Dorset

A group of teenagers ran after and attacked four men in Bournemouth town centre.

A teenager is raped shortly after being reported missing in Bournemouth town centre.

Two men force their way into a Bournemouth hotel room and attack a man inside.

A man whose son was killed on the stretch of dual carriageway says it is the "obvious step".

A government panel will review plans to restructure health services in Dorset after safety concerns.

As Dorset Highways is currently carrying out major construction work to replace the Durweston flood arches, many residents and local drivers have asked if the bridge can be improved at the same time.

The bridge itself cannot be modified as it is a Grade II listed building. Although old, it still has strength to support HGVs using the A357 to service local businesses and make deliveries to residents.

Help is at hand

Dorset Highways bridges team has taken steps to reduce the frequency of bridge strikes by changing the phases of the lights and installing a barrier.

New signal phasing

The lights used to allow traffic on the A350 to travel both north and south at the same time. The current (permanent signal) set up stops traffic travelling south when the northbound traffic has a green light – this allows northbound drivers of large vehicles wishing to turn left across Durweston Bridge to swing out across the southbound lane before making the turn.

Steel barrier

Vehicles making this manoeuvre can no longer drag their trailers on to the parapet on the inside due to heavy steel barrier that has been installed. This was the most frequent cause of damage.

Collision with the outside does still occur, but is less frequent and is not just a modern phenomenon.

Visibility

Rather than additional signing, we are going to be cutting back trees on the inside of the junction so that approaching HGV drivers can see the junction and tightness of the turn from further back on the approach.

Would lighting help?

Neither the A350 or A357 is lit. Due to the classification of road, the height and intensity of lighting (to comply with the minimum British Standard) would be very intrusive into an otherwise dark landscape.

As Durweston Bridge sits within the Cranborne Chase AONB – which is currently seeking its dark sky reserve status – any moves to add lighting would be likely to result in objection from environmental protection groups.

Even without these environmental impacts, there is currently no funding available for additional lighting requests.

What about maintenance to the bridge?

We’re hoping to carry out any repairs to the bridge during the four-week closure, but it’s such a tight timescale with the flood arches that we’ll have to see what time we have left.

 

The post Durweston Bridge – your questions answered appeared first on Dorset Council news.

A council refuses a coroner's call for safety measures on a dual carriageway where a cyclist died.

Durlston Country Park in Swanage held a celebration event today (Thursday 13 June) to say thank you to its sponsors, supporters and volunteers.

The Dorset Council owned park won support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund in July 2018 to restore and enhance its lost Victorian landscape to benefit local people and wildlife.

£900,000 was awarded to the park thanks to the National Lottery and other partners to enable the park to embark on a programme of work known as the ‘Durlston Pleasure Grounds’ project. The project is one year into its three-year programme of work.

As part of the day of celebration, Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment officially opened the ‘Everyone needs a shed’ project. The Shed will provide opportunities for gentle, sociable volunteering, such as gardening, green woodworking and DIY. It will also help provide training for young people, as well as the chance for people with dementia and learning disabilities to volunteer and socialise.

Cllr Bryan said: “Our green assets including our country parks, rights of way and nature reserves present a wonderful opportunity to improve the well-being of our communities, and the Durlston Pleasure Grounds Project is an excellent example of this.

“The Shed has already provided new opportunities for people with dementia, disabilities, health conditions or who are socially isolated to volunteer and to build on the inclusive culture of volunteering.”

There are many ways to volunteer or get involved at Durlston, if this is something you would like to know more about contact the rangers on 01929 424443 or visit www.durlston.co.uk

The post Durlston says thank you to supporters appeared first on Dorset Council news.

Mark Longley, whose daughter was killed by an ex-boyfriend, says people do not talk about grief.

The 2019-20 Premier League season will start with Liverpool hosting promoted Norwich on Friday, 9 August.

Campaigners previously branded the closure of public loos in the town a "public health risk".

Divers are working to clear discarded nets, line and rope endangering sea creatures off Dorset.

The unique knife was found at the scene of one of nine raids on bookies carried out by two men.

Conservative MP Simon Hoare is now in charge of the Westminster scrutiny group.

We thought it would be useful to pull together a list of upcoming careers and Uni Open Days in Dorset and surrounding areas:

Bournemouth and Poole College Open Event 13 June 4-8pm North Rd, Poole

Our Open Events give you the chance to come and meet our exceptional teaching staff, explore our incredible facilities and be inspired to discover your future at Bournemouth & Poole College.

You’ll be able to chat with our current students, get careers advice and find out how we support you throughout your studies. We offer the widest choice of courses in the area so whether you’re interested in Full-Time, Part-Time or Degree Level courses or Apprenticeships we’ll have the course that’s right for you.

Find out more here.

Bristol Uni Open Day Event 14 & 15 June 2019 9.30-4pm

Today our campuses are open to you, so explore and soak up the atmosphere. Talk to our staff – this is your chance to ask your particular questions – and say ‘Hi’ to our stewards, who are all current students at the University.

Find out more here.

University of Plymouth Open Day 26 June 2019

On an undergraduate Open Day, you’ll get to:

• Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
• Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
• Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and     societies to join.

Find out more here.

University of Chichester Undergraduate Open Day Sat 19 June 2019 9.30-4pm

Our friendly student ambassadors are on hand to share their experience of life at University and how to prepare for it, so ask them anything as they are there to give you their insight. You will also be able to chat one-to-one with our academics in our Meet and Greet Zone and our student support staff in our Student Advice Zone.

This is your opportunity to ask our students and staff anything to ensure you make the right decision for your future. People really matter here and we hope you get a sense of what we can offer you by coming to one of our Open Days.

Find out more here.

UNISON Dorset NHS Apprentice Conference 3 July 2019 8.30-5pm

The day will consist of workshops, a number of guest speakers, interactive learning stalls with all refreshments and a delicious lunch also included. The conference will count towards your 20% off the job training, and you will receive paid release to attend the day.

Find out more here.

Southampton Uni Undergraduate Open Days 6 & 7 July 2019

The Southampton Careers Fair will offer candidates from all backgrounds, experience and education level the opportunity to speak to an abundance of local employers, all in one place.

Find out more here.

Southampton Careers Fair 19 July 2019

Will offer candidates from all backgrounds, experience and education level the opportunity to speak to an abundance of local employers, all in one place.

Find out more here.

 

The post Upcoming Career and Uni Open Days appeared first on Dorset Council news.

A third consecutive washout at Welbeck results in a drawn Division One match between Nottinghamshire and Hampshire.

Poppies and hollyhocks growing in two Sherborne car parks were poisoned with weed killer.

No play is possible in three County Championship matches on Tuesday because of heavy rain.

The weather has not been kind to us, so our work is a little behind schedule.

We’re around four days behind where we had planned to be due to rain.

Work completed week starting Monday 3 June:

• Compton Road – parish boundary to C141, Over Compton
• D30104 – Boys Hill at Blackmore Bridge to C73, Glanvilles Wooton
• Stock Hill Lane – south of Sandhills to B3146, Glanvilles Wootton
• Newlands Lane, Glanvilles Wootton
• Court Farm Road – Hilling Lane to end of road, Buckland Newton
• Castle Lane – B3143, Buckland Newton, to C20, Brockhampton Green

Work scheduled for week starting Monday 10 June:

• Little England to A35-Lane
• Bloxworth X-Jct with A35
• Jct Newport Lane & C60 Church Road
• Jct Bloxworth Road & Church Road
• C60 – Newport Lane to C60 / D50404 Bloxworth Jct, East Bloxworth
• Jct Church Road & Newport Lane Road end

Work scheduled for week starting Monday 17 June:

• C60 – from C60 / D50404 Bloxworth Jct, East Bloxworth, to Jct A35, near Morden Mill
• The Lane – from outside Brook Farm to A31 opposite Botany Bay Inn, Winterborne Zelston
• Jct Cockett Hill / D1701 to B3075
• West End – A350 to North Farm, Spetisbury
• Arlecks Lane – Church Road to Down Road, Pimperne
• Down Road – Anvil Road to Arlecks Lane, Pimperne
• Newfield Road – from C47 to adoption end, Pimperne
• Bushes Road – from A350, Stourpaine to C13

As we head into more rural areas, and work on lesser-known roads, please remember you can check where we are working by using the online roadworks map.

About the work

Our surface dressing gang is working 9am to 4pm in urban areas and 8am to 4pm in rural areas.

Surface dressing doesn’t take long and the road can be driven on as soon as it’s finished. Depending on the length of the road you live on, the road will be closed for around 1-2 hours while the treatment takes place.

There will be an advisory 20mph speed limit after the work while the loose stones ‘bed down’ into the bitumen. Travelling at this reduced speed will prevent skidding on the loose chippings, help ‘bed down’ the material and will save your paint work!

We sweep the road one to two days after the work to get rid of excess stones.

White lining reinstatement will follow on from this and is generally a week or so later.

Sorry for the inconvenience

We cannot work overnight as surface dressing relies on the evaporation of water from the bitumen binder (glue) for it to set, and it needs traffic to travel on the new surface for it to ‘bed down’ and lock onto the old surface.

We also cannot work in wet weather – any amount of rain or surface water dilutes the bitumen and so doesn’t hold the chippings in place – which is why our surface dressing programme runs from April through to September.

As this treatment is so weather dependent, dates are subject to change.

The post Surface dressing update – 11 June appeared first on Dorset Council news.

Whistleblowers’ concerns prompted an unannounced inspection at the hospital last year.