Interested in being a Councillor?

On Monday 1st March at 6.30 pm PDC will be providing an introductory session for potential candidates on the electoral process and what it means to be a District and/or Parish Councillor.  A more detailed session for candidates and agents will be arranged once nominations have closed.  The introductory session will be in the Council Chamber at Westport House and should last for about an hour or so.  Candidates’ packs will be available together with the timetable of what will be happening when.

IMPORTANT. If you are interested in attending, please contact: Peter Aston, Principal Democratic Services Officer & Deputy Returning Officer, Purbeck District Council;  PeterAston@purbeck-dc.gov.uk; (01929) 557221

Classical Festival Kimmeridge 26-28 August

The Seranata Festival, set for 30 acres on Purbeck’s Smedmore Estate, overlooking stunning Kimmeridge Bay, will cater for 3,000 people a day this August. Tickets for the top package cost £795 for the three days, while one-day tickets, including camping on the family site, start at just £55. The website serenatafestival.com goes live on Friday 29th Jan.

Want to volunteer?

If you would like to volunteer for something that will help the community, but don't know where to start, or want some advice, you might like to look at the Dorset Volunteer Website. Or you can phone the Purbeck Outreach worker, Angela Taylor, on 0755 212 2708 or a.taylor@volunteeringdorset.org.uk. Or you can chat with her on Wednesdays at Swanage Library 11am - 1pm, and on Thursdays at Wareham Library 10am - 12noon.

Also contact Angela if you are interested in courses, such as First Aid, Spectator Safety, etc. I attended a very useful (free) course on First Aid yesterday.

Dog airlifted to safety

Whose was this?!

Jack Russell airlifted to safety on Purbeck

A dog had to be winched to safety by coastguards after becoming stranded at the bottom of a cliff in Dorset.A 999 call was made after a female Jack Russell, called Xena, became separated from its owner on Thursday. Portland Coastguard scrambled its helicopter to a quarry near Winspit on the Purbeck coast after initial reports that a person was also trapped.The dog was found with minor injuries and airlifted to safety. It was later reunited with its owner. No persons were found to be in danger, the coastguard added.

Your community group need cash?

Don’t miss out on cash

Echo 7:00pm Thursday 21st January 2010

GRANTS of up to £1,000 are still available for community groups.
The cash, on offer through the Purbeck Community Partnership, is up for grabs until the February 12 deadline.
Brian Bleese, partnership chairman, said: “These grants are a great way to help get local community initiatives off the ground.”
Groups offering social and physical activities locally should apply through purbeck.gov.uk or call Sue Bellamy on 01929 557303.

Urgent help needed for Dorset Reclaim

Dorset Reclaim have had all the items stored in their warehouse destroyed by fire (apparently the Police think it may have been started deliberately). This will mean they will not be able to provide household items to lots of needy people on low incomes, until they can get nore stock.

So if you have any unwanted beds, sofas, tables, fridges, TVs etc ... please think of contacting Dorset Reclaim to arrange collection.

Telephone 01202 773384
Email: ray@dorsetreclaim.org.uk
http://www.dorsetreclaim.org.uk/

Dorset Reclaim is a registered charity project, based in Bournemouth, Poole and Dorchester,
re-using and recycling furniture, electrical and household goods.
The principal aim of the Project is to provide these items to those in need within the local communities throughout Dorset and East Hampshire. They collect for free too.

Jon Sibthorpe

Jon sadly passed away on Weds 13th January at home in Swanage.
There is a remembrance book in The Gazette office - please pop in and jot down your comments, memories and stories.
The funeral is at 11.45am on Thurs Jan 28th. at St Mary's Church, Swanage, followed by 'Jon's last gig' at The Red Lion, High Street, Swanage. All welcome.
Casual clothes only - no black please.



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 4:09 PM

Purbeck Hotel loses licence

Drugs bust leads to Purbeck Hotel loss of licence.



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 1:34 PM

Haiti appeal

Some of you might be interested to know that I asked at the Council meeting yesterday if the Council could make a donation to the Haiti emergency appeal. Unfortunately, it seems the Town Council is only legally allowed to make such donations within its own geographical area. So it can't help, even though it would like to.

Sunseeker all at sea?

Strange things happening over at Sunseeker it seems. Main board all replaced and a man from KPMG brought in. But business still booming so no doubt company will be ok even if management shuffles around. (Nothing in the local media yet, of course).


More on IBI Magazinehttp://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20100018182201ibinews.html
Following speculation over the last couple of days of changes afoot at Sunseeker International, the UK boatbuilder has issued a statement announcing the establishment of a new operating board, and that Robert Braithwaite is to reduce his involvement in the day-to-day running of the business as managing director to focus on customer relations and steering the Sunseeker brand. Robert Braithwaite stepped down from the board of Sunseeker International Ltd at the end of December, though he remains a majority shareholder.

Internet Explorer

Warnings against using this browser. I use Firefox myself   http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/

Empty homes?

LIB DEMS WANT EMPTY HOMES BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE

Sorry, it's them who's shouting, not I.

http://www.wessexfm.com/news/review.php?article=110495



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 3:10 PM

Schools

"We feel it would be wrong to consult on an option that is costly, both financially and to young people's education, and which defeats the point of the review".

Our Schools are back on the agenda.

http://www.wessexfm.com/news/review.php?article=110508



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 3:09 PM

Panoramic tours

I like this: panoramic tours over on virtual-swanage.

Swanworth Quarry

Did anyone go to the public meeting about this on Wednesday night? Was there anything beyond what was on Tarmac's website? There they said "Tarmac's restoration project at Swanworth Quarry will involve using rare grassland seeds collected from a nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to sow at the quarry to create a unique area of limestone grassland."

Wool Relief Road?

I heard from a friend that there is to be a bypass built by Wool now - is this true, and what will be the environmental impact for us?

Alex



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 8:13 PM

Town Clerk to retire

Minutes of the recent Policy and Planning meeting (21 December 2009) recorded that the Town Clerk is proposing to retire in March 2010, subject to details being resolved. The current Deputy Town Clerk, Martin Ayres, would be appointed Acting Town Clerk for a minimum period of six months.

Want to give/get stuff for free?

I wondered what had happened to Freecycle. Thought it had gone away, but here it is:

http://freecycle.org/group/United%20Kingdom/South%20West/Purbeck

Now we have Freegle as well:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PurbeckFreegle/

Then there's WastenotWantnot:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/waste-not-want-not-poole/

Best of all perhaps for donating items is:
http://www.dorsetreclaim.org.uk/
Dorset Reclaim is a registered charity project, based in Bournemouth, Poole and Dorchester,
re-using and recycling furniture, electrical and household goods.
The principal aim of the Project is to provide these items to those in need within the local communities throughout Dorset and East Hampshire. They collect for free too.


Please post any experiences.

Cold snaps.

Anyone swimming in Swanage today?

Cold problems?

(Starting a new thread to deal with issues to do with the cold: getting roads gritted, making sure people are safe, etc)

I walked from Langton to Swanage today, to visit my daugher who lives at Alexander Terrace. I didn't get there. The end of Manwell was impassable on foot, just a huge sheet of ice across the road, so I tried to go up through Hobourne Park, also impassable, spooky, no footprints in the snow. They have run out of grit, the people living in this part of Swanage are all elderly. I saw no one, they cannot even step out of their door. If this weather continues for much longer it will cause huge problems for these people. I phoned DCC to report the lack of grit, but also said I was very concerned for the welfare of these people, even if the bins are refilled with grit, there is probably no one that is able do anything with it. Does anyone know, if there is someone in Swanage that is able to reach these people with a 4 wheel drive to check that they are ok.
Mum who lives at the other end of Swanage is doing her best to clear her neighbours paths. She is way over 70 but is for ever young.

Collette

6:30 PM

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Swanageview vital communication":

Hi Collette

sorry to hear about this. I'm not able to help myself, but - possibly clutching at straws -

St Johns 08700 10 49 50

Sally Army 424578

Police 422004

STC 423636

Health Centre 422231

NFU 553472

hopefully someone reading this!



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 7:09 PM

County spending

http://www.purbeck.gov.uk/news/latest_news/council_decisions_summary.aspx

Decisions taken at Council - December 2009

Information Technology – Network and Desktop Infrastructure Refresh

* Council approved the procurement of services, hardware and software systems to refresh and upgrade the Council’s computer network at an estimated cost of £90,000.

* Council gave the go-ahead to purchase hardware and software to upgrade desktop systems at an estimated cost of £45,000.

The total cost of £135,000 is to be funded from capital resources.

* Funding, at an estimated revenue cost of £25,000 pa over 3 years, was approved to take up a licensing agreement with Microsoft to ensure the Council’s core software and operating systems (eg Windows 7, XP etc) are kept up to date.

I would suggest that putting £25K is an under-estimation, helped by the fact that they quote "* Council gave the go-ahead to purchase hardware and software to upgrade desktop systems at an estimated cost of £45,000."

WHY, OH WHY do we keep giving Microsoft our hard earned Tax Pounds?

Why don't we get in touch with one of the more progressive Linux distributions and get them to provide our software - FOR FREE.

More and more Countries are waking up to the ridiculous amount of money that Microsoft 'earn' from you and I.

Why aren't we?

Swanageview vital communication

Swanageview Could Be A Vital Means Of Communication In The Area

A newcomer here to bend (focus)the ears (eyes) of our correspondents again!

It occurs to me that without its own daily/weekly local rag and no radio station to call its own, the town and surroundings are out on their own when messages need to be got across at difficult times?

Messages like weather driven cancellations, closures, postponements, news of any vital description. We are on our own, not a mention in the media.

When was the last local newspaper printed in town? Now that is something i hope our more senior residents can enlighten me over.

This website could be the means of vital communication ... yes, no?

Paul. 6:00 PM

Co-op car park

Would anyone agree that the Coop car park is now no longer big enough to cater for the demand?
Could a second storey be added?



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 10:52 AM

Drax meeting. Thurs 7th Jan

MEETING WITH RICHARD DRAX AT THE CATHOLIC HALL - REMPSTONE ROAD THURSDAY 7TH 7PM -

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A CONSERVATIVE SUPPORTER TO ATTEND. PLEASE GO ALONG AND LISTEN AND THEN ASK DEEP SEARCHING QUESTIONS RE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SECOND HOME TAX, EDUCATION (Purbeck schools review) CAN DCC AFFORD TO BUILD NEW PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND A 21ST STATE OF THE ART PURBECK SCHOOL?, EMPLOYMENT, LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICES, ENVIRONMENT ISSUES.

LETS HOPE WE ARE NOT ALL SNOWED IN OR TOO BUSY TO ATTEND !
COME ON PEOPLE DO SOMETHING, DON'T WASTE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 8:22 PM

Grit on the roads?

Have many of the roads in Swanage been gritted in this cold weather. Tonight the high street, Victoria Avenue and the sea front had been gritted but roads like Priests Road, Townsend Road, and lots of smaller side streets are just covered in ice and slush.

Please can you post your road or any you have seen which have or havent been gritted as replies and then we can all see where the council are failing to keep the roads safe.



Posted by Virtual Swanage to swanageview at 8:05 PM

Boiler scrappage scheme

Want to register for the boiler scrappage scheme and get £400 towards cost of a new, energy-efficient, boiler?

To confirm that your home has a G-rated (or equivalent) boiler,  call ACT ON CO₂ advice line on 0800 512 012  or check out:

http://www.governmentboiler-scrappagescheme.info/EligibilityCheck.php

This will take you through a process to confirm the eligibility of your current boiler. Once you have determined that your boiler is eligible, you will need to obtain a quotation from an installer and register on the EST website that is accessible at the end of the eligibility check. You should then be able to receive a £400 cashback voucher towards the cost of your upgrade.

1. If you are a householder (including tenants) and under 60 you can only apply for the scheme if the boiler you are scrapping is in working order and is the main boiler used to heat the home.
2. If you are a householder (including tenants) and 60 or over you can apply for the scheme regardless of whether the boiler you are scrapping is in working order. However, it still needs to be the main boiler used to heat the home, and must still be connected to the wet heating system.

Only householders and landlords who own and privately let dwellings are eligible to apply for a voucher.

PEAT: Happy New Year!

Purbeck Environment Action Team (PEAT)http://www.peat-da21.org/
wish everyone in the Purbeck area a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

PEAT is a group of like-minded individuals working towards sustainability in Purbeck. We encourage “living lightly” and sharing the Earth’s resources fairly.

PEAT is a Dorset Agenda 21 (DA21), Community Choices for Sustainable Living (CCSL) group that formed in June 2006. DA21 is an independent charity that works co-operatively with local people, communities, businesses, educational bodies, local government and other organisations to encourage sustainable living in Dorset.
PEAT - is Transitioning for Purbeck. http://www.transitiontowns.org/

What is a Transition Town (or village / city / forest / island)?

It all starts off when a small collection of motivated individuals within a community come together with a shared concern: how can our community respond to the challenges, and opportunities, of Peak Oil and Climate Change?

They begin by forming an initiating group and then adopt the Transition Model with the intention of engaging a significant proportion of the people in their community to kick off a Transition Initiative.

A Transition Initiative is a community working together to look Peak Oil and Climate Change squarely in the eye and address this BIG question:

"for all those aspects of life that this community needs in order to sustain itself and thrive, how do we significantly increase resilience (to mitigate the effects of Peak Oil) and drastically reduce carbon emissions (to mitigate the effects of Climate Change)?"

All new members are very welcome to come along to Green Drinks and meetings. Next meeting is at the Bankes Arms, Studland, where we will be discussing the Core Strategy with Steve Dring.
Please check on the PEAT website ffi.



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 8:37 PM

New subject

If you want to raise a new topic, post your comment here — just click first on Comments below, then type in post a comment (top right of the next window). Can you choose a title for your post, please? Sometimes it's hard to work out what a comment is about and what the subject is. A new heading will soon be set up, allowing others to see and add their own comments. It seems it's sometimes easier to click on 'Post anonymously' than to open an account in your name - you can always add your name to your message. We try to keep posts civilized. And any posts that become too provocative, insulting, threatening or otherwise unpleasant will be deleted.