DCF eNews November 2021
Posted : November 15, 2021
New information panel at Kimmeridge Bay. Photo credit Dorset AONB.
Welcome to Dorset Coast Forum’s November eNews update. If you have an article to share, or wish to unsubscribe, please email dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
Dorset Council email addresses are being updated please check your records to ensure that you have our correct email address dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk – @dorsetcc.gov.uk email addresses will soon cease to exist.
Find us on Twitter at @Dorset_CF and Facebook @DorsetCoastForum and find out more about our projects at www.dorsetcoast.com and wwwdorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk
Weymouth Station Gateway
Construction on the transformation of the Weymouth train station’s forecourt is set to start on Monday 22nd November. The Pocket Park element is due to start early in the New Year. The work will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption and allow the station to fully operate as normal. The main infrastructure work and surfacing should be completed by the end of March 2022, after which the landscaping and planting can be added. Updates will be available through a weekly blog on this webpage as the work progresses.
Weymouth BRIC
We are pleased to welcome Dan Williams who has started his role with DCF as the BRIC coordinator after having previously worked in the Dorset Council Flood Risk Management team. Dan will be working closely with the Lead Partner in Plymouth City Council, and we are hoping to begin community engagement in January in the form of drop-in sessions and focus groups. We are also working with Weymouth Town Council and the Dorset Council Emergency Management team to develop a localised Community Flood Plan, along with the development of educational resources such as household guides, information for schools and flooding FAQs. Plans are developing for the information totem which will provide up-to-date information for residents and the wider community. For more information, please contact williams@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or visit Weymouth BRIC – Dorset Coast Forum.
Dorset Harbours Strategy Survey
Don’t forget if you haven’t already done so to complete the Dorset Harbours Strategy Survey to share your views ont the draft Dorset Harbours Strategy.
The survey closes on the 5 December.
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT WORK
- The South West Aquaculture Network (SWAN), which Martin chair’s, held the first AGM and Conference on 28 October at Kingston Maurward College. Over 75 delegates attended from across the UK and was well received by all who attended. The keynote speaker, Elena Piana, founder of Noola Redclaw Ltd has recently set up an aquaculture business in Dorset as part of the work that Martin supports for the Dorset Sustainable Aquaculture High Potential Opportunity. At the AGM, Martin was elected chair for a further term, starting in January 2022. Presentations and photos are available on the SWAN website.
- As highlighted in last month’s eNews, DCF was recently awarded funding from the Marine Management Organisation to carry out an extensive England wide study to develop the concept of an English Aquaculture Innovation Hub in Dorset. Martin is leading on the project and we have now released the first part of the extensive stakeholder engagement we need to carry out to make this project a success. The survey is open until Midday on Monday November 22nd. If you or any of your contacts have any interest in the aquaculture, seafood or maritime sectors please do complete the survey. We are trying to reach as many stakeholders as possible, so please also pass the survey on.
- The Fisheries and Seafood Scheme is still available from the MMO although time is now starting to run out as the fund will close at the end of February 2022. If you have any projects, or know of anyone who has, please contact Martin at sutcliffe@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or call 01305 224766 as soon as possible to discuss applying for grant funding.
SUSTAINABLE SWANAGE
- The Sustainable Travel group have launched a car club survey to establish interest in the idea for Swanage.
- The Active Travel group is supporting the Town Councils Rights of Way survey and are hosting an online Open meeting on the topic on 23rd November 7pm. Register here if you would like to attend.
- DCF and volunteers from the Active Travel Group hosted a stall at the Swanage Market on 5th This was a success and we plan to do one every first Friday of the month with a different theme – the next one being recycling on the 4th December.
New projects
- We are in early stages of setting up a new community fridge for Swanage – this will sit under the Swanage and Purbeck Development Trust and we will be helping set up a group and get started. We have a venue, support from local supermarket and 4 volunteers. We are looking for funding sources and more volunteers to help run the facility.
- There has been some interest in setting up a repair shop locally – we have a meeting planned to bring together interested parties that can contribute to making this happen – this will be on 23rd November at 12pm – get in touch with Sarah if you would like to take part.
- A new Sustainable Swanage business forum has been set up involving local community members, businesses, chamber of trade and local partners including, Litter Free Dorset (LFD)and Swanage Town Council. The new forum together with LFD have created a business survey to be delivered locally, this will look at waste produced and how we can help support and increase recycling amongst businesses.
- We have also had a successful initial engagement with local businesses on the issue of cheap polystyrene bodyboards and the disposal of these items on the beaches each summer. We have got a focus group set up and some ideas to work together on and take forward for next year with a view to reducing the amount of waste produced and the risk of polystyrene litter polluting our beaches. Our next meeting is in December.
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