News in Dorchester

West Dorset MP Chris Loder has praised St Osmund's Middle School in Dorchester for going "above and beyond" during the pandemic, as he called for vaccinations for teachers to be given higher priority.

Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday (Tuesday), Mr Loder addressed Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, asking him to place vaccinations for teaching staff higher on the agenda, following the efforts they had made to continue the education of young people in challenging circumstances.

More than 3,000 Dorset Council and care home staff will have been vaccinated locally against Covid by the end of this week.

Adult social care brief holder Cllr Laura Miller said that by the end of the week, working with Dorset County Hospital, it is estimated that around 3,200 staff and associated care workers will have been vaccinated.

A brand-new building that enables a Dorset charity to have an office, community space and café has been completed.

CG Fry built Pavilion in the Park on the Great Field, Poundbury, at cost price, ready for it to be fitted out, and has been handed over to the Alcohol Education Trust (AET).

Dorchester's HSBC branch is not among those set to close this year.

The bank announced it would be shutting 82 branches in the UK between April and September due to customers increasingly using internet banking.

A council tax increase of less than one per cent is likely to be approved by Dorchester town council next week.

Another of the authority's committees has overwhelmingly backed the proposed 0.8 per cent rise in the council's share of the tax, although some councillors argued for a bigger rise to help the town as it comes out of the pandemic.

Proposals for a national park for Dorset has won the backing of several Dorchester groups – but has yet to convince the town council or Dorset Council.

Neither authority has decided yet whether it is for or against the proposal.

Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has put together a guide on what residents need to know while Covid-19 vaccinations continue to be rolled out.

A spokesman said: "We know there is intense interest in the Covid-19 vaccination and you will want to know when and where you will be able to get yours.

Dorchester's main Wednesday stall market could be about to enter a new, positive, era.

New markets committee chairman Cllr Molly Rennie says there is now a 'can do' attitude from Dorset Council which puts the success of the market above the need for profit.

A new sewage treatment facility has been agreed for the walled garden of Dewlish House.

The new pumped plant, next to the wall, will replace an old septic tank which discharges into the Devils Brook. It is claimed that it will produce a better standard of effluent which will be monitored by the Environment Agency.

Dorchester's tourism will be given a shot in the arm by the town council during the coming year as the country comes out of the pandemic.

Work is progressing with a number of partners to make more of the county town's heritage attractions including launching a new website for visitors.