A mixed group of West Dorset Morris dancers are celebrating their tenth anniversary of defying tradition. Frustrated by the gender division in traditional Morris dancing groups, retired airline stewardess Briony Blair established Wyld Morris as a way to let men and women dance together. The group, which is now 20-strong, will soon celebrate its tenth […]
Campaign group Save the Area North of Dorchester (STAND) is calling on Dorset Council to suspend work on the proposed development north of Dorchester after Wessex Water expressed concerns that the 4,000-house development could have a significant negative impact on the quality of the town’s drinking water. The concerns are set out in an email […]
Two friends from Bridport who decided to take action to help people in Ukraine have been completely overwhelmed with the staggering level of support they have received. Claire Nuttall and Jane Wain were chatting in the pub not long after war had broken out. “We were feeling so terrible about it,” says Claire. “We thought […]
Bridport traders, the town council and the chamber are on a mission to breathe new life and vitality into the high street of this seaside town, and with a few campaigns up their sleeves, their quest is one of hope. On market days, Bridport is a shining example of a thriving town. Saunter along any […]
More than 200 striking sculptures by 30 contemporary artists are on display at Dorchester’s Sculpture by the Lakes until the end of May. The new artworks include nine pieces by the late Heather Jansch, the first exhibition of her work since her death last year. Also among the new sculptures are Barn Owl III by […]
Fears that Sherborne would lose its only dine-in Indian restaurant after a planning officer at Dorset Council approved plans for the building were raised at a town council meeting this week. Azizul (Abdul) Haque has run Rajpoot in Half Moon Street for 35 years and has a firm following. However Huish Estates’ plans to increase […]
Shoppers can park for free in Dorchester after BID members agreed to fund the Park4FREE scheme. More than 70 shops and other businesses in Dorchester and the Dorchester BID are paying the parking charges for anyone who spends more than £10 in a participating business. Two hours’ parking will be refunded to shoppers via the […]
An incredible set of play equipment is nearly ready to open in Poundbury finishing £1m-worth of facilities that will make the Great Field the envy of the world. There’s now something for all ages at the park, with facilities for teenagers, adults, toddlers and pensioners now in place, with a café and public toilets to […]
A planning application for a 40-acre solar farm near Maiden Newton has now secured the backing from the parish council after a new route into the site has been agreed. While Maiden Newton Parish Council had agreed the application ‘in principle’ councillors were concerned with the amount of ‘construction traffic’ on small narrow lanes. However, […]
Six parishes are preparing a long list of concerns to present to the group that runs their GP surgery. Ammonite Health Partnership has been running the Bridport Medical Practice, Beaminster’s Tunnel Road Surgery and Maiden Newton’s Tollerford Practice since May last year. In the middle of the pandemic, and during summer weather patients put up […]