I have been working very hard with Cllr Nick Ireland to ensure that there is some sort of day time bus service for Crossways, Broadmayne, West Knighton, Warmwell and Osmington. After much behind the scenes negotiation Damory have confirmed this morning that they are willing to run an ‘experimental’ service up to September. More details […]

West Dorset District Council has decided to have a fifth attempt at developing Charles Street.  This is the latest news in the long-running saga which began back in the 1970’s!  It has already cost taxpayers several millions and there is nothing to show for it, except a state-of-the-art Council HQ!  For this latest proposal WDDC […]

At last the new paving at the lower end of South Street has been finished. Last weekend the Mayor officially re-opened the area along with some majorettes! As Chairman of the Dorchester Transport & Environment working group I am pleased that this work and the new pedestrian crossing will act to improve the links between […]

Dorset County Council has announced that it is cutting the number of bus services that it supports from 35 down to just 7! This will have a devastating effect on everyone who doesn’t have access to a car. It will increase isolation as those on low incomes, poor mobility and the elderly, who live anywhere […]

There is a very real possibility that your GP’s Surgery could close by 2021. Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are considering a strategy document that is proposing a drastic reduction in the number of what they call “sites delivering Primary Care” or what we call GP’s Surgeries. You can read the report here. Page 34 […]

The plans announced recently to recently to end overnight care on Kingfisher Children’s Ward and the proposal to scale back maternity care at the County Hospital are deeply disappointing. Twice in recent years, thousands of residents have marched through the streets to defend key local health services.close Kingfisher Children’s Ward and the Special Care Baby […]

Despite tourism being West Dorset’s largest employer and Dorchester’s TIC receiving over 180,000 visitors last year, the District Council is looking to cut this service drastically to save just a few thousand pounds!  Two options are being considered – closing the staffed office completely or retaining a much-reduced service with fewer staff, fewer things on […]

I am delighted to have been chosen as the Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for West Dorset should there be an early General Election. Recently I have been involved with campaigns to save our local Youth Centres, maintain rural bus services, keep smaller local libraries and stop our countryside from being overdeveloped!  I also led the […]

Both Dorchester and Crossways Youth & Community Centres are due to re-open their doors this week.  After the withdrawal of all funding by Dorset County Council two independent community charities made up of local volunteers have taken on running these local Youth Centres.  Crossways will re-open its doors on September 8th and Dorchester on September […]

Despite strong protests and a lively debate the County Council agreed today to give many of its senior staff a substantial pay rise. At a time of major job cuts and cuts in services this seems to me to be totally unjustifiable.  Altogether it will cost tax payers £65,000 that could have been spent on […]