Dorset

Lance Mills, 34, had performed at a karaoke night just before the latest national lockdown.

One of two Mortality Support Facilities (MSF) will be activated this week as part of Dorset’s ongoing response to the current Covid-19 emergency.

Over the last two weeks, the number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in Dorset has increased rapidly. The NHS is facing tremendous pressure including on mortuary provision, and it has been agreed to activate the  Poole port site to help with the number of deaths that they are seeing.

The facilities are part of the Excess Deaths Operational Plan, a multi-agency strategy that sees representatives from BCP Council, Dorset Council, H.M. Coroner, Dorset Police, University Hospitals Dorset Foundation Trust, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and  funeral directors working together to make sure the potential bereavement needs across the county are identified and met.

Cllr Nicola Greene, Portfolio Holder for COVID-19 Resilience and Public Health at BCP Council, said:

“Sadly, this is one of the contingencies we are having to put in place. Our hospitals continue to be under a huge amount of pressure, with over 550 people in hospital with COVID-19 in Dorset in the last reported figures. The recent rise in cases in our community has meant that heartbreakingly, we have also seen an increase in deaths.

“We hoped that we wouldn’t need to use this extra capacity, but it is now required.

“It is absolutely vital that we all continue to follow the rules and stay at home. Remember that one in three people with COVID-19 do not have any symptoms. Only leave home for one of the permitted reasons, so we can protect our NHS services and save lives.”

Councillor Spencer Flower, Leader of Dorset Council, said:

“We appreciate that this topic is a difficult one for everyone, but the devastating impacts of this disease are now being felt. Please remember to socially distance, wear a mask when required and wash hands regularly. Together we can help to beat this horrible disease and get back to normal as soon as possible, by everyone playing their part and sticking to the rules.

“We want  to reassure residents that the activation of this Mortality Support Facility is being established as part of our duty to respond to the current situation and we will make sure that loved ones are treated with care and respect.”

Find more information about registering deaths and funerals in the Dorset Council area, during this pandemic.

Anyone grieving and in need help and support can contact Cruse Bereavement Care or call their helpline on 0808 808 1677.

The post Activation of Mortality Support Facility appeared first on Dorset Council news.

The last 12 months have been a year like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought communities together like never before and prompted many people to take stock and think about making changes to their lives, including looking at a new career.

If you are looking for a new and meaningful role in 2021, now could be the time to make that change.

Dorset Council wants more people to think about paid careers in social care and to register their interest in frontline roles such as working in a residential or home care setting, or as a Shared Lives carer, supporting people to lead fulfilling lives.

What is Shared Lives?

Shared Lives is a service that helps people over the age of 18 who have care and support needs. Put simply, it’s a bit like fostering. Instead of helping children however, you would be offering support to an adult who would live or spend time in your home.

Shared Lives carers are paid for the care and support they give. By sharing your home and your family life, you help to create an environment where a person can flourish, develop their independence and enjoy being part of a community.

Find out more about Shared Lives.

Cllr Laura Miller, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health said:

“Shared Lives carers are people who really make a difference and we know this scheme is a fantastic way to help people with care needs live more independently, make new friends and become part of their community.

“You don’t need to have formal qualifications as we will train you and provide support every step of the way, but it is important that you are kind, caring and understanding.

“If you have room in your heart and in your home, we would love to hear from you.”

Could you be a Shared Lives carer?

There is no such thing as a typical Shared Lives carer. We want to attract a wide range of people in order to meet the diverse needs of the people who use our service.

What matters is that you have space in your heart and can support an adult with care and support needs. You can choose to provide long term, short term, respite or day support.

Shared Lives carers are:

• self-employed
• work from their own homes
• receive payment for the care and support they provide
• part of a network of other carers

Before any placement starts there are lots of opportunities for Shared Lives carers and the people using the scheme to meet and get to know each other. Every effort is made to match the people using the scheme with the right carer and there’s ongoing support provided to help build and maintain positive and happy relationships.

Register Now

Register your interest in becoming a Shared Lives carer today.

All placements are regularly reviewed by the scheme which is regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

Find more about how Dorset Council is recruiting to the adult social care sector.

The post Looking for a change of direction? Become a Shared Lives carer appeared first on Dorset Council news.

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The old council building and a former bowling alley are earmarked to be knocked down for housing.

Dorset Council has shared proposals for new buildings on the site of the former Weymouth & Portland Borough Council office at North Quay and the former MFA Bowl site in Weymouth. The council is inviting local residents and businesses to give their views on these proposals.

The proposal for the North Quay site is based on designs by Pentreath architects, originally produced several years ago. The proposal would involve demolishing the existing North Quay building, and rebuilding on site to reinstate the old High Street. The new buildings could provide 72 housing units and 2 ground floor non-residential units, plus parking, and would be in keeping with the historical character of the area. All rebuilding would be done to very high environmental standards, in order to minimise carbon impacts.

The former Weymouth Bowl site is located on St. Nicholas Street on the other side of the harbour. Dorset Council owns the freehold of the site and has acquired an option to purchase the long leasehold interest of part of the site from the existing tenant. The council proposes demolition of the current building, replacing it with new housing (potentially 59 flats of varying sizes). There could also be four non-residential ground floor units which could be used for commercial, community or leisure purposes.

Dorset Council is specifically appealing to residents, community groups and local businesses to come forward with suggestions and proposals for how the non-residential units on both sites could best be used. Ideas could potentially include retail or commercial units, community space, or even leisure, arts or museum uses.

Local residents and businesses have until 28 February to share their views and questions on the proposals – available to view online at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/north-quay  There is a simple online form to submit any comments or questions.

Dorset Council proposes to submit a detailed application for the two sites for Planning approval in early summer this year.

The benefits of the proposed schemes:

• Provides an appropriate and aesthetically pleasing proposal for use of both the North Quay site and the Weymouth Bowl site, in keeping with the character of each area
• Delivers new housing, including affordable housing
• Addresses environmental concerns
• Offers community space
• Provides sufficient parking on site
• Contributes to the wider regeneration of Weymouth.

Local residents, businesses and communities can watch a short online presentation outlining the proposals at https://youtu.be/pLpQ7CHGyAE

Cllr Tony Ferrari, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Assets and Property, with special responsibility for Regeneration and Development in Weymouth, said:

“Everyone agrees that something needs to be done about both the North Quay site and the Weymouth Bowl site. I believe we are coming forward with schemes that are positive, viable, will enhance the character of each area, and will contribute to the regeneration of Weymouth. By combining the two sites, we will also be able to deliver more affordable housing.

“Under predecessor councils, the North Quay site has had a chequered history, with a number of abortive developments. However, Dorset Council is a new council, and we will work with local people to deliver a scheme for Weymouth. We are keen to engage with local residents, businesses and community groups to bring forward a final proposal with the broadest possible support. Please take a look at the detailed proposals and have your say at www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/north-quay”

The post Dorset Council unveils proposals for the North Quay and Weymouth Bowl sites appeared first on Dorset Council news.

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Wednesday 27 January marks Holocaust Memorial Day. It is the day we remember the millions of people who died during the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution, and in the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. Held every year, it falls on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, where more than a million people died during the Second World War.

The theme for this year is ‘Be the Light in the Darkness’. It encourages us all to reflect on the depths humanity can sink to, but also the ways individuals and communities resisted that darkness to ‘be the light’ before, during and after genocide.

Usually officers and councillors from Dorset Council support the South West Dorset Multicultural Network to organise their annual Holocaust Memorial Event. Unfortunately due to the current restrictions the event will not take place this year. However, there are still ways to show your support from the safety of your home.

The Holocaust Memorial Trust will be live-streaming a memorial ceremony online at 7pm on 27 January. To watch the ceremony, register here. You can join in with the conversation on social media by using the following hashtags; #HolocaustMemorialDay #HMD2021 or simply take a quiet moment of personal reflection at home.

Holocaust Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember those who suffered and died because of who they were in both the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, but it also allows us to stand up to prejudice and hatred today.

Cllr Val Pothecary, Chairman of Dorset Council, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day provides a stark reminder of all those who suffered and died because of their religious beliefs or cultural differences. We must never underestimate the potential of man’s inhumanity to man and the need to ensure that intolerance is replaced with wisdom and compassion.”

If you’d like to learn more about this year’s theme the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has a range of resources including life stories, recommendations for book clubs, poetry and short films.

The post Holocaust Memorial Day – a time for remembrance and reflection appeared first on Dorset Council news.

Work to refresh High Street in Gillingham will be starting next week.

New imprinted ‘raised table’ in Station Road, Gillingham

On Monday 1 February, for around eight weeks, Dorset Highways will be carrying out daytime works to improve the pavement condition.

The footways on both sides of the road from Newbury up to the Post Office will have the existing paving removed and prepared for an imprinted paving effect, like the work recently carried out in Station Road.

On the southern footway, from the Post Office and over the bridge, the old slabbed paving will be removed and replaced with new textured slabs. On the northern side, the paving will be replaced between the bus shelter and St Martin’s Square.

To provide a safe working space, two-way temporary traffic lights will be in use on High Street during these works.

The pavement on School Road will also be resurfaced between High Street and the primary school.

From Monday 15 March, for three weeks, night-time resurfacing work will get underway, with High Street closed 8pm to 6am overnight each weekday.

During the first three nights the road will be resurfaced from Newbury to St Martin’s Square. The remaining twelve nights will be used to imprint the footways between Newbury and the Post Office and to imprint the raised areas in the road.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “We’ve worked closely with Gillingham Town Council on this scheme to renew the street scene and make High Street more inviting for residents.

“These enhancements will also help make walking and cycling a safer and more attractive option for many people, for trips into town, for leisure and for school children.”

Imprinting is a modern technique – where hot asphalt material is laid and imprinted with a paving effect, reduces trip hazards and is easier to maintain compared to traditional paving.

These works are being funded by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, through the Government’s Local Growth Fund, to support economic growth by enhancing the town centre environment.

Imprinted pavement in Station Road, Gillingham, before and after colour is applied

The post High Street renewal gets underway appeared first on Dorset Council news.

Dorset Highways maintenance gangs are out across the county continuing to repair road damage and maintain vital infrastructure.

To allow this work to take place safely, the area of the road being worked on will be closed. Daytime road closures are 9am to 4pm and night work is usually from 7pm to 6am.

In February we will be repairing sections along the following roads:

February sites

A30 Crackmore, Oborne – 28 Jan to 3 Feb
road closed 9am to 4pm

Hurn Road/Matchams Lane – 1 February to 12 March
Two-way lights followed by closure
Essential maintenance to replace Christchurch Road Bridge bearings

Ringwood Road, Alderholt – 1 Feb to 12 Feb
Road closed 24/7 for drainage repairs

Woodsford Road, Crossways – 3 Feb
road closed 9am to 4pm

Herrison Road, Charlton Down – 4 Feb
road closed 9am to 4pm

Landshire Lane, Henstridge – 8 Feb
road closed 9am to 4pm

West Chaldon Lane – 8 Feb
road closed 9am to 4pm

Windsor Road, Dorchester – 15 Feb to 17 Feb
road closed 9am to 4pm

The Cliff, Bryanston – 16 Feb to 19 Feb
road closed 9am to 4pm

Cleverlawns, Abbotsbury (road down to Subtropical Gardens/Chesil Beach)
22 Feb to 27 Feb
road closed 9am to 4pm
there will be no access for pedestrians, and cars will not be able to park along the road

We will do our best to keep you updated if our schedule of work changes. The latest information on all planned road works can be found online. 

Additional safety measures

Additional safety measures are being taken to ensure the health and safety of workers in these unprecedented times. We are also working closely with other highway authorities across the south west and with industry bodies to share knowledge of new ways of working.

• single person vehicle movements both to and from site
• maintaining current social distancing requirements at all times
• daily toolbox talks to share the latest safe working guidance and COVID-19 updates
• daily health screening involving temperature checks and general well-being
• no high-risk workers on site
• revised working practices to reduce the number of staff on site while still maintaining health and safety standards when working on the highway
• changes to site welfare, including additional toilet facilities and hygiene provision

Please be mindful of how you speak to our workforce, they are working within the Government’s guidance for construction activity – that it should continue where it fits with both the current Public Health England requirements and in accordance with industry safety guidance.

The post Dorset Road Fix 2021 – February sites appeared first on Dorset Council news.

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