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 […]

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 […]

I warmly welcome the long overdue repair and resurfacing work to the B3390.  It has taken months of pushing for this.  In addition I have got DCC to agree to improve the road safety markings by the new Co-Op and around the village of Warmwell to make drivers aware of the need for safety in […]

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 […]

Nick Ireland – for Broadmayne & Crossways Ward Nick moved to Osmington 14 years ago and his three children have all attended local schools. He has been involved in numerous local projects including the production of both the Village Design Statement and Community Plan. Nick joined Osmington Parish Council in early 2009 and is currently […]