News & Events

DCF eNews July2022
Posted : July 8, 2022

We welcome new member of the team, James Mitchell, who joined us at the beginning of July as DCF Project Officer. James will lead on several DCF projects using his wealth of community engagement experience in a range of sectors and we are pleased to have him as part of the DCF team.

Steve Booth has now left the team and we would like to say a big thank you for his work on the Weymouth Station Gateway project. This was a complex project requiring all sorts of permissions and consents, working with Dorset Council Highways, construction contractors, SWR and Network Rail.

At the beginning of June, Sara and Dan attended the Flood & Coast Conference in Telford. Over the two days, they learnt about current and future flood defence techniques, extending that knowledge to their projects:  Weymouth BRIC – Dorset Coast Forum, the Swanage Town Coastal Defence Scheme – Dorset Coast Forum and the Lyme Regis Cobb Project.

DCF ANNUAL CONFERENCE – Tuesday 20^th September 2022, Kingston Maurward College. This will be the first face-to-face DCF annual conference since 2019 aimed at DCF members. The agenda includes details of exciting projects and initiatives taking place along Dorset’s coast. There will also be plenty of scope for networking. Keep a look out for email updates, including how to book tickets and detailed agenda. In the meantime, let us know if you wish to set up an information stall during the lunchtime networking session, contact dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

WEYMOUTH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

• The team have been hosting drop-in events around Weymouth, encouraging residents, businesses and community organisations to share their thoughts and ideas on the 5 main Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan themes – Communities, Jobs, Homes, Landscapes & Green Spaces and Sustainable Environments.
• To find out more about the plan and complete the surveys, please see Have Your Say on the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan | Dorset Coast Have Your Say. The surveys close on 31 July, and we encourage everyone in Weymouth to get involved and help shape the plan. Please do share the link on your social media platforms and through your community links.
• If you are a community leader, school, college, organisation or group in Weymouth and are keen to find out more about the Neighbourhood Plan and how it effects the places where you live, please contact Sara or Nikki at dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

DORSET YOUTH COUNCIL

• Sara was given a very warm welcome at the Dorset Youth Council – Dorset Council meeting where she highlighted DCF’s work and Youth Councillors were invited to help shape the youth survey element of the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan. If you know of a young person who is doing great things along the Dorset coast with a community or environmental impact, please do let the DCF team know! Contact dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.

WEYMOUTH STATION GATEWAY IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

• Work is progressing on renovating the station forecourt and car park area, plus developing the new Pocket Park, that includes railway tracks as a key feature of the design.
• New information signs detailing the history of the station and its impact on the town, will be a feature of the forecourt which will become a new public space used for pop-up markets and events. Railway heritage is a key part of the new information signage, including life-size cut out figures which are due to be installed at the station forecourt, Pocket Park, the Cosens Quay Loop and the Quay.
• Look out for updates on the weekly blog

SUSTAINABLE SWANAGE

• Swanage footpaths and bike repair event, Saturday 9 July, 1-3pm, Sandpit Field. The Sustainable Swanage active travel group are supporting and encouraging people to take up more walking and cycling. Do you have a bike that hasn’t been ridden in a while and needs checking over and/or a puncture repair? If so, bring it along to our free community bike workshop.
• Swanage Repair café – Saturday 16 July, 2-4pm, Sandy Hill Arts Centre, Corfe Caste. Bring your textile repairs to the event and get help and advice on lengthening the life of your clothes and other material items from creative volunteer experts.
• Big Butterfly Count. Sustainable Swanage are still busy surveying butterflies and wildflowers, if you take part in the Big Butterfly count, let us know how you get on!

DOWNLOAD THE FULL JULY ENEWS HERE!