Audio recording
Listen to the audio recording of issue 15 October 2025.
Leader’s introduction
As winter approaches, I wanted to take a moment to share how Dorset Council is continuing to make progress, despite the tough economic climate we’re all facing.
We know times are challenging, and like most councils across the country, we’re having to make difficult decisions. But thanks to careful planning and the strength of our communities, we’re in a better position than many. And we’re not standing still; we’re delivering on our main priorities:
- provide affordable and high-quality housing
- grow our economy
- communities for all
- respond to the climate and nature crisis
In this issue of Dorset Council News, we share how working towards those priorities is making a real difference to people’s lives and in our communities.
The cost of living is still a challenge for so many of us. In this issue, we share the services and initiatives that are available to help people.
We’re also working hard to make our services more efficient; not just to improve what we offer today, but to make sure we’re ready for the future.
Thank you to everyone who took part in our recent consultations on the Local Plan and Local Transport Plan. Your feedback is helping shape how we grow more homes, more jobs, better transport, all while protecting Dorset’s unique character.
We won’t always get everything right, but we’re committed to being open, honest and listening to you.
As we head towards the end of the year, I wish you and your families a warm and joyful festive season.
Cllr Nick Ireland
Charging ahead with EVs
Electric vehicles are on the rise in Dorset and by 2030, nearly a third of cars could be electric. To keep pace, we’ve installed over 100 public charge points across the county.
We’ve installed our first rapid charging hubs at Rope Walks car park, Bridport, and Lodmoor car park in Weymouth. These provide quick and convenient top-ups for drivers. We’re also rolling out on-street chargers, ideal for people without off-street parking.
Find out more about electric vehicle charge points in Dorset.
Save with a parking permit
Do you regularly use our car parks? A permit could help cut your costs.
A Flexi Stay permit costs £305 a year and is great for all-day parking, you could save more than £5 a day. Monthly permits are also available for £29.
These permits are for Dorset Council area residents, businesses and workers.
You can also buy a Short Stay permit for £95 a year. These are ideal for popping into town and could save you pounds. For example, if you park for 3 hours in Weymouth’s Swannery car park, parking with this permit costs 91p instead of £3.30.
Dorset’s enduring bond with the Armed Forces
Dorset has a long and proud relationship with the Armed Forces. We value the dedication and sacrifices made by service personnel and are committed to supporting the Armed Forces community, including veterans and families.
Support is available across key areas including housing, employment, education, and healthcare.
Find out more about the Armed Forces Covenant Programme.
New booking system at four Household Recycling Centres
There will soon be new booking systems at four of our Household Recycling Centres:
- Dorchester
- Wimborne
- Shaftesbury
- Sherborne.
This change will help reduce queues, improve site efficiency, and deliver significant savings, over £100,000 annually at Shaftesbury and Sherborne alone.
Booking is quick and free. You can reserve a 30 minute slot online by providing basic details and same day bookings are also available. There’s no limit on the number of visits for most vehicles.
If you don’t have internet access and cannot book a slot, our staff will help you when you arrive. No one will be turned away.
Thank you for helping to shape Dorset
Thank you to everyone who took part in the Local Plan and Local Transport Plan consultations which will help us respond to how Dorset is changing.
These plans will help shape where new homes, jobs, and transport improvements will go. We’ll carefully review all the feedback and use it to inform the plans. Together, we’re creating a better Dorset for everyone.
Keep up to date with the latest news.
Winter is a great time to get exploring
There are fewer tourists and a chill in the air, and this can only mean one thing for us locals, let’s get out and enjoy Dorset at its best!
Whether it’s crunchy autumnal leaves or wild windy waves at sea, exploring Dorset this time of year often offers so much to see and do.
With plenty of woodlands, countryside and beaches, there are many autumn and winter walks to choose from.
My Dorset
We want to hear from you! In the Spring 2026 issue, we’ll be introducing a new feature called ‘My Dorset’. If you would like to share where your favourite place in Dorset is and why, email us at comms@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and put Dorset Council News: My Dorset in the subject header.
It’s your right – help us improve access to the countryside
Do you love walking, cycling or riding through our stunning countryside? Then we need you!
We are drafting a new Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP), setting out how we’ll improve your access to the countryside.
The ROWIP is a statutory document. It will say how we’ll improve access for exercise, recreation and for people with disabilities. It also outlines the benefits to health and wellbeing, communities, the economy and environment.
Could you give the greatest gift of all?
With Christmas just around the corner, could you give the greatest gift of all - a home filled with love for a child or young person?
There are over 400 children in care across Dorset, all needing a loving and stable home. And that’s where our army of foster carers come in but we need more families to join these amazing people.
For inspiration, look no further than Weymouth couple Sue and Des Lochrie. For nearly 40 years they have provided a place to call home to more than 60 children.
Both Sue and Des are in their 60s and prove age is no barrier to fostering. Currently they have 3 young children living with them, 2 on a short-term basis and one long-term.
Des said: “It’s become a way of life for us. Being a foster parent can be challenging at times, but it is ever so rewarding and never boring.”
Could you hang up an extra stocking this Christmas for a child in need?
Find out more about fostering.
Help us run a ‘wheely’ good service
Living in a rural county can sometimes be isolating, especially if you don’t have your own transport.
Thanks to community transport schemes, residents in even the most rural spots can get out and about. That’s certainly the case in Shaftesbury where Martin and June Hull run Car Link for the SP7 area.
But they urgently need more volunteers.
June said: “Running Car Link has been incredibly rewarding. We both lost our first spouses to cancer and had parents in care homes, we know just how vital a service this is.”
Martin and June are always on the lookout for drivers, but they especially need help with running the service. If you’d like to volunteer call 07763 426664 or visit Shaftesbury Car Link website.
Find your nearest community transport service
How Dorset Council News forged an age friendly friendship
Across the county, multi-generations are coming together to create an ‘Age Friendly Dorset’.
Whether it’s retired people using their experience to run community clubs or younger people assisting older residents to live independently for longer. We’re proud to be an Age Friendly Dorset.
Communities are coming together to support people to age well and enjoy a fulfilling later life.
And one fine example of this work all came about when 93 year-old Michael from Verwood read the last issue of Dorset Council News. After reading how Volunteer Centre Dorset is linking up volunteers with older residents, Michael reached out and found Pippa.
He said: “This lady is amazing! There are days when I see no one, so it’s wonderful when she phones and asks if she can come over. What Volunteer Centre Dorset does is so incredibly valuable – without it I’d never have found Pippa.”
To find out more about Volunteer Centre Dorset call 01305 269214.
Discovering a whole new world thanks to community power
When it boasts attractions like Corfe Castle, Swanage and Kimmeridge, there’s no surprise that tourists beat a path to the Isle of Purbeck every year.
But is there really anything else left to discover about this Dorset gem?
Thanks to one community group, local families are discovering there’s a lot more to Purbeck than just the tourist hotspots.
Charity Planet Purbeck, received a £7.5k community grant from the council towards its Purbeck Goes Wild activities, which support young people and their families to discover what’s on their doorstep.
Discover more about Purbeck and the activities taking place.
Community groups making a difference to local people’s lives can find out about how to apply for funding.
Warmer home and cheaper energy bills
A Dorset couple have slashed their energy bills by thousands thanks to a grant funded heat pump and solar panels – and you could benefit too.
Hazel and Peter Baker’s bungalow in Yarn Barton used to rely on costly LPG for heating; with monthly bills of over £150.
But thanks to the Healthy Homes Dorset programme, their home is now warm, efficient, and far cheaper to run.
After hearing about the scheme from a neighbour, the Bakers got in touch with Healthy Homes Dorset.
A free home visit from energy experts pinpointed the best upgrades for their bungalow. Before long, they had a brand-new air source heat pump, central heating system, and 12 solar panels installed.
This was all fully funded through the government’s warm homes plan. Their monthly bills dropped to just £35 - saving them over £1,400 a year.
Peter, 67, said. “It’s totally changed our lifestyle - constant heat and hot water, and no more worrying about costs.”
If your home is hard to heat and you’re struggling with energy costs, Healthy Homes Dorset could help you too. Find out more on the Healthy Homes Dorse website or call 01202 612726.
Support for you and your children
Did you know we have family hubs across Dorset, providing support and services to families?
Our hubs are welcoming places where people with children can get help, advice and support all under one roof. At the hubs you will find services like parenting groups, health advice and support with education or money worries.
And you don’t need an appointment – just pop in!
Cost of living help
We have teamed up with Citizens Advice to offer help and advice to people struggling with the cost of living.
If you have money worries, you can contact us for impartial and confidential advice. Citizens Advice can also advise on things like:
- energy
- water
- phone and broadband costs
- managing debt
- support for children
Find out more about the cost of living help or call Dorset Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8848.
Nourishing a whole community
When times are tough sometimes the helping hand you need is right there on your doorstep.
The cost-of-living crisis has meant the power of community support has never been so vital, with volunteers stepping in to support neighbours in their hours of need.
Foodbanks are just one example of how a community comes together. Last year our cost-of-living grants helped foodbanks and social supermarkets support around 7,000 households every month.
In Dorset there are dozens of these support networks, and as Nourish in Blandford demonstrate, they provide so much more than food.
Nourish offers an emergency foodbank, a larder offering affordable groceries and essentials, a café for socialising and financial and digital advice.
Emma Carmichael runs Nourish’s larder and said: “I absolutely love working here, the community spirit is fantastic. We’re here when people may be lonely and a warm place when it’s cold.”
“We are one family here, there is no judgement, we are all here to support each other.”
Find your nearest foodbank, community larder or supermarket
Going digital could save you money
Did you know being digital makes it easier to save money and search for the best deals?
But if you are reluctant to try things online, we have a fabulous team of volunteer digital champions who can help.
They offer free face-to-face sessions in libraries and community centres across Dorset.
Find your nearest digital champion session or call 01305 221048
Winter fuel allowance and Pension Credit
All people of state pension age will receive a winter fuel allowance this year of either £200 or £300.
This allowance is normally paid in November or December. Look out for a letter coming in the post to you soon.
Find out more information about the winter fuel payment.
If you’re of state pension age and struggling financially, you could be entitled to Pension Credit.
How nature heals
Spending time outdoors isn’t just good for our physical health; it can do wonders for our mental wellbeing too.
Trevor, from Verwood, experienced a mental health crisis that turned his life upside down. But by walking in nature with his camera at Moors Valley Country Park, he found the space he needed to start feeling better.
At a time when he couldn’t drive, being able to walk to the country park from his home became a vital lifeline. He recalled: “I would just lose myself in nature. It was just so good for my mental health.”
Trevor’s story is a powerful reminder of how important it is to have easy access to nature and green spaces. We’ve been working on a plan to restore, enhance and connect spaces for nature in our county.
Find out more about Dorset’s local nature recovery strategy and how to get involved.
Join Dorset’s army of nature lovers
Across Dorset, a growing army of nature lovers are coming together to help protect and enhance the county’s precious landscape – and you could join the battle too.
Nature Recovery Dorset is a special network of people who are wanting to make nature in Dorset bigger, better and more connected by 2030.
Just like Thorner’s Primary School in west Dorset. With help from Dorset’s Community Access Fund, the school’s community transformed a much-loved nature area so it is now accessible for wheelchair users.
The wooded area within the school grounds is a special place enjoyed by pupils and the wider community.
Headteacher, Mike Sitch, said: “There are very few wooded areas that are accessible to disabled people in Dorset, and it is wonderful to say that ours is now one of them.”
Find out how to get involved in Nature Recovery Dorset.
Find your nature buddy
Nature Buddies is a new scheme bringing people and nature closer together across Dorset.
Made possible by a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, this project is coordinated by the Dorset National Landscape team. They are working with local organisations to train new volunteers and upskill existing ones to become Nature Buddies.
There are several ways to get involved – whether you’re interested in becoming a Nature Buddy or requesting support from one.
First home dreams come true for Dorset residents
New housing schemes to help local people get their first foot on the property ladder have proven to be a huge success.
Two First Homes schemes in east Dorset have seen dozens of houses and apartments snapped up by residents who otherwise could not afford to buy on the open market.
These fantastic new homes, built by Pennyfarthing Homes, are sold at 30% lower than the market value. And what’s even better, they will remain at that discounted rate forever.
Dorset Council oversees the application process for these homes to ensure they are going to local people in need.
As one new homeowner at Potters Wood in Verwood said: “Without this scheme we would not have been able to buy our first home.”
All applicants are local people either purchasing their first home or an essential worker, with household incomes under £80,000.
Pennyfarthing Homes has built 18 First Homes at Potters Wood and a further seven at Oakwood Grove in Alderholt.
For more information on First Homes and other affordable housing help.
Don’t face a housing problem alone – we’re here for you
Are you worried about losing your home due to late mortgage or rental payments, losing your job, your tenancy ending or struggling with managing bills?
Don’t wait until it becomes a crisis - we’re here to help you now.
We have joined forces with national charities, Shelter and Citizens Advice, to provide a one-stop shop for anyone who has concerns about being made homeless. Our support includes mediation with landlords, help with benefit claims, supporting people at court and managing debt.
Since launching this dedicated support service, we prevented 928 households from becoming homeless and helped thousands of people who contacted us online and by phone.
Call us now on 01305 221000.
Supporting recovery through lived experience
Did you know there is a fantastic organisation in Dorset called CLARITY using lived experience to improve drug and alcohol recovery?
Led by volunteers who themselves are in recovery, CLARITY offers peer support, signposts people to local services, and helps shape support services across Dorset.
Andy, Team Leader from CLARITY, has shared his experience of the power of recovery from alcohol addiction and its associated stigma.
He said: “Shame, guilt, loss of self-esteem, and pessimism make positive change seem impossible. You need help to see the way out. After getting that help, if I were to score my outlook on life from 1 to 10, I’m trying hard to contain it to 10.”
Andy is sharing his story to challenge stigma and encourage support. Read Andy's alcohol recovery story.
To contact CLARITY, email claritydorsetlero@gmail.com
A healthier life without the stress
We make so many decisions each day that the constant overload can leave us too tired to think about our wellbeing. That’s where LiveWell Dorset can help.
LiveWell Dorset can take the stress out of becoming healthier this autumn by offering free support.
The organisation can assist with managing weight, quitting smoking, getting more active and cutting down drinking.
You can get started with a personal plan with achievable goals.
Register online or phone 0800 840 1628.
Support to help businesses thrive
Do you run a business? Or maybe you’re about to launch one? Running a business can be rewarding but also isolating and that’s where our Dorset Business Mentors scheme comes in.
For 20 years, this trusted service has helped over 2,500 Dorset businesses grow, adapt, and thrive through affordable, confidential mentoring.
A team of experienced mentors are on hand to give you one-to-one support. From navigating tough decisions to unlocking new opportunities, they can help you build a stronger business.
Creating waves in green energy
A world-first trial happening right here in Dorset could one day pave the way for greener and cheaper energy. And it’s all thanks to the genius of one pioneering local company.
Latent Drive, based at the Dorset Innovation Park in Wool, has invented a new machine that can create hydrogen from seawater.
And thanks to Portland Port, it now gets to test how that seawater-generated hydrogen can power one of the port’s patrol boats. It starts small, but the potential is huge.
Latent Drive’s CEO, Frazer Ely, explained: “Until now, hydrogen has been produced using fresh water. Our SeaStack machine can generate green hydrogen from seawater, and it is a world-first.
“We are surrounded by seawater and this trial can prove that this great resource can create clean energy, make us self-reliant and energy secure in a way that is good for the environment.”
It’s not just Latent Drive creating waves, there’s now a partner-driven ambition to make Dorset the green energy hot spot in the UK.
The new Dorset Clean Energy Cluster brings together the public and private sector with the aim of attracting £28 million investment into the county.
Christmas and New Year recycling and waste
Your recycling and waste collections from Christmas until mid-January will be different from your usual day of the week.
Here are some handy reminders:
We will collect up to two extra sacks of rubbish beside your bin on your first rubbish collection after Christmas Day.
No garden waste collections will take place from Christmas Day until Thursday 8 January.
Our household recycling centres are open from 9am to 4pm daily, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Extra recycling, including glass and food, will be collected on your recycling collection day, provided it has been separated correctly and placed in a suitable sturdy container.
We do not collect Christmas trees of any kind with rubbish or recycling at the kerbside. You can recycle your real Christmas tree by home composting, cutting it up and placing it in your garden waste bin or taking it to a household recycling centre.
Festive recycling
Many households produce extra waste over Christmas, but much of it can be recycled using your kerbside Recycle for Dorset service.
Remember, kerbside recycling collections include:
- cooked and uncooked food, using your food waste bin
- wrapping paper, not foil-based or glittery paper, please
- cardboard boxes and recyclable packaging, not polystyrene
- Christmas cards and envelopes.