A HEALTH and safety consultant has hit out at the handling of speed camera enforcement on the A35 Tolpuddle bypass - describing it as 'shocking'. Hundreds of drivers have now been caught speeding on the road since Sunday, with 375 trapped inside the
RURAL communities in West Dorset could be left without a shop if plans to axe post offices are carried out, council leaders today warned. Around half of West Dorset post offices are expected to close in 2008 under plans being considered by the Department
RETIRED factory worker Thomas Grace, 67, would like to quit smoking when the ban arrives - but thinks it's probably too late for him. "I've tried in the past with a bit of success but I've been smoking for 50 years and I just fall back into the habit
Dorchester CAB deserves praise from us all for its work in helping to tackle rising debt problems. So often the problem is exacerbated by people getting credit at exorbitant rates of interest, thus making their ability to repay their debts even harder
I WOULD like to draw more people's attention to PACT and why we need it to be fully supported PACT is Partners and Communities Together. The partners are made up from police, local council officials, councillors, housing representatives, volunteers,
The return of typical spring weather to Weymouth has produced a fabulous spectacle at Radipole Lake and Lodmoor RSPB nature reserves. The cloudy weather and low air pressure keeps insects at lower levels and thus any predators too. Swifts, swallows,
THREE schools that feed into Dorchester's Thomas Hardye School have been awarded specialist status. Dorchester Middle, St Mary's and St Osmund's Middle Schools join Thomas Hardye in being designated science and mathematics specialist colleges. The award
FOOTBALL-CRAZY Thomas McNamee got more than he bargained for at his Bridport team's end of season presentation evening. The talented youngster was delighted to pick up the manager's player of the year award for his top-notch performances for Centaur
NURSERY children had a seaside safety lesson from Weymouth and Portland coastguards. Youngsters at the Chipmunks Day Nursery in Buxton Road, Weymouth learned from coastguard Rob Sansom and puppet Max. Nursery manager Julia Bending said: "As part of
A BID to create a pond on the Great Field at Poundbury to combat flooding problems has been rejected. The Duchy of Cornwall had proposed to create the pond on the field to alleviate flooding in nearby Chestnut Way. But members of Dorchester Town Council's
CAMPAIGNERS have launched a hunt to find land to build a much-needed play area. A team of parents and other supporters have spent more than four years trying to secure a playground for use by children from Winter-bourne Abbas and Winter-bourne Steepleton
A LANDOWNER has condemned fly-tippers who dump rubbish on his farm. Justin Langham says that he has been left with a massive bill to clean up the junk that is regularly chucked over hedges on to his land. Now Mr Langham is hoping that by revealing the
A CASH boost is on the horizon for Portland schools - so that children can stay behind for extra classes. Dedicated pupils from the island's primary schools have been voluntarily staying after hours to brush up their English. And the extra classes have
STAFF, parents and pupils for St Andrew's Pre-school are celebrating their Ofsted report that judged it outstanding in helping children to make a positive contribution and in its relationship with parents and carers. Crystal Johnson, chair of the management
Congratulations to the residents, the local councils, restaurants, shops, bars, local police and even the traffic wardens for making Weymouth and the surrounding area a wonderful place to have purchased a holiday home for my family and friends. In the
DORCHESTER'S long-awaited skatepark has been given a boost by young supporters. Members of the Dorchester Skatepark Committee Steve Frapwell and Jake Hearn raised cash for the fundraising appeal after selling refreshments to pals at Thomas Hardye School
A HIGH street bank has expanded its team of experts to deal with small businesses in West Dorset. NatWest has enlarged its team of business managers, who will now be based in branches in Weymouth, Bridport, Dorchester. Blandford and Shaftesbury. Working
A DORSET firm backing plans for the Weymouth Relief Road has welcomed the Government's decision not to hold a public inquiry. Battens Solicitors, which has offices in Weymouth and Dorchester, took an active part in the road scheme's public consultation
BUDDING chef Jessica Holloway has proved she is among the best in the country after taking the runner-up spot in a national cooking challenge. Thomas Hardye School student Jess came second in the Rotary Club's National Young Chef of the Year after reaching
A FARMING couple took a trip back down memory lane when they revisited their former farm. Clifford and Nancy Wilcox returned to the farmhouse in Dorchester where they lived and farmed for more than 53 years to see how it has been redeveloped. The couple's
A GROUP of 60 patchwork and quilting enthusiasts who call themselves A Loada' Patchers have put on their biennial exhibition raising money for the air ambulance and Weldmar Hospice. Despite the weather the exhibition was very well attended for both days
MARKETING is the key to successful growth in visitors to Dorchester, a tourism chief told the town's business leaders. Kenny Boyle, commercial manager of Visit Britain and guest speaker at Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, said tourism was a major component
A party to celebrate any occasion is one of life's great pleasures - especially if you can rely on ordering wonderful food that comes beautifully packaged, requiring little more from you than possibly placing it into the oven to cook, reheating, or just
A FARMING couple are hoping to get the green light for a farm diversification scheme on their land. A range of adventure activities including archery, clay pigeon shooting, quad biking and off-road buggy racing has been operating on land at Shakes Hole
WEYMOUTH all-rounder Paul Payne is enjoying the freedom of playing without the respon- sibility of being skipper. The big hitter has handed over the captaincy to Dean Janaway and he is now concentrating on trying to help fill the void left by Ben Lawes
Wildcats' chairman Phil Bartlett is confident that his riders will revel in this weekend's packed fixture list. The Weymouth quartet of Lee Smart, Nathan Irwin, Sam Hurst and Karl Mason will travel to Plymouth's St Boniface Arena on Friday night to
DORSET'S thriving pub and club scene is bracing itself for the smoking ban which comes into effect on July 1. A new Department of Health survey in the South West cites a smoke-filled atmosphere as the main turn-off for going to a bar or a pub. Nearly
ENGLAND'S first contact five-a-side beach rugby festival fell victim to the rain but organisers are hopeful of returning to the sands of Weymouth in August. Eight teams were originally scheduled to take part in the RFU event but two dropped out in the
PORTLAND RED TRIANGLE 121 all-out (3pts) lost to PAVILION SPORTS 124-3 (20pts) by seven wickets RED Triangle skipper Simon Barrett has backed his side to "learn from the mistakes" they made in this disappointing defeat at Slades Farm. The islanders
DORSET'S Middleton Cup campaign steps up a gear this Sunday with a full-scale friendly against Hampshire at Atherley (2pm). Manager Brian Shepherd had hoped to field virtually his intended Middleton Cup team but plans have been sunk by the weather which
A SATURDAY Sports Club in Weymouth has launched its 20th year with a full programme of games coaching for youngsters between five and 12-years-old. Athletics, basketball, cric-ket, hockey, mini-rugby, rounders and mini-tennis are all among the activities
