A number of parents are continuing to park on double yellow lines outside Verwood First School and Emmanuel Middle School despite pleas from the headteachers.
Improvements works are currently taking place at Harlees Fish and Chip shop in Verwood to install a more energy-efficient fryer and solar panels on its roof.
A road in Verwood was closed temporarily on Wednesday evening after a rescue operation for a dog took place.
Morrisons has lodged an official objection to the building of a new Lidl supermarket in Verwood.
The A31 between Ashley Heath and West Moors will be closed in both directions every night from 10pm till 5am for seven months starting December 2nd.
The annual Verwood Christmas Extravaganza is planned for Saturday 7th December 2019 from 5pm till 8pm.
A golf vehicle and £35,000 worth of tools have been stolen from Crane Valley Golf Club
Ambulance and Fire crews were called to St Stephens Castle on Saturday afternoon following reports of a lady with a leg injury.
The A31 road between Boundary Lane and Ashley Heath will be closed every night from 2100 – 0600 till the end of November.
Verwood’s Nick Butter has completed his mission to run a marathon in all 196 United Nations-recognised countries with the Athens Classic Marathon.
The family of a woman who very sadly died following a collision in East Dorset has issued a tribute.
A woman has sadly died following a road traffic collision between Verwood and Ringwood.
The official launch party of the new Campbell and Rose Gallery is happening this weekend – and you’re invited.
Urgent maintenance work will result in the closure of Edmondsham Road just outside Verwood this week resulting in a long diversion.
If you missed out on the Flameburst event because of other commitments, or you were put off by the weather, here are some ideas for catching some sparks this year around the area.
Hundreds of people attended the 2019 Verwood Flameburst on Saturday evening event after a day of heavy rain and strong winds.
Verwood’s latest development of new homes is being officially launched this weekend.
The annual fireworks, bonfire and family entertainment event Flameburst is taking place on Saturday 26th October this year.
Emmanuel CE Middle School has been praised for undergoing a “phenomenal transformational journey” since joining Wimborne Academy Trust.
Workers will be carrying out overnight surfacing works on the B3073 and Blackwater West Junction this week.
A county lines drug dealer whose supply operation was found in a Bournemouth hotel has been jailed for three years and nine months.
Andre Steve McRonna, 25 and of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 11 October 2019 after being found guilty of two counts of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug and facilitating, acquiring or possessing criminal property. He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of cannabis.
On Friday 10 February 2017 officers executed a drugs warrant at a block of flats in Churchill Road in Bournemouth. McRonna was located in the communal hallway of the flats and was subject of a stop and search.
Officers found he was carrying cannabis, two mobile phones and a can of pepper spray and he was arrested.
As part of their enquiries officers established that McRonna had been staying at the Manchester Hotel in Bournemouth. His room was also searched and they located a white sock containing approximately £2,700 in cash. The cash was forensically examined and traces of heroin and cannabis were located. Black scales were also found in his room.
Staff at the hotel stated that McRonna had stayed at the hotel between Thursday 5 January 2017 and Friday 10 February 2017.
His mobile phones were examined and notes were located. They were viewed by a drugs expert who concluded that they were associated with the sale of heroin and crack cocaine.
Police Constable Young, of Bournemouth police, said: “Andre McRonna was involved in the supply of class A drugs in Bournemouth as part of a county lines drug dealing network.
“Drug dealing supply and misuse can blight communities and we are committed to tackling this and bringing dealers such as McRonna to justice.”
County Lines is the term used to describe urban gangs supplying drugs to suburban areas, as well as market and coastal towns, by using dedicated mobile phone lines.
Criminals across the country use children and vulnerable people of all ages to courier drugs and money. These drug dealers will often take up residence in a person’s home – known as cuckooing – to sell drugs in the local area.
Once caught up in county lines, exploited individuals are at risk of extreme physical and/or sexual violence, gang recriminations and trafficking.
Renoufs, the award-winning wine & cheese bar, opened its doors last night & VerwoodToady was invited to check it out.
After a short walk into the town centre, we arrive to a cosy atmosphere, with fairy lights hanging off the ceiling & black boards back lit with blue lights.
The bar is buzzing with plenty of customers spread out amongst the variety of high & low tables.
Warm & inviting, it’s hard to believe this used to be Barclays bank!
We’re enthusiastically greeted by CEO, Trevor Ayling. He steers us to our seats at the bar, in the heart of the action. It’s a great spot & gives us the opportunity to quiz the barman. Lee certainly knows his stuff, he gives us a run down on how Renoufs works, patiently explaining the array of cheese & meat boards, along with the options of wine, beer & sprits.
We opt for the Ultimate Board which serves two, it’s crammed with olives, houmous, pate, tomatoes & a selection of cheese & meats.
Extra nibbles are optional addons, so some cooked chorizo makes it onto our order. Our personalised selection of cheese meats arrive, the presentation is amazing & we can’t wait to get stuck in.
Wookey Hole Cheddar is the wining cheese with a fight for who get the last piece!
Another bonus of sitting at the bar, the ever-helpful Lee is on hand to offer some advice. Wine is available by the glass, bottle or a flight. We opt for the Gold flight, one red & one white.
Each flight consists of three glasses, which are presented & explained.
Trevor admits the Gold flight is his personal favourite & I can see why. The Californian Zinfandel is my pick of the three & available by the glass, so this is pencilled down for our next visit!
If you’re not a wine lover then fear not, beer is available on draft, Meantime London IPA & a Czech Larger dominating the line-up, along with the usual host of bottles, spirits & gin you’d expect to see in any reputable bar or restaurant.
The team behind the bar are exceptionally friendly, we get chatting to Sam who will be our regular barman in Verwood. He’s a Verwood resident & has been working for Renoufs for some time, we also discover that he’s running the Bournemouth Marathon on Sunday – so good luck Sam!
We had high expectations before visiting this evening & were not disappointed. It’s lovely to have such a charming establishment on the high street of Verwood & we look forward to returning soon – Renoufs has a big thumbs up from us!
If you’re planning a visit, make sure you book in advance, weekend bookings are almost sold out for the next few weeks.
Their online booking system is easy to navigate & available on their website.
Schools in Verwood are opening their doors ahead of the intake for new pupils in 2020-2021 school year.
Police officers are urging people in Verwood and surrounding areas to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour following a spate of catalytic converter thefts.
UPDATE: A 45 year-old-man who was reported missing from his home in Merryfield Close, Verwood has been found.
The date has been set for the official opening of Verwood’s first Cheese and Wine Bar.
Officers investigating a theft at a farm near Wimborne have found a small number of suspected cannabis plants.
A preview evening for potential buyers to know more about the new Potters Wood development is being held at The Verwood Hub.
An elderly Verwood resident had £500 taken out of her bank account after handing over her bank cards to a scammer yesterday.
A teenage boy is due to appear in court in connection with a report of someone impersonating a police officer in Bournemouth.
Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man indecently exposed himself in Bournemouth.
At approximately 10pm on Wednesday 14 August 2019 a man indecently exposed himself to a woman who was running in Kings Park near to the cricket pavilion.
The suspect is described as white, aged in his late 20s, five feet seven inches tall and of average build with very short hair. He was also described as having distinctive blue eyes and a blond beard that was around five inches long. The man was wearing a black hooded top, dark blue jeans and black headphones.
Police Constable Cameron McGlone, of Bournemouth police, said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the area at the relevant time and saw any suspicious behaviour to contact Dorset Police.
“I would also like to hear from anyone who has any information about the identity of the man from the description given.”
A car traveling on the B3081 Verwood Road between Verwood and Ringwood ended up on its roof after a serious collision in the early hours of Sunday morning.
A speeding motorist who mounted the pavement and crashed into a pedestrian causing him serious injuries has been jailed.
Asil Abdul Mohammed, 32 and of West Hill Road in Bournemouth, was sentenced to four years in prison following a hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 16 August 2019. He was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at an earlier trial at the same court.
He was disqualified from driving for six years.
At around 9.50pm on Saturday 19 January 2019 a number of people witnessed a silver Volkswagen Passat being driven erratically and at speed around Bournemouth town centre.
The collision occurred in St Peters Road. At this time the victim – a local man aged in his 20s – was walking along the pavement with a group of friends when he heard the sound of screeching tyres. He tried to see where the noise was coming from and saw the Passat mount the pavement and then collide with him. The force of the collision pushed him up against a nearby wall before he fell to the floor.
The car failed to stop at the scene. It was captured on CCTV driving away at speed before it was left parked in Parsonage Road. The driver was seen to walk into a nearby hotel, drop his jacket off to his room and leave again.
Officers searching for the offender arrested Mohammed in Bath Road.
He admitted he was the owner of the car and the keys to the Passat were found in a jacket recovered from his room. However, he denied being the driver.
The victim was taken to Poole Hospital for treatment. He sustained a bleed on the brain and severe grazing to his head and face.
Police Constable Paul Wilson, of the road traffic unit, said: “Asil Mohammed’s manner of driving that day was reckless and dangerous and it is nothing but sheer luck that his actions did not claim his victim’s life or that of another innocent pedestrian or motorist.
The annual Rustic Fayre is taking place at Potterne Park on August 26th this year, and here’s what’s new compared with last year.
Verwood CE First School has been praised as ‘excellent’ following an official inspection.
Fire crews from Verwood, Ferndown and Ringwood were called to a fire at the end of Moorlands Road on Monday afternoon.
The Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, BCP Council and Dorset Council have confirmed the major improvement works at the A338/Blackwater Junction have been completed on time and on budget.
Timpson has opened its latest unit in the car park at Morrisons in Verwood.
Armed police attended an incident in Verwood on Monday evening after a boy said he’d been chased by teenagers with guns.
Crescent is holding an open weekend in Verwood this Saturday and Sunday to officially launch its new Yamaha Dealership.
A 13-year-old girl who was reported missing from her home in Verwood on Tuesday afternoon has been found.
A road traffic collision on the B3081 sliproad towards the A31 on Wednesday afternoon caused a second incident moments later.
Two cars collided when a Ford KA passed in front of a Ford Galaxy people carrier.
Moments later, two cars approaching from the opposite direction pulled over to offer assistance, but the first one then reversed into the second.
Traffic was slow in the surrounding area with delays for commuters, as the incident happened just after 5pm. Details of the event were posted in the Verwood Traffic Alerts Facebook Group, and on @VerwoodToday on Twitter.
You can see the full drama unfold in the dashcam footage below.
Accident on the B3081 from the A31 junction. Short delays heading towards Verwood. pic.twitter.com/AvAfjvXvtK
— VerwoodToday (@VerwoodToday) June 19, 2019
The end of A338 morning commute hell is in sight for workers in Bournemouth as roadworks are almost finished.
Two lanes are now in operation at peak times in both directions, but some closures will be taking place between the hours of 9am and 4pm.
The full length of the new southbound on slip and the third lane from Blackwater Junction to the Cooper Dean Roundabout will be open within the next couple of weeks.
The council says: “This week we are continuing with drainage, utilities and barrier work on the southbound carriageway. These works are taking place around the widened Cooper Dean off slip and will require occasional off-peak southbound lane closures between 9am and 4pm. Ongoing works also prevent us from opening the full length of the new southbound on slip and third lane from Blackwater Junction.
The permanent average speed cameras are currently in operation and they are now supporting a 50mph limit of both sides of the carriageway.
Check out this video which explains more about the upcoming changes.
⚠ A338 Update ⚠
On schedule for completion at the end of June, this video provides a brief summary of the works that have been completed so far on the #A338 and Blackwater Junction improvement scheme. @TravelDorset pic.twitter.com/s01mw5GSkQ— BCP Council (@BCPCouncil) June 19, 2019
16-year-old Verwood resident Joseph Sanyal is flying to Sweden to represent Great Britain with his Poole Phoenix Handball teammate Joe Trent in Handball.
The pair have recently made the selection for the under 18 squad and will compete in the European Open this July. Both are in sixth form currently studying for their A-Levels.
Joseph, aged 16, is from Verwood and at Wimborne’s Queen Elizabeth School. He first tried handball when he was 14 at Poole Phoenix and was selected to play for Dorset.
Joe is 17 and from Corfe Mullen is at Corfe Hills School.
They will be facing Sweden, Czech Republic, Russia, Switzerland and Luxembourg allowing them to experience the game on a whole new level.
As the Handball Program currently receives little funding from national schemes, the squad is crowdfunding and would be incredibly grateful to any person or business willing to help via this page.
Officers are appealing for information after a cat was shot and injured with an air rifle in Verwood.
On the evening of Sunday 2 June 2019 the female cat returned to the family home in Hainault Drive injured. It was taken to the vet and underwent surgery. An x-ray was taken and the vet believes an air weapon was used as pellets were found lodged in her body.
The cat is expected to make a full recovery.
Police Community Support Investigator Kayleigh Hole, of Dorset Police, said: “The cat’s owner does not know of any reason why someone would want to harm her cat or who may have been responsible. She has understandably been left very upset by what has happened.
“I would urge anyone who has any information or knows the identity of the person or people involved to please contact Dorset Police. “
Up to 40 news jobs could be created in Verwood if a new proposal to open a Lidl supermarket gets the go-ahead.
The store would be built on Ringwood Road opposite the petrol station, in place of a current caravan store and two residential properties – a total area of 1.6 acres.
A car park would provide 90 free bays of which 6 will be disabled spaces and 6 will be parent and child spaces at the front of the property, with the store at the back. Customer cycle parking will be provided to encourage shoppers to visit the store by bicycle.
Verwood currently only has one supermarket, operated by Morrisons, and two smaller food shops provided by Tesco and Co-op.
Lidl is proposing a new neighbourhood foodstore with 1,175² sales area, which would have 2,000 core products and “only 2 or 3 deliveries a day to a recessed loading bay on the side of the building. The existing access to the caravan storage site will be adjusted slightly and moved 6m to the west of the existing access. The accesses to the residential properties will be closed to leave one vehicular access point. Pedestrian and cycle access will also be directly from Ringwood Road.
A public consultation event is taking place to allow local residents and other interested parties the opportunity to view the proposed plans, voice their opinion and offer suggestions and feedback on any aspect of the application. Members of Lidl’s Development Team will be on hand to answer any queries.
It’s happening at St Michaels Parish Centre, 34 Manor Road in Verwood on 12th June from 3pm till 7pm.
Lidl UK’s Regional Head of Property, James Mitchell, told VerwoodToday: “We are extremely excited about the prospect of opening a Lidl in Verwood and serving our fresh, quality and incredibly good value produce which shoppers across the country have come to love. We look forward to welcoming anyone along to the public consultation day and showcasing our plans whilst answering any questions.”
Lidl’s closest stores to Verwood are Ferndown and Ringwood, with around 760 locations around the UK, and over 10,000 worldwide.
The new permanent average speed cameras on the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road are now switched on.
The cameras will support a temporary 40mph speed limit on the southbound carriageways of the A338 from Blackwater Junction to the Cooper Dean Roundabout.
The 40mph southbound limit will be in place for the remainder of the works whilst cameras will support a 50mph limit on the northbound carriageway.
Following the completion of the scheme next month, average speed cameras will support the 50mph limit that was previously in place on both sides of the carriageway. The cameras will be managed by Dorset Police.
Gary Powell, the senior responsible officer for the A338 improvements, said: “The cameras will help make the Blackwater slip roads easier and safer to use as motorists travel at a consistent speed through the area. They will also help improve the flow of traffic.
“We would like to remind motorists to follow the speed limit and be mindful that the speed cameras will become operational at the end of the month. These are in place for the safety of our operatives who are working during the day, at night and at weekends to complete the improvements as soon as possible.’’
Currently, work on the multi-million pound A338 / Blackwater Junction Improvements scheme is running to schedule for completion at the end of June. Until near the end of the scheme, there will be a series of overnight road closures to enable surfacing and barrier installation works to be carried out.
Depending on a variety of factors, such as speed and previous offences, the funds generated by speeding fines will go to one of two locations.
In cases dealt with by the Courts and Fixed Penalty Fines (with the addition of points on the driving licence) will be sent to the Central Government Consolidated Fund.
Alternatively, fees from drivers on the Driving Awareness Scheme after costs will go directly towards improving road traffic safety schemes
The two biggest questions from Verwoodians this weekend will be where is the Verwood Carnival procession going and is Morrisons open.
The new permanent average speed cameras on the A338 Bournemouth Spur Road, will go live on Friday 31 May 2019.
They will support a temporary 40mph speed limit on the southbound carriageway of the A338 from Blackwater Junction to the Cooper Dean Roundabout.
The 40mph southbound limit will be in place for the remainder of the works and the cameras will support a 50mph limit on the northbound carriageway.
Following the completion of the scheme next month, average speed cameras will support the 50mph limit that was previously in place on both sides of the carriageway, managed by Dorset Police.
Gary Powell, the senior responsible officer for the A338 improvements, said: “The cameras will help make the Blackwater slip roads easier and safer to use as motorists travel at a consistent speed through the area. They will also help improve the flow of traffic.
“We would like to remind motorists to follow the speed limit and be mindful that the speed cameras will become operational at the end of the month. These are in place for the safety of our operatives who are working during the day, at night and at weekends to complete the improvements as soon as possible.’
Currently, work on the multi-million pound A338 / Blackwater Junction Improvements scheme is running to schedule for completion at the end of June. Until near the end of the scheme, there will be a series of overnight road closures to enable surfacing and barrier installation works to be carried out. There will be no overnight closures over the coming May bank holiday weekend.
Dorset Council will be carrying out maintenance work on The Kingfishers during the day on the 11th and 12th June 2019.
The road will be closed daily between the hours of 9.00 and 16.00 but it will be open overnight and at weekends.
They will be repairing sections of the road.
In the current financial climate, the highways service says it has had to focus its budget on targeting the most damaged sections of road and areas with safety issues.
If you wish to discuss any issues regarding this work please contact 01305 228100