News Archive

Fun will be on offer this half term when a new nature trail opens. The new trail in Thorncombe Woods, near Dorchester, is less than a mile-long and is suitable for off-road mobility scooters. Free trail guides are available. The trail has been inspired by the best-selling picture book ‘The Lost Words’. The book, by Robert MacFarlane ...

In the shortlist for the Surfers Against Sewage Awards announced on Monday, Damers First School has been shortlisted for School Champion. Damers First School’s submission included winning four awards in the Young Enterprise Fiver Challenge last year, launching Refill Dorchester an signing up 25 businesses in one afternoon, leading a campaign to make Dorchester single ...

Dorchester Town Crier wins National Championships for 10th time! Dorchester’s well-known Town Crier, Alistair Chisholm has won the Town Crying National Championships for the 10th time – equalling the record set in 1973 by Ben Johnson, who was Town Crier of Fowey, Cornwall from 1935 to 1978. Listen to our interview with Alistair in which he repeats ...

Councillors will examine work to improve community safety and plans to find out people’s views on dogs, when the Place Scrutiny Committee meets on Thursday. (24/10) IMPROVING COMMUNITY SAFETY Among the items on the agenda will be the annual Community Safety Report. The Place Scrutiny Committee is responsible for examining the work of the Dorset Community Safety ...

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 ...

Families across Dorset are being reminded that there is just over a week left to apply for their child’s secondary or upper school place for September 2020. As it stands, nearly 500 children from the Dorset Council area still have not had an application submitted for them. For children who are due to start secondary or ...

In just five years, Scottish firebrands Talisk have stacked up several major awards for their explosively energetic yet artfully woven sound, including 2017’s Folk Band of the Year at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, and a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award. As part of a large UK tour this November, which takes in ...

Last week, members of Dorset Council’s Climate Change Executive Advisory Panel and Technical Officers Group came together to offer new ideas and approaches in the fight against climate change. On Thursday morning, over 40 officers and councillors from various services and electoral wards gathered at South Walks House in Dorchester to provide information on what Dorset ...

Dorset County Hospital (DCH) has submitted a planning application to build a multi-storey car park as part of its plans to develop clinical facilities on its Dorchester site. The hospital wants to expand its Emergency Department (ED) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as well as establish an Integrated Care Hub as part of a long-term project ...

Drivers in Dorset have been taking the rough with the smooth today (Friday 18 Oct) as small breaks in the rain brought the sunshine. Those breaks were few and when the rain did return, it returned in force! Torrential and persistent rain hit Dorchester hard this afternoon with some drivers reporting significant visibility issues and reduced speeds. Drivers ...

Image appeal following road rage incident in Weymouth Officers investigating a road rage incident in Weymouth are issuing images of the suspect and his motorcycle. The incident occurred at around 12pm on Tuesday 24 September 2019 at the traffic lights between Chickerell Road and Boot Hill. A man aged in his 60s was driving a Vauxhall Zafira and ...

At approximately 11:13hrs Dorset and Wiltshire fire control mobilised two crews from Dorchester and one crew from Weymouth to reports of a property fire in Dorchester. Upon arrival it was evident there was smoke issuing but reports of the fire being already extinguished. One breathing apparatus crew were tasked to confirm the fire was out before ventilating ...

The Coroner for Dorset is seeking the assistance of the public to find the next of kin of a man who died in Maiden Newton near Dorchester. James Frank Johnson, who was 67 years old, died at his home address in Webbers Piece on Monday 14 October 2019. His death is not being treated as ...

Christian Aid’s Dorchester and District committee has invited a range of local justice organisations to run stalls and give information about their activities at a coffee morning on Saturday 19 October. The event, which takes place at the United Church, Dorchester, from 10am – 12noon, will include stands from Freedom from Torture, Hilfield Friary, Traidcraft, Tools ...

Dorset Police has launched ‘Your Dorset. Your Police. Your View.’ – a new way to make your views heard to help shape the county’s policing in the future. On 14 October 2019, Dorset Police launched an online priority setter to give the public the opportunity to put themselves in the Chief Constable’s shoes and decide what ...

Hazardous waste such as discarded needles can occasionally be found across the country. Although it’s a national issue, we would like to remind people that if you ever see one, do not touch, unless it poses an immediate danger. If you see a syringe or needle on public land please report it immediately so a clean-up can ...

Thanks to the generosity of the people of Dorset, Weldmar Hospicecare has many treasures to discover in its chain of charity shops and outlets. These donations are unusually handed in over the counter when someone’s had a clear out or spring clean, but now and again the charity is invited to house clearances to see what ...

Flood Warning has been issued by the Environment Agency. Flooding is expected for: Dorchester Road and Frome Lane area of Maiden Newton. River levels have risen at the Maiden Newton river gauge as a result of heavy overnight rainfall. Consequently, flooding of property, roads and farmland is possible today. We believe there is a possibility ...

Dorset History Centre are beginning a project to catalogue the papers of Dame Elisabeth Frink, a renowned sculptor with strong local connections. Dame Elisabeth Frink RA (1930-1993) was one of Britain’s most renowned sculptors. Her works are held by museums and galleries throughout the UK and worldwide. Frink moved to Dorset in 1976 and lived here ...

Officers investigating a burglary at an address in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward – an image of some of the stolen items has been released. Between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 5 October 2019 a burglary occurred at an address on Abbotsbury Road. The back door of the property was ...

“Thank you (Extinction Rebellion) for my tree!” West Dorset MP Sir Oliver Letwin has received a tree from the group whilst in Westminster today (10/10). Sir Oliver will be bringing it back from Westminster to West Dorset and presenting it to Damers First School. Taking to social media, Sir Oliver says: “Thank you @ExtinctionR for my tree! I will ...

Work to improve flood protection will begin on Weymouth beach next week. (15/10) Dorset Council will start work to lower the level of the beach near the sea wall on Tuesday. This will help protect sea front properties from coastal flooding. The work, which is expected to take up to three days, will also help reduce ...

Detectives investigating the death of a man in Weymouth have charged a man and woman with manslaughter. Dorset Police was called at 10.17am on Saturday 7 September 2019 by the ambulance service following reports of the sudden death of a 75-year-old man – named by detectives as John Cornish – at an address on The Esplanade ...

Councillors and officers at Dorset Council have been celebrating success recently as their efforts to care for the environment and fight climate change have been recognised by several organisations. Waste management and vehicle emissions are two of the most important areas of work Dorset Council is focusing on when acting to help prevent climate change, especially ...

Hundreds of people brought the spirit of 1944 to Castletown’s D-Day Centre and Portland Castle during Portland At War Weekend on 5 and 6 October. Members of the public were treated to the sights, sounds and even smells of wartime Britain as living history enthusiasts re-enacted Allied and German camps around the time of the D-Day ...

Dorset’s children in care and their foster families have been celebrated at the 2019 Star Awards. The Star Awards are hosted by Dorset Council to celebrate the achievements of foster families and the children they look after. The awards also recognise the accomplishments of young people who are leaving care. A record number of over 300 ...

Thousands of students from across Dorset, including Thomas Hardye School and Budmouth, will experience a hard-hitting road safety presentation over the coming months. Safe Drive Stay Alive targets students in Year 11 and above, who will soon be learning to drive and whose friends may already be driving. The presentation uses powerful personal testimony and dramatic ...

Dorset Police to receive an extra 50 officers in year one of Operation Uplift programme It has been announced that the recruitment target for Dorset Police is 50 new officers as part of year one in the 6,000 national Operation Uplift scheme. This figure will be in addition to the existing planned recruitment for officers that Dorset ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward as they investigate a collision in West Dorset. Dorset Police was called at around 12.15pm on Tuesday 8 October 2019 to a report of a collision on the A35, around three miles west of Winterbourne Abbas on the westbound carriageway. The collision involved ...

Officers investigating an assault on a man in Weymouth are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. At around 9.30pm on Wednesday 2 October 2019 the victim – a local man aged in his 20s – was walking along Putton Lane near to Bennetts Water Gardens when he was confronted by two unknown male suspects. One ...

Detectives investigating a reported robbery in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. At approximately 12.40pm on Sunday 6 October 2019 it is alleged that a man approached a woman on King Street and shouted abuse at her before hitting her face. The victim – a local woman aged in her 30s ...

Residents in Milborne St Andrew and in Broadwindsor now have influence over development in their local areas after Dorset Council adopted their neighbourhood plans. 91% of residents who took part in a referendum on the plan for Milborne St Andrew voted for Dorset Council to use their neighbourhood plan to help decide planning applications. Residents of ...

Officers investigating a fatal road traffic collision near Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant dashcam footage to come forward. At 2.56pm Dorset Police received a report of a collision on the A37 at Wardon Hill north of Dorchester. The collision involved a black Ford Transit panel van and a white Mercedes lorry. Officers attended, ...

Fancy doing your bit and helping us in our bid to tackle climate change? Join Dorset Council’s annual Liftshare week and turn your daily commute into something much more enjoyable. Not only will you pocket a few extra pounds, but car sharing is the perfect opportunity to: relieve stress of the daily commute, protect the environment, ...

Trimar House is the new home for Weldmar Hospicecare services in Weymouth, and new charity headquarters. It is home to Day Services for local patients, and a base for Weldmar Community Nurses in the south of the county, as well as head office functions such as Finance, Fundraising, Retail, Marketing, and People Services. Trimar House is located ...

Mary Berry and Claudia Winkleman are searching for passionate and talented cooks for the new series of BBC One’s Best Home Cook. They want to hear from cooks of all ages and abilities who serve up amazing dishes for the people they love every day of the week.    If you think you have what it takes to be ...

Fire crews from Dorchester station have been attending to a chimney fire tonight (Thursday 3 Oct). The fire is believed to be confined to a chimney on a property on St Helens Road. Crews used a Chimney Kit in order to investigate and extinguish the fire. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Safety have this advice about Chimney Safety. A ...

Dorset-based care provider Agincare is celebrating after its live-in care services in both the South West and the South East were rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Agincare’s live-in care staff provide one-to-one 24-hour care to people in the comfort and security of their home, right across England. Support ranges from companionship, personal care, ...

Don’t be spooked by digital technology this Halloween. If you are struggling to use the computer, tablet or smart phone to look up ‘what’s on’ over half term and Halloween there’s help at hand. Superfast Dorset has a network of 70 volunteer Digital Champions who offer free, one-to-one computer help sessions in libraries and other venues ...

Meet your new patrol officers who are working to make Weymouth even safer. Martin, Samuel and Jason have joined existing officer Sam on the beat. They are patrolling in Weymouth seven days a week. You can follow their progress on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow them on social media: Twitter @PatrolOfficers Facebook @weypatrolofficers Instagram: weymouthpatrolofficers Or find them via #weypatrols Follow to ...

Detectives investigating a reported robbery in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward. At approximately 10.15pm on Wednesday 25 September 2019 an alleged robbery occurred in the area of Wyke Gardens off Portland Road. During the incident the victim, a local man aged in his late teens, sustained ...

Dorset Council condemns geese killings Seven Canada Geese carcasses have been found dumped on Dorset Council’s Blackdown Nature Reserve, near Hardy Monument. The birds were killed and had their breasts removed sometime overnight on 29 September. The remains of the birds were left in a ditch, believed to be the work of poachers. Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s ...

Cabinet agrees council tax exemption for young people leaving care. Care leavers in Dorset will not have to pay council tax until they are 25. Dorset Council’s Cabinet has agreed that young people who have spent time in foster or residential care will be exempt from paying council tax until the age of 25 if they live ...

The Met Office have issued a Yellow weather warning for rain across Dorset tomorrow (Tuesday). The Met Office have said: ‘Heavy showers are likely across south Wales and southern England on Tuesday with a small chance of disruption from flooding.’ WHAT TO EXPECT • Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures • Where ...

Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward following a reported serious assault in Weymouth. At approximately 4.15am on Friday 27 September 2019 it was reported that an assault took place involving a group of men on Maiden Street at the junction with Church Passage. The victim – a local man aged in his 30s – sustained ...

A fire crew from Dorchester station were called to a car fire this morning (Monday 30 Sept). A single crew tackled the vehicle fire in Poundbury on Peverell Avenue East. There have been no reports of injuries. Image courtesy of the Dorchester Fire Station Facebook.

Officers are appealing for any witnesses or motorists with relevant dashcam footage to come forward as they investigate a fatal road traffic collision near Wimborne. Dorset Police received a report at 6.07pm on Saturday 28 September in relation to a single vehicle collision at Badbury Rings on the B3082 Blandford Road, at the junction with New ...

Officers searching for missing 21-year-old Cameron Marchant are pleased to confirm he has been located. Cameron was reported missing having left an address in Sturminster Newton at 11.40am on Saturday 28 September 2019. Following searches by officers, he was located in the North Dorset area. We would like to thank everyone who shared our appeal.

Partners from across Dorset’s integrated care system and the voluntary sector came together on Thursday to discuss the impact of food insecurity in the county and how they can make changes to improve the situation. The event, titled ‘Dorset’s Hidden Hunger’, was jointly organised by Public Health Dorset, BCP Council, Dorset Council and the Bournemouth and ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has warned people to take care with household chemicals, following an incident last night (26 September). The occupier inadvertently mixed two household chemicals in an attempt to unblock a sink, but the resulting mixture created a noxious gas, causing irritation to their eyes and breathing problems. Thankfully, the property’s ...

Chief Constable delighted by report from HMICFRS which finds Force ‘good’ in all areas Following annual reviews of police effectiveness, efficiency, legitimacy and leadership (PEEL), Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has graded Dorset Police as ‘good’ overall in all areas inspected. Reports published today, Friday 27 September, have been welcomed by ...

From Tuesday 1 October, Dorset residents will be able to visit their local household recycling centre (HRC, or ‘the tip’) daily from 10am until 4pm. Entry is still free of charge, with the vast majority of items still free to drop-off. The Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) operates two sets of opening hours at all their 11 HRCs ...

The New Hardy Players recently staged a production of Far from the Madding Crowd as a fundraiser for Dorset County Hospital. Each year The Players raise money for local charities and this year the Directors, Howard Payton and his wife Alison Payton had a very special reason for wanting to donate to a local worthy cause. ...

‘100 Days of Summer’ initiative reduces anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and public place violence in Weymouth. A policing initiative in Weymouth has reduced reports of antisocial behaviour by 22 per cent over the summer in the Melcombe Regis area of the town. The number of shoplifting reports also fell by 35 per cent and public place violence fell ...

Dorset Council has published its draft Council Plan for approval by Cabinet on 1 October. The Council Plan outlines the organisation’s aspirations and priorities for the next four years. The five priorities are: • Economic growth • Unique environment • Staying safe and well • Strong, healthy communities • Suitable housing. The Council Plan outlines proposed activity to achieve these priorities, all ...

Dorset Council is highlighting the problem of long-term empty properties during Empty Homes Week, 23-29 September, in conjunction with the Empty Homes Network. Throughout the week the council will be highlighting the issue of empty homes and showing examples of how homes that have been left empty for a long time have been brought back into ...

“It’s just like a fairytale wedding”: Wedding bells at Weldmar as Duncan and Kate tie the knot at the hospice in Dorchester. Weldmar Hospicecare has made dreams come true for patient Duncan Clarke and his bride Kate Baldwin, who were married at 4:30pm on Thursday in the hospice’s Orangery Restaurant. Licences, the order of service, flowers, ...

Dorset Council and its partners are celebrating after receiving a £248,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to improve physical access to the Dorchester Roman Town House and share its heritage with a much wider audience. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project focuses on delivering a range of improvements including ...

On 25th September 2019 at 7pm at All Saints Church Wyke Regis, the Bishop of Salisbury the Right Rev Nicholas Holtam will institute, induct and Install the Rev Brother Alasdair Kay (Ally) as the 56th Rector of Wyke Regis (since records began with Nicholas Lungspe in 1263), and the 2nd Rector of the combined parish ...

Detectives are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward as they investigate an alleged robbery in Weymouth. At around 2.20am on Friday 20 September 2019 a local man aged in his 20s was on The Esplanade, near to The Boat Café, when he was approached by a group of three white men. The men ...