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by Andy Canning on 2 February, 2017
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 […]
Read more 3 Commentsby Andy Canning on 29 November, 2016
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 […]
Read more 1 Commentby Andy Canning on 1 November, 2016
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 […]
Read more Leave a commentby Andy Canning on 20 October, 2016
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 […]
Read more Leave a commentby Andy Canning on 16 September, 2016
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 […]
Read more Leave a commentby Andy Canning on 21 July, 2016
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 […]
Read more 1 Commentby Andy Canning on 29 June, 2016
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 […]
Read more Leave a commentby Andy Canning on 9 May, 2016
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 […]
Read more Leave a commentby Andy Canning on 18 January, 2016
After years of campaigning by local Parish Councils and myself the County Council has agreed to find the money to fix the problem of flooding on the West Stafford by-pass. A project is currently underway to find the most cost effective solution and we’ve been promised that this solution will be in place this year! […]
Read more Leave a commentby Andy Canning on 10 April, 2015
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 […]
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