After spending more of my ever-shortening life in yet another traffic jam caused by water mains work I would, if possible, like to direct the following questions to the ‘planners’ at Wessex Water: 1. Bearing in mind that problems have existed with this
Residents are being urged to save £400 off the price of a new boiler as part of the Government’s Boiler Scrappage scheme. From Monday, the Dorset Energy Advice Centre will be issuing £400 vouchers to householders who wish to upgrade their G-rated or
In the ’70s Portland had independence - now Weymouth Council has had its day. People of Portland no longer want to be associated with the Weymouth and Portland Borough Council! We have roads on the island in disrepair that our council tax payments
People searching for a job can take advantage of free computer courses in Weymouth. The Weymouth Community Volunteers have secured funding from Dorset Adult Learning and the Learning and Skills Council to deliver ICT taster sessions over 12 weeks, starting
A VICAR from Dorset will swap the West Country for the West Bank when he jets off to Palestine to be a human rights monitor. The Rev Jonathan Herbert will spend a three-month humanitarian and monitoring mission with the World Council of Churches in Jayyous
SOUTHILL has replanted its Christmas tree after the first one was stolen – and warned thieves: ‘Hands off.’ The community was outraged when the original tree planted at Southill Green in Weymouth was ripped out and stolen within 24 hours of being planted
DISABLED people could be able to swim for free at the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre. West Dorset District Council is looking at extending the free swimming scheme at the Dorchester pool, which currently caters for under-16s and over-60s. Former swimming
Well unfortunately the weather really didn’t help the turn out for the London Boat Show. When the news says, “Don’t travel unless you have to,” they really ought to say, “but you have to go to the Boat Show”! This year I was giving my “Be
DEVELOPERS have urged residents to back their multi-million-pound scheme and ‘raise the bar for Dorchester’. The Simons development team behind the Charles Street project faced a grilling at a meeting organised by Dorchester Civic Society and the Dorset
A MOTHER’S car was raided just 25 minutes after she left it in broad daylight in Weymouth. Barbara Warne lost irreplaceable family photographs after her vehicle was broken into and her handbag stolen in the Park District. Mrs Warne, 54, of Chelmsford
PEOPLE are being urged to suggest ways for offenders to repay their debts to society. Communities and organisations can have work carried out free of charge by those ordered to carry out community service by the courts. The appeal for projects comes
BEREAVED relatives and victims of drink-drive crashes are calling for tougher sentences for offenders as new figures are released. The number of drink drivers caught this Christmas was down compared to the previous year after a campaign by Dorset Police
ON damp, raw January days when the wind slices through the thickest clothing, body and soul cry out for comfort food. Seasonal craving for warmth and substance may be at odds with new year diet resolutions, but sometimes you have no choice but to succumb
REVISITING the times of food rationing was a logical step for Dorset’s unabashedly posh chef Valentine Warner. The cook has already preached the benefits of eating with the seasons in his cookery programme What To Eat Now. He balks at the idea
THIS is a lovely winter baked dish and fills the house with yummy aromas while baking. You can make a plain dauphinoise with only potatoes or try other vegetables in place of the fennel; onion, sweet potato and squash all make great gratin dishes. We
Abbotsbury A SURPRISE presentation was made to village residents Jacqui, Roy, Matthew and Lisa Robinson on Wednesday, January 13 The Robinson family had bravely rescued their neighbour Tracee Barlow and her five children in a recent
AFTER a hugely successful launch in the run-up to Christmas, organisers of the Portland Arts Centre are now looking forward to their next project. Fire and Ice will be a month-long open exhibition and will hopefully raise funds towards a heating system
CARETAKER-BOSS Ashley Vickers admits he must ship players out before making any more new signings. The acting Dorchester Town chief, who is expected to retain the role until the end of the season, secured his sixth signing on Tuesday night
STEPHEN Reed has set his sights on helping Weymouth beat the Blue Square South drop after agreeing to extend his loan from Macclesfield Town. With his playing time limited at the League Two side – his only game for the Silkmen being the 4-2 Johnstone
TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Dorchester Town’s greatest ever servants – Albert Miller. Miller, who passed away on Monday, January 4 at the age of 87, dedicated much of his life to the Magpies and held the role of club secretary for an astonishing
THE Wessex Area point-to-point season kicks off on Saturday, January 23 with the Royal Artillery meeting at Larkhill. The campaign made its earliest-ever start in November last year at Black Forest Lodge near Exeter, and 24 meetings are scheduled
COACH Paul Ninnim claims the “conservative” approach his players have adopted has been vindicated by their run of stellar results. Bridport are in pole position, four points clear of their closest rivals at the pinnacle of Dorset & Wilts One South,
Five celebrities have come up with a whole range of wild and whacky ideas to help you raise funds for an appeal close to their hearts. An actor, a children’s TV presenter, a chef, an Olympic athlete and a football manager are backing Julia’s House Pyjama
IT may be dark and cold outside but a Dorchester dance teacher has come up with something to cheer about. Charlotte Webster is setting up the county town’s first cheerleading squad and plans to take her team to the highest national level.
A CLERGYMAN from Dorchester is to appear in a new TV series on the history of Christianity. The Rev Harold Stephens, team rector of the benefice of Dorchester, was interviewed for the show by political heavyweight Ann Widdecombe MP.
NIGHTMARE traffic queues and hour-long delays have hit motorists and traders in the first week of new water works in Weymouth. Temporary traffic lights on Preston Road at the junction with Littlemoor Road at Chalbury Corner have caused queues
