Boilerhouse Xmas Fair 30 Nov/1 Dec

Special Needs Xmas Party 21 Dec

Wareham Rotary Club invites you to a

Christmas Party for Children with Additional Needs

Lady St Mary’s Parish Hall The Quay Wareham

Saturday 21st December, 2013 from 2.30pm – 5 pm

Children with additional needs and their siblings welcome
Attending adult/carer required for child’s support/supervision and well-being.

Professional Entertainment (Okey Dokey the Dragon), Town Band (carols) and Party Tea

Numbers are limited so please contact John CHALK with your details 
(preferred) email: johnchalk83@btinternet.com  Tel: 01929 558168    

Jurassic Coast Draft Management Plan Consultation Oct - Dec 2013

The people behind the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site, also known as the Jurassic Coast, are seeking comments from  anyone with an interest in the Jurassic Coast to have a say in how its being managed. You can complete online surveys or obtain printed copies. Follow this link:  http://jurassiccoast.org/plan

Art theft

BURNGATE STONE CARVING CENTRE was broken into over the weekend and several items from the gallery have been taken, mainly metal pieces but a few stone pieces too. The metal figures are unique, a rose, a knight on horseback and a mythical looking figure with wings and a bird-like head. Also 3 brass sundial tops, a stone oval shape sculpture about 2 feet tall, a polished stone lizard and a mirror with a stone frame. Plus several other smaller pieces. Please just be aware and if you get offered anything or come across any of the pieces, please contact the centre on 01929 439405. They would be very grateful if you would share this notice with as many people as you can. Thank you.

Swanage Town Partnership AGM 24 Sept

AGM to be held at Swanage Town Hall. Agenda and previous minutes here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wflh7nny1w83xcc/NxEXHSBQvX

Free dog check-ups

Free dog ‘MOTs’ for Purbeck

Local dog owners offered FREE pet health checks by PDSA

Dog owners around Purbeck are invited to bring their pooches along for a free wellbeing check at PDSA’s PetCheck vehicle between Tuesday 1 October and 4 October.

In partnership with Dogs Trust and Purbeck District Council, the veterinary charity’s annual UK-wide PetCheck tour will be at the following locations from 9am to 4pm.

·      Tue 1 Oct – Lytchett United Royal British Legion, 93 Dorchester Road, Upton, Poole

·      Wed 2 Oct – D’uberville Hall car par, Colliers Lane, Wool

·      Thurs 3 Oct – Community Centre car park, Keysworth Drive, Sandford

·      Fri 4 Oct – North Beach car park, DeMoulham Road, Swanage

On-board, a PDSA Vet Nurse will examine the weight, body-shape, teeth, eyes, coat and general fitness of canine visitors, and will also offer free expert advice about how to care for other pets.  Dogs Trust will be providing free microchipping. For safety reasons only dogs can be brought along to the PetCheck vehicle.

Kimmeridge Fossil Museum

District Council supports fossil museum and new village hall

Purbeck District Council has agreed to provide £50,000 towards a project to provide a fossil museum and integral village hall in Kimmeridge, Dorset.

The Kimmeridge Trust requested the funding support towards a £5m-plus project which aims to provide local residents with a new community facility whilst securing a permanent home for a large collection of Jurassic fossils.

The new facility will replace the old village hall which has outlived its useful life.  The fossil collection has been compiled by local resident Mr Steve Etches over thirty years. It is internationally recognised and is the largest collection of Kimmeridge clay formation fossils outside of the Natural History Museum.

Councillor Peter Webb, Economy and Infrastructure Spokesperson for Purbeck District Council, said: “This is a unique opportunity for Kimmeridge and for Purbeck as a whole.   The new village hall and community facility will provide local residents with a superb new central hub and the museum will create a new focus for visitors to Kimmeridge, enhancing their experience and improving the local economy.”

John Woodward, Project Director for the Kimmeridge Trust, said:  “The Trust and inhabitants of Kimmeridge are delighted and very grateful to Purbeck District Council for their most positive support and recognition and how this project will benefit Purbeck and its communities.”

The District Council’s approval of the funding supports the its Corporate Strategy objective of ‘Improving the local economy and infrastructure’.

Mr Etches’ collection represents one of the finest collections of Jurassic fossils held outside recognised public institutions. He has agreed to gift it to the nation and enable the public to enjoy it by placing it in the new museum.

Dark Sky Swanage?

Suggestion for Swanage: Many proposed initiatives for boosting local business cost money. How about selling Swanage as the `Dark Sky Capital' of the South Coast? All we need to do is to switch off the lights. We could even save money! Perhaps every Friday night could be Dark Night. Bournemouth creates quite a glow, but looking east, north and south it can be dark enough.

We already have the 14" telescope at Durlston, run by the Wessex Astronomy Society which runs welcoming and informative evenings every so often (next one, weather permiiting, is on 30th August). Let's enthuse people with a wonderful view of the heavens!

Swanage Community Partnership AGM 25 June

[Minutes of last meeting: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x8o1ciqh340r6qn/SCP%20minutes%20210313%20%28deleted%208815b8b59623dcd154c693f68bb9bc6c%29.doc ]

Annual General Meeting

25th June 2013 @ 2.30pm

Swanage Town Hall

1.    Welcome,

2.    Apologies,

3.    Appointment of Chairman

4.    Appointment of Vice Chairman

5.    Appointment of Honorary Treasurer/Secretary

6.    Chair’s Report 2012/13

7.    Statement of Audited Accounts – M. Ayres

8.    Minutes of 21^st March Quarterly meeting

9.    Matters Arising

10. Swanage Local Plan

11. Swanage Development Trust

12. Partners’  Updates

13. AOB

14. Date of next AGM

Proposed Exploratory Well site at California Quarry

Proposed Exploratory Well site at California Quarry, Swanage
InfraStrata plc has been granted a petroleum licence P1918 from the Department of Energy and Climate Change for an area off the coast of the Isle of Purbeck. Infrastrata are planning to drill an exploratory well from within a stone quarry to the south of Swanage. The well will be drilled and steered from onshore to offshore to a depth of over a mile and half below the sea. The main objective is to evaluate the potential for gas to be produced from the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone geological formation.
Prior to submitting the planning application to Dorset County Council to drill the well, Infrastrata are holding an information session where representatives of InfraStrata and their consultants will be on hand to explain the project and answer any questions. Two events will be held on 21st and 22nd June from 10.00am – 2.00pm at Swanage Bay View Holiday Park Leisure Club, Panorama Road, Swanage, BH19 2QS. If you require further information, contact Rachel Barton rachel.barton@infrastrata.co.uk  or 01305 826176

The Big Scoop 14 June

e UK’s largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust has teamed up with Keep Britain Tidy to launch the first-ever The Big Scoop on June 14th, when all around the UK there will be events and activities promoting poop scooping.

http://www.thebigscoop.org.uk/home/632

Prospect Allotments

Water turned off by the council. Just when it is needed. Why? 

Windfarm: consultation 26 June

Windfarm (further consultation):
As Navitus Bay progresses though the planning application process, it will be holding a series of consultation events where you will be able to get involved and tell the team what you think. Navitus are holding a series of informal drop-in sessions in June and July 2013 to provide local residents an opportunity to talk to members of the project team.
26 June 2013, 9AM – 12PM
St Edwards Church Hall
Victoria Avenue Swanage BH19 1AH

The iFoxes, Corfe, Sat 22 June

Durlston Castle art exhibition 25 May - 9 June

Purbeck Diversity: Purbeck Art Weeks at Durlston Castle 

This year’s Purbeck Art Weeks boasts a major new venue at Durlston Castle, which will be hosting an exhibition of work by some of Purbeck’s leading artists and makers. 

The exhibition features work, specially selected by PAW, to showcase the extraordinary creative talent in Purbeck, including paintings, sculpture, jewellery, ceramics and photography. 

Said Karen Delahays from PAW “It’s been a treat to put together an exhibition in this wonderful setting. Durlston has provided an inspiring setting to which many of the exhibiting artists and makers have responded in their work” 

Said Ranger Ali Tuckey, “We are delighted to be hosting this flagship exhibition. With so much of the work drawing on the inspirational landscape around us, this show has a special meaning for me” 

‘Purbeck Diversity’ runs from Saturday 25^th May – Sunday 9^th June and is open every day between 11.00am and 4.00pm. Entry to the Country Park, exhibition and Castle is free and all work is for sale.  

Kayak fishing competition Sat 18 May

OK Classic kayak fishing competition will be held again this Saturday:

http://www.anglersafloat.co.uk

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.We try to keep posts civilized. And any posts that become too provocative, insulting, threatening or    otherwise unpleasant will be deleted. 

Please note that the moderator may exercise editorial control, to limit posts to subjects likely to be of interest to the majority of people, so not every topic will be posted (there's always the 'Watercooler' topic for miscellaneous issues/observations/chit-chat), and please use an existing thread to debate issues.

Durslton Bus

Once again, there will be a bus service from Swanage to Durlston. This will start on Sunday 26 May and run daily until 30 Sept; the exact route and timings are still to be confirmed. There's a need to be able to show it is an important part of Swanage’s transport system so the more it is used the better.

Swanage Local Plan

Posting this rather late..but if you're interested, I'm sure you could turn up, or at least phone and check...

Can you help draw up the Swanage Local Plan,

 do you have ideas and views about

·     the type of housing Swanage needs and where it should be built;

·     the green spaces in Swanage;

·     protecting valued places and buildings;

·     the kind of shops needed in Swanage and their location;

·     attracting and creating new businesses and jobs for Swanage; and

·     Swanage – a centre for tourism?

Swanage Local Plan - Community Workshops

at Swanage Town Hall in May

Use the form below to tell us which workshop/s you want to come to - then

email it to localplan@purbeck-dc.gov.uk or post to Planning Policy (Swanage), Purbeck District Council, Westport House, Worgret Road, Wareham, BH20 4PP.

The Swanage Local Plan - Community Workshops at Swanage Town Hall
Theme workshop	Date	Time	Your name	Your group
Natural environment Includes: AONB, rights of way, coastal & climate change.	8 May 2013	10:00     to 12:30
Economy & town centre Includes: transport, employment, tourism, shopping, town centre.	9 May 2013	2:00      to 4:30
Housing & built environment Includes: new housing sites, green space, protecting valued buildings & places, conservation areas, town approaches.	14 May 2013	2:00      to 4:30
Social and community
1. Children & young people Includes: health & social care, children’s services, education, cultural & leisure activities /facilities.	14 May 2013	10:00    to 12:30
2. Adults & older people Includes: health & social care, adult services, cultural & leisure activities /facilities.	22 May 2013	10:00    to 12:30

County Council election results

County Council election results for Swanage: Bill Trite (Con): 1378 votes (elected); Alan Smith (UKIP): 630; Rupert Roker (Lab): 446; Peter Clark (Lib Dem): 345.  [Turnout 34.88] . Mike Lovell re-elected to Purbeck Hills.

Full results: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/409108

Swanage Grammar School

The landowners of the former Swanage Grammar School site last year secured outline permission for 52 houses there, but only provided they gave away the rest of the site for the Free School. They then pulled the plug on the school side of the deal at the 11th hour (which happily is now being built at the Middle School site instead).
Recently they have simply resubmitted to PDC the exact same plans for the housing scheme, not mentioning that they're no longer proposing to give up the rest of the site at all. Presumably, if they got it through, their next move would be to apply to build houses on the other half of the site too. Even the so-called "affordable" units they propose to rent out at fully 80% of full market rent (so not very affordable then!). This should be objected to in the strongest possible terms as blatant profiteering. The site is outside the town settlement boundary, in open countryside and within the AONB, so there are no grounds for housing to be permitted there now the school is going ahead elsewhere. 



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 11/4/13 1:27 pm

Easter activities for children

Have an action-packed Easter at Purbeck Sports Centre

Purbeck Sports Centre, Wareham, has an action-packed programme this Easter Holiday. 

The programme runs from Monday 1 April to Friday 12 April and promises fun and games for children of all ages.  Activities include football; an introduction to golf; cricket; samba drumming; cycling workshops; archery; and trampolining.

They can also enjoy a climbing; intensive swimming lessons; badminton; and learn some diving skills.

Michelle Goodman, the Sports Centre’s Operations Manager, said: “We’ve got a great Easter programme lined up this year which is sure to keep the holiday stress at bay!   And, don’t forget, there are lots of activities for the adults too including gym, swimming, exercise classes, courts and pitches and a sauna.  Why not pop upstairs to the family-friendly Allstars bar afterwards for some refreshments too”

The OFSTED-registered Kool 4 Kidz Club returns.  Children aged between 5 and 14 can enjoy activities and sports for £18.00 a day (£10.00 half day). 

Kool 4 Kidz for the 5-8s, is packed full of games including interactive dance mats and wall; soft play area with ball pit; swimming; mini sports and games; and arts and crafts.

8-14s can have fun in the pool or enjoy a mix of sports including football, hockey, basketball, rounders, tennis and more.

For more information, visitwww.dorsetforyou.com/purbecksportscentre or contact the Sports Centre on 01929 500 000.

Car park ticket draw?

Parking ticket draw 'boosts trade' in Beaminster
Continue reading the main storyTraders in a Dorset town say what is thought to be the first parking ticket draw in the UK, has helped business.

The scheme allows shoppers in Beaminster to enter pay-and-display tickets into a draw for vouchers from local shops.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21916744

Perhaps we could do something similar here? I proposed a draw scheme three times to the Council when I was a councillor, and it was rejected each time as being unworkable. My idea was for everyone to put their phone number on the back of their ticket when they left, place it a secure box, and each  day or week a prize would be given to someone (but the shop voucher route might be better). I thought this might 'sweeten the pill' for those who think the charges are too high, and might even encourage people to use the car parks  – as seems to be happening in Beaminster. I've asked the Town Council to consider the idea again. What do you think?

Storm causes £50,000 damage to Swanage pier

Not a great start to the season for Swanage Pier. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21831638 

Swanage seafront stabilisation scheme

On Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd March Swanage Town Council will be revealing its proposals to stabilise and enhance the Recreation Ground frontage between the public toilets and Victoria Avenue. These will take place at the Town Hall between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday 22nd March and between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday 23rd March. There is a further opportunity to see the plans at the annual town meeting at the Mowlem Theatre Community Room from 7 p.m. on Monday 25th March. See more info at:

Swanage seafront stabilisation scheme

Public Town Meeting 25 March

Open public meeting for residents of Swanage, 7pm,  Mowlem, Monday 25 March.

Co-op Car Park 8-10 Free Parking

Classical concert Durlston Castle Sun 17 March

Durlston Castle will be welcoming the latest in a series of world-class classical musicians, with a performance by acclaimed double bass player David Daly from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. 
The concert will include pieces by Schubert, Bruch, Giovanni, Henry Eccles and more. 
The concert starts at 7pm. Tickets are £10 and are on sale at Durlston Castle. 
For more information or to buy a ticket, call 01929 424443 or visit www.durlston.co.uk.

See comments, below for more info.

The watercooler

OK, THIS is the place for general chit-chat.

PLEASE leave 'New subjects' JUST for suggestions of new topics that may, or may not, get posted (and don't run a debate there); it gets difficult for me to manage otherwise.

Mike

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.We try to keep posts civilized. And any posts that become too provocative, insulting, threatening or    otherwise unpleasant will be deleted. 

Please note that the moderator may exercise editorial control, to limit posts to subjects likely to be of interest to the majority of people, so not every topic will be posted (there's always the 'Watercooler' topic for miscellaneous issues/observations/chit-chat), and please use an existing thread to debate issues.

Say no to more cables and masts in Purbeck

Say no to more cables and masts spoiling beautiful landscapes

A proposed law will seriously weaken protections for National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) – the jewels of our countryside. 

The new law would remove 60 year-old protections for landscape beauty with no justification. These changes could lead to thousands of miles of new overhead cables and telegraph poles in National Parks, AONBs, and across our countryside as a whole. They would also allow Government to relax rules for other forms of damaging infrastructure in the future, anywhere in the countryside. 

Write to your MP today
We only have a few days left to persuade the Government to change their plans. Please help us to make your MP aware of the threat by writing to them and ask them to challenge these plans in Parliament before it’s too late. It will only take a few moments of your time but could make a real difference to the future of the countryside we all love so much.

Take action:  send an email to your MP today 

Sea mine?

Does anyone know the whereabouts of the old sea mine that used to stand on the quay (like the one pictured)? I think it would be great to get it put back somewhere. (The Town Council don't know where it is).

Faster broadband for Swanage

Apparently, Swanage is due to get 'superfast' broadband in 2014. That will be good news for all, especially those businesses that depend on good connections. More in Dorset Echo

Help tell the story of Durlston Castle

Help Tell the Story of Durlston – Your Pictures and Stories Needed…

An exhibition at Durlston Castle, planned for Easter this year, will tell the intriguing story of Durlston Park and Castle in the 20^th Century through visitor’s photos and recollections.

Do you remember the camel at the Tilly Whim Inn? Did you listen to Jim play at the Castle? Were you at Durlston during the War?

The Rangers would love to get copies of your photos at Durlston from 1900 to the present day – from the everyday (picnics, walks or family holidays) to the extraordinary, and your stories (large or small) to go with them.

From the lady, once a waitress at the Castle who’s son (now retired) learned to ride his bike around the ramparts of the Castle, to the son of the Wartime Lighthouse Keeper, punished by his dad for stealing a box of hand grenades from the army base, or the couple who met (and were later married) at Durlston, the Rangers need your stories and photos.

Said Countryside Ranger Ali Tuckey, “Durlston is a place which has played a big part in so many people’s lives and our small collection of family photos provide a fascinating record of this amazing place and the millions of people who have visited over the last 100 years. We’d love to see your photos and create an archive of your memories and stories of Durlston”

If you can help in any way, please get in touch with Durlston by emailing info@durlston.co.uk, calling 01929 424443, visiting Durlston.co.uk or popping into the Castle.