Archive

  • Voice your views on mental health care

    A HEALTH trust is carrying out a survey to find out what community mental health service users think about the care they receive. Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust will use the feedback to improve service users’ experiences and the

  • Volunteers needed to save Bridport's Christmas Festival

    A PLEA has been issued for volunteers to help keep Bridport’s Christmas Festival alive. It was in 2006 when the festive fixture was cancelled with no-one prepared to run it. Frances Pearsall agreed to co-ordinate the event in 2007 and, with Arthur Woodgate

  • Safety crackdown on Dorset construction sites

    DORSET’S construction sites will be put under the safety spotlight in a bid to crackdown on work injuries, illness and death. Until March 16 inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive will be visiting sites in the county where repair and refurbishment

  • Somerset charity to take reigns of £8m Dorchester centre

    A CHARITY from across the county border has been selected as the preferred bidder for the operating contract of Dorchester’s new £8million leisure centre. West Dorset District Council’s executive committee held a special meeting to appoint 1610 Ltd –

  • West Dorset churches targeted by metal thieves

    TWO West Dorset churches have been targeted by lead thieves within the space of a few days. Symondsbury and Powerstock churches are the latest to fall victim to thefts. Symondsbury churchwarden Clifford Harp said: “There are five bays

  • Dorset's London Marathon marvels

    Hayley’s determined after setback of big race injury INJURY won’t hold back one runner determined to better her time and complete the London Marathon in memory of a loved one. Last year Hayley Morby, 23, from Dorchester ran the marathon for the Joseph

  • Dorchester delivery boy praised for quick thinking

    A NEWSPAPER delivery boy has been praised for his quick thinking after he alerted a gas company to a potential leak in Dorchester. Sam White, 14, was doing his rounds in Sandringham Court when he noticed the smell of gas. As it was early in the morning

  • Weymouth Relief Road sculpture: 'Baffling cost'

    A DORCHESTER sculptor says he cannot understand why the Jurassic Stones sculpture cost so much. Mark House, of Mowlam Metal Craft, described the creation as ‘lollipops’ and said: “I cannot for the life of me see where these could have cost

  • Weymouth Relief Road sculpture - the £332,291 bill

    STEEL poles supporting Weymouth’s controversial new sculpture make up almost half of its £332,291-price tag. The Arts Council has provided the Dorset Echo with details of the Jurassic Stones budget, following a national outcry at the cost.

  • Minister says the Portland Coastguard helicopter will be axed

    A DEVASTATING blow has been struck to Dorset after it was announced that the Portland Coastguard helicopter will be axed. Although it was announced last year the helicopter would be scrapped, campaigners had been holding out hope that they could convince

  • Weymouth Relief Road sculpture: 'Inspired by environment'

    THE landmark Jurassic Stones sculpture for Weymouth was officially unveiled earlier this month. The sculpture, which is designed by Devon-born artist Richard Harris, is inspired by the natural environment in which it sits, he says. It

  • House fire in Dorchester caused by faulty dishwater

    FIRE chiefs have warned residents about a type of dishwasher after one was found to have been the cause of a house blaze in Dorchester. Firefighters saved three cats after being sent to a property blaze in Colliton Street last Thursday when the householder

  • Olympics 2012: Media boats will be held at bay

    MEDIA boats will be held at bay to ensure there is no repeat of Ben Ainslie’s shock disqualification from the World Championships. But Britain’s sailing gold medal favourites will have to get used to a spotlight on home waters as intense as that faced

  • Stompin’ Dave and his band head to Weymouth Pavilion

    BLUEGRASS hero Stompin’ Dave is bringing his band to Weymouth Pavilion for the very first time next week as a taster for a massive summer concert he is planning. The gig on March 1 promises to be an extravaganza of a show that will showcase all aspects

  • High time to get road signs right

    MORE than £330,000 was spent on the controversial mushrooms adjacent to the roundabout at Littlemoor. This is just a showpiece to welcome visitors to ‘somewhere’. With the amount of money being spent by the Highways Authority, surely it wouldn’t cost

  • Youngsters put on a fantastic Joseph

    We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Wey Valley School, and especially Margot Stanley, for putting on such a wonderful performance of Joseph and the Amazing Techni-color Dreamcoat. The enthusiasm of all involved, including the audience

  • Utilise solar power for the fairy lights

    I write in respect of comments regarding the fairy lights on Weymouth seafront. Since I was a young child they have always been there, also lighting our Royal Jubilee Clock. Sadly now they have gone to save money. Surely this is wrong. In Paignton

  • Here’s one way to save the Pavilion

    I WAS recently explaining to someone that Weymouth Pavilion required £60,000 to ensure a reasonable chance of survival. They called my quote into question, simply because it is such a comparatively small amount of funding. My thoughts then turned to

  • Weymouth and Dorchester Peacocks stores to stay open

    STAFF at three clothing stores in Weymouth and Dorchester have been told they will keep their jobs after their parent company went into administration. Peacocks in Weymouth, Littlemoor and Dorchester will be unaffected by the sale of the company to Edinburgh

  • Two weeks out is Max-imum for Magpie

    ALAN Knight is hopeful Max Worsfold will be sidelined for no more than a fortnight. The Aldershot loanee left the Avenue Stadium pitch on a stretcher in Tuesday night’s friendly with a Portsmouth XI. Dorchester’s boss admits he feared the worst as the

  • Victory gets Magpies’ Challenge bid back on track

    DORCHESTER Town Reserves kept their Wyvern Challenge Shield hopes alive with a much-needed win at Ringwood. Having narrowly lost to Wimborne in their opening Group A encounter, the county town side knew that a second defeat would result in elimination

  • Five-star Weyline crush Duke of Albany

    ETHAN Devaney and Danny Andrews starred for Weyline as they continued their title charge with a 5-1 win over Duke of Albany – despite being reduced to 10 men after just 17 minutes. The Weymouth Sunday League Premiership leaders, who currently sit three

  • Fishing Around: It’s RIP for Blues’ AVB

    I SPEAK from great experience when I say that the name Andre Villas-Boas is not exactly a headline writer’s dream. It is too long and that hyphen gets in the way. The poor chap even gets the blame for that. However, Fleet Street, never to be beaten

  • Bowls titles for Area aces

    THE Area 28 finals have been held with the winners going on to appear in the English National BA finals in Nottingham. In the singles competition, Martin Puckett of Moonfleet faced fellow club member Dave Ralph with the latter holding a slender 9-8 lead

  • Four-timer for Barber

    SEABOROUGH trainer Richard Barber landed a four-timer at Milborne St Andrew to take his weekend tally to eight following doubles at Ston Easton and Buckfastleigh. The Fish Pot (2½ Maiden), I’m The Article (Restricted), Chapoturgeon (Men’

  • Tincleton test for Shea

    WHEN the motocross season kick-starts for the members of the Ringwood Motocross Club on Sunday (10.30am) at Tincleton near Dorchester, one of the club’s familiar faces will be challenging for club championship honours. Shea Wylie, eight,