Dorset

Drivers using their mobile phone to pay to park in car parks in Wareham, Swanage and Corfe Castle will need to register with a new service from the end of May 2018.

JustPark will be running the service in Council-owned car parks from Tuesday 29 May 2018. The service had previously been provided by Phone and Pay so users of that service will need to register their details with JustPark at www.justpark.com

Car park users will still be able to use cash if they prefer, but anyone wishing to pay via mobile will have the convenience of being cash-free, and extending their parking time without going back to their vehicle.  

Councillor Cherry Brooks, Economy and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder for Purbeck District Council, said: “This is about giving people a range of options, and using their mobile phone to pay for parking means they don’t need to worry about finding the right change for the car park machine.

“As the parking time can be extended by using the mobile app or by text message, shoppers and visitors don’t need to race back to the car before their ticket runs out, giving them more time to enjoy the local shops and attractions in Corfe, Swanage and Wareham,”

Anthony Eskinazi, founder and CEO of JustPark, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Purbeck District Council and Swanage Town Council to make parking easy and stress-free for their residents and visitors.

“Our user-friendly payment system offers a quick and reliable alternative to cash – giving drivers more choice and providing a positive parking experience.”

Corfe Castle

Wareham

Swanage

JustPark is also being rolled out to car parks across Poole and Dorset, so users will only need to register once to park in the area.

Council owned car parks in Purbeck and Poole will be the first to switch over to JustPark from 29 May.

From 18 June, council owned car parks in north Dorset, west Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, and on-street parking provided by the county council, will move over to JustPark.

Check the JustPark app or website to see which car parks are included. Visit www.justpark.com for details and to download the app.

See details of Dorset County and Purbeck District Council-owned car parks in Dorset

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Legislation now passed in both Houses of Parliament means that Dorset residents will be served by two brand new unitary councils from April 2019 – Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, and Dorset Council.  The county’s nine current councils will cease to exist on 31 March 2019.

The Leaders of the eight councils who have consented to local government reform have wholeheartedly welcomed the news.

Cllr John Beesley for Bournemouth, Cllr Rebecca Knox for Dorset, Cllr Janet Walton for Poole, Cllr Spencer Flower for East Dorset, Cllr Gary Suttle for Purbeck, Cllr Graham Carr-Jones for North Dorset, Cllr Anthony Alford for West Dorset and Cllr Jeff Cant for Weymouth & Portland said:

“This is an historic day for local government in our county, and we are exceptionally proud to have reached this significant milestone. 

“We would like to thank to all councillors, officers, business organisations, MPs, town & parish councils, public sector partners, the voluntary sector and of course the residents of Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth, for clearly recognising the benefits that this change will bring, and for supporting us through what has been a long and complex process. 

“People recognised that Dorset is made up of a distinct and established conurbation and a defined county area, each with its own differing needs and priorities.  They, like us, saw the logic of streamlined local government, of having councils with less overheads that are better able to protect local services in the future and that can spend a greater proportion of available funds on frontline provision like road repairs, children’s services, adult social care, waste & recycling, parks, and libraries.  

“Both new councils will serve around 400,000 residents, putting them within the twenty largest local authorities in the country.  It is the immense opportunity that this strength of position gives us at a national level that is the most exciting benefit of all.  These two new councils will have a stronger, co-ordinated voice when bidding for Government funding and investment for things like road improvements, housing, schools and economic regeneration; the things that benefit an area for all those living within it.”

Now that the legislation has been approved by Parliament the final Order will be made, and the two Joint Committees, set up to make the local decisions needed to ensure the Parliamentary process could complete, will disband.  They will be replaced by two Shadow Authorities – one for each new council area.  The first meeting of these Shadow Authorities must take place within 14 days of the Order being made.

At its first meeting, each Shadow Authority is required appoint statutory officers on an interim basis, those roles being the head of paid service, monitoring officer and chief finance officer, as well as appoint Members to relevant Committees and confirm the preceding councils’ nominations to a Shadow Executive Committee. 

Each Shadow Executive Committee oversees the implementation plans for the new councils, having taken this responsibility on following the cessation of the Joint Committees. 

At a meeting early next year, the Shadow Authorities will be responsible for setting the first budget of each new unitary council. The Shadow Authorities are not involved in ongoing service delivery, as these functions remain with the nine councils that currently exist, and will then transfer to the appropriate new councils in April next year. The focus of the preceding nine councils is to continue to deliver all services between now and April 2019, and make plans for smooth service continuity on day one of the new unitary authorities. 

The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Shadow Authority is made up of 125 seats, filled by all existing 120 Councillors from the preceding authorities including five councillors who are both Borough and County Councillors for Christchurch.  The first meeting takes place on 6 June at 7pm at Bournemouth University.

For the Dorset Council, the Shadow Authority comprises 206 seats, occupied by 174 existing councillors. The inaugural meeting will take place on 7 June at 6:30pm at South Walks House, Dorchester. 

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Helping the carers, our unsung heroes – celebrating National Carers Week 2018

National Carers’ Week 2018 takes place from 11-17 June.

The week celebrates the often unseen involvement that family and friends have in caring and supporting loved ones. This year the focus is on helping carers to be healthy and connected.

A carer is someone of any age who provides on-going and unpaid care to a partner, child, relative or friend. Without this help, the health and wellbeing of the cared for person could deteriorate due to frailty, disability, a serious health condition, mental ill health or substance abuse. Many people don’t even identify themselves as a carer because they believe it is their responsibility to look after their loved one.

There are currently around 40,000 unpaid carers across Dorset, who are vital in providing personalised healthcare. However, in supporting others, many carers neglect their own health and wellbeing, leading to a lower quality of life and even their own health complications.

The role of an unpaid carer can be a very lonely one at times. To help carers stay healthy and connected, Dorset County Council, Dorset HealthCare and Tricuro are hosting and supporting a range of events across the county during the week to offer advice and support. Highlights include a carers get-together at The Crown Hotel in Blandford, a celebration of the great outdoors at Durlston Country Park and a free film at the Plaza cinema in Dorchester. Many other activities will be taking place, including coffee mornings, drop-in information events, story sharing, support groups, lunches and pampering sessions. They will take place in various places including day centres, libraries and GP surgeries. To find out what’s happening in your area during Carers Week visit dorsetforyou.gov.uk/carers.

Cllr Jill Haynes, the county council’s Cabinet member for health and care, says:

“We need to help you to look after yourself, as well as the person you care for. There are a couple of simple steps that could help; firstly, you should register as a carer with your local council, who will send you an information pack and carers discount card with details about the help and support available.

“Secondly, you should tell your GP, as they will endeavour to make services and appointments accessible to you.”

To register as a carer with Dorset County Council, visit our website dorsetforyou.gov.uk/carers or telephone 01305 221016.

More information on national events and advice can be found at carersweek.org.

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Improvements to Chapel Gate Roundabout, near Bournemouth Airport, have finished.

The project is the second scheme delivered by Dorset County Council and strategic partner Hanson UK as part of the Bournemouth International Growth (BIG) Programme.

£45.2m was secured by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership through the Local Growth Fund for the BIG Programme, to improve connectivity, ease congestion, protect existing jobs and create new ones in and around Bournemouth Airport and Wessex Fields.

At Chapel Gate, the improved layout provides a dedicated left turn filter for westbound traffic from Hurn, an additional lane to give eastbound traffic better access to Aviation Business Park and new cycleway and footway links into Aviation Business Park to give commuters more travel options.

Overall, the roundabout improvements – along with planned BIG Programme schemes at Hurn Roundabout and Parley Cross – will help to relieve congestion on the B3073.

Minister for Local Growth, Jake Berry, said:

“It’s encouraging to see Local Growth Deal funding being invested in strategically important sites in Dorset. The improvements at Chapel Gate roundabout are a vital part of the Bournemouth International Growth Programme and will make a real difference to connectivity around Bournemouth Airport, helping create local jobs, growth and a stronger economy across the region.”

Jim Stewart, Chair of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership said:

“We’re pleased to see the completion of the work at Chapel Gate roundabout.  It forms a key part of the plans to improve flow along the B3073 corridor and is an important element of the BIG Programme’s transport ambition to unlock roads, relieve congestion and create better journeys for local businesses and people.

“The BIG Programme is making good progress with the renewal of the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road completed last year, the improvements at Blackwater Junction underway and works at Parley, Hurn and Wessex Fields in the pipeline.

“Collectively they will transform accessibility, create and protect jobs and boost productivity by up to £500 million GVA for the local area.”

Councillor Daryl Turner, Dorset County Council Cabinet member for the natural and built environment, said: “When it comes to road infrastructure, Dorset is usually at a disadvantage compared to other counties, but we are committed to working with partners to improve our network to ensure that our economy can continue to grow.

“Our work at Chapel Gate is another step forward towards reducing congestion along this busy route, and the additional, and improved, cycle links to the business park will provide a healthier travel choice for those able to leave their car at home.

“I’d like to thank drivers for their patience and thank the project team for successfully delivering another scheme.”

The £1.7m work at Chapel Gate Roundabout started on 3 July with work carried out off-peak between 9.30am and 3.30pm to minimise disruption and delays.

Following problems with the initial surfacing of the roundabout, the area has now been resurfaced – at no cost to Dorset County Council or Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.

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Plans to breathe new life into the Weymouth Peninsula will move a step closer.

An outline planning application to transform the landmark with all-weather leisure attractions, harbourside improvements, new restaurants, a pub with rooms and a mid-range hotel is soon to be submitted.

The application aims to establish the principles for development on this key site, including size, scale and a mix of uses. This follows a series of public engagement events and a survey which resulted in 52% of people saying the scheme was ‘very good’ or ‘good’ and a further 27% saying it was ‘fair’.

Cllr Jeff Cant Leader of Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, and Briefholder for Finance & Assets, said:

“The Peninsula project is part of an ambitious plan to transform Weymouth into a vibrant, year-round destination. Developing this site would provide more indoor leisure facilities for residents and visitors alike, while complementing other facilities and businesses in the town.

“Submitting an outline planning application is an exciting step and means we move closer to transforming this important landmark.”

Proposals for the site – home to Weymouth Pavilion and the Jurassic Skyline – include all-weather indoor attractions, restaurants, walkways, new harbour facilities and improvements, harbour wall repairs, a pub with rooms and a mid-range hotel.

The outline planning application will seek approval to build, in principle, the elements outlined in the proposals. Should it be approved a more detailed application called a ‘reserved matters’ application for phase one of the scheme – the hotel and harbourside improvements – will be submitted later in the year.

A detailed planning application for the second phase of the scheme, including leisure facilities and restaurants, is expected to be submitted in 2019. At this point the responses from the public engagement will again be taken into account.

The outline planning application will be able to be viewed on the Dorset for You website in early June. Residents, businesses and statutory consultees will have 21 days to feedback their views. It will then go to planning committee when a final decision will be made.

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