Dorset

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

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

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.

Lewis Cook signs a new deal with Bournemouth to keep him at the club until 2022.

The workshop will allow a new apprentice scheme to train conservators of the future.

Residents of Weymouth and Portland have a new mayor. Cllr Gill Taylor was sworn in as Mayor of Weymouth & Portland last night during a special ceremony at Weymouth Pavilion.

Mayor of Weymouth & Portland, Cllr Gill Taylor and her consort Trefor Morgan

She will be the last person to take on the role before changes to Dorset’s local government arrangements come into effect in April 2019.

Speaking about her appointment as Mayor and the changes ahead of the borough council, Cllr Gill Tayor said:

“I see the role as Mayor as the highest honour that can be bestowed on any resident of this Borough. This makes me feel very humble.

“As councillors, we have a duty to steer the formation of a Town Council for Weymouth and the disaggregation of services and assets to Portland Town Council as we move forward.

“It also falls to us to oversee the move into a Unitary Authority. This will be the biggest shift in local government since 1974 when Weymouth and Portland Borough Council was formed.

“It is down to all councillors to work together in a non party political way to ensure that this transition happens as seamlessly as possible. This is a huge task and I trust all councillors will rise to the challenge.”

Who is Mayor Taylor?

Born in the Midlands, Mayor Taylor moved to the south coast in 1974 and came to live in the borough in 1979. She is married with four children and has experience in a number of jobs. Her last role was with Cefas where she worked with fish viruses and latterly in the Fish Health Inspectorate. She was first elected to Weymouth & Portland Borough Council in 2008 as  a member for Westham West.

Chosen charities and Mayor’s Bears

The new Mayor has chosen to support two charities during her time in office:

• Dorset Domestic Abuse Welfare Committee – supporting victims of domestic abuse
• Lantern –   helping vulnerable and marginalised people in the Weymouth & Portland area

Mayor Taylor is also a member of Let’s Make It, a local community group that brings people together through craft. The group has been busy making Mayor’s Bears which will be used to raise funds for the Mayor’s chosen charities. Their first outing will be the Teddy Bears’ Treasure Hunt on Sunday 20 May from noon until 2:30pm at Lodmoor Country Park.

Follow the Mayor of Weymouth & Portland on Facebook for further Mayor’s Bears updates.

Mayor Taylor takes on the role after Cllr Kevin Brookes’ year in the post. Chair and vice-chair for each of the borough council’s committees were also appointed during the meeting.

The post Meet the Mayor of Weymouth & Portland appeared first on Dorset news.

Three Dorset officers will be retrained because of how they dealt with a vulnerable victim.

Pimperne Parish Council has submitted a neighbourhood plan to North Dorset District Council.

Pimperne submits neighbourhood plan

The plan sets out a range of planning policies including policies that allocate sites for development. It has been submitted to North Dorset District Council to arrange for an independent examiner to assess it.

Have your say

The district council is required to publicly consult on the plan. The plan, supporting documents, and response form can be accessed online via dorsetforyou.gov.uk.

You can also view the plan at Blandford Library, The Tabernacle, Blandford and the District Council’s Offices at Nordon Lodge, Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum during normal opening hours.

All comments must be received by 4pm on Friday 22 June 2018. These comments will then be sent to the examiner along with the plan. Depending on the examiner’s report, a referendum will be held for the residents of Pimperne to decide whether the plan should be approved.

Cllr David Walsh, North Dorset District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning, said:

“The Pimperne Neighbourhood Plan is one of a number of plans that have recently been submitted to the district council.

“The submission is the result of a huge amount of hard work by all those involved in producing the plan. I would strongly encourage anyone with an interest in the future of Pimperne to have their say on the submitted plan.”

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Volunteers supporting families who have fled the conflict in Syria have been recognised at a special celebration event.

Dorset County Council held the event to thank the volunteers who have helped refugees become part of local communities in Dorset.

Local authorities and charities, such as the International Care Network, support refugees as part of the Dorset Syrian Resettlement Programme. Since December 2016, the county has welcomed nine families and helped them find private housing, school places, jobs and local healthcare. However, it’s thanks to the kindness of local people that families are able to integrate and become part of their new local community.

Cllr Hilary Cox, Chairman of Dorset County Council, said:

“I can’t imagine how scary it is to have to flee your home and start a new life – particularly for young children. We rely on volunteers to help care for these families once they’re settled here in Dorset. It’s the small acts of kindness and support with everyday tasks that make these families  feel truly welcome and we’re incredibly grateful for their help.”

Steph Farr, Dorset Syrian Resettlement Programme Lead, said:

“Each volunteer contributes in a different way, whether it is through language support, driving or befriending. The quality of care and level of dedication shown to these families is phenomenal. They are like extended family members and offer a great deal of comfort during  a very daunting time.”

The programme offers support to families for five years. At the end of that time they can either apply to stay in the UK for longer or choose to return to Syria if the situation has improved.

Steph added:

“We hope to bring more families to Dorset in the future and are always looking for more volunteers. We are also looking for more private properties that can be let to families so, if you’d like to help in any way, please get in touch.”

Read more information about the programme, including how you can help.

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Charity reveals country’s best beaches with announcement of Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for 2018.

Award Winning Weymouth Beach

This year environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy is presenting 190 awards to England’s very best beaches, including 65 international Blue Flags and 125 Seaside Awards (eight more than last year), with 42 beaches achieving both awards. This includes awards to Weymouth & Portland Borough Council’s Weymouth Beach.

Weymouth Beach joins the country’s very best beaches, from popular holiday spots to quiet, more hidden-away retreats. What unites them all is knowing that they are clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as the tough international bathing water quality standards.

The three mile stretch of Weymouth Beach is just minutes from the town centre and historic harbour. There is always plenty of entertainment for everyone to enjoy, ranging from traditional attractions such as Punch & Judy and donkey rides, to lively events such as the beach volleyball championships.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said:

“The success of the 148 beaches in reaching the very high standards demanded by both awards is testament to all those who have worked so hard to protect and improve our beaches – from beach managers and volunteers to local people and businesses.

“When you enjoy a trip to a beach flying an international Blue Flag or Seaside Award, you know you are on one of the safest, cleanest and very best in the country.”

Cllr Richard Kosior, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Briefholder for Tourism, Culture and Harbour, said:

“Weymouth Beach draws residents and visitors to its shores, come rain or shine. The views from Weymouth Beach and the bay are spectacular, stretching across the horizon and taking in the Jurassic Coastline. This three mile stretch of sea and sand is a highlight of many people’s summer holiday.

“This award wouldn’t have been achieved without our dedicated Beach Management Team, alongside the businesses and concessions that we work in partnership with. We’d like to thank every individual that has participated in ensuring Weymouth Beach is recognised for its brilliance.”

The post Oh we do like to be beside the (award-winning) seaside appeared first on Dorset news.

Three beaches in Christchurch have again gained Seaside Awards for achieving the highest standards of beach management in 2018.

Avon Beach, Friars Cliff Beach and Highcliffe Beach are the winners of the Awards, which are judged and presented by the charity Keep Britain Tidy.

The Award recognises and rewards beaches in England that achieve the highest standards of beach management and water quality.

Cllr Margaret Phipps, Champion for Rivers and Coastal Issues, Christchurch Borough Council, said: “For over 20 years our beaches have been recognised as clean and safe beaches and I am so pleased that we have again been presented Seaside Awards.

“The continued success of our beaches is a testament to the officers and fantastic volunteers who work hard to protect and continually improve our very special coastline.’’

Visitors to Seaside Award winning beaches can be assured of a great day out and can have confidence that their visit will be both safe and enjoyable.

 

The post Three Seaside Awards for Christchurch beaches appeared first on Dorset news.

As part of their current ‘Tip-Off’ anti-flytipping campaign, the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) is directly addressing some of the comments they hear from residents in the fight against the illegal dumping of waste.

The most consistent complaint received is that Household Recycling Centre (HRC) charges have directly led to an increase in fly-tipping. Yet, there is no statistical data to support this belief.

Jeremy Gallagher, one of the DWP’s Enforcement Officers, explains:

“The Enforcement Team is out every day around Dorset, investigating fly-tips and trying to catch the criminals responsible.

Most of the waste we find is regular ‘black bag’ rubbish; the type that can be disposed of at an HRC free of charge. Those dumped items that are charged for generally appear to have been fly-tipped by rogue traders or illegal waste carriers, such as an unlicenced ‘man in a van.’

HRCs have always been for the disposal of typical household waste; Commercial waste has never been accepted for free at any of our sites. If a tradesman produces or carries waste as part of their everyday activities, that person has always needed to budget its disposal into their business costs.”

The idea that the removal of HRC charges would lead to a halt in fly-tipping is a bemusing one to Jeremy. Fly-tipping was on the rise before the charges were introduced back in September 2016 and, while the trend has sadly continued, there has been no related spike in incidents since.“By blaming fly-tipping solely on the council for introducing HRC charges, the problem is being oversimplified and anti-social criminal behaviour is being excused and normalised.

There are dozens of facilities across the county that accept commercial waste. Those who choose to fly-tip are simply looking to save themselves money. Understandable, but illegal nonetheless.

Even if we could open our HRCs to dispose of commercial waste for free, Dorset residents would still bear the financial cost of processing the waste through treatment or landfill tax. Why should tax-payers subsidise the profits of private businesses?”

Jeremy sometimes hears that local authorities have made access to HRCs too difficult for some.

“Our eleven HRCs are open and free to visit 362 days a year. Most vehicles – including vans, trailers and commercially registered vehicles – can enter our sites. Those that do need a permit can apply for one online free of charge and approval is usually immediate.”

However, Jeremy and the DWP’s Enforcement Team remain determined to get to grips with the problem: –

“We all have a responsibility to prevent fly-tipping and the only way we can effectively fight this behaviour is for local authorities and the public to work together.

The DWP has a responsibility to investigate, pursue and penalise fly-tippers, as well as clear up the mess they leave behind. We’re working closely with Dorset Police and are taking more action than ever before. Concerned residents should report fly-tips to us, check they are handing their waste to a reputable business or individual and use their HRC whenever they can.

We share the public’s frustration with fly-tipping; it’s a blight on our beautiful county. But we’re taking this problem very seriously and will continue to work toward eradicating this illegal activity.”

 

The post Charges at the dump cause fly-tipping? Time to think again. appeared first on Dorset news.

Neil Bowditch was the pilot of the light aircraft which crashed in Ireland on Sunday.

A Network Rail engineering train broke down between Wareham and Weymouth on Sunday.

Cllr Lesley Dedman has been sworn in as Mayor of Christchurch at the annual meeting of Christchurch Borough Council.

Cllr Dedman has a strong history in Local Government and was first elected to Christchurch Borough Council in 2011. She was also previously elected to East Dorset District Council and Ferndown Town Council, where she served as Mayor from 2007-2009.

Cllr Dedman was born and educated in London and upon leaving school travelled widely with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Merchant Navy. Starting married life in Wales, where she lived on and ran a small farm, Cllr Dedman has now lived in Dorset for over 30 years. She is a proud mother of four and grandmother of six. As a former smallholder, animals still figure largely in her life, and she has two Labradors and a black cat, all of whom can be seen accompanying her on walks in Mudeford.

Her nominated charity this year is The Dorset Community Foundation, who raise funds for those most in need across Dorset.

On being chosen as Mayor, Cllr Dedman said: “It is an honour and privilege to be Mayor of this ancient borough, and I look forward to carrying out my duties, attending events and meeting people across the Borough.

At the Council meeting Cllr Peter Hall was elected to serve as Deputy Mayor.

The post Cllr Lesley Dedman sworn in as Mayor of Christchurch appeared first on Dorset news.

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe says they will "never see the benefits of the Premier League era" unless they move to a new stadium.

Network Rail said the track replacement works may not be "fully completed" until Wednesday.

Cllr Toni Coombs has been sworn in as Chairman of East Dorset District Council at the annual meeting of East Dorset District Council, held at Allendale Community Centre on Monday 14 May.

This will be Cllr Coombs’ first term as Chairman, who was first elected to East Dorset District Council in May 1999, and she succeeds Cllr Derek Burt who has held the position for the past year.

 

Toni, whose grandparents were from Dorset, was born in Christchurch, New Zealand but returned to England with her family at the age of six. She attended grammar school in Tonbridge and then trained as a renal technician at Guys Hospital and became one of the first female technicians in the country.

In 1991 she moved to Verwood and had two children, Matt and Nick. She retrained as a photographer recently and specialises in portraiture and local landscapes.

Cllr Coombs has been Chair of Ethical Governance Committee and Vice-Chair of Planning at East Dorset District Council. She was also elected to Dorset County Council in 2001 and was Cabinet Member for Children from 2005-2015. 

On being chosen as Chairman, Cllr Coombs said “It is a huge honour to be elected as the final Chairman of East Dorset District Council. This council will be leaving a positive and long-lasting legacy for the residents of East Dorset.  I look forward to representing the authority within the local community and across the county

“My chosen charities this year are Macmillan Cancer Support and Mosaic Family Support, who support bereaved children and their families. My first fundraising event is early next month and I endeavour to make this year’s fundraising, for these amazing charities, the best yet.

Cllr Andy Skeats, Portfolio Holder for Community, East Dorset District Council, said: “Toni is a first class councillor. She is reliable, dependable and committed, and held in extremely high regard by so many. Her previous achievements are down to her hard work and determination and I know what a great ambassador she will be in her year as Chairman.”

At the Council meeting Cllr Barry Goringe was also elected to serve as Deputy Chairman.

 

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