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 […]

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 […]

Good news for road safety! In the next few months the speed limit on Osmington Hill will be cut.  With so many narrow entrances on to the A353 between Preston and Osmington, and increased use from holidaymakers, the current national speed limit is dangerous and it is welcome news that it is to be reduced. […]

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 […]

  Today, the Conservative Cabinet running Dorset County Council voted to end our local mobile library service.  Three out of four mobile libraries are to be axed at the end of the year and only one is being retained to visit care homes.  This will remove a service that is vital for people who don’t […]

The proposal to change and open up the way that West Dorset District Council is run has been overwhelmingly approved by local residents.  A total of 15,534 voted for Change and a move to Committee based decision making as opposed to 8,811 who voted to keep things as they are with a Leader + Cabinet […]

There’s good news for local communities! New local grants include £1,300 towards the cost of this new bus shelter in Puddletown (see photo).  In addition, other local groups to benefit from grants this year include Broadmayne Scouts who have received funding towards outdoor equipment, Owermoigne Parish Council for a new notice board, Osmington for a […]

Ever since I was elected to the County Council I have been pressing for the Highways Authority to be more pro-active in making our roads safer, including cutting speed limits. A result of this has been the decision to trial a 50mph speed limit between Broadmayne and Dorchester along the A352 over the next twelve […]