Dorset

How many undiscovered species are there in the UK - and how unusual is it to find new life?

Improvements to Chapel Gate Roundabout, near Bournemouth Airport, have finished.

The project is the second scheme delivered by Dorset County Council and strategic partner Hanson UK as part of the Bournemouth International Growth (BIG) Programme.

£45.2m was secured by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership through the Local Growth Fund for the BIG Programme, to improve connectivity, ease congestion, protect existing jobs and create new ones in and around Bournemouth Airport and Wessex Fields.

At Chapel Gate, the improved layout provides a dedicated left turn filter for westbound traffic from Hurn, an additional lane to give eastbound traffic better access to Aviation Business Park and new cycleway and footway links into Aviation Business Park to give commuters more travel options.

Overall, the roundabout improvements – along with planned BIG Programme schemes at Hurn Roundabout and Parley Cross – will help to relieve congestion on the B3073.

Minister for Local Growth, Jake Berry, said:

“It’s encouraging to see Local Growth Deal funding being invested in strategically important sites in Dorset. The improvements at Chapel Gate roundabout are a vital part of the Bournemouth International Growth Programme and will make a real difference to connectivity around Bournemouth Airport, helping create local jobs, growth and a stronger economy across the region.”

Jim Stewart, Chair of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership said:

“We’re pleased to see the completion of the work at Chapel Gate roundabout.  It forms a key part of the plans to improve flow along the B3073 corridor and is an important element of the BIG Programme’s transport ambition to unlock roads, relieve congestion and create better journeys for local businesses and people.

“The BIG Programme is making good progress with the renewal of the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road completed last year, the improvements at Blackwater Junction underway and works at Parley, Hurn and Wessex Fields in the pipeline.

“Collectively they will transform accessibility, create and protect jobs and boost productivity by up to £500 million GVA for the local area.”

Councillor Daryl Turner, Dorset County Council Cabinet member for the natural and built environment, said: “When it comes to road infrastructure, Dorset is usually at a disadvantage compared to other counties, but we are committed to working with partners to improve our network to ensure that our economy can continue to grow.

“Our work at Chapel Gate is another step forward towards reducing congestion along this busy route, and the additional, and improved, cycle links to the business park will provide a healthier travel choice for those able to leave their car at home.

“I’d like to thank drivers for their patience and thank the project team for successfully delivering another scheme.”

The £1.7m work at Chapel Gate Roundabout started on 3 July with work carried out off-peak between 9.30am and 3.30pm to minimise disruption and delays.

Following problems with the initial surfacing of the roundabout, the area has now been resurfaced – at no cost to Dorset County Council or Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.

The post Second road investment scheme completed appeared first on Dorset news.

No work has been done to stabilise Parnham House in Dorset, more than a year after a major fire.

The borough council says the 69-year-old attraction has been suspended for safety reasons.

Plans to breathe new life into the Weymouth Peninsula will move a step closer.

Peninsula development moves step closer

An outline planning application to transform the landmark with all-weather leisure attractions, harbourside improvements, new restaurants, a pub with rooms and a mid-range hotel is soon to be submitted.

The application aims to establish the principles for development on this key site, including size, scale and a mix of uses. This follows a series of public engagement events and a survey which resulted in 52% of people saying the scheme was ‘very good’ or ‘good’ and a further 27% saying it was ‘fair’.

Ambitious Plan to transform Weymouth

Cllr Jeff Cant Leader of Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, and Briefholder for Finance & Assets, said:

“The Peninsula project is part of an ambitious plan to transform Weymouth into a vibrant, year-round destination. Developing this site would provide more indoor leisure facilities for residents and visitors alike, while complementing other facilities and businesses in the town.

“Submitting an outline planning application is an exciting step and means we move closer to transforming this important landmark.”

Proposals for peninsula site

Proposals for the site – home to Weymouth Pavilion and the Jurassic Skyline – include all-weather indoor attractions, restaurants, walkways, new harbour facilities and improvements, harbour wall repairs, a pub with rooms and a mid-range hotel.

The outline planning application will seek approval to build, in principle, the elements outlined in the proposals. Should it be approved a more detailed application called a ‘reserved matters’ application for phase one of the scheme – the hotel and harbourside improvements – will be submitted later in the year.

A detailed planning application for the second phase of the scheme, including leisure facilities and restaurants, is expected to be submitted in 2019. At this point the responses from the public engagement will again be taken into account.

The outline planning application will be able to be viewed on the Dorset for You website in early June. Residents, businesses and statutory consultees will have 21 days to feedback their views. It will then go to planning committee when a final decision will be made.

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The RNLI and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency trial uses drones to spot humans in distress.

It is thought to be the first time a colony of fairy penguins has come to Europe.

Eight of Dorset's nine authorities supported the proposal but Christchurch opposed it.

We have launched a survey asking for views on the West Bay car boot sale, held at the West Bay Road car park. The survey is available here and should take around 5 minutes to complete. The closing date is Tuesday 12 June. We will compile a report for West Dorset District Council’s strategy committee later this summer. Members will then discuss the report that will make recommendations on the future of the car park. Much needed car parking spaces We need more car parking spaces in West Bay, particularly at the weekend. This beautiful, historical harbour and surrounding area is a fantastic tourist destination and a well-loved local asset to residents of West Dorset. In order to satisfy the growing number of visitors each year – particularly in the summer months – we need further spaces for residents and visitors to utilise. “Significant investment” Cllr John Russell, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Protection & Assets said: “We have recently undergone resurfacing works in key car parks within West Bay. This was a significant investment from the council to provide more defined, better laid out parking spaces. We remain committed to optimising both visitors’ and residents’ experience in West Bay. By reviewing your comments in relation to the car boot sale, we can see how we can continue to support this vision.” Alternative location Question 20 in the survey asks about alternative locations. Please do give us your comments on any locations you feel may be appropriate for hosting a car boot sale. Local community fundraising The income from weekly car boot sales held in Dorchester and West Bay is distributed annually. It goes to local community and voluntary organisations in and around West Bay and Bridport. This benefits projects operating or supporting residents living in these areas. We process this income, and then allocate it based on applications to the car boot fund. The report for strategy committee will suggest that members consider a pot of money that charities can bid for. We can then continue this financial support to local charitable organisations. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts

The post Share your views on West Bay Road car boot sale appeared first on Dorset news.

We’ve had a few wet days but overall our surface dressing programme is going well.

Sites completed last week:

• HILLBURY ROAD – JCT FORDINGBRIDGE RD TO JCT RINGWOOD RD, ALDERHOLT
• LUMBER LANE – FROM BROCKINGTON DOWN TO B3078, KNOWLTON
• LUMBER LANE – NORTHERN LINK SECTION AT B3078 JUNCTION, KNOWLTON
• MEAD LANE – THE MEAD TO C55, GUSSAGE ALL SAINTS
• GUFFHAMS LANE – C2 NEAR GUSSAGE ST MICHAEL TO LONG CRICHEL

We’ve also completed our work to surface seal the dressed roads in the Alderholt area.

Roads scheduled (weather permitting) this week (commencing Monday 21 May):

• D40501 – DISTRICT BOUNDARY TO LOWER FARM, LONG CRICHEL
• D40501 – FROM LOWER FARM TO WHITE LODGE JUNCTION , LONG CRICHEL
• D40501 – FROM WHITE LODGE JUNCTION TO JUNCTION WITH D40506, MANSWOOD
• PRIMROSE HILL – FROM THE CROSSROADS TO LONGMANS ROAD, MOOR CRICHEL
• MANSWOOD COMMON – FROM D40501 MANSWOOD TO OUTISDE THE OLD BAKERY, WHITCHAMPTON
• SHEEPHOUSE DROVE – OUTSIDE THE OLD BAKERY TO C118, WITCHAMPTON
• POUND HILL – CRICHEL LANE TO C118, WITCHAMPTON
• D40511 – C118 JUNCTION TO PAPER MILL, WITCHAMPTON
• D40611 – FROM C24 TO BOTTOM OF TRIANGLE, GAUNTS COMMON
• LODGE ROAD – BOTTOM OF TRIANGLE TO CEMETERY ENTRANCE, GAUNTS COMMON
• LODGE ROAD – CEMETERY ENTRANCE TO C95, HOLT
• D40612 – C24 HORSESHOES TO HOLT FOREST, HOLT
• D40612 – HOLT WOOD JCT TO ENTRANCE GLEN FARM, HOLT

Roads scheduled (weather permitting) week commencing Tuesday 29 May:

• POND HEAD – ENTRANCE GLEN FARM PYO TO D40611, HOLT
• D40613 – D0612 AT HOLT WOOD TO CROSS ROADS AT LOWER ROW, HOLT
• D40613 – FROM CROSS ROADS AT LOWER ROW TO C95 HOLT ROAD, HOLT
• D40614 – FROM CROSSROADS AT LOWER ROW TO C95 HOLT ROAD, HOLT
• BURTS LANE – FROM HORTON ROAD TO CROSS KEYS JUNCTION, MANNINGTON
• GODS BLESSING LANE – FROM HOLT LANE TO HARTS LANE
• HARTS LANE – FROM HOLT SCHOOL TO BROOM HILL
• PILFORD LANE – FROM BROOM HILL TO UDDENS DRIVE
• JUNCTION OF PILFORD LANE & UDDENS DRIVE TO DISTRICT BOUNDARY, WIMBORNE

We’re working 9am to 4pm in urban areas and 8am to 4pm in rural areas.

Look out for yellow signs two days before work starts – please move your vehicle off the road before 9am and check that the road you move it to is not also being treated.

The post Surface dressing sites this week appeared first on Dorset news.

Christchurch Borough Council yesterday issued proceedings in the High Court for a Judicial Review of the Secretary of State’s decision to implement local government reorganisation in Dorset.

The council received a response to its pre-action protocol letter last week advising that the Secretary of State was not prepared to withdraw the draft regulations. Having sought further legal advice the Council has decided to commence High Court proceedings.

Cllr David Flagg, Leader of the Council, Christchurch Borough Council, said: “Having taken further legal advice we have decided to issue proceedings in the High Court for a Judicial Review. Since the regulations have been laid in Parliament, the advice we have received is that the council has an arguable case against the Secretary of State.

“The opinion of our legal team following the response we received last week has not changed and therefore it is important that we ask the Courts to review the decision. Christchurch Borough Council and the majority of our residents remain opposed to local government reorganisation in Dorset and we firmly believe that the regulations drafted by the Secretary of State are beyond his powers.”

Having made an application the Council will now wait for a judge to make a decision about whether the Judicial Review should be heard in the High Court.

The post Christchurch Borough Council begins High Court proceedings appeared first on Dorset news.

A 19-year-old man is charged after a woman is found stabbed at the hotel in the seaside resort.

With incidents rising, authorities are urging people to check who they use to collect rubbish.

Hampshire's Rilee Rossouw hits 90 off 68 balls against Surrey to help his side to a second One-Day Cup win in two games.

Christchurch and East Dorset Councils are holding a campaign throughout June 2018 to encourage beach goers to help keep local beaches clean.

Around half of plastic products made across the world every year are for one single use, and more than 8 million tons of plastic ends up in our oceans annually*. As a way to help keep our award winning beaches clean and spread awareness of the dangers of plastic pollution in the ocean, Christchurch and East Dorset Councils are launching our #high545 campaign. Participants will be in with a chance to win an eco-friendly Chilly’s Bottle!

Throughout June you can share your picture with the hashtag #high545 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

To take part, simply pick up 5 pieces of litter when visiting a Christchurch beach and share a photo of what you have collected on social media including with the hashtag #high545. We will reply from one of our social media accounts with a high 5 emoji to say thank you for helping us keep our beaches natural, clean and safe for all.

Win a prize

On Monday of each week in June, we will be holding a prize draw and anyone who has taken part in the campaign in the previous week and posted a picture of their litter collection with the #high545 hashtag will be entered for a chance to win an eco-friendly Chilly’s Bottle, helping you reduce or stop your reliance on single use plastics.

Keep safe

Please remember children should be supervised on the beach and please don’t touch anything sharp. Use litter pickers and / or wear gloves where possible.

We can’t wait to see your photos! 

 

Terms and conditions: By participating in the campaign you give us permission to share and use images posted for marketing and further promotion of this campaign and Christchurch and East Dorset Councils. Prize draws for one bottle of our choice in colour will take place on Monday 4th 11th 18th and 25th and winners will be contacted via social media on the day of the draw. *Plastic facts and information sourced from: https://plasticoceans.org/the-facts/

The post Christchurch and East Dorset Councils launch #high545 Beach Cleaning Campaign appeared first on Dorset news.

Data from the UK's 25 busiest airports shows planes took off 15 minutes late on average last year.

The victim was found at the hotel with multiple stab wounds to her abdomen.

The Parole Board is reviewing whether to free Russell Causley, who has never revealed where his wife's body is.

A quick-fire 65 from all-rounder Gareth Berg hands Hampshire a dramatic two-wicket win against Sussex in the One-Day Cup.

Eight of Dorset's authorities voted to support the proposal but one has opposed it.