As the result of a successful campaign by local residents with the support of Peter Mann & Trevor Jones the whole of Coburg Road will soon have a 20mph speed limit.

“Lib Dem Councillors have long believed that local residents must have the final say about whether residents parking is right for them,” says Peter Mann.

“Much of Victoria Park has backed a new scheme that will help residents cope with problems caused by their closeness to the Hospital. The Orders to introduce this scheme are now being issued by the County Council,” added Trevor Jones. “However, residents of Fordington showed a majority opposed to a scheme for their area and so this has been dropped.”

Martin Graham and Richard Biggs at the site of what will become Dorchester’s largest park.

“Work on the first phase of the Great Field started last month,” said Martin. “By early next year there will be a sports field here that will provide a cricket pitch in the summer and two junior football pitches for the rest of the year. This will be followed by a ball wall and basketball hoop on a tarmaced area for allweather use.”

“Later phases of the park will mostly be informal with paths for pedestrians and cyclists linking new Poundbury to the rest of the town; although we would also like to see more facilities for young people here,” added Richard.

Andy Canning and Trevor Jones visiting the Yeovil Road where a major scheme of tree planting will help to make the approach to the town far more attractive and help screen the Grove and Marabout Industrial Estates.

“A couple of years ago a developer at Poundbury knocked down a row of public trees by mistake. As a result of this they paid some compensation,” explains Trevor. “After discussions between the Duchy and County Council we have agreed that the best use of this money is to improve the approach into town from the Yeovil direction.”

Robin Potter and Tim Harries welcoming the news that the County and District Councils have agreed to start a weekday Park and Ride for their staff.

“This plan should help to free up a number of long-term parking spaces in the town centre and allow them to be changed into short-term parking for shoppers and visitors,” said Robin.

“It’s also good news for motorists as this will help to cut congestion in the rush hour,” added Tim.

The new Park+Ride is designed to operate from the football stadium and is due to start in November.

“Much needed work to clean the Town House is now well underway. What’s also needed is better interpretation and a solution to drainage problems,” say Fiona Kent-Ledger and Mark Allwood.

For the first time Dorchester’s Christmas Cracker Night is to be held on a Wednesday. As in previous years the Lib Dem-run Town Council is providing around 40 small Christmas trees as well as contributing towards the main lights and the children’s lantern parade.

“So far over 700 homes have been built at Poundbury. Over the next twenty years there will be at least another 2,000. It is vital that the plans for the next stages ensure that Poundbury is integrated into Dorchester and that there are new facilities that will benefit the whole community” say local Councillors Martin Graham and Andy Canning.

A 10 point plan for Poundbury:

• 35% of all future housing should be affordable;
• No building should be over 5 storeys high. The highest buildings should be in the centre with heights declining towards the edges;
• There should be an avenue of trees around Poundbury to soften its appearance from a distance as well as far more planting along avenues and squares;
• All new building to be constructed to a high environmental standard to reduce carbon emissions and lower heating bills;
• A new 6-lane swimming pool and learner pool with fitness & dance studios for use by the whole community;
• Creation of the “Great Field” park with football and cricket pitches plus facilities for young people;
• A new school to ease admissions problems;
• A new community hall;
• Extra parking for businesses to reduce on-street parking;
• Improved cycle, footpath and public transport links to the town centre together with better cycle and footpath links into the countryside.

“Work on the restoration and improvement of Dorchester’s historic Borough Gardens is on target to be finished by Christmas,” says Dorchester Councillor Stella Jones.

“Already the fountain has been restored and the fencing is back for the first time since World War 2. Work on the new play area, kiosk and toilets is well advanced as are improvements to the bowling area, the removal of one tennis court, the restoration of the House and new surfacing for the pavements,” she concluded.

For decades several hundred of Dorset’s blind and partially sighted people received talking books produced by the Royal National Institute for the Blind, courtesy of Dorset County Council. As part of the cuts now being imposed by the ruling Conservative group at County Hall this service has been withdrawn. Shame on them!

“In addition the Conservatives are planning to close more than one-in three of our libraries” says Cllr Richard Biggs. “I am horrified by the savaging of these essential services. The Lib Dem Group on the County Council will work with community groups across the County do all that we can to stop these cuts.”