dorset

Hampshire FireRetained fire crews were among those responding to a flat fire in Petersfield in JulyA rural fire station in Hampshire was unavailable to attend callouts 93% of the time over a one-year period (2022), new figures have revealed.A BBC freedom of information request also showed one-in-five retained fire stations were unavailable for more than half of the year in 2024.Regional Secretary of the Southern branch of the FBU, Mark Chapman, said "the public would be surprised and…

Police are carrying out house-to-house enquiries following the sudden death of an elderly woman.Dorset Police officers were called to an address in Higher Blandford Road in Poole on Monday at 16:52 GMT where a cordon still remains.The death of the woman, who was in her 80s, is being treated as unexplained. Her next of kin have been informed.Police said there would be an increased police presence in the area, and that enquiries were being carried out "to establish…

A harbour has faced a series of a series of fuel spills this season including two separate incidents on the same day, which were swiftly contained by staff.One of the leaks at Weymouth Harbour on 18 November originated from a newly installed fuel facility at the site, which remains out of service following the incident. The second occurred during final testing of the new fuel pontoon's payment system, when an underwater pipe failed, releasing diesel into the water.…

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A seafront has been decorated with hundreds of handmade festive stocking to highlight the need for foster carers.The 471 stockings have been hung up along Weymouth Esplanade - each one represents a child or young person in care in Dorset.Dorset Council hopes the striking display - part of the council's Give the Greatest Gift campaign - will raise awareness and encourage more people to think about fostering.The stockings, on display along the Esplanade by the Jubilee Clock, were…

Operators of pleasure boats and personal watercraft on parts of the Dorset coast will require new licences under plans set to be introduced to improve safety.BCP Council is set to establish its first Pleasure Boat and Boatperson policy, covering vessels in Poole and Christchurch harbours.It would mean boat owners would have to demonstrate their craft are "safe and well-maintained", with annual inspections and surveys of the hull.Operators of hired personal watercraft would also have to provide a safety…

Planning permission to demolish a hotel in Dorset has been revoked by councillors after a developer failed to fulfil its planning obligations.In 2023, MHA Burleigh Poole was granted permission to demolish Poole Quay Hotel and replace it with commercial units, flats and a new hotel, subject to a Section 106 agreement requiring it to contribute to local services.But in March 2024, the hotel closed suddenly and the company went into liquidation. Councillors at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole BCP…

Marcus WhiteSouth of EnglandBTPRoxy Phillips was "blossoming" and "larger-than-life", a family friend saidWarning: The following story contains content some people might find upsettingA drunken teenage girl was electrocuted on a railway line after police and Network Rail missed opportunities to prevent her death, an inquest jury has found.Roxy Phillips, 15, fell on to the live rail in Weymouth, Dorset, while she was walking home at night with a friend in March 2023.A member of the public reported trespassers…