Stickers

A FIRST bus driver from Portland is looking forward to next summer’s Olympic and Paralympic sailing events.

Nigel Thorne, aged 40, of Weston, has claimed one of 10,000 Bring on the Games window stickers produced by the Dorset Echo, in partnership with the Weymouth and Portland 2012 Operations team, the borough’s Chamber of Commerce and NHS Dorset’s Team Dorset Challenge.

He said: “It should be good for the community.

“Hopefully it will bring more revenue in and put Weymouth and Portland on the map.

“Hopefully our sailors will do well and the home waters they’ve been practising on will give them an advantage.

“It will be good, it’s nice to see your home town on television so other people can see what it’s like and hopefully, in the future come here on holiday and bring more money to the borough.

“I’m going to be working shifts throughout the Games but I will probably bring my wife and kids down to the seafront to see what’s happening.”

Out and about

A WEBSITE is helping visitors plan a wide range of water sports and coastal activities in Dorset.

Whether you are a kayaker, sailor, surfer, climber, sea angler, scuba diver or walker, the site aims to be a mine of useful information.

It covers everything from slipways to cycle routes to hire shops – and includes real-time weather and tide times too.

The Dorset Coast Forum (DCF), an established strategic coastal partnership made up of over 220 public, private and voluntary member organisations, is behind the site, which aims to promote the area’s sporting attractions ahead of the 2012 Games and beyond.

Dive into www.icoast.co.uk and start exploring.

Staying safe

RESIDENTS looking to rent out rooms during the 2012 Games should ensure their homes are fire safe.

Nick Brown, fire safety manager for the Olympics based at Dorchester, said: “We’re promoting fire safety in the home.

“Should you be letting out one or two bedrooms during the period of the Olympics we will come over to ensure you meet the minimum requirements and have got a safe environment for your guests.”

To find out more log onto dorsetfire.gov.uk and look under the Olympic section.

Renting rooms

ANYONE thinking of renting out a spare room to visitors during 2012 is being urged to check whether there is tax to pay.

Under the Rent a Room Scheme, you can receive up to £4,250 a year tax-free if you rent out a furnished room in a residential property.

You can take advantage of the scheme if you let furnished accommodation – a room or an entire floor of your home – to a lodger who pays to live in your home, sometimes with meals provided and who occasionally shares the family rooms.

The Rent a Room scheme applies even if your home is rented; you don’t have to be the owner.

The scheme does not apply, however, if your home is converted into separate flats, if you let unfurnished rooms in your home, or if you let your whole home.

In these cases you need to declare the rental income to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and pay tax in the normal way.

Find out more at direct.gov.uk, search for ‘Rent a Room’.

Bring them on

WESTFIELD Arts College pupil Bryony Wills is supporting the Bring on the Games sticker campaign.

The 14-year-old from Dorche-ster said: “I’m interested in sailing, I’m really excited the Olympic sailing events are coming here.

“I’m going to go down to the seafront with my friends to see what’s happening.

“I like the lessons we’re doing in school about the Olympics.

“I tried sailing at the sailing academy and I felt a bit sick but it was good to see what it was like.”