The school asked Andy Kirkby, a sculptor and teacher of art and design at several schools and colleges throughout Dorset, to design and construct a large sculpture that would stand on the lawns leading up to the front of the school.

Andy, who is also a parent at the school, came up with an idea for a sculpture based on science and astronomy. A number of the students from the school helped with ideas and construction.

This impressive and truly beautiful construction is also an automata, with a handle that can be used to revolve the inner design of the sun, moon and planets.

Bere Regis

I recently met a constituent who complained that lorries are being incorrectly guided by satellite navigation up Rye Hill, and are then turning around at the triangle of grass by Rowlands Wait when they realise too late that they are going the wrong way.

I asked Dorset County Council and the Highways Authority for their view on this and they tell me that this is a national issue that cannot be solved a local authority level.

I am told that if you wish to register an incorrect map routing you can go on line to tomtom.com click on maps and feedback and then enter your issue.

Some of you may have seen the headline Two Fingers to Waste in a national newspaper suggesting that refuse collectors would only move dustbins if they could handle them with only two fingers. This is categorically not true (for our area anyway). The advice I have been given is as follows:- The wheeled bin manufacturers recommend, for health and safety reasons that not more than 50kgs of waste is put into a single large bin (the ones we have).

Students at St Mary's Middle School work on the planetary sculpture

The lifting mechanisms on the vehicles are consequently set not to lift bins that are heavier than this.

Normal domestic refuse will generally not weigh anywhere near this much.

Soil, concrete and large metal items etc should not be put into the wheeled bins as they can take the weight to a critical level. Heavy items of domestic waste can be taken to the nearest Household Recycling Centres at Panorama Road, Swanage and Westminster Road, Wareham.

The government announced on July 15 its draft proposals for post offices.

Dorset has 190 in total of which they were expected to recommend the closure of 34. They have actually selected 28 across Dorset.

The district of Purbeck has 19 of which we thought three or four were earmarked for closure.

However only two have been put forward for closure, one in Worth Matravers and one in Sandford.

If you wish to make a comment on this you can do so by visiting: www.postoffice.co.uk and click on "Network Change Update" or visit the campaign website on http://www.postofficeclosures.org.uk/ Surgeries are held on the first Saturday of every month. These are held at the communal Lounge in Turberville Court in Bere Regis from 9.30am. to 10am, and in the Bloxworth Village Club from 10.30am to 11am.

If you have any questions or queries related to the business of Purbeck District Council please come along. If anyone wants to contact me and cannot get to the surgery my email address is peterwharf@hotmail.com.

5:00pm Friday 18th July 2008

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