Bournemouth is set to host a new Carnival of Alternative Politics, bringing debate and discussion outside traditional party structures. The event will feature talks on youth issues, culture, Europe and the future of the town centre, alongside performances and visual art. Organisers say it is about listening to different views at a time of uncertainty. A speaking contest for sixth form students will also form part of the day, judged by the area’s Labour MP.

Heavy rains and strong winds have prompted a flood alert for the Dorset coast at Poole Harbour and Christchurch Quay with flooding possible tomorrow morning. The Environment Agency says high tides, strong winds and large waves could affect Poole Harbour and tidal stretches of the Lower Frome and River Piddle. The risk period runs from quarter to nine until quarter to one. People are being advised to avoid flood water and stay away from coastal roads and paths.

A new touring musical exploring the origins of rock and roll is coming to Lighthouse Poole later this year. Rock and Roll Man tells the story of Alan Freed, the DJ credited with naming the genre and helping bring artists and audiences together. The cast is led by Broadway performer Constantine Maroulis, alongside a company portraying well known music figures from the era. Performances run for a week from Monday the twenty-third of March.

A Dorset housebuilder is extending support to people looking to move home early this year. Pennyfarthing Homes is offering stamp duty help on selected properties at developments in Verwood, Alderholt and near Fordingbridge. The scheme is aimed at buyers at different stages, including those moving up, downsizing or buying for the first time. The offer runs until the end of February and applies to homes that are already available.

A youth club in Turlin Moor is thriving again after reopening under new management following its closure in twenty twenty three. The centre was taken on by South West Regional Assessment Centre after discussions with BCP Council, responding to strong local demand. Staff say regular attendance is growing and families value having a safe place for young people to spend time together. Local councillors and parents say the club is helping confidence, friendships and positive behaviour.

AFC Bournemouth have completed the signing of Hungarian midfielder Alex Tóth on a long term deal. The twenty year old arrives from Ferencváros after coming through their academy and making more than fifty first team appearances. He has also represented Hungary at youth level and now has nine senior international caps. Club staff said he brings experience of domestic and European football as he continues his development. Tóth said joining the club felt like the right move and he is focused on contributing to results.

Plans to expand Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre in Christchurch have been delayed after councillors asked for more information. The audit and governance committee raised concerns about detail in the report, including the business case and how options were assessed. Councillors were told existing spaces used for exercise classes were not ideal, following an independent review carried out in two thousand and twenty two. The item was deferred after a close vote, with further work expected before it returns to council.

Plans have been submitted to demolish a Christchurch care home and replace it with a single house. The organisation behind the proposal says the building can no longer meet modern standards and would require major upgrades. Current residents would move to Silverways Nursing Home to ensure continuity of care. The society owns more than six hundred affordable flats for older people and has approval to add ten bedrooms at Silverways. The application is open for consultation until mid February.

A housebuilder is offering financial support to people buying new homes across Dorset. Bellway says incentives of up to twenty five thousand pounds are available on selected properties until late February. Buyers can choose how to use the support, including towards deposits or moving costs. The offer applies to several developments across the county under the Bellway and Ashberry Homes brands.

Plans are in place for a large community sauna to open on Boscombe seafront later this year. The Saltwater Sauna says the new site will be its largest yet and marks a return to where the project first began. Founders say the space, next to Urban Reef, will focus on shared wellbeing, sea swimming culture and social connection. Existing locations already operate along the Dorset coast, with more planned.

AFC Bournemouth were held to a one all draw away at Brighton and Hove Albion after conceding deep into added time. Marcus Tavernier put the Cherries ahead from the penalty spot in the first half. Brighton equalised in stoppage time through Charalampos Kostoulas. Bournemouth remain unbeaten from the match but were left frustrated after defending for long periods late on.

Concerns are being raised over the condition of Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens after a winter ice rink operated without planning permission. Green Party councillors say the planning process failed, leaving no enforceable conditions in place to restore the site. The application was withdrawn after the event had already taken place. BCP Council says a reinstatement agreement is in place and the operator will cover restoration costs.

Plans have been submitted to extend a Premier Inn hotel on Sterte Avenue in Poole. The proposals include extra bedrooms and a rebuilt restaurant with outdoor seating under a canopy. The hotel would gain seventeen additional rooms, with new guest access linked directly to reception. The application is open for consultation until February the thirteenth.

A large soft play centre in Christchurch is opening to adults only for one night next month. The charity Diverse Abilities is hosting the event at The Treehouse, giving grown ups the chance to use the slides and obstacle areas. Organisers say the idea follows strong interest from the local community since the site was taken over from Adventure Wonderland. The event also raises funds to support disability services across Dorset, and is sponsored by Bournemouth One.

The leader of BCP Council has described the decision by a Poole councillor to change parties, as disappointing. Councillor Rachel Pattinson-West has left the Liberal Democrats to join the Green Party, becoming its first councillor in Poole. She said her move was driven by hope and concerns about how vulnerable people are treated in national politics. The Green group says her decision reflects growing interest in a different political approach locally.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a reported assault in Bournemouth town centre early on Saturday morning. Officers say the incident happened at around seven fifteen on Old Christchurch Road, where a man was punched several times by someone not known to him. A twenty seven year old Bournemouth man was arrested on suspicion of assault and has since been released under investigation. Police are asking anyone who saw what happened, including members of the public who stepped in, to come forward.

A Bournemouth metal detectorist is helping people recover lost valuables across the area through a free recovery service. Darren Wiles says what began as a hobby has grown into a near full time public service alongside his day job. He has helped return items worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, including watches and jewellery with strong personal meaning. One recovery on a Bournemouth beach involved a memorial ring linked to a child who saved others from drowning. Darren says the reaction from families is what matters most.

Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes has raised concerns in Parliament about delivery firm Evri after residents reported missing parcels. He is urging ministers to tighten rules on private delivery companies so they meet their obligations to local people and explain clearly what is happening when deliveries go wrong. Hayes has described the reply he received from Evri’s boss before Christmas as inadequate and says he now wants decisive government action. THE MP hopes that raising these issues at Westminster will lead to more reliable deliveries and better communication for people in Bournemouth East.

Emergency services have carried out a large counter terrorism exercise on a cross-channel ferry at the Port of Poole. The operation, over the last two days, brought together police, ambulance, fire services and maritime partners to test how they would respond to a major incident on and offshore. The exercise involved several hundred people and was part of a planned national training programme, not linked to any specific threat. Organisers say the work helps improve coordination and readiness to protect the public.

A Ferndown care home has marked its new anniversary year by handing over nearly one thousand eight hundred pounds to a disability charity. Residents and staff at Amberwood House chose the Stable Family Home Trust as their charity for last year and held events including a dog show, a big lunch, a car wash and a Christmas market. They said the fundraising brought people together, with residents describing the dog show as a particular highlight. The Trust, which supports more than one hundred people in Dorset and Hampshire, received the cheque during a presentation at the home.

Dorset Council’s Trading Standards team is increasing checks on age restricted products to keep young people safe. Officers are now testing online retailers as well as high street shops, using young volunteers to see whether age checks are properly carried out. The move comes amid national concern about knife crime, which has risen sharply since twenty fourteen, even though Dorset has seen a fall since twenty nineteen with a small rise again in twenty twenty three.

Bournemouth’s Cool Coast Ice Rink is starting its themed skate nights for the year with a pop-themed session taking place tonight. Skaters can enjoy two hours on the ice with music from chart-topping artists and an appearance from local drag performer Rougie. Organisers say themed events will run through the season, with different music nights planned. The rink remains open through February half-term, offering sessions for all abilities.

Poole now has its first Green Party councillor after a defection from the Liberal Democrats. Councillor Rachel Pattinson-West, who represents Alderney and Bourne Valley, says she joined the Greens because she believes the party offers hope and a fairer future. She stressed the decision was not linked to local issues and said she respects her former colleagues. The Green Party group says the move reflects growing support for a values-led approach. The council has confirmed committee balances will be reviewed.

The former chief executive of BCP Council has taken up a new national role. Graham Farrant has been appointed as a non executive director on the board of the Health and Safety Executive, replacing a departing member next year. He brings decades of experience across local government, the public sector and private industry. The HSE chair says she is looking forward to welcoming him to the board and supporting its long term strategy.

Two people from Bournemouth have been jailed after a complex police investigation linked two deliberate road collisions in the town last year. Zoe Treadwell was given a life sentence with a minimum term of thirty five years for murdering twenty eight year old Joey Johnstone and attempting to murder another man. A second defendant, Jonjay Harrison, was jailed for thirty two years for attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Detectives said both incidents involved young men being pursued through residential streets following a dispute. Police say the sentences bring justice after months of detailed investigative work.

Plans to expand a council-run leisure centre in Christchurch have been approved by BCP Cabinet. The proposal focuses on adding a dedicated exercise studio at Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre to widen access to fitness, rehabilitation and referral programmes. Councillors debated timing and priorities but were told the scheme is expected to cover its own long-term costs. The decision was unanimous, with further scrutiny due at audit and governance later this month.

The Bournemouth Writing Festival is returning for its fourth year this April. More than one hundred free and ticketed events will take place across Bournemouth, including talks, workshops and networking sessions. New features include masterclasses with literary professionals, Writing on the Beach and a Poetry Marquee at Horseshoe Common. Organisers say the programme is designed for writers at every stage, from beginners to those preparing books for publication.

Christchurch Post Office is on the move from Saxon Square to new premises after the temporary postmaster stepped down. The branch will relocate inside a new Premier Convenience Store, which itself will replace the Loch and Quay restaurant on Church Street, where refurbished space will include screened and open plan counters. Services will remain the same and opening hours will offer slightly longer access on Saturday afternoons. The new site is around four hundred metres away, with pavements and dropped kerbs along the route for pedestrians.

A Bournemouth man has reunited with the ambulance team who saved his life after a sudden cardiac arrest. He collapsed near his home and was taken to hospital after receiving CPR and several defibrillator shocks in the ambulance. He spent several weeks in intensive care before returning home. The reunion at Christchurch Ambulance Station gave him the chance to thank the crew in person, and he says his recovery has been steady as he returns to part-time work.

A free exhibition exploring the RNLI’s Second World War story opens at Lighthouse Poole today and runs until Saturday the twenty-eighth of February. It features rarely seen artwork and wartime objects that show how volunteer crews continued saving lives in challenging conditions. Families can enjoy interactive activities, and a series of free events will run throughout the exhibition.

Residents are being asked for ideas on how to secure the long-term future of Upton House as the historic building faces major repair and modernisation challenges. BCP Council wants suggestions for new uses that could bring the House back into fuller use, improve access and reduce the need for subsidies. An online ideas board is open until early February and shortlisted options will go out for wider consultation in the spring.

The family of a forty nine year old man from Spetisbury are asking for help to find him after concerns were raised with police. Jamie was reported missing after leaving home last Friday night at ten thirty. Officers say searches are continuing with specialist teams and support from the air. You can see a photo of him on our website, and anyone who has seen him or has information is urged to contact police as soon as possible.

A Bournemouth roundtable has brought parents, carers, schools and other organisations together to discuss changes needed in the support system for children with additional needs. Jessica Toale MP hosted the session to ensure local experiences are included in the government’s national conversation on Send reform. She said families, schools and charities have told her the system is not working well enough and that funding for new specialist places in Bournemouth is a positive step.

Dorset Council has published its proposed budget for this year, setting out how it plans to spend four hundred and eighty two million pounds on services across the county. Around sixty per cent of the funding is set aside for care services for older people, vulnerable adults and children, alongside investment in roads and local infrastructure. Council tax is set to rise by four point nine nine per cent, with car parking charges frozen for another year. The proposals will now be reviewed by scrutiny committees before a final decision later this month.

This year's Cliff Top Music Festival in Christchurch has won permission to operate across two days for the first time this year despite objections from locals. Stir Events secured approval from BCP Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee for the extra hours, and the new licence permits music and activities on both Saturday the 5th, and Sunday 6th of September. Supporters say it will boost Highcliffe’s cultural life while organisers commit to responsible management. Soul music band The Commitments are already confirmed as the headline act.

BCP Libraries are marking the National Year of Reading with a new offer for babies and toddlers across the area. Parents and carers can sign up their child for a first library card and, while stocks last, receive a free book and small bundle of goodies. The scheme is part of the national Go All In campaign, which aims to boost enjoyment of reading by focusing on fun, curiosity and the immediate pleasure of stories rather than treating reading as a duty.

Dorset Council has issued new guidance encouraging schools to introduce phone-free days, and advising families on managing children’s smartphone use outside school. The guidance recommends delaying smartphone ownership until age fourteen unless there is a specific need and suggests basic phones for travel. Schools are asked to apply clear policies while making reasonable adjustments for pupils with medical or safeguarding requirements. A parent event with further advice is planned for the spring term.

The Art of Keeping Well exhibition opens at Lighthouse Poole this Saturday and runs until the end of February. It brings together community-created artworks exploring caregiving, memory loss, and living well in later life. Pieces include collaged postcards from a Bournemouth University research project and a portrait series by local community groups. The show, on the top floor gallery at Lighthouse, encourages deeper understanding of ageing and carers’ experiences.

Police are seeking witnesses after a serious collision in Bournemouth on Friday the second of January this year when a pedestrian was struck by a blue Vauxhall Corsa in Bourne Avenue and taken to hospital for treatment. Officers from Dorset Police’s Roads Policing Team are urging anyone who saw the incident or has relevant dashcam footage to contact them. The woman, in her fifties, sustained serious injuries. Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police

A man in his twenties has died following a serious collision involving an electric scooter in Bournemouth town centre. Police were called to Old Christchurch Road, near Popworld, in the early hours of Monday the fifth of January this year. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and later passed away, while a passenger in his thirties suffered minor injuries. Officers are appealing for witnesses or dashcam footage to help establish what happened.