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.