Dorset

The LED lights will replace lasers installed on the seafront for the 2012 Olympics.

The Dorset History Centre has received a grant of over £56,000 from the Wellcome Trust – the UK’s leading medical research charity.

The funding will support a year-long project to fully catalogue the Herrison Hospital (the county asylum) archive.

The archive dates from 1832 and is of great interest to researchers and family historians alike. It will be made available to the general public through the Dorset History Centre website. In addition, the funding will allow a significant amount of conservation work to take place – cleaning, repairing and packaging the archive to assist in its long-term preservation.

Cllr Andrew Parry, Cabinet member for Education, Learning and Skills said:

“We are so grateful to the Wellcome Trust for their support. Securing this vital funding will enable the completion of work to catalogue the fascinating history of Herrison and create accessibility for anyone researching important aspects of hospitals work over a 160 year period”

The archive consists of 300 boxes of material, including thousands of often poignant individual patient records, as well as a wide range of other material – from the hospital’s farm to building plans, and even social activities such as the rounders society.

At its peak, Herrison Hospital was home to nearly 1000 patients and only closed its doors in 1992. The archive is a fascinating and important resource for medical and social history and Dorset History Centre has been working closely with academics from Bournemouth University and the University of Exeter who intend to use the collection for their research as the project unfolds.

Can you help?

It is thought that some of Herrison’s archives were retained by hospital staff when the institution closed its doors. These records could add a further fascinating dimension to the history of the hospital.

Only very recently, Dorset History Centre received some records that had been rescued by a former employee, whose son brought them in to join the rest of the archive.

If you know of any records such as these, Dorset History Centre would like to hear from you. To get in touch: email archives@dorsetcc.gov.uk or call 01305-250550 and ask to speak to an archivist.

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Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has given outline planning consent for a development of apartments on land next to Goulds Garden Centre.

Potential look of Littlemoor Road development

The development, on Littlemoor Road, will provide a total of 24 apartments which includes eight affordable homes.

A further ‘Reserved Matters’ application will be needed in order to set the design and layout of the scheme, amongst other details.

Rewarding opportunity

Mark Butcher, Principal Designer at A1 Plans, said:

“Although the site presented some design challenges due to the AONB location, it has been an exciting and rewarding opportunity to design a scheme which provides much needed housing whilst enhancing the area visually.  The sweeping grass roof design reflects a rolling hill backdrop which we hope will set a benchmark for quality design in future development of the area.”

Cllr Ray Nowak, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s Briefholder for Environment and Sustainability, said:

“I am pleased this application, which sits within a defined development boundary, has been approved. I look forward to seeing the detailed Reserved Matters application in the near future.”

Opening Doors

Cllr Gill Taylor, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s Briefholder for Housing, said:

“It’s good to see the council approve more housing developments in the borough. We are in need of more homes for our residents to live in, this is why we launched our Opening Doors Programme.

As part of this programme, we have started a Home Ownership Register to learn more about housing demand and find out the size and locations of homes that people want. As part of this we also forward on details of upcoming developments and opportunities to own a home.

“I would recommend anyone looking to own their own home to sign up to the register.”

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Members today gave the green light to introduce a trial pedestrianisation scheme in St  Alban Street. This popular road in the centre of the town is currently open to both car traffic and pedestrians.

Trial over 6 months

The trial will take place over 6 months after consultation with businesses and the general public.

Supporting the town centre economy

Cllr Colin Huckle, briefholder for Transport and Infrastructure, said: “I’m delighted that members have agreed to take this scheme through to an experimental trial period. This is part of our efforts to continue to make further improvements to the pedestrian use of Weymouth town centre. We’ve already implemented a scheme to improve pedestrian
access to St Mary and St Thomas Streets. Improving pedestrianisation of the town centre is a key component of the Weymouth Town Centre master plan. We recognise this is an important way of supporting the town centre economy and the safety of shoppers.”

We have asked Dorset County Council to put in place an experimental Traffic Regulation Order for the street.

Part of wider pedestrianisation strategy

The council has already implemented a scheme to improve pedestrian access to St Mary and St Thomas Streets, working with Dorset County Council and requiring input from the Town Centre Manager. Improved pedestrianisation measures in the town centre are action 41 in the Management Committee Action Plan.

The £12,000 required for this project will be considered by the Budget Working Group, who will be meeting in the near future.

If successful, the full cost of implementing the scheme covering St Alban Street and related streets is estimated to be £80,000.

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Connor Hayes is understood to have been accused of raping the 19-year-old, who later went missing.

Wreaths are laid to remember the 35 people killed near Clapham Junction station in south London.

East Dorset District Councillor, Derek Burt and former East Dorset District Councillor Pat Hymers have both been made an Honorary Alderman in recognition of their services to East Dorset.

They were presented their awards at East Dorset’s Full Council meeting on 10 December 2018.

Cllr Derek Burt, Ward Councillor for Corfe Mullen, has been serving his local community for over 52 years. He has been instrumental in the development of multiple popular sites across East Dorset, including Moors Valley Country Park and Forest and East Dorset Heritage Trust. He has also worked to support many local initiatives including Wimborne Folk Festival and the Tivoli Theatre.

He served as Chairman of the Council three times during his time as a councillor, in 1977-1979, 2011-12 and 2017-18.

Pat Hymers served on East Dorset District Council between 1983 and 2015 and was Chairman of Dorset County Council from 1993 to 2001.

She played a key role in numerous committees, and has worked closely with Wimborne Model Town, Dreamboats, the Folk Festival and pre-school education.

Cllr Toni Coombs, Chairman of East Dorset District Council said: “It is important to recognise and thank those in our communities who have given that bit extra. The position of Alderman is the way in which the Council can give this recognition to councillors in honour of all they have done for East Dorset. It is particularly poignant with the move to unitary status next year that these two outstanding councillors have been honoured in this way as our first Aldermen of East Dorset.”

 

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The money will go towards changes to mental health, pathology and GP services in Dorset.

People in Weymouth will be asked if licensing should be introduced to try to improve rented housing. 

People will be asked for their views on plan to improve housing

Councillors today decided to consult on whether a Selective Licensing Scheme should be introduced for private rented housing in Melcombe Regis. The decision was made by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s Management Committee.

The aim of such a scheme is to improve how private rented housing is managed and maintained, while also addressing the high levels of deprivation within the ward. The consultation on the proposed scheme will take place early next year.

Councillor Gill Taylor, Housing Briefholder at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “I am glad the Management Committee of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has approved the proposal to consult with residents on whether to introduce a Selective Licensing Scheme for private rented housing within Melcombe Regis.

“It is called a selective scheme as it is at the discretion of the council. After the consultation it will need to go back to the council for debate, but it will effectively mean that all of the private rented accommodation in most of the Melcombe Regis ward will be subject to inspection.

Improve the quality of rented housing

“The aim of such a scheme is to help ensure that private rented housing is of a decent standard. We believe good landlords will support such a scheme as will tenants. The consultation will be available online shortly, please take the time to have your say and complete it.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council works with landlords to improve housing. Current schemes include ‘Heat Melcombe Regis’, which sees free central heating made available as well as other measures to tackle fuel poverty. The borough council also supports and works with landlords through the Landlords Local Authority Partnership.

More information on the council’s work with landlords is available here.  

 

 

 

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Oyez, oyez, oyez! Wullebrigg has reopened and any person wilfully injuring any part of this County Bridge will be guilty of felony and upon conviction liable to be transported for life by The Court.

As the sign suggests, Wool Bridge is steeped in history, and Wessex Archaeology has shared its research with us.

Throughout the repair work, members of Wessex Archaeology’s heritage team carried out work to document the structure and monitor the repair and consolidation works, to help ensure that the iconic, although much altered, historic bridge was restored to its former glory.

The ‘Thomas Hardy bridge’

The picturesque Grade II listed bridge features in Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles and is linked with the adjacent Woolbridge Manor, a Grade II listed building, which also features in the novel.

Research found that a bridge is recorded to have crossed the river in this location in 1343, although the place name ‘Wullebrigg’ is first mentioned in 1244 and the bridge may have been constructed by the nearby Bindon Abbey sometime after its foundation in 1172.

Described by Historic England as the ‘best-preserved Elizabethan bridge in Dorset’, a close examination of Wool Bridge found that it appears to have undergone several phases of development during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, including strengthening and widening, and appears to have been repaired on several occasions. It was lengthened in the later 19th century, with an additional flood arch added at the southern end.

Military secrecy

Wool Bridge is close to the British Army base of Bovington Camp and would have witnessed the first tanks in 1916 which had to cross the bridge after their arrival at Wool train station.

Due to initial secrecy, extreme precautions accompanied the arrival of each new tank, with reports of the time indicating that all civilian traffic was stopped, and the inhabitants of Woolbridge Manor and the neighbouring farms and cottages were made to pull their blinds and keep to their back rooms.

Military police on motorcycles preceded the tank on its journey from the station to the camp and any civilian encountered was made to stand in a field with their back to the road until the ‘secret weapon’ had passed by!

Perhaps unsurprisingly, regular crossing by 25-30 tonne tanks led to damage in 1917 and 1918. A photograph of the time shows that the crew of one Mark V tank named ‘Dee’ had a lucky escape after crashing through the parapet and ending up on the bank.

To prevent a similar scenario, the parapets were entirely removed during the Second World War and only reconstructed in the early 1960s.

The bridge has now been placed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.

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Shailem Dodson had been accused of deliberately targeting nightclub staff.

Bournemouth's Tyrone Mings pulls out of an interview with Talksport in protest at its coverage of the alleged racial abuse of Raheem Sterling.

A local community has taken a significant step closer to having greater influence over planning decisions in their area.

A final version of the Broadwindsor Group (including Burstock and Seaborough) Neighbourhood Plan has been submitted to the district council for examination.

The plan has been drawn up by local people, and agreed by the parish council, who feel confident that the plan reflects the hopes and views of the local community.

Neighbourhood plans were introduced in the Localism Act 2011 and aim to give residents more say in the future use of land and buildings in their area. For example the plan can say where new homes, shops or offices might be built or where important green spaces might be protected.

If the neighbourhood plan is approved following examination, and supported by a local referendum, it will be used to make decisions on planning applications.

The district council is required to consult on the plan proposals before the examination can take place.

People who live, work or run a business in the Broadwindsor neighbourhood area have until 6th February 2019, to raise any concerns they may have about the plan. These concerns will then be passed on to an independent examiner to consider.

Clrl Jacqui Sewell, West Dorset District Council’s Ward Member for Broadwindsor, said:

“I’m proud to have been involved in the production of the Broadwindsor Group Neighbourhood Plan.

“We held the first public meeting in February 2015, with the steering committee being formed in the May – now nearly four years later it’s being submitted for examination.

“My congratulations goes to all the other members of the committee, we have spent many hours researching, taking photographs, delivering & collecting questionnaires, in monthly meetings, at information gathering events and at roadshows. Many cups of coffee were consumed!

My special thanks goes to Brian H for his meticulous proof reading skills.”

Cllr Ian Gardner, West Dorset District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning, said:

“Neighbourhood plans are part of the blueprint for future development. It takes a tremendous amount of work in order to get to this stage and I would like to congratulate all involved.”

A hard copy of the plan will be made available at West Dorset District Council’s offices in South Walks House, Dorchester and at Beaminster Library. Broadwindsor Parish Council also has copies available, please contact hello@broadwindsorgroup.gov.uk

The plan can be viewed online at  https://www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/broadwindsor-neighbourhood-plan and on the Broadwindsor Neighbourhood Plan website: http://broadwindsorgroup.gov.uk

Comments on the plan can be emailed to strategic@dorset.gov.uk.

Alternatively they can be posted to the Planning (Community & Policy Development) Team at West Dorset District Council, South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, DT1 1UZ.

Anyone commenting on the plan should let the council know if they wish to be kept informed of the progress of the Broadwindsor Neighbourhood Plan.

The post Community a step closer to agreeing neighbourhood plan appeared first on Dorset news.

After a signal failure at Woking, trains between the south coast and London have been delayed.

A delay by prison staff in calling an ambulance "could have been critical", a report finds.

A major programme of improvements is underway at Bovington Primary after inspectors placed the school in ‘special measures’.

Following the school’s latest inspection in October, Ofsted rated the school as Inadequate as it felt that pupils were not receiving an acceptable standard of education.

With the support of Dorset County Council, the school is making improvements across several areas, including:

• leadership and management
• quality of teaching and learning
• pupils’ behaviour

The school also needs to focus on raising outcomes for pupils, particularly for the most able and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Kris Winthorpe, headteacher of Bovington Primary School, said:

“We’re disappointed that our school has been put into special measures. There have been significant changes and challenges since the school’s last inspection six years ago, including changing from a first school to a primary. We recognise that we have to rapidly improve outcomes for our pupils through stronger teaching and have already introduced new measures to address this.”

Changes the school have already made include taking steps to improve the effectiveness of governance; the introduction of new progress assessments and measures; and work to develop and improve the impact of good quality teaching and learning.

Mr Winthorpe added:

“I’d like to reassure parents that myself, staff and governors are all deeply committed to making the necessary changes. We have a robust action plan and are confident that we can rapidly improve our standards.”

Ofsted did identify a number of strengths during the school’s inspection. They said that:

• arrangements for safeguarding are effective and inspection evidence confirms that this is a safe school
• the school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is good
  all staff have an in-depth understanding of pupils’ pastoral needs and work with agencies to remove any barriers pupils may face
• the school’s curriculum provides a range of subjects and experiences
• early years provision is improving
• pupils are happy, enjoy attending school, and feel safe

Being put into special measures means that an ‘academy order’ will be issued for academy trusts to express interest in supporting the school’s improvement.

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What questions do you have about Christmas? Use our form and we could be in touch.

The I'll Be There singer and synth-pop band will be joined on the line-up by Sister Sledge.

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How the artefacts from the 18th Century warship are being restored.