Council considers turning Bournemouth tourist centre into cafe

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:BBC Dorset
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Bournemouth's Tourist Information Centre could be relocated and the existing seafront building turned into a cafe, if plans are approved.Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said the proposal was part of efforts "to maximise the potential of all council-owned commercial assets".A planning application seeks to change the building's use to a takeaway "for the sale of hot and cold food, ice cream and paninis".More than 20 neighbours have so far objected to the plans. A consultation ends on…

Sandbanks Ferry toll road plan shelved after inquiry

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:BBC Dorset
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Michael Garlick / GeographBulk-buying discounts for ferry users will be retainedPlans to introduce a toll on the approach road to a ferry have been shelved following a public inquiry.Operators of Sandbanks Ferry in Dorset had sought permission to charge drivers to use Ferry Road in Studland to reduce congestion.Following an inquiry in January, the Secretary of State followed an inspector's recommendation and said the toll "should not go ahead at this stage".The ferry firm, which owns the section…

Truro flats evacuated due to high carbon monoxide levels

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:BBC Cornwall
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A four-storey block of flats in Cornwall had to be evacuated when high levels of carbon monoxide were found in the building.Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service received a 999 call at 14:12 BST on Thursday from an engineer at a block of flats on Tresawya Drive in Truro.The engineer was instructed to set off the building's fire alarm to start the evacuation of the flats. A total of four fire crews attended the scene, with two coordinating the…

New music festival to go ahead in Somerset despite concerns

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:BBC Somerset
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A new community-led arts and music festival has been granted a licence by the council.Show of Hands is scheduled to take place in Bruton, Somerset, on the May Bank Holiday weekend, with a capacity of 2,500 people.The licence was granted despite concerns about noise levels and alcohol consumption that were raised during a Somerset Council licensing committee meeting on Wednesday.However, Matthew Phipps, representing the festival, said at the meeting: "We can develop this event confident in the knowledge…

‘Taking photos got me out the house after my stroke’

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:BBC Somerset
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Clara Bullock,West of England and Chris Lockyer,in WatchetBBCLiz Elmont said taking pictures for BBC Weather Watchers helped her get over her strokeA woman who struggled to leave the house after she had a stroke has said taking weather photos got her out of a "really dark place". Liz Elmont, from Watchet in Somerset, suffered a stroke in 2021 and said she was left housebound, and thought she would never be able to take photos again."One day, I thought…

Bournemouth Air Festival plans turned down by council

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:BBC Dorset
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An application to bring back a popular air festival was turned down due to a lack of information, a council has said.Recent plans to revive the Bournemouth Airshow, last held in August 2024, included a paid ticketing scheme.Organiser Dave Rogers hoped to raise £1m by charging for an Aircard that would offer 10% off food and drink at the event.Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) said: "We've carefully assessed the application in line with our processes and, at…

Solar power could be used at more mid Devon public buildings

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:Devon News
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Bradley GerrardLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceLewis ClarkeMid Devon District Council said three of its leisure centres had some form of renewable energy provision A council has said it is investigating expanding its use of solar panel after the installation of panels on its leisure centres helped to combat emissions. Mid Devon District Council's cabinet heard three of its leisure centres had some form of renewable energy, including solar panels and heat pumps, which had reduced running costs and lowered…

Bookmarks in returned South Molton Library books go on display

Post published:November 7, 2025
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A library has collected dozens of bookmarks left inside returned books to create a Museum of Lost Bookmarks.Staff at South Molton Library, in Devon, have created the wall display.Emma Ward, library assistant, said: "We think we will need a bit more room for it to grow as there are always more bookmarks coming into the library."We'll do what we can to reunite them with people but if not, we will honour them by putting them on display," she…

Restoration of Saltash pebble war memorial almost complete

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:BBC Cornwall
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Christine ButlerBBC News CornwallBBCJane Michie holds a repainted pebble her late husband originally painted seven years ago The restoration of a memorial created from painted pebbles in tribute to soldiers who died in World War One is nearing completion.The 141 pebbles which make up the Saltash Pebble Memorial represent all 140 soldiers from the Cornwall town who died during World War One, with the extra pebble for those soldiers whose names were never recorded.Saltash Great War Committee said…

Gay naval veteran ’emotional’ to be part of Remembrance parade

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:BBC Dorset
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Briony LeylandSouth of England, Bournemouth BBCFormer Petty Officer Alex Rasmussen was discharged from the Royal Navy for being gay in 1996A navy veteran who was discharged from the armed forces for being gay has said he feels "proud and emotional" to be part of Remembrance events.Former Petty Officer Alex Rasmussen, from Bournemouth, was made to leave the Royal Navy in 1996 after colleagues discovered his sexuality.The government said it deeply regretted the historic mistreatment of LGBT people in…

Hundreds of US flights cancelled as regulator orders cuts to air traffic | Aviation News

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:Al Jazeera
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The Federal Aviation Administration is cutting air traffic by 10 percent due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.Hundreds of flights across the US have been cancelled following an order from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to temporarily cut air traffic by 10 percent at the country’s 40 largest airports to maintain safety amid a shortage of air traffic controllers due to the government shutdown.More than 790 flights scheduled for Friday were cut from airline schedules, according to…

Grieving families’ despair at care home inspection gaps

Post published:November 7, 2025
Post category:BBC Cornwall
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Eleanor Layhe, Jemma Woodman,South West and Ella RuleTrudy PolkinghornLugh Baker died in 2021 and his mother, Trudy Polkinghorn, said she "was so angry" with the regulator, the CQCCare homes that are graded as inadequate or requiring improvement are often not being reinspected for a year or more, a BBC investigation has found.More than 2,100 care homes in England as of October this year were rated as "requires improvement" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) - but the BBC…