purbeck news - Dorsetforyou.com

Purbeck
NEWS
Dorset County Council and Purbeck District Council
WORKING TOGETHER FOR DORSET
Into action
Former military vehicle
gets a new youth role
– p9
All change
New landlord for 3,500
Purbeck council tenants
– p10
IN THE FRONT LINE
Looking up: The Dorset Police Eastern Division's new Police
Community Support Officer team, who are helping to combat
antisocial behaviour.
Tackling anti-social behaviour
is the top priority for
people living in the
Purbeck area - and they
have told the Council they
want us to help reduce it.
Purbeck Council is working with
a range of partners, including the
Police, Dorset County Council,
schools and other agencies, to help
combat the problem, and supports
other agencies working directly with
individuals to improve their
behaviour.
Action includes using
Acceptable Behaviour Contracts
(ABCs) and Anti-Social Behaviour
Orders (ASBOs) to protect the
public from the activities of the
small minority who can make life
unpleasant for so many.
There are currently six ASBOs
and two ABCs in
force in Purbeck,
with three further
ASBOs waiting to
go to court. This
action, and the
publicity which
surrounds it, has
had significant
success in
reducing levels of
anti-social
behaviour.
In the past year,
anti-social
behaviour has
reduced by 19.5%
in Swanage, 0.7%
in Wareham and
3.5% in Gravel Hill,
which includes
Turn to page 2
Publication of Dorset County Council’s Your Dorset has been
suspended for one issue to produce this partnership edition
with Purbeck District Council
In
Your
association
with
Dorset
Summer 2004
Sporting chance
Three cheers as Purbeck
sports centre hits £1.1m
lottery jackpot – p12
Sgt Jon Bleasdale, of Dorset Police, has been visiting school
assemblies to raise awareness among young people of the potential
consequences of anti-social behaviour. He is pictured with the
Purbeck School’s Andy Speake and year 10 pupils.
Picture courtesy of the Daily Echo

2 PURBECK NEWS
Council
earns a
fair report
Inspectors from the Audit
Commiss-ion have assessed
Purbeck Council as having
good services and gave it a
‘fair’ rating overall, following a
Comprehensive Performance
Assessment inspection earlier
this year.
The inspection process
involves a rigorous examination
of the council’s
services, which were found to
be generally good, particularly
benefits administration,
community safety, environmental
health and Purbeck
Sports Centre. Its financial
management is among the
best in the country. The
council won top marks for its
proactive role in combating
anti-social behaviour – a
major priority for its residents.
The inspectors agreed
ways in which the council can
improve, such as being
clearer about what it wants to
achieve, setting realistic
plans, monitoring performance
better and addressing local
housing issues.
Leader of the Council, Bill
Trite said: “We will work hard
on making the improvements
we have agreed with the
inspectors but we will not lose
focus on what is important to
local people – balancing good
services with as low a tax as
possible.”
Winning the war against loutishness
From page 1
Upton. This compares to a rise
in incidents across Dorset of
4.9%, and 10.5% in Eastern
Dorset.
Cllr Tony Miller, the Council’s
Community Safety Adviser, said:
“This reduction in anti-social
behaviour suggests that
Purbeck’s approach is working
and should lead to a greater
level of reassurance among the
public who live in, work in and
visit Purbeck.”
To help continue this work,
the Council (on behalf of the
Purbeck Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnership) has just
recruited an additional officer
dedicated to tackling anti-social
behaviour, using funding
provided by the Home Office for
crime reduction initiatives.
A further initiative that will
help to reduce anti-social
behaviour is the introduction of
Jointly produced by:
Communications Unit, Dorset
County Council. Tel: (01305) 224491
E-mail: yourdorset@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Address: Communications Unit,
Dorset County Council, County Hall,
Colliton Park, Dorchester DT1 1XJ
Corporate Unit, Purbeck District
Council. Tel: (01929) 557325.
Police Community Support
Officers (PCSOs).
There are four PCSOs
operating in Purbeck, two of
whom transferred from the
previous Community Warden
scheme.
The Purbeck PCSOs are
Tony Biondic and John Marshall,
who will be working
predominantly in and around
Swanage, and Trevor Dunesby
and Craig Tatton, who will be
working in the Wareham area.
Email:
corporateunit@purbeck-dc.gov.uk
Address: Corporate Unit, Purbeck
District Council, Westport House,
Wareham BH20 4PP.
Website: www.purbeck.gov.uk
Consultant editor: Sally Northeast
Designed by: Deep South Media Ltd,
Bournemouth
Printed by: Newsquest Media
(Southern) plc, Weymouth
Distributed by: Royal Mail and
Newshare
SUMMER 2004
ELECTION TURNOUT IS
WELL ABOVE AVERAGE
Purbeck had a good turnout at
the District and European
elections on 10 June, exceeding
the previous year by 3%.
In the District election, Swanage North
achieved over 50% turnout, with four
others over 48%, an average of 45.3%.
While in the European election, Purbeck
achieved an average of 46.06%, the
highest in Dorset and the fourth highest in
the South West.
Scenes of summer
Summer pictures that capture something of the essence of Purbeck’s
very special natural beauty.
Existing Councillors John Hyde (Con,
Lytchett Matravers), Paul Johns (Con,
Lytchett Minster and Upton West), Tony
Miller (Con, Swanage North), Malcolm
Shakesby (Con, Wool) and Wendy Starr
(Lib Dem, Lytchett Minster and Upton
East) all retained their seats.
New to the Council are Beryl Ezzard
(Lib Dem, St Martin) and Colin Bright
(Con, Swanage South).
Roy Anderson (Con, Wareham)
Public help set the
spending agenda
This year you helped
Purbeck Council identify
its priorities and set the
Council Tax for 2004/05.
Councillors used the
innovative SIMALTO
consultation method,
which asked 250 local
people to make complex
choices between different
service options and
levels of expenditure.
Research for Today, who
carried out the
consultation, said:
“Purbeck District Council
provides the highest level
of satisfaction with
overall current services
of any council so far
measured by the
company.
“The study found that the
Council already closely
matched the priorities of
residents in 14 out of 20
areas researched and
they were prepared to
pay the extra Council Tax
necessary to maintain
them.
regained a seat he had previously held.
Councillors Diane Bradly and Jim Roscoe
did not stand.
The net result of the election is that the
Conservatives retain overall control in
Purbeck by the same margin as
previously.
The political split is Conservative 13,
Liberal Democrat 8 and Independent 3.
● Visit www.Purbeck.gov.uk for detailed
results.
“Top priority for the
public was reducing antisocial
behaviour and they
were willing to pay more
for this. The Council has
responded and has
invested more in
reducing anti-social
behaviour.
Respondents were in
favour of introducing fees
for planning advice and
the Council has already
introduced this.
Residents also said they
would like to see savings
on tourism promotion.
Councillor Bill Trite said:
“This consultation has
been valuable in
providing further
information on the way
the Council should
allocate its share of the
Council Tax. It has
helped us distinguish the
areas that are important
to the public, including
where they are willing to
pay more and where they
are not.”
This newspaper is printed on paper
made from sustainable forests.
Our distributors tell us a few copies
may be delivered to postcode
sectors just outside the county
boundary.
Even if you don’t live in the county
we hope you will still find the paper
an enjoyable read.
A ‘talking paper’ version of this
newspaper is available on cassette.
It will shortly be available, free of
charge, from all of the county’s
libraries.

SUMMER 2004 3
DORSET NEWS
Shoe shiners: The Thomas
Hardye Toggit Team with their
size 28 display model
Pupils make
giant strides
to success
Innovative youngsters from
Dorchester’s Thomas Hardye
School swept the board in the
Dorset Young Enterprise
County Finals this summer.
Winning awards for best
innovation, best business
report and best trade stand,
the Year 10 team were also
declared outright winners.
Their product is a new
shoelace system called
TOGGIT that’s useful for
young, old and people who
have difficulty in co-ordination.
It’s an elastic lace secured
with a toggle that buyers can
adapt to fit their own shoes.
At £1.70 a pair, TOGGIT is
already scoring a hit in the
marketplace and Treads,
Tescos and Clarkes are also
showing interest.
Citizen’s panel has
its say on services
More than 3,000 people in
Dorset regularly give their
views about county council
services ranging from local
transport and social care to
waste and libraries.
Dorset Citizen’s Panel is
also involved in consultation
about priorities for council
spending, as part of the
process of setting the annual
budget, and are asked for their
opinion on detailed proposals
for levels of Council Tax.
The panel is selected at
random from across the
county. One third of its
membership is replaced each
year.
Social Care and Health needs
drivers and passenger assistants
to work with children, older people
or adults with disabilities.
Passenger assistants help
children and/or adults with learning
disabilities on the transport to and
from special schools or day
centres. Drivers drive minibuses to
and from day centres and help
Working together to keep you informed
For the first time, the county council
and all six of Dorset’s district/borough
councils have worked together to
produce this joint newspaper that
explains how your local authorities
are performing.
We’ve produced a separate edition for
each of the six districts. Each
contains the same Dorset County
Council news, but each one also
carries news and information
particular to your district.
We are all keen to publish information
about our performance in a way that
is interesting and easy to understand.
We’ve combined it with some popular
features about the countryside and
things to do during the summer – and
we hope you find the newspaper a
good read.
Copies of all editions of the
newspaper are available in libraries
and council offices, but your copy is
most likely to be delivered directly to
your door.
As a result of separate distribution to
each area, a few people who live near
district boundaries may receive a
copy of more than one district edition.
DORSET’S OLYMPIC BID
Dorset people are set to benefit
if London is successful in its
bid to host the 2012 Olympic
Games.
If the games go ahead in the UK,
London 2012 – the organisation
handling the Olympic bid – is proposing
Weymouth and Portland Sailing
Academy and the surrounding waters
for all sailing events.
Dorset County Council is a long-time
supporter of the academy – which is
currently undergoing a multi-million
pound redevelopment – and has
contributed £50,000 to help fund the
building programme.
Financial support has also come
from Weymouth and Portland Borough
Council and West Dorset District
Council, with the largest part of the
money coming from the South West
Regional Development Agency and
SportEngland.
Work has already started on site to
create a state-of-the-art facility for
young sailors, in a programme that will
cost £9 million in total.
Additional funds are being requested
so that elements such as slipways and
pontoons – essential for Olympic events
– can be put in now.
The International Olympic
Committee (IOC) has already made
clear that good transport links are an
essential part of any successful bid to
host the 2012 games.
Dorset County Council, as the local
highways authority, will have an
important role to play in ensuring that
people can reach the Weymouth and
Portland area easily.
The Weymouth Relief Road will be a
key part of the transport infrastructure,
and the county council is lobbying hard
for funding to be made available so work
can go ahead.
The IOC will be visiting all the
shortlisted venues again between
March and July next year.
‘Caring and flexible’ drivers needed
service users into their homes.
If you are caring, flexible and
able to adapt to any situation you
could be the person we are looking
for to fill these rewarding posts.
● There are vacancies across the
county. Contact Steve Bosley,
Assistant Transport Manager for
Social Care and Health on (01305)
225173 for more information.
Why farming and fostering mix
Farmer foster family: James and Diane Hiscock with one of their foster children
Many children who are placed with foster
carers have led a rather chaotic life so
far. With no regular mealtimes or routine,
they can be bewildered and insecure.
But on a farm a routine is essential
and that environment can help bring
some structure and reason to their lives.
Diane and James Hiscock, who have
280 cattle on their dairy farm in Caundle
Marsh near Sherborne, have been
fostering for two years and know the
importance of a structured day.
Diane said: “A lot of the children have
run riot and never had routines. But
because we are running a farm we have
to be organised – meals are at set times
and the children are in bed by 7pm.”
James is out milking at 4.30am every
day of the week and again in the
afternoon, so everything has to fit in
around the farm’s timetable.
With three children of their own aged
11, 13 and 15, they are currently looking
after sisters Tilly, five, and Lucy, nearly
two. Two new boys are also due to arrive
any day.
They have been providing short-term
foster care for two years.
Diane said: “We both heard adverts
on the radio and someone who did some
work at the farm also told us about his
experiences of fostering and we agreed
we’d like to do it.”
James added: “When there were real
difficulties in farming Diane got a parttime
job and now fostering does bring in
some extra money.
“But the real reward is the change you
see in the children and the affection you
get from them.”
He relates how two brothers the
family had fostered launched themselves
at him when they hadn’t seen him for
some time.
Diane said: “They’re very happy with
their adoptive family but they were still
pleased to see us.”
Farms and children are a natural
match. James said: “Di brings the
children out to see the animals. It’s a real
treat for them to come at milking time or
see a calf born.”
Most of the children have experienced
a very different type of life – many are
neglected and come from families
experiencing drug and alcohol problems
or where the parents just can’t cope.
● Further details about fostering can be
obtained from the council’s fostering unit on
0800 358 1060.

4 DORSET NEWS
SAFEGUARDING DORSET’S UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT
We’ve illustrated how Dorset County Council
performed between April 2003 and March 2004
under seven headings that represent the council’s
corporate aims. As well as articles about services
PRAISE FOR COAST
The Jurassic Coast
has been recognised
as one of the most
environmentally
friendly tourism
destinations in the
world.
With 95 miles of magnificent
coastline stretching from Orcombe
Rocks in Devon to Old Harry Rocks at
Studland Bay, the Jurassic Coast was
among 12 outstanding locations from
nine countries to be selected as
finalists in the 2004 World Legacy
Awards.
Sponsored by Conservation
International and National Geographic
Traveler Magazine, the awards
recognise excellence in environmental,
social and cultural travel and highlight
models of socially and environmentally
responsible tourism.
Dorset County Council Director of
Environmental Services, Miles Butler,
said: “It’s great to know that the World
Legacy Awards panel has recognised
the World Heritage Team’s positive
work in creating new opportunities to
improve the educational use of the
coast, support scientific study, and
increase our capabilities in visitor
management.
“Even though the Jurassic Coast
has been a World Heritage Site for less
than three years, we’ve made real
TV presenter and wildlife enthusiast
Chris Packham will be opening this
year’s Heathland Festival on Sunday 19
September at Avon Heath Country Park.
The heathland devotee will be sharing
his passion for this exceptional habitat
with the thousands of visitors expected,
getting involved with children’s
workshops and leading an exciting
safari around the park for the lucky
winners of a heathland competition
draw.
The festival features live music,
storytellers, stalls, theatre, giant mural,
Dorset’s Heritage coast: further international recognition
progress in ensuring that these
opportunities will be managed
responsibly to benefit the local
environment and economy.”
The Coast was awarded England’s
first natural World Heritage Site status
in December 2001, putting it on a par
with the Grand Canyon and the Great
Barrier Reef.
June 2004 saw the launch of
Wildlife TV star to open festival
How the council is performing for you
Target Outcome
2,500 tonnes of recycled
materials used in road
construction.
tree climbing with plenty of activites
and opportunities to have a go at
traditional crafts like basket making,
sculpting clay tiles and building a
round house.
Dorset’s heaths are internationally
important and the festival is a chance
for people to find out how the
heathland has been used over the years
and about its outstanding wildlife.
The event is organised and funded by
the Urban Heath’s Life Partnership,
Hardy’s Egdon Heath Project, Dorset
County Council, the RSPB and
Greenlink.
The event runs
from 11am to
4pm on Sunday
19 September.
12,482 tonnes used. The
council’s partnership with
Hanson has made storage
space available so that
materials from roadworks can
be held for future schemes.
that demonstrate how we are working towards
those aims, you’ll find examples of the national and
local targets under each heading so you can judge
how well we performed against the standards set.
● For more
information call
Carol Dawkins on
(01425) 478470
or Catherine
Bellars on
(01425) 489803.
Durlston Castle's renovation as a
world-class visitor experience on the
Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
The Friends of Durlston also held a
Gala Concert on 11 July in aid of the
Durlston Castle Project.
● Keep your eyes peeled for further
events and activities at Durlston and
catch up on the latest renovation
progress at www.durlston.co.uk
To win an exciting opportunity for
you and your family to join
wildlife enthusiast Chris Packham
in exploring the wilds of Avon
Heath Country Park at the
Heathland Festival, simply
unravel the anagrams below.
Dorset’s heaths are home to
all six British reptiles, some of
which are not found anywhere
else in the country.
Can you unscramble the following
to name two of these reptiles?
1.) derda
2.) mconmo zalrid
Return your answers on the coupon by
Friday 17 September 2004. The winners
will be the first four entries drawn at the
Heathland Festival at 12 noon on Sunday
19 September. You must be present for
the draw to claim your opportunity to join
Chris Packham on the walk. Children must
be accompanied by an adult, and a
maximum of four people per entry can
take part.
(In the case of very poor weather the walk may
be called off.)
SUMMER 2004
Ramblers
help keep
paths clear
The Ramblers Association is
working in partnership with
Dorset County Council on an
ongoing survey of rights of
way in the county, as well as a
comprehensive audit of
bridges maintained by the
council.
Dorset has more than 6,500
rights of way – including
footpaths, bridleways and
byways – covering more than
2,800 miles.
County council senior rights of
way officer Rod Webb said:
“We use our computer system
to randomly select paths to be
surveyed.
“The data is supplied to the
ramblers and they go out and
check whether there are any
problems such as broken
stiles, overgrown vegetation,
gates wired shut and so on. We
then take action to fix whatever
is wrong.”
Next year, though, the ramblers
will be using the latest
technology to survey the 3,000plus
bridges that form part of
the rights of way network.
Using global positioning
system (GPS) handsets,
specially trained ramblers will
be able to feed information on
the state of every bridge
directly into the computer
system at County Hall – a fast
and accurate solution to a
massive logistical undertaking.
WIN a VIP place on an exclusive guided
walk with CHRIS PACKHAM
Reptile anagrams
1…………………………….....
2………………………………
PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS
Name..........................................
Address.......................................
...................................................
...................................................
...................................................
e-mail…………………………
How many will participate (max 4)?
.................................................
These details will be kept by Avon Heath
Country Park until the draw, but will not
be passed on to anyone else.
Return to: Carol Dawkins, Avon Heath
Country Park, Birch Road, St. Ives,
Ringwood, BH24 2DA

SUMMER 2004 5
DORSET NEWS
STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES
Improving
quality of life
for all Dorset
A partnership of more than
100 organisations launched
Dorset’s first Community
Strategy earlier this year.
Compiled by the Dorset
Strategic Partnership, the
strategy deals with the big
issues facing people and
communities in the county
that cannot be dealt with by
a single organisation alone.
Consultation with local
people, parishes, towns and
other organisations across
Dorset has emphasised the
problems faced by local
communities, including a
lack of affordable housing,
low wages, shortage of
services in communities and
transport problems.
The Strategic Partnership
has identified the work
necessary to tackle these
problems and, by working
together, aims to deliver new
solutions that will improve
the quality of life for people
and communities in Dorset.
PARTNERS IN PLAN
Major plans to improve
care for older people
and those with learning
disabilities in Christchurch
are being
combined with an
affordable housing
scheme for key workers
and families.
The development at
Jumpers Road, Christchurch
will include a new day centre to
replace the Juniper Centre, 26
homes for families and key
workers, an 80-bed residential
home and 43 ‘extra care’ flats
for older people, as well as
new offices for staff.
The project, on land owned
by Dorset County Council, is a
partnership involving a number
of agencies, including two
health service trusts and the
Macmillan Cancer Trust.
The first phase will be the
development of an 80-bed
residential home and a new
day centre for people with
learning disabilities, with social
How the council is performing for you
Target Outcome
Work with partner agencies
across the county to significantly
increase the number of rented
units of subsidised affordable
housing by 31 March 2006.
Replace or improve 20 village
halls with County Council grants.
Change your life with
More than 770 units are expected
to be complete by the target
date.
Target met. In fact, 22 village
halls have benefited.
Free information and advice for adults about learning and
work opportunities.
We can help you with:
● Finding the right course
● Changing your career
● Job hunting, CVs and interview skills
● Advice on childcare, money and travel
Speak to one of our local advisers on FREEPHONE
0800 138 5550
www.connect2learning.co.uk
New plans aim to help a range of local people
care offices above.
Phase two will involve the
development by East Dorset
Housing Association of 43
extra care flats for older people
together with around 26
affordable homes for families
and key workers.
Speaking for the
partnership, Gill Slade, the
County Council’s Head of
Strategic Commissioning and
Performance Review, said:
“This is a great opportunity to
respond in a new way to the
care and housing needs of the
people of Christchurch, and to
update old, outdated buildings
like the Juniper Centre.
“It’s also a very good
example of how different
agencies can achieve much
more by working together.”
The partnership comprises
Dorset County Council, the
Macmillan Cancer Trust, East
Dorset Housing Association,
Christchurch Borough Council,
South and East Dorset Primary
Care Trust and the Royal
Bournemouth and Christchurch
Hospitals NHS Trust.
New website
eases access
to car scheme
A new Dorset Community
Transport website has
been launched that
enables people to find the
details of voluntary car
schemes across the
county quickly and easily.
Voluntary transport
schemes are aimed at
people who are unable to
drive and who need
transport to doctors, to
collect a prescription, or
even to do their shopping.
Searched by town or
village, the site provides
details of all the schemes
in the area, giving charges
and contact details.
With funding from the
Countryside Agency,
through Dorset’s Rural
Transport Partnership,
Dorset Community Action
commissioned Dorset
County Council to design,
produce and host the new
site at
www.dorsetcommunity
transport.org.uk
Autumn Wedding
Fayre
at the
Westover Road
Bournemouth
Over 70 wedding
specialists offering help
and advice to make sure your
special day runs smoothly
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th
September 2004
Open Sat 10am – 5pm & Sun 11am – 5pm
Admission by registration
Adult £2.50 Seniors & accompanied children 16 & under FREE
Register & be automatically entered in to the show draw to win a
Weekend Away at a Local Hotel or a magnum of champagne!
Organised by BIC Exhibitions. Tel: 01202 456501
Bournemouth International Centre
Exeter Road Bournemouth Dorset
Email: exhibitions.bic@bournemouth.gov.uk
Daily Fashion
Shows!
supported by
www.bic.co.uk

6
DORSET NEWS SUMMER 2004
MAKING COMMUNITIES SAFER
ACTION ON VIOLENCE
Domestic violence accounted
for one in five of all
violent crimes, according to
the government, which
announced an overhaul of
domestic violence legislation
in June.
The Domestic Violence, Crime
and Victims Bill will use £4m from
the proceeds of crime to set up a
victims’ fund. It includes measures
to make offenders pay more
compensation to victims, makes
breaching a non-molestation order
punishable by up to five years in
prison and gives stronger powers to
courts to impose restraining orders
when necessary.
In Dorset, Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnerships have
funded a Domestic Violence Officer
who is hosted by the County
Council.
Nicola Pengelly, who started
work in May, provides a main point
of contact between all agencies
involved in tackling domestic
violence across the county,
promoting best practice, helping
with fund-raising and co-ordinating
a county wide strategy.
She says, “Anyone can
experience domestic violence – it
can happen in all kinds of
relationships and for any reason.
“People suffer domestic violence
regardless of their social group,
class, age, race or sexuality. The
violence can take many forms from
physical assault and sexual abuse
to psychological abuse such as
threats and criticism.
“Typically, the abuse gets worse
over time and involves the
perpetrator exercising some form of
control over the victim.”
Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnerships include the County
Council, District and Borough
Councils, Police, Health and Fire
Authorities, and there are many
agencies that support the victims.
Helping hand: domestic violence can happen regardless of social group, class, age or race
How the council is performing for you
Target Outcome
To reduce the re-offending rate of
young offenders by 7% to 26.5%
by the end of 2005.
6% annual reduction in the total
number of people killed or
seriously injured in road
accidents.
6% annual reduction in the
number of children aged up to 15
who are killed or seriously injured
in road accidents.
Measured at end 2003, the reoffending
rate was 26.8%.
Performance to date has been
good.
The number reduced from 351 to
298 in 2003. This represents a 15%
reduction in accidents against a
target of 6%.
The number reduced from 26 to 21
in 2003, representing a 19%
reduction in accidents against a
target of 6%.
One-stop website works for you
Work continues at a fast pace on
the creation of a one-stop-shop
Dorset website, due to be
launched to the public in October
this year.
Dorset For You is a joint website
bringing together a wealth of
information for the public from all
the councils in Dorset.
In addition to this, Dorset For You
will also enable people to conduct
24-hour on-line transactions with
all the councils involved.
This will range from renewing a
library book or paying council tax
through to registering a faulty
street light, making a planning
application or applying for a job
on-line.
The possibilities are endless, with
hundreds of services eager to
develop this new form of customer
relationship.
The first stage of the project deals
with the large rural area of the
county. But it is planned to widen
links to the unitary authorities of
Poole and Bournemouth as well as
police, fire, health and many
others at town and parish level.
On-line services are not the only
solution for our customers, but
they can complement both the use
of the telephone or personal visits.
They are designed to be a helpful
alternative for people living in the
more rural areas of the county, as
well as for those who are not
always able to conduct their
business with the council during
the standard working day.
Watch the next edition of Your
Dorset for more news on Dorset
For You.
20mph zone
slashes child
casualties
Stay safe: the 20mph zone
The number of children killed and
injured on Dorset’s roads is being
reduced thanks to safety schemes like
this one in Sherborne.
The Government’s road safety
strategy, Tomorrow’s Roads – Safer
for Everyone, set a target to halve the
number of children killed or seriously
injured by 2010.
The Sherborne 20mph zone
scheme to reduce child casualties
was awarded government funding in
December 2000 as part of a range of
initiatives to support this target.
The scheme is in a densely
populated residential area of the town
with a local primary school at the
centre and a secondary school on the
northern edge.
Some 1,600 pupils attend the
schools and research showed that,
over five years, 41% of casualties
were pedestrians or cyclists aged
between 0-16.
In the two years following the
launch of the scheme there has been
a 72% reduction in child pedestrian/
cyclist casualties.
Other benefits to the community
include traffic speeds reduced by an
average of 5mph and a safer and
more pleasant environment. This,
together with School Travel Plans,
has contributed to an increase of 21%
in the numbers of pupils walking to the
local schools and a decrease of 14%
in those arriving by car at the primary
school.
Smoother path for
building applications
All the building control applications from
Dorset County Council’s Property
Management Division are now being
handled by West Dorset District Council.
The applications typically deal with
alterations in schools, libraries and social
health and care properties.
Previously, each district council would
deal with County Council applications
concerning its own patch, but now all
County Council schemes go straight to
West Dorset District Council for approval
and then the local district council carries
out the site inspection.
On average processing each
application is taking two weeks less since
the change was made.

SUMMER 2004 7
DORSET NEWS
SUPPORTING LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT
A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT
Young people at risk of
leaving school with no
qualifications are
benefiting from an
innovative County Council
scheme.
The council is working hard to
tackle the problems encountered in
some of Dorset’s more deprived
communities, such as parts of
Weymouth, Portland and the
Grange ward of Christchurch.
If the scheme reaches a target
agreed with the Government, the
council will win a grant of over
£600,000 to develop the project,
which involves helping schools
improve and working with parents
and the youngsters themselves.
The council’s Youth and
Community Service is leading a
project in Christchurch, with a
range of statutory and voluntary
agencies to help and support
young people aged 15-19 who are
not in education, work or training.
Mike Yates, a youth worker in
Christchurch, has been working
with a group of 15-16-year-olds
from the Inclusion Unit at The
Grange School to improve their
self-confidence and help give them
a sense of achievement.
Each week they take on a range
of activities leading to a bronze or
silver award for key skills. One
activity has been budgeting and
planning for a meal, doing the
shopping and preparing the meal.
Mike said: “When they first did
the task it was a complete mess,
but they are developing awareness
of the need to work together. The
second meal they cooked was
much better – they all pulled
together and worked really
effectively.”
Youngsters all
set to learn
skills for life
Dorset youngsters are learning skills
to prepare them for work and life in a
scheme linking them with local
businesses.
The County Council supports the
national Trident scheme, which aims
to recognise all the activities that
students are involved in other than
school lessons.
Completing Trident can help
students develop the skills and
personal qualities they need at work
and is supported by a number of
Dorset companies.
One company is Thomson
Engineering Skill Centre in
Weymouth, which has hosted two
students from Dorchester Learning
Centre for two days a week since
November 2003.
One student, 16-year-old Karn
Standley, has thoroughly enjoyed his
How the council is performing for you
Target Outcome
6 outreach teachers appointed
for children with special
educational needs.
94% of pupils in LEA maintained
schools achieving 1 or more
GCSEs at grades A* to G.
80% of pupils in LEA-maintained
schools to achieve level 4+ at
Key Stage 2 maths.
85% of pupils in LEA-maintained
schools to achieve level 4+ at
Key Stage 2 English.
Engineering a future: Karn working at Thomson Engineering Skill Centre
work experience and the company
was so pleased with his progress they
offered him a place on a full-time
training course.
Schoolchildren produced stunning artworks on a Jurassic theme as
part of an exciting project for Dorset Art Weeks.
The Can Do project involved children from Bridport St Mary’s Primary
School and neighbouring Mountjoy Special School, who worked with a
professional artist to create artworks from found and recycled
materials.
Meanwhile, Purbeck School students worked with a visually impaired
artist from the Holton Lee centre, near Wareham, to produce a series of
willow sculptures inspired by the fossils, animals and insects of
Purbeck.
Can Do, organised by the Dorset Art Weeks Association and the
Country Council’s DepARTure
Arts, aimed to raise children’s
awareness of different needs and
help them recognise what is
special about their environment.
This means that he can continue
to study for his NVQ in the Performing
Engineering Operations qualification
while earning a salary.
Dinosaurs seen stalking the Dorset landscape once more
5 teachers appointed. Although
the target hasn’t been achieved,
each Special School has
received financial support in
order to recruit outreach
teachers.
At 93%, this year’s performance
does not meet the national
target, but is above the national
average.
Our performance at 73.9% is an
improvement on the previous
year and above the national rate
of improvement.
Our performance at 75.7% is
above average but lower than
2002 results. This reflects the
national picture.
Children from
Bridport's Mountjoy school decided on a
dinosaur theme. Inset: the 'child' at the back
isn’t real, but part of the artwork

8
DORSET NEWS SUMMER 2004
IMPROVING ACCESS FOR ALL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY
HOME HELP FOR BOOKS
For people who can’t get out
to the library a selection of
good books delivered to the
door can be a blessing.
The County Council works with the
Women’s Royal Voluntary Service
(WRVS) to offer a free Home Library
Service for people who are unable to
leave home due to ill health or disability.
Books, including large print and
talking books are delivered to people’s
homes regularly, free of charge, by
volunteers recruited by the WRVS.
Requests can be made for specific
books or subjects and are available for
anyone of any age who experiences
difficulty in using a library.
Anyone interested in volunteering to
help provide this valuable service
should contact their local library.
● For more details about receiving the
Home Library Service, contact your local
library or telephone (01305) 225000.
FOCUS
Husband and wife team Alan and
Betty Brown have built up
excellent relationships with the
people on their book delivery
round.
Covering the Highcliffe area, the
couple visit 10 people in their
homes every three weeks with a
selection of titles.
Betty said: “A profile is done by
library staff for each person to
find out what they enjoy, but we
also get to know their likes and
dislikes.
“We’re been doing this for 15
years and we’ve had at least three
100-year-olds. They’re so
interesting to talk to and this is
what’s so rewarding about doing
this. We get really attached to
them.”
How the council is performing for you
Target Outcome
To improve electronic access to
the County Council by achieving
and maintaining the Royal
National Institute for the Blind’s
‘See it Right’ website
accessibility accreditation by 31
March 2005.
To help 80 disabled people of
working age into employment by
March 2006.
To increase to 29% the
pedestrian crossings with full
facilities for disabled people.
Express delivery: Betty Brown helps Norah Bushell choose her library books at home
RNIB audit completed in April
2004. Progress is on target to
achieve accreditation by the due
date.
We are making good progress:
during 2003/04, 22 disabled
people had already been helped
into employment.
32.5% of crossings now have full
facilities for disabled people
(92% of pedestrian crossings
have some form of disabled
adaptations).
Alan added: “For some people this
is their main interest and they
really look forward to seeing us
and having a chat.”
One of their regulars is Norah
Bushell, 91, who gets through six
to eight books in three weeks.
She said: “I’ve always been an
enthusiastic reader but I just can’t
get to the library any more. I broke
my hip and I’m not long out of
hospital so this is a really good
service for me.”
Another regular, Joan Mullineux,
said: “This is a wonderful service,
I don’t know what I’d do without
it.”
Library reopens after major refit
Christchurch library has recently reopened
after extensive refurbishment
of the Grade II listed building on the
High Street.
Improvements have resulted in a
brighter library, with better access
inside and out.
Automatic doors into the library
now give easy access to all visitors
and the inquiry desk has been made
more accessible.
Technology is
put to good use
Hi-tech video conferencing is
saving time and reducing costs for
County Council staff and
councillors.
Introduced earlier this year,
video conferencing is a userfriendly
way of communicating that
helps avoid unnecessary travel,
saves time, improves services and
reduces costs.
There are nine video
conferencing facilities in locations
from Weymouth to Verwood, where
staff and councillors can talk faceto-face
without the need to travel.
Video conferencing facilities in
Weymouth Library and Verwood
Library are also available to local
people, allowing them to speak to a
Trading Standards Officer in
Dorchester and show them faulty
or suspect goods.
Video combats
racism in school
Ethnic minority children have
helped produce a video which aims
to combat racism in Dorset’s
schools.
The 25-minute film, produced
by the council’s Ethnic Minority
Achievement Service, features
children from St Leonard’s Middle
School in Blandford.
Their families originate from
many different parts of the world,
including Bangladesh, Nepal,
India, Thailand, France, Jamaica,
Nigeria and Turkey and almost all
speak at least two languages.
The children describe some of
the difficulties they face, whether it
is practising their religion during
the school day or having to
translate school letters for their
parents, and some describe
experiencing racism.
The video will soon be available
as a training resource for Dorset
schools and may also be sold to
other education authorities.
New bookshelves have been
installed to display the library's 24,000
books, two more computers have
been added, making a total of 14, and
there are more facilities for people to
study.
The new facilities will benefit
existing borrowers, community groups
and societies who regularly use the
library as well as encouraging more
people to join.

SUMMER 2004 9
PURBECK NEWS
Everyone’s a winner as Wool station site comes to fruition
After years of negotiations, a site near Wool station
has brought benefits for housing, transportation, the
environment, the economy and the community.
Since 2000 the Council has been working with a
range of organisations, including Dorset County
Council, Wool Parish Council, South West Trains,
Railtrack, Network Rail and the local community, to
develop the parcel of land.
The Council’s small adjoining car park at
Over the past decade Purbeck Council
has supported the creation of small
workspace units to help the local
economy.
With support from the then Rural
Development Commission and the
Town and County Councils, the
Council converted an empty
pharmaceutical factory in Swanage
into 13 small workspaces which are
fully occupied, and provide more than
Breachfield was sold to Raglan Housing Association
for the development of affordable housing for local
people, with the proceeds to be used to relocate the
car park, recycling facilities and public toilets to
Dorset County Council land near the station on the
other side of the road.
Now, as a result of partnership and sensitive
working with all parties, including local people, the
social housing development has been completed,
YOUTH MANOEUVRE
FOR ARMY TRUCK
Young people living in
some areas of Purbeck
will soon have access
to a converted military
vehicle specially
designed to bring youth
services to them.
In a partnership venture
funded by the Purbeck Crime
and Disorder Reduction
Partnership and the County
Council, with help in kind from
other organisations and
individuals, the vehicle should
be on the road this summer.
It will accommodate six to
eight people and will be kitted
out with computer equipment,
refreshment facilities, youth
resources and information.
The aim of the vehicle is to
make contact with young
people and provide them with
a meeting place. This will be
especially valuable in communities
where they have limited
access to advice, information
and social facilities.
Destinations for the vehicle
will initially be Lulworth Camp,
Bovington, Bere Regis,
Lytchett Matravers and Upton
Heath. A timetable of visits is
being developed.
Steve Lacey from Dorset
County Council’s Youth and
Community Services, who is
heading the project said: “The
vehicle will provide a high
quality attractive environment
for young people to gather. As
it will be for young people, we
want their ideas on uses and
names for the vehicle.”
● To make suggestions about
the uses and name of the new
vehicle, please contact Steve
Lacey (01929) 463503.
50 jobs. A further scheme was
developed on a former Council depot
site in Swanage with 12 units, which
now house ten businesses and
accommodate 30 jobs.
Using another partnership
arrangement and a peppercorn 40-year
lease from the Rempstone Estate, the
Council also achieved Civic Trust
recognition for providing ten attractive
workspace units in listed farm
The military truck, once converted, is set for a friendlier role in future.
Waiting list is proof of policy success
You’re home
and dry when
your landlord
is a pal
Purbeck Accredited
Landlords (PALs) are
serious about the
business of being
landlords.
They can get help from
the Council with tenancy
problems, energy advice
and grants.
If your landlord is a PAL,
then you can apply to
become an accredited
tenant, too.
Phone (01929) 557310 for
more information.
buildings at Rempstone, near Corfe
Castle.
The buildings, home to nine
expanding businesses with 25 jobs,
were rapidly occupied and a waiting
list remains proof of their popularity.
The Council also works with others to
develop small workspaces, assisting
with workplace schemes like the one
at Winfrith Technology Centre.
Purbeck Council’s development control
performance has continued to improve over the
past year.
High-quality developments are being built,
many on previously developed or 'brownfield'
sites, safeguarding the District's exceptional
environmental qualities.
The Council, which considered nearly 950
applications in 2003-04, exceeded the
Government’s speed target for dealing with
major applications.
About 500 applications were from
householders, 75% of which were dealt with
with a small area of land retained for the public
toilets. The recycling facilities have been relocated
next to the village hall, courtesy of Wool Parish
Council, and the car park will be provided on highway
land in front of the station as originally intended.
Wool now has a well-designed housing scheme
providing 21 homes for local people. The station will
have better parking facilities. And there are better
recycling facilities and refurbished public toilets.
Community
planning
begins to
take root
Community planning in
Purbeck is beginning to take
root and has grown from
modest beginnings working
with local communities.
Purbeck Council has
helped develop a strong
network of community-based
groups working on parish
plans, village appraisals and
‘planning for real’ exercises.
This builds on county-wide
partnership work with the
Dorset Strategic Partnership.
As these local groups
have matured, the council has
started to put in place the
Purbeck Community
Partnership to co-ordinate
action across Purbeck and
enable service providers to
tackle ideas generated at a
local level.
The Partnership is not a
single entity but seeks to
bring together community
groups, voluntary
organisations, businesses
and public bodies to work for
the benefit of the whole
District.
It’s still early days but the
omens are good – 13 parish
plans in preparation, more
than £40,000 secured from
the Countryside Agency for
Purbeck, and projects being
identified and implemented
around the District.
High satisfaction with planning
within the target of eight weeks, with 95% of all
householder applications being approved.
A survey of planning applicants at the end of
2003 showed that nearly eight out of ten
applicants were satisfied with the planning
service they had received, the best return in
Dorset.
A number of initiatives are in place to
improve the standard of planning applications
and to provide improved access to planning
information and advice. It will soon be possible
to access planning applications online and
check their progress.

10 PURBECK NEWS SUMMER 2004
PURBECK NEWS 11
NEW LANDLORD
FOR 1,600 HOMES
Council’s entire housing stock is transferred to not-for-profit Trust
Purbeck councillors have made a farreaching
decision to transfer the Council's
housing stock to a new not-for-profit
housing trust at the end of June.
The prospect of the transfer, which
affects some 3,500 Purbeck residents
living in more than 1,600 homes, has
already won strong support from council
tenants.
Last year nearly 70 per cent voted in
favour of the change in a ballot, with a 77
per cent turnout.
Housing spokesperson, Cllr Mike Lovell
said: "We are all convinced that the
transfer will bring significant benefits to
both existing and future tenants."
ALL
DISTRICTS
PERFORMANCE
INDICATOR 2002/03
average
Best
25%
The new trust will make it possible for a
multi-million pound injection of money to
modernise and improve the housing stock.
It also promises stable rents, protection of
tenants' rights and building properties for
rent.
The new Purbeck Housing Trust will
work alongside East Dorset Housing
Association as part of a new group,
Synergy.
The Council will still be responsible for
dealing with homelessness, providing
housing advice and housing benefits.
In future the Council will concentrate on
working with landlords to enable the
building of affordable homes for local
HOW WE
PERFORM
2002/03 2003/04
☺ Better
Worse
% of Council Tax collected. 98% 98% 98.9% 99.0% ☺
% of household waste recycled. 11% 14% 13% 16% ☺
% of services available
electronically
Performance
indicators
Like all councils Purbeck must measure how well it is
performing through a series of nationally set
performance indicators.
Where we can, we also compare our performance with all
other district councils and aim to reach the performance
of the best 25% within five years.
Below is a small sample of the Council’s performance in
2003/04 against national indicators. National
comparisons for 2003/04 are not yet available, so we’ve
compared our performance with 2002/03.
Overall in 2003/04 compared to the previous year, we
maintained or improved our performance against 64% of
national indicators and our performance declined in 36%.
We will strive to improve still further.
* In some cases, even if our performance has dropped
slightly, we are still easily within the best 25% in the
country.
Domestic burglaries per 1000
households
% of Council building accessible
to disabled persons
% of standard searches carried
out in 10 days
47% 56% 57% 70% ☺
12 8 5.14 4.4 ☺
41% 60% 50% 75% ☺
86% 100% 85% 95% ☺
% of invoices paid in 30 days * 92% 96% 100% 98.4%
Time to process benefits claims *
% of major planning applications
determined in 13 weeks *
Vehicle crimes per 1000
population
42
days
30
days
21.9
days
22.8
days
45% 56% 75% 74%
12 9 8.74 10.0
people. This important change will see a
quarter of Council staff moving to the new
Trust.
The Council has taken this opportunity
to review its management structure so that
it is leaner, with three senior managers
retiring, among them the Council’s Chief
Executive, Paul Croft.
He will be replaced by existing Director
of Support Services, Steve Mackenzie.
Director of Community Services, Roger
Whalley, will be the new Deputy Chief
Executive.
These changes will be phased in over
several months and will deliver immediate
savings in running costs.
Wareham quay makes a restful scene on a calm, summer day.
‘Safe tree first’ policy
B&B ordeal ends for homeless
Purbeck Council has successfully eliminated the
use of bed and breakfast accommodation for
families.
Central Government demanded that local
authorities stop using bed and breakfast for
homeless families by April 2004, except in
emergencies and then for no more than six
weeks.
Mandella Wisbey, Purbeck’s Housing Policy
team leader, said: “The Council has brought in a
range of options aimed at preventing
homelessness and helping homeless families in
more innovative ways.”
Last year 174 households approached
Purbeck Council asking to be treated as
homeless - 94 were accepted and found
accommodation and 23 were given loans so
they could pay a deposit on their rents.
Cash rewards
for the District’s
recycling aces
IF you fancy the chance
of winning £250, make
sure you get recycling
in the coming weeks.
2CR-FM’s Marinella will
be back in Purbeck
snooping in people’s
bins to check whether
they’re recycling or not.
Marinella and her Black
Thunder vehicle
swooped on the District
in March to promote
recycling. Julie
McGoldrick (above),
from Upton, won £500
as Recycler of the Week.
If Marinella finds
anything in your bin
that could have been
recycled, you’re out of
the competition.
The Government’s
recycling targets are
very high and we need
to recycle 36% of our
waste by 2005/6
compared with 16%
now.
The Black Thunder will
be coming back soon
and the best recyclers
could win £250.
Before you carry out any
work on trees, it is best to
contact Purbeck Council’s
tree officer for advice on
(01929) 557213.
Trees covered by a Tree
Preservation Order and
those within a Conservation
Area are legally protected.
Families have also been helped with ‘spend
to save’ initiatives, such as providing loans so
they can pay off other debts and manage to stay
in their homes.
There are currently eight properties in a
private sector leasing scheme and more are
always being sought.
All this has been done with the Council
balancing the needs of the homeless and the
needs of other families on the housing waiting
and transfer lists
The Council’s housing spokesperson, Cllr
Mike Lovell, said: “The aim now is to prevent
families with children from becoming homeless
in the first place rather than fixing the problem
after they become homeless. I believe the
figures show clearly that the Council is
succeeding in this aim.”
Green light for energy conservation: the Eco-homes at Bovington.
House of a green future
LOW-COST HOMES
ARE POLICY TARGET
An important planning ‘blueprint’,
setting out how Purbeck
can try to meet local people’s
housing needs, has been adopted
by Purbeck Council.
Cllr Mike Lovell, the council's housing
spokesperson, said: “We are committed to
achieving as much affordable housing as
we possibly can in the District.
“We will be looking for developers to
provide 25 to 35 per cent affordable
housing for local people – that means
housing both for sale and for rent – in
schemes of more than 15 houses in towns
and more than five in other areas.”
The guidance was prepared by the
Council and was put out for public comment
late last year.
A report now backed by District
councillors said: “Purbeck has a substantial
need for affordable housing, resulting from
the area's high house prices, relatively low
earnings and the difficulty in providing
additional housing in such an
environmentally constrained area.”
A study conducted by the Joseph
Rowntree Foundation at the end of 2002
showed that the asking price for modest
homes in Purbeck demands almost as big a
share of the typical pay packet for local
workers as higher-priced homes in the
London boroughs of Westminster, Camden
and Islington.
The provision of homes for local people
has been identified as a top issue by
Purbeck Council through a series of local
studies.
The guidance also encourages a high
standard of design and energy efficiency,
including sustainable construction, in any
new affordable housing.
Cash grant means IT training stays online
Purbeck councillors have
backed spending £7,000 to
keep Wareham’s community
on-line information technology
training centre going until early
next year.
This will allow time for a bid
to be fully investigated to
secure the long-term future of
the centre, which was set up
five years ago in offices at
Wareham’s railway station.
Dorset Community Action,
which had been running the
centre, decided earlier this year
that it had no option but to close
it due to financial difficulties.
Since it learned of that
decision Purbeck Council has
worked with Dorset County
Council’s Adult Education
Service, the Wareham and
District Development Trust and
DCA in a bid to keep the centre
in operation at least until
February 2005.
Purbeck's community
planning and policy manager
With the support of Purbeck, East Dorset
and North Dorset District Councils, East
Dorset Housing Association built three
environmentally friendly houses at
Cunningham Close, Bovington.
The site was originally owned by the
Council and was leased at a peppercorn
rent since it would be used to provide
affordable housing for local people.
Greenfield Way Ltd supplied and built the
houses, which are of large panel timberframe
construction, produced in factory
conditions and delivered to site in a
minimum of vehicle movements. Waste on
Mark Sturgess said: “The value
of Wareham Online is
recognised by the district
council and the council has
worked with partners to be able
to put this rescue plan in
operation.”
The council’s e-government
champion Cllr Peter Wharf
said: “The delivery of council
services by electronic means is
one of our key priorities. We
see Wareham Online as an
essential deliverer of IT training
site was dramatically cut and surplus
materials recycled where possible.
One satisfied customer is resident Mrs
Tracy Littlecott, who said: “The house is
always warm, even in the middle of
winter. Our fuel bills are cheaper. We
never have to have any heating on at all
and sometimes if you use the oven, or
even the iron, you have yo open a window
to let the heat out!
“We are very proud of our home and
visitors are always impressed with its
features.”
to local people which will allow
them to fully utilise available
technology in all aspects of
their lives.”
The £7,000 the council has
pledged towards the £20,000
needed comes from a flat-rate
central government grant,
given to all local authorities to
promote the development of
the electronic delivery of
services. As a result, the money
will be at no cost to the local
council tax payer.
Cultural Strategy drawn up - but do we have it right?
We’ve listened to what
local people think of
cultural facilities in
Purbeck and we’d like to
know if we’ve got your
priorities right.
Purbeck Council will
soon be consulting local
people on its draft Cultural
Strategy, produced
following a review of
cultural services.
The Council provides
very few cultural services
itself but can work with
others to meet local
needs.
You’ve told us that we
need to do more to meet
the needs of young
people, that access to
facilities can be a problem,
and that the information
available could be better.
You also told us that
you were happy with the
facilities at Purbeck Sports
Centre, the outdoor and
informal leisure pursuits
offered by the natural local
environment, and local
events such as festivals,
carnivals and fetes.
The draft strategy will
be available soon for
people to view.
Local
stone
carving
from the
festival at
the Square
and
Compass.
Worth
Matravers
Website puts
services at
fingertips
Purbeck Council is
improving access to its
services by introducing
new technology, using
Government grants to
invest in our website to
provide access to
services you need.
A steering group, led by
Cllr Peter Wharf, includes
other organisations and
decides how the Council
spends the grants to
improve public services
in Purbeck.
One major use of the
grant was to develop a
website which contains a
wealth of information on
the services the Council
provides.
The website has been
acclaimed because of the
number of interactive
services available,
including checking
whether you are entitled
to help with your council
tax or housing costs,
reporting abandoned
vehicles, applying for
jobs at the Council, and
paying your council bills.
Soon you will be able to
book and pay for
facilities at Purbeck
Sports Centre and submit
planning applications,
track their progress and
register objections.
The website can be found
at www.purbeck.gov.uk. If
you want to include
information about your
community group,
contact Charlie Mancini,
website co-ordinator, on
(01929) 557391, or ring
Cllr Wharf on (01929)
472246 if you want to get
involved in the steering
group.

12
PURBECK NEWS SUMMER 2004
Chartermark recognition for Careline alarm service
Purbeck Careline, the Council's Community Alarm Service, was
awarded a Chartermark in the Government's award scheme,
recognising and encouraging excellence in public service.
Chartermark is unique among quality schemes in the way it
concentrates on results - the service the customer actually
receives.
The Careline team was shown to be enthusiastic, well-trained
and committed to providing the best possible service. This is
reflected in high levels of satisfaction among users and partners.
Following transfer of the Council’s housing stock to the Purbeck
Housing Trust on 28 June, the Careline service will be operated
by the Trust on behalf of the Council, and will be moving to
offices at Westminster Road in Wareham.
Trevor Brooking, on a visit to Purbeck Sports Centre, proves he still has some of his old sparkle
Photo: Bob Richardson Photography, Wareham
SPORTS CENTRE
HITS THE JACKPOT
Purbeck Sports Centre
boasts a floodlit astropitch
for hockey and
football and other
improved facilities,
thanks to £1.1 million
of Lottery funding.
The long-established
partnership between the
district and county councils
was instrumental in the
successful bid for funding,
which has also helped
provide additional changing
facilities and improved grass
pitches to allow community
use of the school pitches for
football and cricket.
When the centre opened
in 1978, facilities were
restricted to the pool, main
hall and two squash courts.
Additions over the years
include two more squash
courts, floodlit astro tennis
courts, a sauna, solarium,
gym and a studio for dance,
keep-fit and martial arts.
The recent expansion also
prompted a transformation of
the social facilities - the
centre now boasts fine bar
and restaurant facilities,
including a magnificent
outdoor terrace looking over
to the Purbeck Hills, achieved
in partnership with the
operator of Harry’s Bar in
Wareham.
Sports Centre Committee
Chairman Councillor Tony
Miller said: “Purbeck Sports
Centre offers facilities that
are better than most private
leisure clubs, but without the
restrictions on who can use
them. Anyone can book and
use the centre facilities
without needing to be a
member – it’s a pay-and-play
centre.
“The Council has also
tried to keep its prices at a
level where they are
affordable to all - for example,
we have pegged junior casual
activity prices, including
swimming, for the last three
years.”
Caring, sharing
approach takes
the honours
Purbeck Sports Centre in
Wareham has been
recognised as a top
performing joint provision
facility in a recent review
carried out of Purbeck
Council’s cultural services.
In a national comparison
with similar centres, the centre
scored above average in 81%
of categories with a score in
the top quarter in more than
50% of these categories.
The centre has also been
‘Quest’ accredited, under the
UK’s quality scheme for sport
and leisure facilities, since
2002.
The term ‘joint provision’
refers to facilities that are
funded and used by at least
two local authorities – in this
case, the district and county
councils.
Dorset County Council has
a commitment to the centre
through its use by the Purbeck
School (and the other schools
in the local educational
pyramid) and Purbeck Council
has a commitment to
managing the centre for use
by the wider community.
The management
agreement between the two
councils gives schools priority
use during the day in termtime,
with the facility being
used by the wider community
from 5pm on weekdays, and
all day and evening at
weekends and during school
holidays.
Cllr Tony Miller, Purbeck
Council’s Sport and
Recreation Adviser, said:
"Joint provision is seen by
many as a way of maximising
the use of facilities while
keeping costs down to a
minimum for each authority
and is particularly appropriate
to rural areas like Purbeck."
Purbeck Council has an
excellent working relationship
with the Purbeck School and
as a result the school makes
facilities available to the
community when they are not
programmed for school
activities. This allows a
sizeable programme of
weekday daytime activities for
the general public.
Spectacular
views over
the
Purbeck
Hills from
the terrace
of Harry’s
Bar at the
Sports
Centre.
New projects are
on the agenda
Purbeck’s sport and recreation development officer is
always busy working to increase local activities and
access to them.
The post is funded by a partnership comprising Purbeck
Council, the South and East Dorset Primary Care Trust,
the Purbeck Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership and
local parish councils. Part of the job is to find additional
funding for initiatives. To date £75,000 has been raised for
projects in Purbeck.
A new officer is currently being recruited and will also be
involved in initiatives connected to health, young people,
crime and the fear of crime, and improving and
developing new facilities.
These include coach education courses, support for
funding applications, providing recreation opportunities,
helping develop clubs and providing holiday activities.
● Look out for leaflets and holiday brochures distributed through
local schools, tourist information centres and on the Council’s
website at www.purbeck.gov.uk.

SUMMER 2004 13
DORSET NEWS
August
1-31 Active August, New Barn Field Centre, Bradford Peverell,
Nr Dorchester
Various hands-on activities. Please check
www.newbarn.co.uk for further details.
2-6 Jousting Shows, Lulworth Castle, Lulworth
Twice daily jousting shows, Monday to Friday. Daredevil
riding, medieval games and lots of thrills and spills. Fireeating,
juggling, stilt walking and archery.
5 Children’s Activity Day, Corfe Castle, Nr Wareham
Hands-on activities for children – and castle trail.
7-8 Victorian Festival, Nothe Fort, Weymouth
Re-enactment groups combine to re-create the Victorian
era at the Nothe Fort. Parades, drills cannon and
musketry.
7-14 Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week
Seventy different activities including quizzes and
competitions, children's games, painting, exhibitions,
fireworks, outdoor cinema, music and regatta races.
16-22 Bridport Carnival Week
Events during week leading up to carnival include golf
competition, darts competition, bingo, car boot sale and
fair in carnival field. Carnival Procession is on Saturday
21 August from 7.00pm and Torchlight Procession is on
Sunday 22 August from 21.00pm. Also fete on Sunday
22 August in carnival field.
16-22 The Matchstick Fleet, Nothe Fort, Weymouth
An exhibition of hundreds of models of post WWII
warships made entirely of matchsticks.
18 Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Show, Turnpike
Showground, Nr Shaftesbury
The traditional agricultural show with over 1,000 animals:
horses, cattle and pigs, plus a dog show. Full day's
~ Heavy horses, pure breeds,
rare buildings and nourishing gardens ~
~ Great fun for children indoors and out.
Pets corner, pony rides, amazing playground, family yard and playbarn ~
~ Peaceful chalk stream, river meadows and sixteen bridges ~
~ Collections of bygones, commemorative china and horse-drawn vehicles ~
~ Restaurants, tearoom and picnic snacks ~ Demonstrations and ‘hands on’ workshops ~
Country Park & Historic Working Farm Museum
www.honeybrook.org
A Way of Life to Cherish
KIDS
GO FREE ...
Country Park & Historic Working Farm Museum
O &
Open from Open Mid every March 10am day - 10am 4pm (6pm - 6pm
in summer)
HONEYBROOK, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 4JD
Honeybrook is 2 miles from Wimborne on the B3078 Cranborne Road
ut About
entertainment in three rings. Trade and craft stands and
Farmers' Market.
18 Weymouth Carnival. Visit www.weymouthcarnival.co.uk
20-22 Enduroman Chesil 2004, Weymouth & Portland Sailing
Academy, Portland
This three-day event comprises swimming, running and
cycling at full or half distances. Competitors may
participate in single events or the full triathlon. The
courses are designed to take in Dorset's most beautiful
scenery.
20-22 Stars Under the Stars, Corfe Castle, Nr Wareham
Come and experience the magic of open-air cinema in
the grounds of this majestic ruin.
26 Melplash Agricultural Show, West Bay
The annual agricultural show.
28-30 Big Banana Bonanza, Monkey World, Wareham
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, each child who brings
a banana will receive a free Monkey World badge.
28-30 Craft & Garden Fair, Kingston Lacy, Wimborne
Exhibition, demonstration and sale of traditional and
contemporary crafts, artwork, plants, garden ornaments
and garden furniture.
September
1-5 The Great Dorset Steam Fair, South Down, Tarrant Hinton,
Nr Blandford
Widely recognised as the leading event of its type in the
world, featuring an old-time steam funfair, heavy horses
and other traditional rural working demonstrations. Held
on a mammoth 600 acres showground and regularly
visited by over 200,000 visitors from both the UK and
abroad.
Continued overleaf ☛

14
O & ut About
DORSET NEWS SUMMER 2004
☛ Continued from previous page
4 Shaftesbury Art Centre Open Day, Bell
Street, Shaftesbury
4-5 Dorchester Show, Cokers Frome
Showground
Traditional agricultural show with over
1,000 livestock on display. Main ring
displays and over 300 trade stands.
7 Day for Less Able Visitors, Kingston Lacy,
Wimborne
A special day for less able and
wheelchair visitors to see the main state
rooms, outstanding collection of
paintings and wood carvings. Booking
essential on 01202 883402.
10-12 Rock & Pop Festival, Weymouth
Pavilion
Jam-packed weekend of fantastic
original rock 'n' pop bands.
Special feature: An Elvis look- and
sound-a-like competition, attracting
competitors from across the country.
10-12 Swanage Folk Festival
A weekend of music, dancing and
singing around the town. The festival
covers all aspects of folk traditions with
opportunities to attend concerts with
national artists. Visit the craft fair, watch
dance and procession or sing in a pub.
11 Blandford Carnival
Afternoon children's procession from
Blandford School. Evening procession of
float, fun fair.
11-12 Archaeology Weekend, Corfe Castle,
Nr Wareham
The tenth anniversary of this event with
lots of hands-on activities,
archaeological displays, living history
and guided tours of the castle.
12 Goose Auction, The Gaggle of Geese,
Buckland Newton, Nr Dorchester
Sale of all types of pure bred poultry,
including rare breeds of bantams,
chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese.
(over 500 lots of geese for sale). All
proceeds will go to charity. Also many
other stalls selling country produce,
plants, poultry accessories, etc.
Barbecue and refreshments available.
18-19 Food Glorious Food!, Stapehill Abbey,
Wimborne
A treat for all the gourmets amongst us!
A host of stalls offering local produce
and epicurean delights. Come and try
before you buy from a feast of
delicatessens, confectioners, organic
farmers, poultry and game producers,
preservers – to name a few!
18-3 Oct Shaftesbury Carnival
Afternoon and evening carnival
processions on 2 October. Fortnight of
various fund raising events during the
two weeks.
19 Wessex Classic Car Show, Tank Museum,
Bovington, Nr Wareham
25 Heavy Horse Show & Sale, Turnpike
Showground, Motcombe, Nr Shaftesbury
Heavy Horse Show, Sale & Exhibition,
with an auction of heavy horses and
foals, wagon, carriages, harness and
fittings. Displays of horsemanship,
working demonstrations, trade and craft
stands, farmers market, hot food, real
ale bar – and much more.
GILLINGHAM & SHAFTESBURY
AGRICULTURAL SHOW
THE Show for the Three Counties of
Dorset, Somerset & Wiltshire
Turnpike Showground, Motcombe
2 miles north of Shaftesbury on the B3081
Wednesday 18th August 8.30am - 6.30pm
Attractions will include
Gerard Naprous – The Devil’s Horsemen
Moto-stunts International
John Whiteley Sheep Dogs
The Yetties Fred Wedlock
Birds of Prey Team Terrier Racing
Gun Dogs The Dog Whisperer Dog Show
Show Jumping
Trade Stands ◆ Craft Demonsatrations ◆ Food Hall
Farmers Market ◆ Organic Marquee ◆ Sustainability Displays
Classes for Horses, Ponies, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Poultry, Dogs,
Homecrafts, Horticulture, Art and much more. . .
Admission: Adults £10; Seniors £8; Child £3 Parking FREE
Advance ticket discounts
For all enquiries call 01747 823955
✁
Four Family Days Out
at Monkey World to be won in our £300 Competition
Your chance to
meet the stars of
TV’s ‘Monkey
Business’!
What a fantastic
prize! We have
teamed up with
Monkey World,
the internationally
acclaimed
Ape Rescue
Centre near
Wareham in
Dorset, to provide
a full day out for
four families.
If you’re one of our lucky
prize-winning families
(up to two adults and
two children under 16),
you’ll enjoy free entry to
Monkey World's 65-acre
woodland park in the
heart of the Dorset
For your chance to win this fabulous prize,
answer the simple question below:
Question: How large is the park?
Closing date: August 27th 2004. The winner will be the
first correct entry drawn. Judge’s decision is final.
PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS
Answer..................................................
Name....................................................
Address.................................................
..............................................................
.............................Postcode..................
Send your entry to: Monkey World Competition, Your
Dorset, Communications Unit, Dorset County Council,
Colliton Park, Dorchester DT1 1XJ.
NOW
OPEN
The South’s
Largest Adventure
Play Area
countryside.
You’ll also receive £30
worth of vouchers to
spend in the spacious
Treetops Café, which
serves delicious hot and
cold food throughout the
day. In addition,
vouchers worth £25 will
enable you to browse in
the well-stocked Gift
Shop and choose
presents to take home
plus mementoes of your
special day.
Open seven days a
week, award-winning
Monkey World is a
rewarding day out for all,
combining fun with
animal conservation and
education. The
sanctuary is home to
over 160 rescued and
KIDS GO FREE
to
MONKEY WORLD
APE RESCUE CENTRE
Worth £6.00
Free admission for one child
with two full-paying adults
Valid until 31/10/04 only
with this voucher.
Photocopies will not be
accepted. Not to be used
with any other offer.
Postcode
Excludes Bank Holidays
endangered primates
from all over the world –
a permanent, stable
environment where they
live naturally with the
companionship of their
own kind.
The 16 different species
of primate housed at
Monkey World feature
the largest group of
chimps outside Africa,
orangutans, lemurs,
gibbons, woolly
monkeys and many
more – all stars of TV’s
‘Monkey Business’!
Keeper’s talks every half
hour, an ‘Adopt a
Primate’ scheme, and
the South’s largest
adventure play area
contribute to an
unforgettable visit.
WORTH UP TO £12
Nr. Wareham, Dorset BH20 6HH Telephone 01929 462537
(1 mile from Wool on the Bere Regis/Wool road)
www.monkeyworld.org
KIDS GO FREE
to
MONKEY WORLD
APE RESCUE CENTRE
Worth £6.00
Free admission for one child
with two full-paying adults
Valid until 31/10/04 only
with this voucher.
Photocopies will not be
accepted. Not to be used
with any other offer.
Postcode
Excludes Bank Holidays
Meet the
stars of TV’s
‘Monkey
Business’
✁

THE REGENT CENTRE
HIGH STREET, CHRISTCHURCH 01202 499148
Friday 23 - Sunday 25 July 7.30pm £10.00
MONIQUE – Joie de Vivre
Gallic charm & French chansons
Sunday 1 August 1.30pm & 4.30pm
SOOTY SHOW
Izzy Wizzy Holiday Show
£7.00 Concs £6.00 Family of 4 £24.00
Saturday 7 August 2.00pm FREE
at Town Quay Bandstand
STOMPING ON THE QUOMPS
Taverners Big Band & Guests
Sat 4 September 7.30pm £13.50 Concs £12.00
BEYOND THE BARRICADE
Show hits by former Les Miz principals
Sun 5 September 7.30pm £12.00 Concs £11.00
Sylvia Syms & Jenny Seagrove
MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS
FREE PARKING AT REAR AFTER 7.00pm www.regentcentre.co.uk Show Information line 01202 479819
GREAT DORSET
STEAM FAIR
Southdown,Tarrant Hinton,
Blandford, Dorset
(A354 Blandford/Salisbury road)
Wednesday 1st -
Sunday 5th September
Take a giant trip of nostalgia
into the days of yesteryear.
Held on one of the largest
outdoor showgrounds in
Europe – 600 acres.
◆ Steam driven funfair
◆ 200 full-size working
steam engines, including
60 world-famous
showman’s engines
◆ Steam powered heavy
haulage, threshing, sawing,
ploughing and road
rolling demonstrations
Stapehill
Thursday 9 September £13.00 Concs £11.50
ELVIS COLLECTION
Billy J McGregor in Concert
Sat 11 September 7.30pm £12.50 Concs £11.00
Karen Noble as
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD
Fri 17 & Sat 18 September 7.30pm £9.00
South Wessex Opera
3 OPERA GEMS
Wed 22-Sat 25 Sept 7.30pm £9.50 Concs £9.00
Christchurch Gilbert & Sullivan Society
IOLANTHE
Sun 26 Sept 7.30pm £11.00 Concs £9.00
Tony Jacobs – GERSHWIN YEARS
Wed 29 September - Sat 2 October 7.30pm
Theatre 2000 – MASTERCLASS
Mat Sat 2.30pm Best Play ‘96 about M Callas
A fantastic day out
for all the family
Also featured
◆ Can Can dancing girls ◆ Heavy horses ◆ Rural crafts
◆ Vintage tractors, cars and motorcycles
◆ Stationary engines ◆ Old commercial and army vehicles
◆ Trade stands and five entertainment pavilions with live
music & 100 real ales.
It’s not all old time!
Take a white knuckle ride on one of the country’s biggest
modern funfairs – 120ft Giant Wheel, Log Flume, Roller
Coaster, Drop Tower & Ejection Seat Reverse Bungee
Tel/Fax: 01258 860361 www.steam-fair.co.uk
More than just a garden
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
STEAM WEEKEND
10th & 11th July
QUILTING EXHIBITION
21-30 August inc.
FOOD FESTIVAL
18th & 19th September
• Beautiful 19th Century Cistercian Abbey
• Glorious award winning Walled gardens
• Stunning Japanese Garden
• Peaceful Chapel, Cloister and Cloister Garden • Unique Craft Studios
• Outstanding Countryside Museum
• Farmyard • Children’s Play Area • Lakes and Rockery with Waterfalls
• Licensed Coffee Shop • Plant Sales • Gift Shop • Special Events all year
OPEN DAILY 10am-5pm Easter - September
WED-SUN 10am-4pm October-Easter
SAVE £1.00 per person (Ad/S/C) Max 4
Or £2 off FAMILY TICKET
Valid to 30.09.04 (may not be used in conjunction with any other offer)
STAPEHILL ABBEY, CRAFTS & GARDENS
276 WIMBORNE ROAD WEST, STAPEHILL, WIMBORNE
Off the A31 at Canford Bottom roundabout between Wimborne & Ferndown
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION TEL: 01202 861686
PRESENT THIS ADVERT
TO ADMISSION DESK
FOR ONE
ADMISSION
GET 2ND
FREE
ISLE OF PORTLAND
Henry VIII’s Tudor stronghold
Portland Castle
● Discover 500 years of history
● Hands-on displays
● A must-visit whatever the weather
● Fabulous Harbour views
● Special events throughout
the summer
Open: Apr - Oct, daily from 10am.
Closing: Apr - June & Sept 5pm.
Jul & Aug 6pm, Oct 4pm.
Overlooking Portland Harbour,
follow the brown & white signs
from Weymouth.
FREE child per paying adult
CONDITIONS:
Voucher to be surrendered on entry.
valid from 19th July to 31st August 2004.
Not valid in connection with any other offer
and at evening theatrical events.
Copies not accepted. Code: SWDCC
Enquiries: 01305 820539
HIGHCLIFFE
CASTLE
Visit the Castle’s changing art,
crafts and historical exhibitions,
cliff top grounds, gift shop, tea
rooms and Highcliffe Village.
Exhibitions: Castle opens daily Easter 11am-5pm. – Christmas Grounds 11am – open 5pm daily (4pm from Nov 7am. – Dec)
Tearooms Tea open rooms: from mid-morning open from mid-morning every day of the every year (except day of Christmas the year Day).
Admission to Castle: Adults (except £1.50 Christmas Children FREE Day) Grounds FREE
Guided Castle Tours admission: of unrestored adults parts £1.50, of the Castle children every free. Tues Group and Sat visits at 11am*
and coaches (*may welcomed. be unsuitable for Guided people with tours mobility by arrangement.
problems)
Party booking rates available
LICENSED FOR CIVIL WEDDING CEREMONIES
LICENSED
– AVAILABLE
FOR
FOR
CIVIL
CORPORATE
WEDDING
EVENTS
CEREMONIES
–
Highcliffe Castle
Nr Christchurch on the A337
Tel: 01425 278807
www.highcliffecastle.co.uk
Now OPEN! Visit
‘The Governor’s Garden’
maximum of 2 per voucher
Open daily during the promotional period 10am to 6pm
www.english-heritage.org.uk/portland
✃

16
DORSET NEWS SUMMER 2004
IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
HELPING ELDERLY
STAY AT HOME
Dorset is part of a
ground-breaking
national group
which aims to help
more older people
live independently
in their communities.
The Innovation Forum
was set up last year to
bring ‘Excellent’ councils
like Dorset County
Council and the
government together to
pioneer new ways of
tackling key public service
issues.
The Innovation Forum
proposal for Social Care
and Health is aimed at
improving quality of life by
providing the right care, in
the right place, at the right
time.
A range of new
approaches to care for
older people will be
designed and piloted by
the ten councils involved
in the forum.
Andrew Archibald, the
County Council’s Head of
Community Care for Older
People’s Services said:
“Part of the work focuses
on healthier lifestyles for
older people – and a
priority will be to reduce
the length of stay of
people when they are
admitted to hospital.”
The Council’s target is
to reduce the length of
stay in acute hospital care
for people over 75 by 20
per cent by 2007.
Helping older people stay at home: the right care in the right place
Bringing services together
Care for older people with mental
health needs is a growing area of
need, and the County Council is
working with North Dorset Primary
Care Trust (PCT) to provide more
integrated specialist day care.
The Council and the PCT already
provide day care in their own
settings for this group of older
people. Now, a small amount of
joint-funded conversion work on
two Dorset County Council
buildings will provide suitable
accommodation for health and
social care staff and services to
be brought together in existing
centres in Dorchester and
Blandford. At the Acland
Road Day Centre in Dorchester,
the plans will enable a new
Dementia Care Day Service to be
run in partnership with the PCT,
alongside existing day care for
frail older people.
England’s Most
Picturesque Airfield
● Highly Acclaimed Restaurant & Bar
● Unique Film & TV Aviation Museum
● Falconry Centre
● Flight Vouchers for that Special Gift
● Airfield Shop ● And Much More...
A Great Family Place to Visit
– All Year Round
COMPTON ABBAS AIRFIELD, DORSET
7 MILES NORTH OF BLANDFORD
ON THE C13 SHAFTESBURY ROAD
Tel: 01747 811767
www.abbasair.com
Ensuring a Sure Start in life
The team working to support
children in their early years
has a new name – the Dorset
Sure Start Unit.
Formerly the Early Years
Development and Childcare
Unit, the team is still based at
Dorchester’s Grove House
and will continue to support
new and existing childcare
providers to develop goodquality
childcare provision.
The unit works closely with
local Sure Start programmes
in Weymouth and Portland
and Wool and Bovington, as
well as with partner agencies
and childcare providers.
Staff support new and
existing childminders, raising
quality through childminder
networks, buddy schemes, as
well as supporting nurseries
that provide full daycare, preschools
and out-of-school
provision.
The unit works with a wide
range of providers in all
sectors, including schools,
which are now able to offer
childcare themselves under
new legislation.
The team is also
How the council is performing for you
Target Outcome
70% of items of disability equipment
(£1,000 or less) delivered within 7
working days.
30% of carers receive an
assessment of their needs (3 year
target).
20% of children leaving the care
system aged 16 or over have 5
GCSEs at grades A* - C, while 65%
have at least 1 GCSE at grades A* -
G (3 year target).
Implement the recommendations of
the independent inquiry set up to
investigate the death of Victoria
Climbié.
South Wiltshire
Salisbury District Council magazine Summer 2004
In the swim
Looking to
a new era at
Five Rivers
Farm fresh
Preparing for the
new farmers’ market
Home
sweet home
Affordable housing for all
Transport special
Easing your way
into the city
Inspectors rate council ‘good’
SALISBURY
District Council Published by Salisbury District Council on 100% post consumer waste paper
developing a wider brief from
the national Sure Start Unit to
develop exciting new projects
which integrate childcare,
early years education and
family support services, such
as Children’s Centres.
For more information call these
numbers:
● Dorset Sure Start Unit:
(01305) 228444
● Wool and Bovington Mini
Sure Start: (01929) 463220
● Bovington, Three Bears
Nursery: (01929) 405777
● Weymouth Sure Start:
(01305) 786367
The target was met and performance is
expected to improve even further with
the introduction of a new integrated
Community Equipment Store this April.
33.6% of carers received an assessment
of their needs. In national terms, this
represents an improvement from ‘poor’
performance in the previous year to
‘acceptable’ performance in 2003/04.
At 10% and 49% respectively, the targets
haven’t been met, but improvements are
expected this year as the children benefit
from a new programme that provides
support staff and additional tuition.
All recommendations have been
implemented
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DEEP SOUTH

SUMMER 2004 17
DORSET NEWS
BEING A WELL-MANAGED COUNCIL
ELECTRIC DEBUT
An electric Citroen
Berlingo van is set to
become Dorset County
Council’s first zeroemission
vehicle.
With a range of about 60
miles on a single charge, the
electric van will be ideal for
county council mail delivery in
and around Dorchester.
The Berlingo, which is
charged from a normal 13
amp socket, costs just over
£15,000 but the cost has been
reduced by almost 35%
thanks to an energy saver
grant from the government.
The county council has made
Biodiesel available as an
Mail delivery unplugged: Sean Adams (right) and caretaker Graham
Kenny put the County Council's electric van through its paces
alternative to diesel – this cuts
carbon dioxide by up to 5%
and particulates by up to 28%.
Sean Adams, Procurement
Officer for vehicles and fuels
said: “Councillors are very
keen to lessen the impact of
our vehicles on the
environment and we are
researching alternative
vehicles, fuels and
technologies.”
Dorset set to win £8m grant if it improves service to locals
Dorset is set to benefit by up
to £8m if it can meet 13
challenging targets to achieve
better services for local
people by 2006.
Dorset’s Local Public
Service Agreement has been
negotiated by the county
council and its partners in the
district and borough councils
and the police – and agreed
with the government.
It includes targets for
education, affordable
housing, reduction of burglary
and youth offending,
How the council is performing for you
Target Outcome
The government expects
the public sector to set
the standard for prompt
payment of suppliers by
setting a target of paying
100% of undisputed
invoices within 30 days
and by monitoring
progress towards this.
To maintain at zero the
percentage of LEA
schools subject to
special measures.
In 2002/03 the Council
paid almost 85% of bills
within 30 days,
compared to the average
of 89%. Sampling is now
being carried out to
confirm payment speed
in 2003/04. Early signs
are that there has been
some improvement.
Target met. None of
Dorset’s schools is
subject to special
measures.
TAUNTON FLOWER SHOW
(Chelsea of the West)
VIVARY PARK
AUGUST 4th 11am-9pm
AUGUST 5th 10am-6pm
- ADMISSION -
ADULTS £7 ■ SENIOR CITIZENS £4
CHILDREN £1
✿
Show Gardens
Floral, Competitive & Craft
Marquees Bees and Honey Display
✿
Band & Bugles of the
Light Division
✿
In the Arena. . .
- Punch & Judy - Mini Circus - Somerset Canine Obedience Club
- John Whiteley’s Farmyard Rodeo - Trevor Hill Falconry Display
- Heaven’s Gate Dog Display - and ITV1 Gardens Monthly Roadshow
Details from Show Office 01823 271597
improved roads and cost
effectiveness of the councils.
To help us achieve the
targets, the government is
giving us an initial grant of
£1.2m as ‘invest to improve’
expenditure.
Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm
combines the fun of a theme park
with a unique extra element – the
thrill of interacting with live
animals during a stimulating day in
the countryside. The Farm Park is
just off the A303 between
Andover and Amesbury.
Opening Times
March 20th – October 31st 2004 :
Open Daily (10.00am – 6.00pm)
Winter: Weekends Only
(10.00am – 4.00pm)
*Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Amesbury Road, Cholderton,
Salisbury, Wilts SP4 0EW
01980 629438
www.rabbitworld.co.uk
1 child goes free with 1 paying
adult on production of this ad*
Partners aid elderly care
A new £10m partnership
project on land next to
Westhaven Hospital,
Weymouth is set to bring
enormous benefit to older
people in the area – and is
a good example of how
much can be achieved by
organisations working
together towards shared
goals.
A partnership of Dorset
County Council, Weymouth
and Portland Housing,
Weymouth and Portland
Borough Council, South
West Dorset Primary Care
Trust and The Dorset Trust
is developing a scheme for
a new 64-bed residential
care home, plus 54 units
WIMBORNE MINSTER’S
KING STREET,
WIMBORNE, DORSET
Tel 01202 881924
for further details
www.wimborne-modeltown.com
Reg. Charity 298116
Open 10am-5pm Daily
Admission: Adult £3 Seniors
£2.50 Child £2 (Under 3 FREE)
During special events in August
we re-open 6.30pm-10pm
SPIES, CODES &
SECRET AGENTS
at the ROYAL SIGNALS MUSEUM, BLANDFORD
D-Day and Dorset
Special Forces
ENIGMA - Codes & Codebreaking
Special Operations Executive
Despatch Riders - & Motorcycle collection
Animals at War
MANY
FEATURES
ESPECIALLY
designed
for younger
visitors
of sheltered housing.
The sheltered housing will
enable older people to live
independently with extra
support, while half of the
residential home beds will
offer rehabilitation
facilities for people
discharged from hospital
who are planning to return
to their own homes.
The scheme will be able to
offer a wide range of
health and social ‘care on
the doorstep’ for all
residents that will help
prevent unnecessary
admissions to acute
hospital care and help
avoid delays in hospital
discharge.
Interactive
Communications Science & Technology
The Museum
also highlights
the role of
Women at War
Prize Winning
Discovery &
Fun Trails
for Toddlers
& Children
Prizes for All
Participants
AMUSEUM DESIGNED FOR ALL THE FAMILY AT JUST £13.00
Blandford, Dorset
OPENING TIMES:
Blandford, Dorset
Mon - Fri ( All Year ) ~ 10am - 5pm
DT11 8RH
DT11 8RH
Sat - Sun (Feb 14 - Oct 31)~ 10am - 4pm Tel: 01258 482 248
Tel: 01258 482 248
Experience Wimborne as it was in the 1950s. Set in beautiful
award-winning gardens, the attention to detail will amaze you.
ILLUMINATED EVENINGS - August 4, 11, 18 &
25; September 1. Spectacular & enchanting.
1950s FUNFAIR NIGHTS - August 6, 13. 20, 27.
Fun and games for all the family.

18
DORSET NEWS SUMMER 2004
We had a huge positive response to
the Lifestyle Calculator published in
the Spring Edition of Your Dorset,
with more than 650 readers sending
back their own ecological/lifestyle
footprints.
The basis of the calculator was simple. All
aspects of our daily lives have an impact on the
world – how much depends on things such as
how much fuel, water, food and other resources
we use.
Then you compared your own score against
generalised national and international averages.
Analysis of the responses showed that the
average score was 72 (with the lower the score
the better).
This clearly puts Dorset people in with the
European average, which is better than the UK
average. So it does seem that here in Dorset,
people are well aware of the need to ‘tread lightly
on the earth’.
The main areas where people thought they
could improve their score was energy and
recycling. There was also a clear link between
whether people had doorstep recycling (which is
provided by the District and Borough Councils)
and what people felt they could improve on.
Another area where people felt they could take
action was on transport.
Many people found the simple calculator
brought home the importance of thinking about
their own impact.
Ms L from Dorchester said: “This was a great
idea and really made me think about my
lifestyle.” Mrs E from nr Cranborne said: ”Always
aware of these issues, but even more conscious
after this simple survey.”
A number of people returning their own
ecological ‘footprint’ calculator said it would be
interesting to know what the council was doing to
reduce its impact on the environment and
improve its own score.
How the County Council is trying
to reduce its own footprint:
● Recycling. All waste paper, cardboard, plastic
cups, cans, fluorescent tubes and green
waste is recycled from the offices at County
Hall.
● Over the last 20 years the Council has spent
£7.3m improving the energy efficiency of its
schools and other public buildings, saving
£21.4m. This has reduced the energy use per
square metre by more than 40%.
● Some 50% of the County Council’s buildings
and properties are now running on green
energy.
● All the County Council’s 38,000 street lamps
and illuminated traffic signs are now
contracted to run on green tariff electricity.
● The County Council has set up an Internetbased
car share scheme to encourage staff to
share journeys to work, and reduce car usage.
● Over the last 20 years the Council has
reduced the amount of water used in its
buildings (e.g. schools, libraries, social care &
health facilities) by 22%, saving over
£900,000.
There are also many other areas where the
Council could improve it’s own performance and
is working to identify these and take appropriate
action.
Towards Durdle Door: Dorset people care for their environment
TRANSPORT
● Why not try car sharing on those regular trips
to work? Get a leaflet from your local library
or register your journey on
www.carsharedorset.com. Tel: (08700) 111199
● Many people were concerned that with family
members living abroad, they could do little
about scoring a huge 20 points for using
long-haul flights.
‘Tread lightly
on the Earth’
Footprint
Calculator
prize draw
winners
The DVD player
was won by Peter
Graham of
Buckland Newton
who describes
himself as ‘very
green minded’ and
scored an ‘environmentally
friendly’
51 in the lifestyle calculator.
The local food hamper was won by Lt Col
John Rose, 72, retired from the Royal Corps of
Signals (pictured). Lt Col Rose, from
Sherborne said: “I am delighted to have won
this lovely hamper of local food. I don’t often
win things and this has come out of the blue.”
Helpful hints for reducing your ‘footprint’
There is little doubt that aeroplanes release a
cocktail of greenhouse gas emissions that are a
major contributor to global warming. However,
an organisation called Climate Care may be an
answer.
Climate Care funds projects such as
reforestation that absorb carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere. For a small fee (a return flight
to The States would be offset for only £9.53)
they will plant enough trees to absorb the
impact of your air travel, rendering your flight
‘climate neutral’. Log on to www.climatecare.org
or telephone (01865) 777 770.
ENERGY
● Get energy and grant advice from the Energy
Advice Centre on (01202) 381037.
● Try buying green tariff electricity from your
supplier. Green electricity may mean paying
slightly more for your units (e.g. SWEB 0.4p
per unit) but the money will go into a fund to
support new renewable energy projects and is
matched by the energy supplier.
In some other schemes the money is used to
buy energy actually generated by renewable
methods.
A good web site to find out more is
www.greenelectricity.org. Why not use a
computer in your local library to look it up?
WATER CONSUMPTION
● Try saving one litre of water with every flush
of your toilet by fitting a ‘HOG’ device to your
cistern. If you are on a meter this could help
you cut your water bill by up as much as 10%.
Wessex Water customers can get one free in a
‘Water Conservation Pack’ – 0845 600 4 600.

SUMMER 2004 19
DORSET NEWS
Calling all young people – Dorset needs you!
Would you like to be
involved in reporting
issues which are
important to young
people in Dorset?
Then get involved in Your
Dorset’s young people’s
page, which will be featured
in every edition of the
newspaper.
If you’re interested in helping
to develop this section of
Your Dorset by and for
young people cantact Gess
Aird at The Training Centre,
Dorchester Youth and
Community Centre, Kings
Road, Dorchester, DT1 1NJ,
call Gess on (01305) 262738,
or e-mail to
g.aird@dorsetcc.gov.uk.
Competition time
What should this section look
like and what should we call it?
Any ideas?
If you would like to put together
some ideas about a title or
logo/design for the section then
please forward them to Gess
on the details above
News update
UK Youth Parliament
to meet this summer
Dorset Members of the UK
Youth Parliament will be
meeting colleagues from
around the country at the
National Sitting this summer.
They have take a survey
featuring the views of young
people across Dorset -
thanks to everyone who took
the time to complete the
survey.
The results will ensure that
the views and opinions of the
young people in Dorset are
represented nationally. If you
would like a survey to
complete e-mail Gess at the
above address.
Look out for the UKYP
interactive CD-ROM in
schools and youth centres
giving lots of information
about the UK Youth
Parliament and how to stand
for election.
County Youth Council
conference success
A successful conference was
held in May for young people
across Dorset to get together
and discuss the possibility of
creating a County Youth
Council.
More than 80 young people
attended and put forward
their ideas. The next stage
will be a residential weekend
in late summer to finalise the
ideas from the conference
and to create the County
Youth Council.
For more information about
this and the residential or to
find out how you can get
involved, contact Gess.
UProjects
Look out for UProject
activities coming up across
Dorset this summer,
including trips to Turkey and
Switzerland, water sports
from canoeing to sailing, and
karting and racing on
UProject extreme.
Underground adventure: one of the UProjects activities
If you are 16 and leaving
school with no plans for
September then contact
Mark Grundon on (01305)
259102 or email at
m.r.grundon@dorsetcc.
gov.uk to find out details of
UProject in your area and
how to get involved.
Your Dorset
Do you have an issue for
young people that you would
like to share with others?
Then use Your Dorset.
Drop us a line with your
issue and some information
and we can work together to
put it in the news. After all,
this is for young people, so
your news should be in it!
Contact Gess on the details
above.
For more information about
‘Your Dorset for Young People’
contact Gess Aird, Participation
Youth Worker, on (01305)
262738, e-mail:
g.aird@dorsetcc.gov.uk or visit
www.dorsetcc.gov.uk
BUTT