David Walker

Two women from Christchurch rowing club are set to undertake one of the sporting world’s toughest challenges as Julie Eddicott and Sally Percival will row three thousand miles across the Atlantic. They’ll be rowing alongside team members Mary Sutherland and Ed Dewarr in the Atlantic Row Challenge. The crew are due to set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on the 12th of December and aim to finish at Antigua in the Caribbean seven weeks later in their boat Ebb and Flow. They’re hoping to acquire corporate sponsorship for the event, as well as aiming to fund raise a separate forty thousand pounds which will be spread across four different charities. Three times world record holder Mary Percival from Southsea is already no stranger to Atlantic rowing, having completed the event twice before. But for London based adventurer Ed Dewarr who’s neither a rower nor a sailor, this is his first attempt at the challenge. Although he has once kayaked across the English Channel. You can see more about the team and the event at www.ebbflowatlantic.com

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One update, a man is due to appear in court in connection with multiple shoplifting offences in Charminster. It’s alleged that the thirty three year old stole from both the Co-op in Charminster Road and One Stop in Ripon Road between December last year and February this year. After a police investigation, the man was charged with forty-five counts of theft from a shop. He first attended Poole Magistrates Court on Monday sixth May, and is due to go back there on Tuesday fourteenth.

BCP council has been told funding has been secured for a brand new, free special school. The department for education has confirmed the authorities bid for investment to help pupils in the area, with autism spectrum condition was a success. It’s a huge boost to the council who say their committed to improving the education for children with special needs. The news means a new school for around one hundred and eighty pupils aged between three and nineteen with ASC, will be built in Bournemouth within the next two years.

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One update, Black Cherry have announced their closure as a fixed venue at the end of June and have heavy hearts but are also immensely proud with their achievements. The company says all the listings on their website will still go ahead along with other events including a weekend of comedy for Father’s Day and the not to be missed Boscombe carnival takeover in August. They’ve offered their thanks to everyone from staff, audiences and businesses and says their support has meant the world to them.

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One update, anyone who’s a fan of AFC Bournemouth will no doubt remember the games such as the three nil win against Manchester United, or better still, the four three comeback against Luton Town. Well, given how the Cherries have had such a memorable season setting their Premier League points record, you can now have the opportunity to have your say on who impressed you the most. Don’t take too long to decide however as you’ve only got until nine o’clock tomorrow morning to make your choice. Once all the votes have been counted, the winner will be announced on the final home game of the season against Brentford. If you want to place your vote, then you can find the right link on the news pages of the Bournemouth One website.

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One Update, Arts Council England has awarded Poole Museum four hundred and fifty thousand pounds. It’s for new exhibition galleries as well as to make improvements to the digital infrastructure as well as accessibility and sustainability. A ceramics and design gallery will showcase and open-up the museum’s collection of Poole Pottery, which is said to be the best in the world. At the moment, the outlet is currently closed as part of a larger multi-million-pound redevelopment, which includes the conservation and restoration of all three of the museums listed buildings. It’s expected to open up again in Spring next year.

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One update, a national renewable energy wholesaler is opening up a new branch in Ferndown. HDM Solar provide renewable energy solar systems and electric vehicle chargers. The team are having an open day at their outlet tomorrow between ten am and two pm with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at ten thirty. The founder of the company Daniel Rogers is originally from Bournemouth although they’ve now got their head office in Hull, and are aiming to spend over ten million pounds on sixty new branches across the country. You can find them at Unit fifteen, Bedrock Park, Vulan Way on the Ferndown Industrial estate.

A new regeneration scheme for Boscombe is underway. Work has begun on fifteen buildings in the high street in an effort to protect their heritage after BCP Council was awarded nearly twenty-two million pounds by the government to regenerate ten major projects. Other schemes included sixty eight new flats, a medical and community centre and retail kiosks. The council are aiming to attract inward investment and deliver economic regeneration, which will include new jobs and training opportunities focusing on Boscombe Town Centre.

BCP council have launched a new library consultation service. They’re asking residents how they currently use the town’s libraries and what people would like to see in the future to help improve things for them. There’s three online surveys you can complete – one’s for adults and the other two are for children and those under ten. Paper copies available at every library and an easy read version which can be available upon request. Anyone who uses the home service will receive a copy of the survey direct. The survey closes on the eighteenth of June.

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One update, the Arts by the Sea festival is set to return in the Autumn. It’s going to run for three days from the twenty seventh to the twenty ninth of September and the theme for the event this year is “Taste”. Over a hundred artists are going to be taking part in the free event who will put on large-scale spectaculars, music, installations, dance, street theatre and more. The Artist in Residence for this year is Rebecca Strickson, who’s a Margate-based illustrator and designer, along with Bournemouth based circus performer Jasmin Edwards as the Associate artist.

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One update, a final decision on the future of the trial gate closure to motor vehicles in Poole Park is going to be made this month. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council members are going to take a look at a recommendation to make the closure at the Whitecliff Gate entrance to the park permanent. It‘s following on from a trial closure of this gate, which began in January. A four-week consultation was made with 63% of responses disagreeing with the closure and 36% agreeing, which just left 1% who were neutral in what they thought. The Cabinet’s expecting to decide on the 22 May.

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One update, a cyclist who sustained serious injuries had to be taken to hospital following an accident in Christchurch on Saturday. It happened around eight thirty in the morning where a man in his forties, collided with a red Jaguar on Lymington Road opposite Sunset Mews. Dorset police are asking for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to help with their investigation. If you can help them with their enquiries, you can contact them on 101.

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One update, new water quality sensors have been added to the ends of Bournemouth and Boscombe piers. Wessex Water have told Bournemouth One they’ve installed the sensors which will give real time data using AI, to give information about bacteria levels, as well as water temperature, flow and rainfall. At the moment, they’re going through various tests and are aiming to “go live” later this year. When that happens, swimmers and other water users will be able to access the data by a web app. Wessex Water then aim to progressively roll more sensors out at other locations including Hengistbury Head.

The grandmother of a man who was fatally wounded in Bournemouth last August has joined an anti-knife campaign being run in conjunction with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council. Cameron Hamilton was stabbed after an altercation in Bournemouth Square. His Grandmother Tracy said: the impacts of knife crime are very real and is asking everyone to think twice before deciding to carry a knife. Various events are taking place over the coming weeks, including theatre workshops, skateboarding and live music. The scheme’s part of the wider Safer BCP partnership, involving Dorset Police, businesses, the council and various other local groups.

Staff and residents in a West Parley care home are raising money for Dementia UK. They’ve set a challenge at Parley Place home to walk thirty one miles throughout this month. The group is hoping to raise over four hundred pounds by doing the event and have set up a Just Giving page which can be found on the Bournemouth One website. They say any donation, big or small, makes a difference and are asking if you can help support their cause.

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One update, the Palace Court Theatre in Hinton Road is set to host it’s first public performance in forty years. The nineteen thirties Art Deco building was acquired by Arts University Bournemouth and is currently undergoing refurbishment. They’re giving the outlet a new lease of life as they start the first performance with The Ballad of Maria Marten from the 15th May. The show’s being put on by the university bringing together industry professionals and students who are studying acting, costume and set design.

And I’m David Walker with your Bournemouth One update, the leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey dropped into Wareham yesterday. He was toasting the success of the party on Thursday’s election to become the leaders for Dorset County Council. Vikki Slade who’s the Lib Dem council leader for Bournemouth Poole and Christchurch, she said party now need to work hard ahead of a general election.

Poole hospital have submitted plans to the council for a new building which they say will maximise patient experience. They’re hoping to install a new endoscopy facility at the hospital, in place of the old ambulance station in Churchfield Road. The proposals would also give the opportunity for expansion in the future, developing the site […]