Archive for January, 2010
06/01/2010 1 Comment

South West Quadrant: Top West Dorset Lib Dem Sue Farrant backs protestors

LESS than three weeks to go until the start of the appeal into the biggest development in Bridport for 30 years, and Dr Sue Farrant is backing the campaign against plans to redevelop St Michael’s Trading Estate.

Dr Sue Farrant with Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg

Dr Farrant, the Liberal Democrats’ contender for West Dorset at the forthcoming General Election, says she is unhappy with the way that Conservative-controlled West Dorset District Council (WDDC) has behaved over the issue of the South West Quadrant of Bridport, which includes St Michael’s Trading Estate.

WDDC was initially in league with landowners Haywards, until its own councillors rejected what was planned and Haywards then decided to appeal. The hearing will begin at West Bay on January 26.   

Dr Farrant says: “I entirely support the campaign by the Friends of St Michael’s Trading Estate against the current proposals to develop the South West Quadrant of Bridport.

“I believe that any regeneration plan must maintain both the community of small businesses and working artists and an adequately-sized public transport terminal, as well as include other essential community resources, notably the Trick Factory.

“I think the behaviour of West Dorset District Council (WDDC) over this issue has been extremely heavy-handed and it appears to me that a number of important issues which were raised by tenants and residents and by the Town Council have simply not been taken into account.

“I don’t make these comments lightly because I am all too well aware of the need for more housing in the area and the pressure on WDDC to meet government targets.

“However, the inclusion of 100 units in addition to the 70 in the Local Plan seems to me to fly in the face of WDDC’s wider responsiblity to promote the economic, environmental and social well being of the communities it serves. That means taking all factors into account rather than pursuing a single goal to the exclusion of all others.

“I am a great believer in local communities coming together to work out solutions to issues like these and in my experience that is the only way that sustainable outcomes can be achieved.”

For other stories on the South West Quadrant and the Trick Factory, look on this site in the Category called South West Quadrant.
06/01/2010 No comments

Laurence Olivier or Lawrence of Arabia? Team Dorset saga rumbles on

“SIR Laurence Olivier lived in Bovington and died in a motorcycle accident on Clouds Hill.”

This was a sample “Fascinating Fact” published by Team Dorset last year. Alas, it’s not a fact; it is stupendously wrong, mixing up Laurence Olivier and Lawrence of Arabia (T.E. Lawrence), and the mistake earned Team Dorset much unwelcome publicity.    

And still the saga rumbles quietly on. Team Dorset (whose purpose is to make sure that Dorset benefits from hosting Olympic sailing events) is now advertising for volunteer Fact Verifiers: “In build-up to the 2012 games we’re gathering 1000 facts about Dorset. Verifiers needed to research and verify facts received over a range of subjects.”

You can see why Team Dorset is advertising because - to be fair – it’s a difficult job verifying “facts” sent in by people to the Team Dorset website.

Today’s fact, for example, reads: “The Iron Age Hod Hill, which contains a Roman fort, covers the largest area among Dorset hill forts.”

But does it? If it does, why does the Open University / BBC website call Maiden Castle near Dorchester ”the largest Iron Age hillfort in Britain”? Other seemingly reputable sources go along with this.

Who is right and who is wrong? I’m inclined to think that actually Hod Hill near Blandford might be bigger, but I don’t know. If it’s the kind of thing that you feel like volunteering to find out for sure, good luck!

Anybody interested should call 01305-269214, email dorchester.vb@btopenworld.com or visit the volunteeringdorset website (click on this link).
06/01/2010 2 Comments

Afternoon Dorset snow update and forecast

A snowy field near Bridport Wednesday, January 6

Afternoon snow update

AFTER significant snowfall late in the morning and early this afternoon, with further flurries still expected, Dorset County Council’s gritting fleet is continuing to salt and plough priority routes.

Much of the snow will begin to clear from the north by 5pm, when only patchy snow will be likely. This evening drivers are being urged to watch out for ice, which will be widespread as the weather stays dry but with freezing road temperatures.

Sunny spells are expected tomorrow morning but it will remain icy. Drivers are advised by the authorities to take extra care if travelling as even treated roads could still have some slippery patches.

The council’s gritters will continue to salt/grit and plough if necessary until snow has stopped around 5pm this afternoon. From 6pm they will start treating priority routes again with a salt/grit mix as a precaution against the freezing overnight temperatures and to give more traction on the roads.

Gritting teams have been instructed to treat secondary roads from midnight tonight. A decision will be made at around 7am tomorrow morning about whether any further action is required. 

Morning news

MUCH of Dorset escaped the snow showers forecast for last night but Dorset County Council gritting crews were in action to keep roads clear of snow where it fell in the north and other parts of the county.

Around 7.5cm of snow fell around Shaftesbury and Gillingham, where roads were ploughed by the county council’s gritters. The treated roads are now passable with care. There was also snow on the A30 Sherborne dual carriageway, which has since cleared.

The county council stood down its snow control centre last night when it became clear from updated forecasts that the snow would not fall on Dorset in such large quantities as expected.

Up to 3cm of snow fell in the Purbeck area and around Lyme Regis and Bridport this morning, as well as on higher ground around the county. Dorchester and Weymouth are clear, as is the Cerne Abbas area.

There is a covering of snow on the A356 at Toller Down and some visible at Organford near Wareham. Cameras show the roads to be clearing as traffic moves over them. No disruption to traffic is expected on the treated network in the early part of this morning.

Last night, Dorset’s gritters salted its priority routes network at 8pm and subsequently carried out a local snow clearance operation in the Purbecks, where one main route became hazardous due to the snow freezing. Crews are currently on standby and ready to go out if required.

The latest forecast is that the band of snow surrounding Dorset will slowly, over a period of three to four hours move southwards across the county. We can expect 1-2cm over the county with increased accumulations of 3-4cm on high ground, especially in the north of the county around Gillingham.

Through the afternoon, the snow clouds will clear away and the danger overnight will be freezing surfaces making untreated roads especially hazardous if they are snow-covered. It is expected that the main roads will be cleared before the afternoon rush hour.

Pretend mountain climbing in a snowy holloway

Council officers remain on standby in case more snow arrives than forecast. Some schools and other services across Dorset have been closed due to ice and snow. Information about how all council services are being affected by the weather is being regularly updated at http://www.dorsetforyou.com/winter

These pages include interactive maps showing any closed roads, schools, libraries, day care centres and school bus services not running as well as information on disruption to waste services, adult learning courses, leisure centres and much more. There are also essential tips for safer winter driving and regular updates about road conditions and gritting action, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about gritting. 

Loders School closed: Not enough heating oil

Schools closed in West Dorset include:

  • Beaminster School
  • Broadwindsor Primary School
  • Charmouth Primary School
  • Gryphon School, Sherborne
  • Loders Primary School
  • Marshwood Primary School
  • Mountjoy School, Bridport
  • Parrett & Axe Primary School, Mosterton
  • Sherborne Learning Centre
  • St Mary’s Primary School, Beaminster
  • St Mary’s Primary School, Bradford Abbas
  • Sticklands Primary School, Evershot
  • St Mary’s Primary School, Thorncombe
  • Thornford Primary School
  • Woodroffe School, Lyme Regis
02/01/2010 2 Comments

Where in West Dorset are chavs being encouraged?

FOUND this on tumblr with the comment “Dorset knows lol”

What I can’t work out, from looking at the wall,  is where this mock sign is supposed to be. It looks tantalisingly like West Bay, but could it be Lyme Regis? A strange question, I know, but I am genuinely curious…