closed while the military use it as a drive-in for coronavirus testing . Dorset Council says the testing will continue when the park and ride re-opens with new signs so ...

Why Matt’s 24 hour Devon to Dorset challenge is so much more than a sponsored walk. When it comes to his relationship with Weldmar Hospicecare, Matt Smith is not only the charity’s Director of Fundraising and Marketing. He’s recently spent time – twice – at their Inpatient Unit in Dorchester as a family member, as two ...

More than a million overnight stays in West Dorset’s holiday parks and campsites have been saved, due to timely intervention by Chris Loder MP, leading to Government restrictions for the sector being eased from 4th July. Visitors have started arriving back this week, just in time to rescue the summer season – also saving thousands ...

With various retailers now re-open and new health and safety measures put in place, Dorchester’s Brewery Square is helping advise shoppers how to make the most of their shopping day out. Charlotte Spracklen, centre manager at Brewery Square, told KeeP 106: “We know many people will be looking forward to spending a day out at their ...

As lockdown eases and more people take to the roads, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has produced three new digital resources to promote safe driving. They can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/road-safety-during-covid-19 and include links, videos and other signposting to helpful advice. Amongst the areas of focus are the main reasons for injuries and loss of ...

Officers investigating a reported road traffic collision in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward – with one man arrested. Dorset Police received a report at around 5.10pm on Sunday 5 July 2020 that a silver Citroen C3 was being driven dangerously on Dorchester Road. It was further alleged that ...

Officers investigating the theft of farming equipment in West Dorset are appealing for witnesses to come forward and issuing images of some of the stolen items. Between 5pm on Saturday 27 June and 8am on Sunday 28 June 2020 a burglary occurred at a farm in the Tincleton area. A tri-axle flatbed trailer, an IEA cattle crusher, ...

Dorset Police is thanking its communities and visitors for contributing to a largely peaceful weekend following the lifting of further COVID-19 restrictions. The Force had been planning extensively with partners throughout the lockdown period for the lifting of restrictions in our region and the past weekend saw the reopening of the hospitality industry. Chief Constable James Vaughan ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam to come forward as they investigate a fatal road traffic collision in Wool. Dorset Police was called at 5.35pm on Sunday 5 July 2020 to a report of a collision on the A352 between the Woolbridge Roundabout and Wool train station. The collision involved a black ...

Dorchester has prepared a warm welcome for those returning to the High Street this weekend. Shoppers will enjoy a colourful display of overhead banners throughout South Street, reminding them to observe social distancing and pointing out some of the other places to shop in Dorchester. The risk of Covid-19 is going down and social distancing is ...

The popular Weymouth Beach Race, which was scheduled for October 18th, has unfortunately been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is the statement posted by an official of the event. If you have already entered full refunds will be given. The Weymouth Beach Race has been running since 1984 and has been an integral part of ...

The Prince of Wales School are looking to raise £1,500 to purchase David a trike. Below is a video of David testing out a similar trike. David lives in the Castle Park area of Dorchester and has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) which is a severe type of muscular dystrophy. The school is asking for organisations to help with ...

Weymouth’s proposed new children’s home in Dorchester Road will also have two ‘flatlets’ for emergency use and a centre for supervised visits between children in care and their family. The centre itself will house 4-5 children, most likely teenagers, with other facilities in the converted former registry office building. The new building will be mainly constructed elsewhere ...

On the 4th July 2020, Weymouth’s Town Bridge will be 90 years old. Weymouth Town Bridge was officially opened at 12.30pm on 4th July 1930 during a grand opening ceremony by HRH Duke of York who later became King George VI. The first passage through the twin leaf bascule bridge was undertaken by the Cosens paddle ...

Dorset Police officers and staff have submitted more than 100 bids to a new fund aimed at enabling the Force to develop innovative projects and transform for the future. Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill and Chief Constable James Vaughan set up the one million pound Innovation Fund in spring 2019, using money that had ...

As more businesses look to reopen their doors from 4 July, Dorset Council is working with town and parish councils, and alongside Dorset Police, to ensure the safety of residents and visitors across the county while social distancing measures remain in place. To support the reopening of pubs, cafes and restaurants, the Government has issued guidance ...

Questions continue about whether Dorset Council will eventually have to declare itself ‘bankrupt’ if it doesn’t get more Government funding. Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting heard that two buildings, one in the east, one in the west, are being handed back to landlords and that a property in Purbeck will be used as a hostel for those who ...

Officers investigating a fire in Dorchester that is alleged to have been started deliberately have arrested a man. Dorset Police was called at 4.07am on Monday 29 June 2020 to a report of a fire at a block of flats on Bitter End. The surrounding roads were closed to allow emergency services to deal with the incident ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward following an alleged affray in Weymouth. It is reported that between 4pm and 4.25pm on Friday 26 June 2020 a fight occurred involving two men near to The Wyke Smugglers pub on Portland Road. The victim – a man aged in his 50s – ...

From Wednesday 1 July, Dorset Council’s scheme that allows key workers to park for free in Council-run car parks will be coming to an end. Near the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent lockdown, Dorset Council took the decision to suspend parking charges in its car parks across the county. These charges were reinstated for ...

Free Benefits Surgeries Age UK North, South & West Dorset holds regular surgeries where anyone over 50 can come and ask an expert questions about benefits they may be entitled to. Working in partnership with Dorset Council, these benefit advice sessions are one-to-one surgeries, free and by appointment only.  Due to the current situation, these surgeries will ...

Weldmar Hospicecare is delighted to announce that its Day Services will resume in Dorset on Monday 6th July. The service was suspended in March following the outbreak of Covid-19, but revised arrangements will see a number of patients able to return next week. All Day Services will take place at Trimar House in Weymouth on a Monday ...

Hundreds of children and young vulnerable people have kept active and safe outdoors during Covid 19 lockdown, with the help of services from Dorset Council’s Outdoor Education Service. During the last three months, they have been welcoming small groups to the four centres across the county working with local schools to run activities for children of ...

Officers investigating a fire that was believed to have been started deliberately in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. Dorset Police was called at 4.07am on Monday 29 June 2020 to a report of a fire at a block of flats on Bitter End. The surrounding roads were closed to allow ...

An investigation is underway into the cause of a fire in a block of flats in Dorchester this morning (29 June). Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the five storey building on Bitter End at 4.02am, after multiple reports of a fire in a communal area on the second floor. Fire Control provided ...

West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have told KeeP 106 that they have sadly decided to cancel this year’s Weymouth Octoberfest beer festival held in Weymouth Pavilion’s Ocean Room in light of the current United Kingdom Covid-19 guidelines and social distancing policy. Organisers, West Dorset CAMRA chairman Dave Harris and Rich Gabe, took the decision ...

Dorset Police No Excuse team have expressed concern over speeding in Dorset. On Wednesday last week they dealt with 33 three offences. Including a female driving a convertible at 101 MPH with a young child in the car. A spokesperson said: “At the beginning of the shift on the A35 dual carriageway we dealt with one motorbike ...

In its latest business newsletter Dorset Council says that much of the hospitality and tourism industry is gearing up to reopen except for those considered close proximity venues such as indoor gyms, swimming pools, spas, nail salons, soft-play areas, bowling alleys and waterparks.  Government have updated their guidance, which you can read below. Read the guidance The government ...

Purbeck Police have released a picture of a car that had all its tyres punctured after an attempt to get into Shell Bay car park after it closed by driving in via the exit. The Studland car park has an exit that has one way spikes to stop drivers entering incorrectly. The officers reported they got straight ...

That is the question that Dorset Council and its partners will be asking children and young people across the county. Their ideas will help shape the new Children, Young People and Families Plan, which aims to make Dorset the best place to be a child. Anyone aged up to 18 can share their ideas by entering ...

Dorset Council’s Environmental Protection Team have received a high number of complaints about flies over the last few weeks. Many people are experiencing lots of flies within their homes. To reduce the numbers, it is important to follow good hygiene practices and take extra precautions to ensure that foodstuffs are not freely available to them or ...

The Hall & Woodhouse DLF Local Writing Prize has announced its long-list, comprising six local authors. “In a world currently dominated by postponements and cancellations, we’re pleased that we’ve been able to keep the prize going,” says Paul Atterbury, who runs the Festival together with Janet Gleeson. “And as always we are grateful to Hall & ...

A body has very sadly been found in the search for a man who went missing in the water in the Purbeck area. At 5.47pm on Sunday 21 June 2020 Dorset Police was called by the ambulance service following a report that a man – aged in his 20s and from London – had gone missing ...

Dorset Council is seeking agreement to look at measures prohibiting or controlling the use of disposable barbecues and other fire-related activities in the area. In recent years, there have been a number of incidents of fire damage across Dorset as a result of disposable barbecues, bonfires close to heathland and dry wooded areas, the release of ...

Staff at Dorset County Hospital want to express their heartfelt thanks to the community after being overwhelmed by donations and messages of support and kindness during the coronavirus pandemic. Since the country entered lockdown, communities have rallied together to show their appreciation for the NHS and to help support staff through what may be the most ...

The Rural Crime team within Dorset Police are asking us to be on the lookout following reports of a suspicious vehicle. A White Mercedes Minibus type vehicle was seen in suspicious circumstances Friday (19 June) in the morning near farm buildings in the Dorchester area. When the vehicle was approached it sped away. There are no ...

At 6.45am on Friday 19 June 2020 Dorset Police received a report of a collision on the A354 at The Beeches near Sixpenny Handley. The collision involved a grey Toyota Yaris and a silver Mitsubishi pick-up. Officers attended, along with the fire and ambulance services. Fire crews assisted with freeing the occupant of the Toyota, a ...

Dorset Highways annual summer road repair programme is getting underway. Two programmes of work are being carried out in the Dorset Council area – premium surface dressing and micro-asphalt – starting on Monday 22 June. These will seal roads against water damage and restore skid resistance on roads that are in an otherwise good condition. Some roads have ...

Dorset Council’s library teams have been keeping adults and children entertained during lockdown with a packed programme of online activities. With libraries closed, reading groups, rhyme times and craft sessions have been improving wellbeing and bringing people together, virtually. Councillor Tony Alford, Customer, Community and Regulatory Services portfolio holder, told KeeP 106: “It’s been a great way ...

New anti-littering signs have been installed by the goat grazing enclosures by Old Hill on Portland. The signs created by Litter Free Dorset, are in response to the 6 goats that died last year. Su and John Illsley from Fancy’s Family Farm on Portland were shocked to find their goats dead, with dog poo bags hanging ...

It’s been over a month since Dorset Council re-opened its household recycling centres (HRCs, or “the tip”) after they were closed in the early stages of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are concerns that HRCs are starting to feel the pressure as restrictions continue to be relaxed and more people arrive to drop ...

A new state-of-the-art CT scanner has been installed at Dorset County Hospital and is the first of its kind across the whole of the south. The scanner is the latest technology available and will greatly improve patient experience as it has the ability to perform scanning in a way that was not previously possible. Wrist and elbow ...

Chris Loder, MP for West Dorset, is asking communities to nominate their unsung local heroes – those who have gone above and beyond and done extraordinary things over the last three months during the coronavirus crisis. Inspired by the number of voluntary initiatives and personal acts of kindness throughout the constituency, Chris is determined to ...

Antibody testing for healthcare staff in Dorset has begun to see if they have had the virus that causes COVID-19. The specialist laboratory at Poole Hospital is providing the antibody tests – which are used to detect antibodies to the COVID-19 virus to see if you have previously had the virus. The testing of healthcare staff ...

Officers searching for teenage diver Oscar Montgomery, who went missing off the coast of Portland, are sad to confirm that a body has been found. Oscar, aged 17, had gone diving in the area of Church Ope Cove on Wednesday 27 May 2020 and was last believed to have been seen at around 5pm that day. Shortly ...

Dorset Police have been following up on reports of antisocial driving at Moreton Ford. It appears that drivers have been entering the ford and doing ‘water donuts’ at high speeds. This appears to be occurring at night. The picture shows some of the marks left on the river bed. This ford is part of the River Frome SSSI ...

Dorchester’s Brewery Square will see the re-opening of non-essential retailers this week, following Government advice that all non-essential stores can open from 15th June 2020. Loco Loves, Stems Florist, Gallery On The Square, Woods Furniture, Vinyl Van, Jacqueline’s Pre-Loved Boutique, Margo and Mya, Copper Street Brewery, Maxgate Properties, Gallery On The Square and Dorset Hideaways are ...

Dorchester’s BID, Chamber for Business and Town Council have teamed up with Dorset Council to assist a safe return to the High Street, as more shops reopen for business on 15th June. The efforts will be supported by a Government fund administered by Dorset Council to support town centres across Dorset. `Team Dorch’ have formed to ...