PLANS for a housing development in Christchurch that were once likened to a “Legoland ghetto” have been approved by a planning inspector. Housing association Sovereign Twynham’s application to demolish the 24 existing flats at Scotts Green
A SELECTION of eye-catching funeral merchandise will be put on display in Bournemouth next month as part of the world’s first Six Feet Under convention. The event, to be held between August 12 and 14, celebrates the cult TV series set around
FRIDAY night fireworks are returning with a big bang as Bournemouth launches its free summer fun programme. The firework displays are making a welcome return to the town after an absence of five years. This Friday will spark a host of free events
SMS – Spam Messages Suck! This might not have been the original meaning but it's perfect for today's onslaught of unwanted texts, clogging up mobile phones. And sadly in many cases the convention “just text stop” is damaging, not helpful.
THE independent councillor who defected to the Conservatives within days of May’s elections would have been defeated at the polls if he had stood as a Tory, a survey has suggested. Throop and Muscliff councillor Derek Borthwick sparked outrage
THE MP who fought to save Portland Coastguard station has branded the idea of a European Coastguard service a “disaster”. Conservative South Dorset MP Richard Drax has been battling to keep the station open amid government proposals to slash
PLANS to transform a former school into an arts centre and family homes have been approved despite residents’ fears they will create a “ghetto” in Boscombe. Civic chiefs met yesterday morning to resolve the long debate over the future of the Bournemouth
THE feel-good factor comes to Bournemouth’s Pier Theatre this summer with musical extravaganza High School Mania. Young and old alike will be delighted by the high-energy show, featuring hits from the popular High School Musicals 1, 2 and 3
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of fraud after scores of Wareham and Ferndown pupils had their school skiing trips cancelled at the eleventh hour. The 70-year-old was taken into police custody months after police launched an investigation into the
BOURNEMOUTH’S Castlepoint shopping centre has enjoyed its busiest Saturday on record with savvy bargain-hunters parking up from 3am. Manager Peter Matthews has revealed how the Next sale helped lure almost 20,000 carloads of customers to Castlepoint
STAR of screen and stage John Barrowman will be showing off his vocal talent when he stops off in Bournemouth as part of a 23-date UK tour. The entertainer will perform at the BIC on November 18 and will play tracks from The Best of John Barrowman
HIGH-tech internet servers, an eco boiler and new dining and learning facilities for catering students are coming to The Arnewood School, thanks to £326,000 in new funding. The New Milton secondary is being given the cash from the Young Person
CONTRACTORS are to be paid £150,000 to repair Boscombe surf reef this summer, leaving no funds in reserve if improvements fail. The Daily Echo can reveal how a council decision earlier this year to withhold part of ASR’s contract payment
The Urban Heaths Partnership will be visiting both Kinson & Turbary Commons with their trailer on the following dates Monday 15th August. Kinson Common between 10am and 1pm. Turbary Common between 2pm and 5pm. Saturday 20th August. Turbary Common
IT just wouldn’t be the same without them. Bournemouth Air Festival fans can once again expect to see the stars of the show flying between the piers – the Red Arrows. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team will take to the skies thanks to the support of
A MAN carried out a “hideous and ferocious rape” before hanging himself at Poole High School when he realised detectives were onto him, an inquest heard. Donald Morgan, 22, of Poole, hit his victim repeatedly during the attack on Canford Heath
WITH a reaction speed that would have made Bruce Lee proud, Rupert Murdoch’s wife became an unlikely hero when she leapt to the defence of her husband as he gave evidence in parliament this week. In a scene witnessed by millions around the
CHEF Alex Aiken at The Jetty restaurant in Mudeford prides himself on using local, seasonal and simple ingredients in his dishes. Try his recipe for Mackerel on Toast with Tomato Compote for a healthy, tasty lunch. Simple compote recipe ¼ cup olive
DAMIAN Challis feels proud at the chance to give British soldiers killed in action a decent goodbye. The 33-year-old is a driver at Camp Bastian’s medical unit but is also a drummer and bugler in the Royal Marines Band Service. He’s
AT least 60 worried staff members at Winton and Glenmoor schools have met with union leaders to discuss ways of saving their jobs. Support and admin staff at the two schools have been placed at risk of redundancy to save money. But union
I would like to thank the passer by with the black labrador ‘Puppy’ on Alum Chine beach this morning. Thank you - for allowing ‘Puppy’ to bounce around me snapping his teeth on my arm and hand, jumping around excitedly throwing sand everywhere, and successfully
MANY thanks to all the RSPCA flag day volunteers who recently raised more than £450 from street collections in Swanage and Wareham for abandoned and injured animals. Pretty much the same group of volunteers will be turning out on Saturday September 3
I WAS appalled to read of Annette Brooke’s Private Member’s bill to force children to wear bike helmets. The use of the figure for total hospital admissions to justify this is nothing more than sensationalist reporting as most of these will not even
I USED to say that I was the head of the household. My wife, every mindful of the contribution I make to that household on a daily basis, will assure me that I am indeed the head... but that she is the neck and can therefore make me turn any which way
WHAT a truly inspirational, uplifting evening at our Methodist Church on Sunday night. Standing room only and voices raised in songs nearly lifting off the roof. It was Verwood’s wonderful, unstuffy, modern Minister Ralph Ward’s last service and what
Recently my husband Ronald and I were on holiday at my aunt’s house in Christchurch. We love the town and have been coming down every year for over 40 years for family holidays. On Friday, July 1, Ronald had a fatal heart attack. At 6.50am I had
SO the controversial 40mph speed limit on the Richmond Hill part of the Wessex Way is to be made permanent. Cllr Michael Filer, Bournemouth council’s cabinet member for transportation, seems to be happy that he has got his way. Surely he and
RELUCTANT though I am to enter the cycling debate, I must. I have just returned from walking my dog on the Westcliff where she was nearly run down by a cyclist. I pointed out that there were lots of signs advising that cycling was prohibited and received
IN response to a letter about the earth mounds at Muscliff Park, can I reassure the gentleman that the young people helped move the mounds away from the road as several young people were cycling from across the road which is on a bend to get up speed
STUNNED charity shop staff watched in horror as a car came crashing through their front window on Wednesday afternoon. One worker at Barnardo’s on Poole Road, Westbourne, was at the till when the automatic grey Hyundai Comfort ploughed into the premises
COUNCIL chiefs have approved controversial plans to shut three day centres for people in Bournemouth with learning disabilities. A number of vulnerable adults who rely on the centres and their care workers turned up to the cabinet meeting hoping
RYAN Garry said he left no stone unturned in a bid to save his playing career before being forced to reluctantly hang up his boots. The Cherries defender announced his retirement on Tuesday night, as revealed exclusively on the Daily Echo
PIRATES manager Neil Middleditch reckons Darcy Ward will start as hot favourite in the World Under-21 Championship Final first round – with team-mate Dennis Andersson also a lively contender on familiar territory. Middleditch believes that home advantage
SWIM Bournemouth’s Luke Raggett says he feels “embarrassed and humiliated” after his dream of competing in next week’s ASA National Youth Championships at Sheffield was ended by what he believed was a cruel and elaborate hoax. The 17-year-old was training
WIMBORNE’S long-awaited new Queen Elizabeth’s School will open on budget in October. Due to building delays on the £52.6million project, pupils will start the academic year in the old school and move into the adjacent eco-friendly centre after
IT was April 2008 when I waited for more than an hour to speak to Ryan Garry after a reserve game. Eddie Howe, then the reserve team boss, made small talk after the Pontins Holidays Combination clash against Plymouth Argyle at Dean Court, but, gradually
HAVING battled adversity through virtually every stage of his professional life, Ryan Garry’s measured and articulate response to the most cruel of blows should have come as no surprise. Stood in the unfamiliar surroundings of Wimborne Town
FORMER England boss Glenn Hoddle believes Cherries’ management duo have the youthful enthusiasm to succeed – and he thinks they will emerge stronger for last season’s play-off heartache. Hoddle is tipping rookies Lee Bradbury and Steve Fletcher to benefit
