THE developers hoping to build on Bournemouth’s Winter Gardens site have gone back to the drawing board following a wave of criticism. The original plans for a £100million leisure complex – which include a 10-storey cinema, three apartment
CHERRIES suffered a fifth consecutive defeat after conceding three times in a dreadful opening 10-minute spell at Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon. Lee Bradbury’s men were left with a mountain to climb as the promotion contenders produced a blistering
Starlight Strollers will be the first to get the chance to look round Poole’s newest hospice building. A £2.5million appeal is funding a rebuilt Lewis-Manning Hospice at Evening Hill, which is due to re-open in a few months and will be the half-way stage
THANKFULLY there was no question of the Big Yin going home early on Friday night. The Scottish comedian opened by ridiculing last month’s headlines about a troublesome heckler. The last of a three-night run at the BIC and it was clear
ANYONE looking to brush up on their culinary skills will be able to find some useful tips at the CookSchool during this year’s Christchurch Food Festival. Held between Tuesday May 15 and Friday May 18 in the Priory Suite at the Kings Hotel
The Milford on Sea Food Week is all set to feature top chefs from across the New Forest in a Big Cook Off event. Chefs from the Chewton Glen, Lime Wood, The Jetty and The Pig in Brockenhurst will compete along with village chefs from La Perle
CHRISTCHURCH Borough Council has agreed to bring the application for a new vicarage to the planning committee. Concerns were raised after it appeared the proposals for a new vicarage at the rear of the current one in Quay Road, would be decided
Poole’s Harbour Challenge Outdoor Education Centre, based on Brownsea Island, has received some useful funding. Grants from Sport England and the Borough of Poole’s Aiming High for Disabled Children’s fund will be used to help women take up
A FORMER employee of Poole’s Remploy factory has spoken of the “devastating” effect its closure will have on its staff with disabilities. The Alder Hills operation – which employs 18 people – is among 36 Remploy sites earmarked for closure
OCCUPY Bournemouth protesters yesterday set up camp at Bournemouth University to try and force a meeting with its chancellor. They set up four tents at the university’s pedestrian entrance by the Boundary Lane roundabout. The protestors hope to meet
PEOPLE all over Dorset are eagerly awaiting Monday’s visit from the Princess Royal, and none more so than staff at Durlston Castle who are busy buffing displays and preening pathways prior to her arrival. On the same day as Princess Ann
IT’S a case of “Luckie” by name and “Luckie” by nature for one Christchurch couple after they escaped with just minor injuries from a fire at their home. Pensioners Edward and Margaret Luckie from Highcliffe managed to avoid serious injury and major
ALTHOUGH it could hardly be described as being off the beaten track, The Cat & Fiddle on Lyndhurst Road near Christchurch, certainly looks like a quaint country pub. But it is part of the Harvester restaurant chain so you know what to expect
TEN black bags were filled with rubbish after a litter pick at Christchurch Quay. Nineteen volunteers took part in the organised event in and around the quay as part of the Litter Free Coast and Sea Campaign, designed to keep beaches and riverside
THREE people were arrested at a house yesterday after it was linked to a burglary the previous night. Eight police cars and vans were sent to the semi-detached house on Alum Chine Road around 12.30pm. Dorset Police said they had a report at 8.02am
Maiden Dorchester is home to Maiden Castle, one of the largest and most complex of Iron Age hillforts in Europe. Its huge multiple ramparts once protected several hundred residents. Christchurch Christchurch Castle was built in the late 11th century
PRINCESS Anne is no stranger to Dorset – she chose to educate her children here at the Port Regis school near Shaftesbury and her love of sailing and presidency of the Royal Yachting Association has made for close links with the Weymouth Olympic project
HOW sad that we can no longer trust the Royal Mail to always deliver our treasured items (‘Birthday shock for girl, nine, as card gift containing £50 is stolen’, Echo February 24). I sent a cheque for a charity which did not arrive and I cancelled the
WE need our political appointees at a national and local level to be accountable to the electorate. At a national level we have Hansard and websites such as www.theyworkforyou.com. But at a local level, what do we have? The simple fact is that we
IF, as reported in the sad demise of pensioner Charles Hurst (Echo 7 March), both Poole Council and Wessex Water had identified defects in the paving on Poole High Street, then it is ridiculous to say that “this accident (or the possibility thereof) could
I READ your Have Your Say page every day since moving to Bournemouth 14 years ago, I feel I would like to put my two penny’s worth in. When is this council going to make a decision and stick to it? We see no movement on the Imax. What can one say about
IT IS now some time since an Echo Opinion column called for answers about the planned wind farm in Poole Bay. How visible will it be? Will it deliver enough energy to justify its environmental impact? Since that time there has been lots
I ATTENDED the Dorset County Council cabinet committee meeting in Dorchester on Wednesday March 7 to hopefully hear a debate concerning the proposed dual puffin crossing which will be situated close to my home, a large retirement complex of 124 flats,
POOLE’S new Twin Sails Bridge is good news that will, undoubtedly, provide a boost for the town. It was exhilarating to see crowds gather yesterday to enjoy the milestone events. But the bridge is still not yet open for traffic. And you have to wonder
Christchurch Baptist inducted a new minister last weekend. Rev Chris Brockway joins Rev Sandra Prudom in leading the growing Bargates congregation. Rev Brockway is no stranger to readers of Faith Matters, having previously served as a pastor with West
Karen Crumpler (nee Legg) became Dorset’s most successful swimmer during a seven-year career as an international. The former freestyler hit the headlines when she claimed five medals during a memorable 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. A Team GB
A crack in the road surface is one of the reasons why the Twin Sails Bridge has not yet opened to traffic. Despite the official celebrations taking place yesterday the £37million bridge scheme has yet to open to vehicles and no firm date has
Britain may no longer be a Christian country in just 20 years, according to a report by the House of Commons Library last week. Christianity is losing more than half a million believers each year, whilst the count of atheist and agnostics is
NOT many athletes can claim to be seasoned internationals at the age of 22. Step forward Dan Hunter. With 74 Great Britain caps already to his name, the professional volleyball star from Poole is one rare example. Hunter is hoping his combination of
As we are away from home so often, we like to spend time with friends and family when we get a break. Preparations for the Olympics are gathering pace but we also have a few hobbies when we get a spare moment. I am learning to play the piano. I used
BUMPER crowds flocked to Poole's momentous Twin Sails Bridge party to welcome a 21st century icon civic leaders believe will help “support the town's next generation.” Around 2,000 guests packed yesterday's official celebrations, held to
FATHER-to-be Chris Holder is hoping to wet the baby’s head by helping Poole make a fast start in defence of their Elite League crown. Holder, newly-appointed captain of Coastal Aluminum Pirates, and his girlfriend Sealy are eagerly anticipating the arrival
FORMER Cherries star Sam Vokes has added his weight to a campaign to prevent his field of dreams being reclaimed for ponies to graze. Lymington-raised Vokes honed his skills on the Memorial Field in Pitmore Lane in Sway before joining Cherries as a schoolboy
FORMER Hampshire seconds all-rounder Richard Morris has been tasked with reviving the fortunes of Bashley after being appointed captain of the Southern Premier outfit. The 24-year-old, who was on the Rose Bowl staff in 2008 and also represented England
