News in Bridport

The value of Neigbourhood Plans has been brought into question by a planning decision for a new home just outside Loders village.

A Dorset Council area planning committee heard that despite local voices being against the home there was little option in planning terms but to accept it – or face a costly appeal which councillors were told they would probably lose.

It's now been more than two months since 2020 Skate and Ride opened for the first time, and its proving to be a much-loved, much-needed facility.

The indoor skate park, at Gore Cross Business Park in Bridport, was developed by Rob Ridge and the team at the former The Trick Factory skate park at a unit at St Michael's Trading Estate which had to close in May 2016.

Changes have been agreed to a planning consent for safari-style 'glamping' tents at the West Bay Holiday Park.

Parkdean Resorts had been given planning permission to use its existing caravan touring field, north of the site of the Old Dairy, to offer 21 glamping tents in July last year.

Replacing a barn with a three-bed home at Loders is being recommended for approval – despite an objection from the parish council.

Dorset Council's area planning committee will decide the application today (Thursday) at an online meeting.

A massive re-build of a former farmhouse in Bothenhampton is likely to stay standing as it is until an appeal against a planning refusal has been heard.

Work on the Homestead Farm site has now stopped, pending that appeal, which has yet to be lodged.

Bridport Community Orchard's annual Apple Day has always been a great autumn get together to enjoy the town's apple juice around a fire, but it won't be going ahead this year.

For the first year ever, Bridport Community Orchard has been totally self-sufficient in the supply of its own organically grown apples that have been pressed into bottled juice.

Imposing 20mph speed limits in all Dorset town centres is not likely to be either a quick or cheap solution to road safety – according to Dorset Council highways brief holder Cllr Ray Bryan.

The idea was suggested by Bridport resident Catriona Ross who said that in recent days two cyclists in the town had been hit by vehicle drivers in the town.

It's a well-known fact that a train used to serve West Bay, with a restaurant now occupying its station building and tracks, but how much do you know about it?

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the closure of the passenger service that ran for 46 years. The freight service continued to 1965 when the lines were taken up.

The 10pm curfew for hospitality may have put a stop to most Halloween parties and celebrations, but a popular cocktail bar will be offering an alternative.

Lloyd Brown and David Smith at Dark Bear in Bridport have come up with a great idea to mark Halloween, a night they would usually be holding a tasting event.

Dogs will still be excluded from West Bay and Seatown beaches in the summer months as Dorset Council announces reviewed dog restrictions.

Dorset Council's cabinet approved recommendations made to them following a consultation that gathered views from residents, visitors and businesses on dog related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across the Dorset Council area.