Stories for 3 October 2003
Bournemouth Cherries
Sean's loan search
CHERRIES boss Sean O'Driscoll could be forced to bolster his squad with a loan signing unless the acute Dean Court injury crisis shows signs of easing. more...
Bournemouth News
Time for clearing cheques to be cut
BANKS are to be forced to clear cheques faster under new legislation being announced next month. more...
PM praises police for `job well done'
TONY Blair and David Blunkett have commended the police operation during the Labour Party Conference as a job well done. more...
Boy's leg broken after `attack' in playground
ANOTHER worried mother has voiced fears for her son's safety at a school hit by reports of bullying. more...
And hair you have it...
DAILY Echo staff in Bournemouth had a bit of a hairy time in September... and their "suffering" has helped raise hundreds of pounds. more...
Pyro-maniac!
EXPLOSIVES experts were called in after a potentially lethal cache of fireworks was found in a domestic garage - just yards from neighbouring homes. more...
Safety warning after death fall
A CHARITY raising awareness about accidents in the home has warned DIY enthusiasts to take extra care following the death of a man who fell from a ladder while painting his home. more...
PM praises police for `job well done'
TONY Blair and David Blunkett have commended the police operation during the Labour Party Conference as a job well done. more...
Castle plans hit after Lotto blow
STUNNED councillors have been forced to reconsider the future of Highcliffe Castle after a major National Lottery funding bid was turned down. more...
Boy's leg broken after `attack' in playground
ANOTHER worried mother has voiced fears for her son's safety at a school hit by reports of bullying. more...
And hair you have it...
DAILY Echo staff in Bournemouth had a bit of a hairy time in September... and their "suffering" has helped raise hundreds of pounds. more...
New move to scrap Gardens voted out
EFFORTS by Bournemouth Conservative councillors to scrap plans to save the Winter Gardens were thrown out after a long debate in the Town Hall. more...
Pyro-maniac!
EXPLOSIVES experts were called in after a potentially lethal cache of fireworks was found in a domestic garage - just yards from neighbouring homes. more...
Bridport Bridport
Rare grass is under threat
CARAVANS and car boot sales could prove to be the final straw for a nationally important area of rare grassland at West Bay, experts have warned. more...
Palace action plan backed
THE reopening of Bridport's much missed Palace Cinema moved closer this week when town councillors called "action" on major renovation plans. more...
Remembrance book presented to American Embassy
BRIDPORT'S book of remembrance, opened in response to the events of September 11 2001, has been handed over to the American Embassy. more...
Broadoak woman's Inca Trail challenge
AT 61 Georgina Burnham from Broadoak is taking on a tough challenge - to trek the Inca trail in Peru and to raise enough money to fund a Marie Curie nurse for one month. more...
Butchers bring home the bacon
Fanfare for band week
THE ORGANISER of Bridport's military band week has been overwhelmed with plaudits for the spectacular event, which culminated in a tattoo on the town's football ground. more...
Nostalgic night for Beaminster's class of '64
BEAMINSTER School's class of '64 enjoyed a night at the school reminiscing about old times on Saturday thanks to a lot of hard work by Georgina Jackman and David White tracking down lost school friends. more...
Lib Dems win by-election
FORMER Liberal Democrat Jean Shaw has failed to win back her seat on Bridport Town Council despite the backing of the local Labour Party. more...
Beaminster's new councillors are ready to serve
BEAMINSTER'S two new councillors are both looking forward to taking up their seats on the town council following last Thursday's election - the first in decades. more...
Anglers cast their net for Jetty appeal
MEMBERS of West Bay Sea Angling Club were catching passers-by in Bridport's Bucky Doo Square on Saturday. more...
Exciting plans for recording studio
A RECORDING studio is to be created at Bridport Youth and Community Centre as part of a £80,000 redevelopment scheme. more...
Brakes put on car park plan
A PROPOSAL to extend Bridport's South Street car park is likely to be put on the back burner after a recommendation by district councillors this week. more...
Christchurch News
Castle plans hit after Lotto blow
STUNNED councillors have been forced to reconsider the future of Highcliffe Castle after a major National Lottery funding bid was turned down. more...
East Dorset News
Residents shocked and angered by waste plan
MASS anger has poured out in response to plans for a controversial waste treatment centre in Ferndown. more...
Lyme Regis Lyme
Strawberry Field decision today
A VITAL decision on Lyme's Strawberry Field planning application will be made tonight (Friday). more...
Tourist office has 98000 customers
VISITORS have been making the most of the refurbished Lyme Regis Tourist Information Centre, which has now been managed by the district council for 18 months. more...
Group fights high rise tax
AN ACTION group in Lyme Regis is launching a campaign to fight crippling council tax rises. Members of the Lyme Regis and Uplyme over 50s action forum say they are fed up with increases in the tax, which for many has soared in recent years. Forum leader Lt Cdr Tony Norman, 63, said: " The action forum has realised that its main concern should be rises in council tax, which it considers to be absolutely iniquitous." Lt Cdr Norman, a retired naval helicopter pilot, said pensioners could not sustain payments of the high-rise tax when their incomes were only going up in line with inflation. He said council tax in Lyme Regis was second highest, band for band, in the county but the town didn't have better public services. He said: "There is definitely a lack of police presence in this area." Cdr Norman said his band G council tax had been £965 in 1995 when he had moved to Lyme Regis. Now it was £1, 996 a year - a 100 percent rise in eight years. Pensioners in Devon recently went on council tax strike - some of them risking prison - because they couldn't afford rises in council tax set by Devon county council. Cdr Norman said members of the Lyme Regis action forum (of which there are now 70, and it is growing all the time) were being less militant at this stage and pursuing a law-abiding solution. He said: "We believe in Dorset that we're not quite as militant as the Devon brigade. There are not many people round here that would be prepared to go to prison. We don't want the bailiffs coming round." Pensioners would be writing letters to the county council and central government, he said. This would be followed by a protest at county hall in Dorchester. Finance officers at both the district and county council's have agreed to come and talk with the forum in November. Other councils in the south have already blamed central government for taking funds out of the region and financing traditional Labour heartland in the north. Cdr Norman praised the support of Lyme Regis residents, saying the group was expanding at a rate. He said: "We have been very encouraged by the support of local people." * the Lyme Regis and Uplyme action forum for people over 50 was set up by Toy Norman and Coun Peter Bean. To find out more about the forum contact secretary Tony Perramon 01297 442983. more...
Heart attack strikes town councillor
LYME Regis town councillor Peter Bean was yesterday in hospital recovering from a heart attack. Coun Bean, 74, who joined the council in May, was waiting to be moved to Southampton where doctors want to run tests. His partner Dodie Hills said on Wednesday: "He has been very low, but was brighter today." Coun Bean suffered a heart attack at home in Charmouth Road in the early hours of Sunday and was rushed to hospital in Dorchester. While there he suffered a series of smaller attacks which doctor's described as "fall out" from the initial coronary. Ms Hills said that by Wednesday he was more stable and was in better spirits. Coun Bean is the president of the town band and chairman of the over 50s action forum. A retired civil servant, he has lived in Lyme for seven years, having moved here from Dover where he had served as the mayor. more...
Engineers seek permission for coastal scheme
ENGINEERS working on a ground-breaking scheme to safeguard the future of Lyme Regis are now seeking planning permission. The plans for coastal protection works in Lyme will take years to complete and cost in the region of £15 million. It will be the district council's largest ever engineering project. Proposals include: Replacement of beaches New sea walls New promenade New jetties New break waters Slope strengthening throughout the town New drainage systems Earthworks Landscaping and ancillary works at Cobb gate to harbour District council leader Gwyn Pritchard told the News: "This is a major scheme for Lyme Regis and will go a long way towards reducing the threat of landslides and damaging erosion by the sea." Because the district council is responsible for making planning decisions in West Dorset, the application will considered by the secretary of state. Such is the scale of the project that many other organisations also have to be consulted including English Heritage, English Nature, the Victorian Society, the Georgian Society, the Society for the preservation of ancient buildings and the Fine Arts Commission. Engineering manager for the district council Keith Cole said the scheme would not only offer protection for the town but had several other spin-off benefits. He said: "The sand and shingle beaches will be replenished and Cart Road will be extended, providing a longer promenade and sand amenity. An increase to the length of beacon rocks at the end of the Cobb will offer more shelter for boats in the harbour while Langmoor and Lister gardens will be improved and have access ramps." If planning approval is granted, the district council can apply to DEFRA (the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) for funding. DEFRA has already given £2million to the council to draw up the project. Comments from the public are now being sought until October 17. The plans are available to view at the town council offices in Church Street. *Town councillors will consider the planning application at a special planning committee meeting tonight at the guildhall. The meeting is open to the public and starts at 7pm. more...
New Forest News
In the long run Steve wants to fleece you
HE'S A running man to put Arnie Schwarzenegger to shame. more...
Boy's leg broken after `attack' in playground
ANOTHER worried mother has voiced fears for her son's safety at a school hit by reports of bullying. more...
North Dorset News
GM food worry raised on pupils
COUNCIL chiefs are worried that GM crops will be fed to schoolchildren against their will and that they have lost control of "Frankenstein" foods to Brussels. more...
Purbeck News
Planners to debate bid for clay mine museum
PROPOSALS for a Purbeck mining museum near the spot of Dorset's first railway line have been lodged with district planning chiefs. more...
Weymouth News
Swimmer 'exaggerated boat danger'
A SWIMMER who claimed he was almost struck by a fishing boat off West Bay had exaggerated the danger, a passenger aboard the vessel insisted this week. more...
Exhibition is open to businesses of all sizes
A MAJOR exhibition to promote businesses in the borough will be staged at Weymouth Pavilion this month. more...
Art display to show off church revamp
A BRADPOLE church is celebrating the completion of its open access project this weekend. more...
Record-breaking Walk to School Week planned
PARENTS and children are being urged to `park and stride' in a record-breaking Walk to School week in Dorset. more...
Dorset Lady leaves £1.5m
A PEER'S wife who lived near Dorchester left nearly £1.5million to her family. more...
Over-use threat to rare grassland
CARAVANS and car boot sales could prove to be the final straw for a nationally important area of rare grassland at West Bay, experts have warned. more...
Sponsorship needed for Inca trek for Marie Curie
AT 61 Georgina Burnham from Broadoak is taking on a tough challenge - to trek the Inca trail in Peru and to raise money to fund a Marie Curie nurse for one month. more...
Help at the end of the 999 phone line
A MAJOR crash has just happened on a country road in Dorset. more...
Focus on children's care
A CONFERENCE is to be held in Dorchester on October 11 to boost the skills of childminders. more...
Chewing gum problem could be wrapped up
`EE BAH gum!' more...
Clubs in crisis talks on centre
CLUBS using Weymouth Arts Centre fear they will end up homeless if the building is redeveloped next year. more...
Sortitout to the rescue! Apathy summit success
SPOOF superheroes have claimed victory in the war on apathy in Dorchester. more...
Save us from yobs
A PICTURESQUE Dorset village is being `abused' by young thugs, it was claimed today. more...
Mother condemns 'soft' sentencing
AN angry mother today hit out at the five-year driving ban given a drink-driving pensioner whose car mowed down her son as `an insult to justice'. more...
Security operation hailrd a success
DORSET'S biggest security operation has been hailed a success by police. more...
New move to launch University of the Third Age
ORGANISERS today appealed for people to help a new University of the Third Age group off the ground in Weymouth and Portland. more...
Inmate found hanged in cell
A prisoner has been found hanged in his cell less than a week after being convicted of burglary. more...
Look to Hitler!
TORY Party stalwart Colin Green today launched a blistering eve-of-conference attack on his party boss and held up Adolf Hitler as an example of a successful leader. more...
Weymouth Sport
HOWZAT FOR ECHOSPORT !
ECHOSPORT'S coverage of cricket at grass roots level has been heralded as among the best in the country. more...
DETERMINED TERRAS ARE RARING TO GO
STEVE Claridge says his league leaders are chomping at the bit to bury last week's FA Cup disappointment when they resume their title challenge at home Stafford Rangers tomorrow. more...
MORRIS RINGS CHANGES FOR CRUCIAL SIX-POINTER
DORCHESTER boss Mark Morris had a potentially rewarding trip to Chelsea's training ground yesterday - but the Magpies won't be seeing the benefits before tomorrow's crucial Dr Martens Premier Division game away to bottom markers Moor Green. more...
ISLANDERS AIM TO CURB FREE-SCORING LINNETS
JEKYLL AND HYDE BEES GET MNIDFIELD BOOST
BRIDPORT travel to unbeaten Barnstaple Town in the Screwfix Direct Premier Division tomorrow hoping to put their recent poor form behind them. more...
DORCHESTER DERBY CLOUDED BY TRAGEDY
THE first all-Dorchester derby in the Dorset Premier League for nearly 30 years is expected to attract the Magpies biggest reserve team gate of the season to the Avenue Stadium tomorrow. more...
VILLAGERS CONFIDENT OF MAINTAINING RUN
AUSTIN'S ASIAN TRIP TO PROVE LTA WRONG
DORCHESTER tennis star Jonathan Austin is off to Asia in a bid to show the Lawn Tennis Association that he's not too old at 23 to get into the world rankings. more...
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