News in Dorchester

Businesses across Dorchester have been announced as finalists in the Dorset Tourism Awards.

More than 90 entries were received into the awards, with 60 selected as finalist who are now in suspense until the awards day, scheduled for February 4, when they will learn whether they have won gold, silver, bronze or a special award. A further nine received commended status.

Coronavirus cases continue to raise across Dorset, but are increasing steeper in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council area.

A total of 241 people had died in Dorset within 28 days of a positive test as of January 14, according to gov.uk data.

Dorset school meals provider, Local Food Links, has been praised for its food parcels being provided to families during lockdown.

There has been a lot of negativity around the free school meal parcels with many photos being shared of inadequate food boxes with little or no fresh food.

Council staff who try and stop youngsters using Dorchester's skatepark have been verbally abused.

Town councillors heard that despite wire fencing and warning signs to keep people out during lockdown the area continues to be used – with the fences pulled apart to get in.

Dorset planners are being asked to sign off the final details of a 76-home retirement complex for Poundbury.

The project is expected to create in excess of 50 full-time jobs once completed.

Security fencing proposed for a Dorchester school site has been described as looking as if it would surround a prison.

Town councillors have objected to the height and look of the fencing being planned for St Osmund's Middle School.

Music By The Lake will return in the summer of 2022, it has been confirmed.

The live music event, organised by Weldmar Hospicecare and Kingston Maurward in Dorchester, attracted thousands of visitors when it was first held in July 2019, who enjoyed performances by some of the UK's leading tribute bands and artists.

Dorchester ballet and dance school may re-locate to a new home at the town's Sandringham Sports Centre.

Town councillors have backed the idea of allowing the school to build in a corner of its car park alongside the sports centre, which is home to the town's bowls club.

Visitors to Hardy's Birthplace and Thorncombe Woods are urged not to feed the ponies.

A spokesman said: "They are bred to deal with a low nutrient diet, so even apples and carrots are not OK and neither are polos or things from packets.

A man has been arrested in connection with a series of reported burglaries on Dorchester and Weymouth.

The first incident happened at around 5.40am on Sunday, October 25, 2020, at Broadwey Village Stores on Dorchester Road in Weymouth. The offenders allegedly gained entry by smashing a glass panel. Nothing was reported as stolen.