News & Views

THORNCOMBE Planning Inquiry

A planning Public Inquiry is scheduled to take place in August regarding an appeal by Aggregate Industries UK Ltd against Dorset Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for an extension to Chard Junction Quarry at Westford Park Farm. The Inquiry is from 10am Tuesday 23 August 2022 at The Guildhall, Fore Street, Chard. The extension hopes to facilitate excavation of approximately 930,000 tonnes of sand and gravel and includes a new internal haul road and the retention of the existing mineral processing facilities and silt lagoons. Local residents have set up a petition to stop the extension at: www.change.org/p/dorsetcouncil-stop-the-new-quarry-in-dorset-aonb.

YEOVIL

Octagon to remain open

As the programme for developing The Octagon Theatre in Yeovil moves ahead, there are still a number of key milestones that need to be achieved before building work can commence. Therefore, the decision has been taken to keep the theatre open, with performances taking place until mid 2023. Plans which will see The Octagon Theatre transformed into a centre of excellence are progressing with final touches being made before a formal planning application is submitted in the coming weeks.

SHERBORNE

Junction improvements

As part of Dorset Council’s ongoing programme of traffic signal upgrades, the busy Marston Road junction in Sherborne is being improved. With temporary traffic signals currently in place due to the collapsed private wall on Kitt Hill, the junction improvements have been brought forward. These alterations are to improve the efficiency of the junction. Existing pedestrian crossings at the junction will be upgraded to the latest Toucan equipment to further improve cycle facilities in the area. Work will last for around 16 weeks. Drivers are being asked to help by planning ahead and thinking more carefully about their route around the town centre.

DEVON

Leave the barbecue at home

Originally founded by a group of friends in Devon in 1972, The Woodland Trust is urging visitors to its woods to bin the barbecues this summer and avoid the catastrophic impact of fires on wildlife and nature. Fires on its sites over the past five years have caused millions of pounds worth of damage and had a devastating effect on rare woodland and wildlife. Many summer wildfires are started accidentally by lighting fires or disposable barbecues.

WEYMOUTH

Summer fireworks scheduled

Weymouth Town Council will host three spectacular firework displays over Weymouth seafront in August. The free events will take place every other Monday in August (1st, 15th, and the August Bank Holiday on the 29th). The displays on 1st and 15th August will be lower noise displays with all three displays starting at 9.30pm. Cllr Ann Weaving, Mayor of Weymouth Town Council, said: ‘The fireworks on Weymouth seafront always create a fantastic atmosphere throughout the town for residents and visitors. I would encourage people to make an evening of it and support our local hospitality venues prior to the displays.’ Where possible, people are encouraged to leave their cars at home.