News Archive

Local residents are being invited to hear more about Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s plans to develop the hospital site during a drop-in event. The Trust is hoping 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 to deliver ...

Funds raised by the Friends of DCH have been used to build a new garage at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) in Dorchester. This garage will house the hospital’s new Blood Bikes, both of which were donated earlier this year. The Blood Bikes, which were previously kept at the Fire Station in Poundbury, now have a ...

It’s that time of year when seagulls are most active, scavenging for food wherever they can find it. Unfortunately, this means a few residents waking up to the sight of ripped open bin bags and rubbish strewn down the street on bin collection day. While most Dorset residents have wheelie bins to keep their rubbish and recycling ...

This weekend, DCH will be hosting its first Summer Spectacular! It will be held on the former Damers School field next to the hospital on Saturday 6 July from 2pm until 5pm. It will be a traditional fete with stalls and games, as well as a performance arena and a grand raffle – fun for all ...

New beach cleaning device to be named in honour of Purbeck woman who has removed over half a million nurdles from Swanage beach! A simple but highly effective device to remove pesky microplastics from Dorset beaches has been launched by Litter Free Coast and Sea and Litter-free Purbeck on Swanage South Beach on Tuesday, 2nd July. The ...

Parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities are being asked to help plan short break activities in Dorset. Dorset Council commissions a variety of short break services, which allow children and young people to have fun outside the home and give parents and carers some much-needed time to themselves. In 2018/19, nearly 700 ...

The first orders for The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester’s new Eco-Uniform have now been delivered and the local school children could not be more delighted! The ‘Green Flag’ Eco-School announced last month that it was to become one of the first schools in the country to offer a more eco-friendly school uniform as part ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to take care around heathland and open spaces during this warmer weather With warm weather expected this weekend means a heightened risk of wildfires across Dorset & Wiltshire. DWFRS Wildfire Tactical Advisor Andy Elliott said: “With a period of hot, dry weather being forecast, we would urge ...

This special annual event was held on Tuesday last week. A group of year 12 students planned and organised a party for volunteers and clients from the Royal Voluntary Service’s Home Library Service in the Dorchester area, and nearly 30 guests attended. The Sixth Form Common Room was transformed into a Café, where the students welcomed ...

Listen to an interview with museum founder Michael Ridley Dorchester’s Dinosaur Museum celebrates its 35th birthday on Thursday 27th June. 35 years ago, The Dinosaur Museum opened in Dorchester in June 1984 to great acclaim. From the very beginning visitors loved its novel and innovative approach to exploring the wonderful world of dinosaurs. It was and still ...

Officers are issuing images of three suspected stolen bikes that were recovered in Weymouth and appealing for the owners to come forward. On Friday 21 June 2019 a 40-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of theft of a bicycle in the area of Ranelagh Road and a dark grey and silver Raleigh Velo bike with ...

Weldmar Hospicecare is Waterside Holiday Group’s chosen charity for 2019. The Group will be hosting fundraising events and initiatives throughout the year to raise vital funds for the organisation. The charity provides end of life care for people living in Dorset who need specialist support. It provides a compassionate approach and supports patients and their families ...

Bere Regis residents now have influence over development in their local area after Dorset Council’s cabinet adopted the village’s neighbourhood plan in June 2019. The neighbourhood plan was prepared by the community of Bere Regis. It sets out a vision and objectives for how the parish will develop from 2019 to 2034. A local referendum took ...

A new initiative to help communities who live close to areas at risk of wildfire has been launched in Dorset. Firewise UK is based upon the international Firewise programme run by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) of America. Organised locally by the Urban Heaths Partnership, it provides information for homeowners who live close to areas ...

The Sea Watch Foundation’s Regional Coordinator for Dorset, Catherine de Bertrand, has recently visited the Prince of Wales School in Dorchester. Catherine spoke to the children about the Sea Watch Foundation and the whales, dolphins and porpoise that can be seen around the UK. Speaking about her, Catherine said, ‘I was so pleased to see how the ...

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) is serving its communities well, it has been confirmed in its first inspection from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary & Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). HMICFRS has spent the last year analysing data and documents and visiting the Service to assess it against three core themes – effectiveness; ...

Detectives investigating reported assaults on police officers in Weymouth town centre are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. At around 4pm on Sunday 23 June 2019 Dorset Police received a report of a man attempting to gain access to an address on The Esplanade. Officers attended and the man was located in the vicinity. As officers ...

Special constables carried out an operation over the weekend to target rural acquisitive crime in West Dorset. Between 7pm on Saturday 22 June and 4am on Sunday 23 June 2019 special constables carried out high-visibility patrols based on intelligence from the community to disrupt and target rural crime offenders. During the operation, over 200 people and vehicle ...

Residents are being urged to get behind Dorchester’s upcoming Children’s Carnival which will take place on Saturday 6th July 2019. The call comes from The Prince of Wales School Headteacher, Mr. Gary Spracklen who says, “we urge residents to support the first ever Dorchester Children’s Carnival”. Mr. Spracklen explains, ‘The ‘Children’s Carnival’ is the first of it’s ...

The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester has been named the Best Small Primary School in Dorset following the 2019 Sustrans Big Pedal! The Sustrans Big Pedal competition saw thousands of children cycle, scoot and walk their school journeys. The UK-wide event organised by the national cycling and walking charity ran from 25th March to 5th April ...

The organisers of Dorset County Show have announced the event’s chosen charity for 2019 is Mosaic, which supports bereaved children across the county. Mosaic aims to develop a Dorset-wide network of bereavement support specialists for children, young people and their families, as well as working collaboratively with local partners in order to provide a framework of ...

Young dancers from Dorset will be given the chance to perform for the ‘Strictly Junior Disco Ball’ this autumn, and help raise vital funds for Weldmar Hospicecare. This will be the second Strictly Junior competition held by the charity, with the inaugural event last year raising more than £10,000 and ‘Julie Storey’s Let’s Dance’ from ...

It was an evening of glam and glitter as Dorset County Hospital staff and volunteers were recognised for their hard work and dedication at the 2019 GEM and Long Service Awards. The awards are presented annually to recognise the people who have excelled in the Trust values – Going the Extra Mile – and to ...

A generous donation has pushed the latest fundraising initiative by Friends of Dorset County Hospital ever closer to their target. Graham Curtis donated an overwhelming £3,500 to the Friends after taking part in the Dorchester Lions 2K Fun Run, held earlier this year. The money will go towards the Friends’ pledge to raise £17,000 for ...

Officers investigating a series of burglaries in a North Dorset village are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. A previous appeal was issued by Dorset Police in relation to a burglary in the Chapel Lane area of Yetminster between 5pm and 7.30pm on Wednesday 5 June 2019. Since then the Force ...

In Dorset, we are very proud of our roadside verge maintenance and are committed to a healthy environment. During the summer months, our roadside verges and green spaces, like picnic areas, all start to grow very rapidly. We have a statutory duty to maintain the road network and above all, to make sure it is ...

Cape Farewell, in partnership with B-Side, have today announced that Michael Pinsky’s Pollution Pods will be hosted at the Stadium Bowl, Portland from 29 June – 1 July. The free, immersive installation uses specially created conditions to simulate the air quality in cities around the world. In a series of interconnecting pods, visitors will feel, ...

An organisation helping people who have been victims of homophobic and transphobic bullying and hate crime has been given a boost from the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner. The LGBT Dorset Equality Network has received funding to enable the service to represent gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people across the county who have been subjected to ...

A single vehicle collision caused damage to a telegraph pole on the A35 today (Sunday). The stretch between Monkeys Jump and Winterborne Abbas was closed for several hours with diversions in place. Highways England and Dorset police were at the scene to ensure closures were in place and assist those needing to access nearby properties. Contractors and police ...

Edward Morello, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for West Dorset, has visited The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester, Dorset following a GOLDEN TICKET INVITATION. Following his visit, Mr. Morello said that The Prince of Wales School ‘staff are doing amazing work, and are right to highlight the need for proper funding for specialist provision’. Mr. Morello adds, ...

An e-cigarette caused a fire in the back of one of Dorset Waste Partnerships rubbish collection vehicles recently. The Dorset Waste Partnership are reminding residents that all Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) should be taken to a recycling bank or centre. You can find your nearest centre here socsi.in/YGicj You can also request a kerbside battery bag ...

A revised plan for the proposed Pavilion on the Great Field has been submitted. The building is set to hold a café and community space. The original application was made to the council in January 2019. The structure is to be primarily made of timber and now of single storey in design, where originally there were to ...

Dorset Police will be sharing live real-time updates of every enquiry and issue received into the Force via 999 and 101 during a 12-hour Tweetathon. The event will run from 4pm on Friday 14 June 2019 and will highlight the significant demand the Force faces on a daily basis and give the public an idea ...

Peggy the Pint Sized Pirate and Murder at Mayview Manor Dorchester Youth Theatre (DYT) Juniors and Intermediate members come together to present a double bill on 13 and 14 June at the Corn Exchange. Peggy is a small pirate with big dreams. Join her on a quest to save the pirates who have been captured by the ...

Officers, staff and members of the public have been recognised for their exceptional contribution to keep Dorset safe at an awards ceremony. The ceremony, held at Cobham Sports and Social Club in Wimborne on Thursday 6 June 2019, saw a number of awards presented to recipients in the company of family and friends. After nominations ...

A man has been charged and is due to appear in court in connection with a reported attempted robbery in Weymouth. At 12.37pm on Saturday 19 January 2019 a local woman in her 50s was walking along The Esplanade near to the junction with Gloucester Street when it is alleged a man bumped into her ...

A new book to empower businesses to cut plastic use features Damers First School. The book by Amanda Keetley is entitled ‘Plastic Game Changer: How to Reduce Plastic in your Organization to Make a Difference to Plastic Pollution’. Our beautiful oceans are filling with plastic; devastating marine wildlife and disrupting fragile ecosystems. It is also threatening ...

The Prince of Wales School Headteacher, Mr. Gary Spracklen says he is, “delighted that so many local organisations have signed up to the first ever Dorchester Children’s Carnival”. The ‘Children’s Carnival’ is the first of it’s kind for the area and it’s aim is to celebrate the work of local children’s groups, societies and organisations. To ...

A new series of paintings exploring the range of emotions through simple hand gestures are brightening the corridors at Dorset County Hospital. The new exhibition is by Dorset-based artist John Graham. The paintings show a selection of hands designed to highlight different relationships and the emotions they evoke. Speaking about his paintings, John said: “I have produced ...

Dorset County Hospital is gearing up for its first ever Summer Spectacular. The event is being held on Saturday, July 6 from 2pm until 5pm on the former Damers School field on Damers Road in Dorchester. It will be officially opened by the Deputy Mayor of Dorchester, David Taylor. It will be a traditional fete with stalls, ...

A presentation event for the public is to be held in the Corn Exchange on Wednesday 12th June 2019 from 3pm to 7pm. The event will highlight the DACLT’s plans for 19, one-bed flats, to be built on the old tennis courts in West Walks, Dorchester. The event is being held prior to the submission of ...

1,500 Dorset residents have received help to keep their homes warm through a scheme funded by Public Health Dorset in partnership with Dorset Council. Having a cold home can have a big impact on health and wellbeing, so Healthy Homes Dorset offers a range of free services to help Dorset residents keep their homes warm. Over 1,100 ...

A man is due to appear in court in connection with two incidents of reported exposure in Weymouth. The incidents were reported to have occurred in St Thomas Street on Thursday 11 April 2019 and in Westham Road on Tuesday 7 May 2019. A 38-year-old local man who was arrested in connection with both incidents has been ...

Following Dorset Council’s declaration of a climate emergency, Cllr Ray Bryan has invited political group leaders to appoint representatives to sit on a Policy Development Panel to discuss how the council will set carbon reduction targets. Initially, it is proposed that the panel is comprised of eight council members with support from senior and technical officers ...

Following the success of the first Dorset Art Market, which took place over Easter, the market will return to the Avenue Stadium in Dorchester on Saturday 29th June. The art market will bring together a different group of talented artists from across Dorset, who will be selling affordable originals, prints and handmade items. Items range from ...

Dorchester Agricultural Society’s Education Fund, known as Fabulous Food and Farming, continues to support local schools and organisations to gain further knowledge on agriculture within Dorset. As a rural charity, Dorchester Agricultural Society works hard all year round to achieve its main objective, the promotion of agriculture within the county. A major part of the charitable ...

A local community has taken a significant step closer to having greater influence over planning decisions in their area. A final version of the Sutton Poyntz Neighbourhood Plan has been submitted to Dorset Council for examination. The plan has been drawn up by local people, and approved by Weymouth Town Council, who feel confident that the plan ...

Detectives investigating a reported altercation in Dorchester have made two further arrests. The incident occurred at around 1.30pm on Thursday 23 May 2019 in the alleyway between South Street and Trinity Street, near to the Natwest bank. It was reported that a group of two men were attacked by another group of three young men. One of ...

A man arrested in connection with the death of a woman in Wareham has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. At 2.59pm on Wednesday 29 May 2019 Dorset Police received a report from the ambulance service of the unexpected death of a woman aged in her 50s at an address in West Walls. Her ...

Leader of Dorset Council, Spencer Flower, has written to the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds MP, asking for the Government to take urgent action to address the national crisis around for funding for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The call comes after parents and children from Dorset handed ...

Officers investigating a road traffic collision in Weymouth are appealing for witnesses to come forward. At 1.30pm on Monday 27 May 2019 a collision occurred on Lanehouse Rocks Road involving a blue Citroen Relay minibus and a white Vauxhall van. The driver of the van – a 60-year-old man – sustained an injury to his head and ...

Detectives investigating a reported altercation in Dorchester are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. The incident occurred at around 1.30pm on Thursday 23 May 2019 in the alleyway between South Street and Trinity Street, near to the Natwest bank. It was reported that a group of two men were attacked by another group ...

Detectives investigating the death of a pensioner in Sherborne have charged a man with murder. At 5.11pm on Tuesday 21 May 2019 Dorset Police received a report of a serious assault at an address in Ridgeway. Officers attended together with the ambulance service. The victim – named by detectives as 73-year-old Robert Hodgson – was taken to ...

Some of Dorset Council’s busiest roads will be refreshed this June. Over three weeks, Dorset Highways contractor – Eurovia Specialist Treatments – will carry out premium surface dressing on large sections of ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads, protecting them from water damage and keeping them in a good condition for longer. Many of these roads have already had ...

This bank holiday weekend, Dorset Police wants to remind residents and visitors to the area should they need to contact the police and it’s not an emergency to Do lt Online. During public and school holidays the number of people out and about, and visiting Dorset increases. This can often lead to a rise in calls ...

Weymouth Neighbourhood Policing Team will be providing an improved visible presence in the town centre this summer in a bid to reduce anti-social and criminal behaviour. The initiative, called ‘100 days of summer’, will see officers on dedicated foot patrols in the town centre at key locations and times from the end of May for 100 ...

A guest house in Dorchester has announced its plans to fundraise for charity this summer. Aquila Heights Guest House, in Maiden Castle Road, will be raising money for four charities this year, each of which has some connection to the business. During the four peak season months, the B&B has nominated a charity of the month. ...

A new partnership between local banks and Dorset Police has prevented over £330,000 getting into the hands of fraudsters in the first four months of this year. The scheme, known as the ‘banking protocol’, trains bank staff to spot when someone is about to fall victim to a scam and try to prevent them from withdrawing ...

Officers in Dorset have taken part in a week of action to disrupt the activity of suspected county lines drug dealers in Dorset. A week of intensification, part of a national effort, saw officers make a total of 34 arrests and carry out five warrants as well as using a range of other methods to highlight ...

At 1351 today Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Control received a call to a boiler fire at Ansty Village Hall. Fire engines from Sturminster Newton, Blandford and Dorchester attended, with more assistance on the way from Yeovil incase an aerial appliance was required – but the Yeovil appliances were subsequently turned back prior to their arrival. The fire ...