The High Court has dismissed a judicial review which argued that Dorset Council has the power to enforce planning rules over the Bibby Stockholm barge at Portland. Lawyers for Carralyn Parkes said their client is “disappointed that a loophole continues to exist” whereby the Home Office can “avoid” local authority oversight of its use of […]
Thrilled Nicola Childs from Beaminster has won our John Bright Country Stores competition. Nicola chose the store shed on offer in our competition after counting the wooden fences, hidden among 96 pages. “I was absolutely shocked when I was told I had won,” she said. “This was the first competition I have entered in years, […]
Eighty years ago, Beaminster’s Royal British Legion President Tony Greenham was just eight. But he vividly remembers the stillness after the soldiers left Beaminster on D-Day. He then lived at Pattle (now Eggardon Close). He remembers soldiers being billeted all over the town – their HQ was at Parnham House. He said: “I remember the […]
Fears have been raised that a huge housing development in Piddletrenthide will happen after a multi-million-pound purchase of the 827-acre Lyscombe Farm by Dorset Wildlife Trust and Natural England. The acquisition of the 827 acres of chalk downland and farmland was the most expensive land purchase in the history of Dorset Wildlife Trust and made […]
A village of just 100 people has managed to raise £12,500 towards a permanent memorial to RAF personnel who were based there during the Second World War. A £22,000 project to install a new stained window at Warmwell church is underway, with the remaining money to be raised at a series of talks and fundraising […]
Volunteers are urgently needed to keep the community shop in the heart of Bishops Caundle open at weekends. Bishops Caundle Village Store is run for the community by the community and relies ‘heavily’ on volunteers for support. The shop opens every day, serving villagers with a good supply of newspapers, a bountiful supply of food, […]
West Dorset villagers are preparing to celebrate 1,000 years of community and heritage with a series of events throughout the year. Wheels were set in motion last year to recognise and celebrate that 1,000 years ago in 1024 King Canute wrote a charter giving the area known as Porteshamme to his manservant Orc. Stored in […]
Sherborne welcomed 140 delegates from 24 partner towns, each a different EU country, to the Douzelage General Meeting, an annual meeting which takes place in a different country every year. The local committee of Sherborne Douzelage produced a comprehensive programme of meetings, workshops, musical entertainment and excursions exploring the Dorset landscape to connect with nature. […]
Feeling peckish? We have glad tidings! Weymouth restaurants are offering a simply scrumptious set of dining out offers for two weeks in May – see details opposite. This FEAST fortnight is running from May 10-24 at 12 venues around Weymouth, with a wide range of cuisines to try, from French to Turkish to Indian and […]
“Beware the quiet man. For while others speak, he watches. And while others act, he plans. And when they finally rest… he strikes.” Anon West Dorset’s MP Chris Loder is about as far from the constituency’s usual politician as it’s possible to be. He grew up in an ordinary farming family in Folke, near Sherborne, […]