THE fight for 20 Dorset libraries will continue after an influential committee demanded a closer look at closure plans. The Community Overview Committee has referred back to a policy development panel proposals to withdraw funding from over
THERE can’t be anyone that was surprised to learn that The King’s Speech received a string of Oscar nominations when they were revealed today. The movie, based on the true story of how King George VI overcame his crippling stammer, collected
THE latest vision for the £35 million transformation of facilities for mentally ill people at St Ann’s Hospital has been unveiled in Poole, giving residents a chance to comment. The new plans are due to go to the council next month, more than a year
A FORMER chancellor of Bournemouth University has been found guilty of fiddling his expenses while a Conservative peer. Lord Taylor of Warwick falsely claimed for travel and overnight subsistence, a jury at Southwark Crown Court decided by
A HOME received smoke damage in a fire near Horton on Tuesday. Fire fighters from Cranborne and Verwood attended the house at around 1.45pm and found a fire in an upstairs bedroom. They requested backup from crews from Wimborne and Ferndown
A BOMB disposal squad was called to Blandford Camp yesterday. Experts from 701 EOD squadron from Tidworth, in Wiltshire, were called to the camp after a member of the camp's civilian staff reported an unidentified object. A 400-metre cordon was set
HAMWORTHY Recreation manager Gareth Daniel promises “plenty more twists and turns” in the Magna Dorset Premier League title race, after his side suffered their first loss of the season at Weymouth. Despite a late strike from Jamie Moores, Rec went down
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save rabbits on the Canford Bottom roundabout from being killed before work begins to broaden the A31 have vowed to fight on. Highways Agency bosses recently turned down a petition from 12-year-old Joe Payne asking for
CANCER care at Poole Hospital has been rated highly in a new patient survey. The NHS Cancer Patient Experience Survey, carried out on behalf of the Department of Health, invited patients to rate their care from initial referral to discharge from hospital
SCOTT Chislett has labelled Bournemouth’s rapid rise from Southern Counties South to the top of National League Three a “remarkable feat”. Lions’ utility man joined the club in 2004 when they were still fighting to get into South West Two East
JAMES Osborne grabbed two tries for Oakmeadians in their 19-8 home victory over Marlow. Oaks have been struggling to maintain their South West One East status this season. But they bagged a crucial win to boost their survival hopes. Jamie Tryska added
A DOG walker suffered injuries to his neck, face and thumb when he was allegedly attacked by a man with another dog in Ashley recreation ground, New Milton. Police, who want to hear from any witnesses, say the incident happened at about 3.15pm on Sunday
THE party stopped suddenly for revellers at three busy Bournemouth bars closed during a Home Office licensing crackdown. Klute, iBar and Smokin’ Aces had to stop trading after a visit by a team of Home Office experts, Dorset Police and council
“HER name is Rio and she dances on the sand,” sang Duran Duran. But could the lyrics have been inspired by a trip to a golden beach in Poole? “My grandmother used to live in Poole, so I’d spend half the year living on the Canford Heath housing
PLANNING chief Martin Colvey has stepped down from his role at Purbeck District Council after being diagnosed with leukaemia. The councillor, who was the district built environment spokesman, will continue attending council meetings and carrying out
A Happy New Year to all my readers. Do you get beer related Christmas presents? I know I did. A book from fellow beer blogger, Pete Brown, which I’ll review once I’d had a chance to sit down and read it. Also got an eighteen-pint beer box
Angry swimmers are demanding that the “monstrous” boom is blasted out of Poole’s town centre swimming pool. Hundreds have signed a petition which is due to be dispatched to the head of Borough of Poole’s leisure services, calling for the Dolphin
SANDFORD Pharmacy is under new management, after the previous owners retired. The business, on St Helens Road, Sandford, has been purchased by Raid Khayat, a qualified pharmacist, and his partner Monica Arias. Mr Khayat said: “The pharmacy is already
SCUBA diving courses will start soon at Wareham’s Purbeck Sports Centre. The Isle of Purbeck Sub Aqua Club will hold two dive taster sessions next Saturday and on February 5. Visit ipsacdivers.co.uk for more details.
PURBECK University of the Third Age’s next meeting takes place at All Saints’ Church Hall, Swanage. Natalie, from Swanage’s Humphries Kirk Solicitors, will give a talk on wills, inheritance tax and power of attorney.
WAREHAM Town Hall will host the town’s Winter in Bloom Bazaar and camera club annual photographic competition next Saturday. The event is from 10am-1pm.
LIP reading classes start at Stoborough Village Hall from next Thursday. The classes are set for a 10.30am start every week. Organiser Mike Hampton said: “Anyone who is hard of hearing or cares for such persons may well find this a good aid.” Call
AUTHOR and historian Ian Daglish will deliver a talk on the German armoured tactics in the latter stages of the Second World War. The event, on Thursday at 7.30pm, takes pace at Bovington’s Tank Museum. For tickets and more information please call 01929
CALLS for fuel rationing to meet green targets have been given the thumbs down by motorists and political leaders in Poole. A parliamentary group’s idea for tradeable energy quotas has been dismissed from either side of the government coalition
Historic Lulworth Castle is to host the BBC’s perennially popular Antiques Roadshow in June. Presenter Fiona Bruce and the team will be exploring the historic castle and delving into the interesting stories behind the stuff in the attic, family heirlooms
THREE illegal immigrants have been caught working in Bournemouth business premises by the UK Border Agency. Acting on intelligence, officers visited Costa Coffee at the Castlepoint shopping centre. They found a 29-year-old Chinese woman who had entered
VICTOR Mears has been judged fit to continue to stand trial over Lapland New Forest. The 67-year-old from Brighton is on trial at Bristol Crown Court over the failed festive attraction at Matchams, near Ringwood, which ran over Christmas 2008
JILTED boyfriend Alan Pickersgill was so upset at his split with Julie Bywater he tracked her car and obsessed over her relationships with other men, a court heard. Alan Pickersgill, 37, was ‘angry’ at the thought Julie Bywater might have feelings
It’s Grimethorpe the Great at their Grand Night Out best. The real musicians behind Brassed Off, Grimethorpe Colliery Band from Yorkshire, saw an impressive turn out for an all embracing programme under their amiable director Howard Evans. The concert
ORIGINALLY built as two separate rural routes that eventually linked to provide a single-ticket ferry and train ride from South Wales to Paris via Poole, the Somerset & Dorset Railway closed under the Beeching axe in 1966. Passengers on the Wales to
BEAUTY and the Beast may be the “tale as old as time” but Highcliffe Charity Players have certainly added a few new twists in this year’s panto. Cue in two disgruntled French traffic wardens, the Family Guy theme tune and an enchanted castle with the
A NIGHT out in Bournemouth ended in terror for a man who claims crowds watched as he was wrongly arrested on suspicion of rape. Traumatised Tom Gardiner told the Daily Echo how he was handcuffed outside Walkabout on Old Christchurch Road at
FOR such a fine and revered songwriter, Steve Tilston remains surprisingly unknown outside the folk world. Yet for 40 years he has weaved his magic and consistently impressed his peers. At Forest Arts on Friday this singer, songwriter and guitarist
THEY may have thought they were speaking privately, but broadcasters Andy Gray and Richard Keys sparked controversy when they made sexist remarks about female assistant refereee Sian Massey. The pair were forced to apologise after they were
POOLE-based cosmetics firm Lush has said it will be months before a new website is ready after a hacking scam. The firm closed its site after credit card details were stolen and passed on to fraudsters. Lush is one of Poole's biggest
I am very pleased the Barfleur is returning to the port of Poole, which is obviously good news for the local economy. I refer the statement made by Cllr Ron Parker that he is hoping to arrange for a civic and twinning party to sail on the first crossing
IT IS nice to see that the presence of the Queen’s head on British postage stamps has been assured ahead of postal privatisation. However, with the proliferation of franking machines and other means of prepaying postage, Sir Rowland Hill’s “bit of paper
DORSET County Council has sunk to fighting dirty in its determination to close 60 per cent of its libraries. The council’s libraries manager has just ruled that those campaigning against this planned carnage may not put petitions in any of “her” libraries
ROBERT Burns, or Rabbie as he is affectionately remembered, is a Scottish hero. The charismatic writer, born 215 years ago, is celebrated for his original poems and songs such as Auld Lang Syne – sung by many Scots while bringing in the New Year
ONE of the biggest shocks of my life came during an England World Cup game some years ago. “Wasn’t he offside?” said my wife, as in time-honoured fashion, another England chance went begging against what should have been minor opponents. You could have
IN the comprehensive spending review, the Chancellor announced that the government would be removing the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for those people who live in residential care homes. Disability charities and organisations
ON behalf of the Wessex Autistic Society I would like to take this opportunity to thank all your readers who braved the cold to take part in our very special 10th Somerley run. Raising in the region of £9,000, the fundraising event has gone from strength
IT was interesting to read Alan Burridge’s comments (Have your Say, Wednesday, criticising the story lines from the major soaps. In his letter there is one piece of fact – that TV is fantasy, science fiction, so it is, so it always has been stretching
HAVING followed the Second reading of the European Union Bill – to amend Clause 18 to confirm that the United Kingdom should remain a sovereign state – I was dismayed to see the small number of MPs who were in attendance and the inane reasons they gave
I PRESUME that Dorset County Council has reduced the speed limit on the A3049 Dorset Way from 70mph to 50mph to protect traffic emerging from Oakdale Road and Adastral Road (Echo, January 18). I found the Oakdale Road entrance particularly difficult
Haggis, Neeps and Tatties Serves 4 1 kg haggis 250g swede/turnip, cut into quarters 200g unsalted butter 1 tbsp double cream 450g potatoes, quartered salt and pepper Bring a large pan of water
DETECTIVES are hunting a man who forced his way into a woman’s parked car and tried to kiss her. The attack, which left the 22-year-old woman shocked, took place on Salisbury Road, Poole. Now police have released an e-fit of the attacker
ORIGINAL '80s wild boys, Duran Duran are heading to the BIC on May 31 this year. Announced today, this is the first time the band have toured in seven years. The original line up of Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor will
BOURNEMOUTH is weathering the economic climate better than the UK as a whole, according to a business rescue and recovery specialist. Begbies Traynor released figures which show the number of distressed businesses in the town fell by six per cent in
CHERRIES star Mark Molesley has described as “a dream come true” the prospect of finally ending a 15-month injury nightmare. Molesley is hoping to negotiate a significant hurdle in his painstaking recovery by coming through a reserve outing at Exeter
EDDIE Mitchell says caretaker duo Lee Bradbury and Steve Fletcher are the “main contenders” to take permanent charge at Dean Court. The Cherries chairman saw the pair stake their claim by gaining the first victory of their reign on Saturday – an excellent
TAFFY Richardson insists Poole Town should have no fear ahead of their tantalising last-16 tie against FA Vase favourites Spennymoor. The Wessex League champions will go into the fifth round clash against their Northern League counterparts on February
POPPIES boss Kenny Vaughan is hoping to bolster his side’s attacking resources. His Premier Division outfit face a potential banana skin when they host unbeaten Division One leaders Downton in the Wessex League Cup quarter-final tonight (7.45pm). Vaughan
