September

• Plans for a revolutionary Eden Project on Portland were unveiled, with those behind the project saying it would bring a £24m boost for the local economy and create more than 130 jobs. The development brought together the visions of two other attraction projects that had been planned for Portland: MEMO and Jurassica.

• The future vision of a £25m new homes development on Portland was unveiled. Hundreds of homes are planned for the former Hardy complex of naval blocks at Castletown, named Ocean Views.

• The Grade I listed Parnham House, near Beaminster, was put up for sale with a price tag of £3m. The country manor was gutted in a tragic fire in 2017. Knight Frank, the company handling the sale, called it ‘the opportunity of a lifetime’. The house is described as ‘completely derelict, requiring total restoration’.

• A town centre ‘hub’ was proposed to help the fight against drugs. The idea of a hub was put forward where frontline staff dealing with Weymouth’s drug and alcohol abusers could be based. It came as community patrols to tackle anti-social behaviour hit the streets.

October

• Residents spoke of ‘surreal’ and blitz-like’ scenes as 100 Weymouth homes were evacuated due to a garage blaze. Firefighters were called to Holly Road in the early hours and a major incident was declared after it was established the garage contained acetylene cylinders. Residents were allowed to return to their homes at around 10am.

• A doctor’s surgery which serves 9,000 patients announced it was closing. A shortage of GPs to replace retiring doctors was blamed for the shock closure of Abbotsbury Road Surgery. The practice will close on March 31, 2019.

• Work began to dismantle Weymouth’s last remaining gas holder – paving the way for potential redevelopment of kay harbourside land. Contractors began work at the Westwey Road site, carrying out demolition work. The landmark gas holder or gasometer, dates from the 1950s.

• A firework caused a dramatic blaze in a family’s back garden. The family spoke out to warn others ahead of Bonfire Night after a rogue firework exploded in a large pine tree, causing a blaze. The family had been hosting a Halloween party at their home. They praised the fire service, who echoed the family’s advice.

November

• News that the Boombox nightclub was set to close was described as ‘the end of an era’. The nightclub closed suddenly after three years’ trading, with plans put forward to turn the building into a restaurant and flats. A planning application for a change of use was submitted to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

• Dorset fell silent to remember those who gave their life in warfare and to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Thousands of people turned out for Remembrance services across the county, with all ages braving the rain to pay their respects. Images of casualties of the First World War were carved into the sand on Weymouth beach as part of Danny Boyle’s Pages of the Sea.

• A dolphin sparked delight when it popped up to say hello to two rowing teams. Weymouth and Portland Gig Rowing Clubs reported seeing the lone dolphin, which came to play alongside their boat, and seemed to enjoy the attention it was getting.

• The unassuming village of Wool made headlines around the world when animal rights group PETA asked them to change their name to highlight the plight of mistreated sheep. Wool Parish Council refused, pointing out that the name of the village has nothing to do with sheep.

December

• A four-year-old girl was praised for helping to save her mum by calling 999 when she had a seizure. Kaitlyn Wright told the emergency services operator her mum was having a fit and that she ‘needed to look after her’. Kaitlyn tried to direct the operator to the family home by telling them to ‘go down the big hill and up the other side’. Kaitlyn and her parents visited the South Western Ambulance Service control centre near Bristol, where the youngster was handed a certificate.

• It was announced that the future of Weymouth Carnival is in serious doubt with organisers facing a financial crisis. Claims emerged from traders that they are owed money from this year’s event. Carnival secretary Samantha McIntosh said that money was owed to carnival organisers and she indicated there would not be a carnival in 2019 unless a new group took it on.

• A charity was overwhelmed with support when it appealed for sponsors to fund the construction of steps down to Castle Cove Beach. Building the steps is the last hurdle in a years-long fight to restore full access to the beauty spot. Friends of Castle Cove Beach charity said the 30 steps attracted 30 sponsors within 30 hours.

• There were celebrations as a new £9m cancer centre was opened at Dorset County Hospital. The Robert White Centre, which brings cancer services to western Dorset for the first time, was opened by actor Martin Clunes, who unveiled a commemoration stone. The centre is an extension of the Poole Hospital-based Dorset Cancer Centre but is based in Dorchester. Businessman Robert White left a huge legacy to help pay for the centre when he died in November 2015 and hundreds of residents supported the DCH Cancer Appeal.