Get on your bikes to help FoTE’s Green Week

Friends of the Earth are inviting people in and around Bridport to join in their Great Big Green Week. Running from Saturday, June 10 to Sunday, June 18, the awareness event will begin with a bike ride setting off from Bridport’s community orchard behind St Mary’s Church at 10.30am on Saturday, June 10. Following this there will be talks on “eco writing” at the town hall from 7pm on Monday, June 12, on landscape recovery at St Swithun’s Hall at 4pm on Tuesday, June 13 and on river monitoring at the town hall from 7.30pm on Wednesday, June 14. n For full details visit westdorset friendsoftheearth.org.uk

Young people’s eco films will also be screened during the week, plus there will be walks aimed at promoting hedge care, dealing with Himalayan Balsam and cleaning the lower Brit river on paddleboards.

Support now close at hand for those living with cancer

Emotional and practical support is being offered to Dorset people living with cancer.

National charity Cancer Support UK has partnered with Dorset Cancer Care Foundation (DCCF) to offer the assistance to those in need plus cancer support training for businesses.

DCCF was founded by three local nurses in 2012 to help Dorset families struggling financially

All aboard! Mayor rides land train

Weymouth Mayor Ann Weaving got on board for the first land train trip of the season around the resort.

Mrs Weaving and her escort Cllr Ken Whatley joined local business owners and families for a tour of the Esplanade, harbourside and Hope Square.

Land train owner Tony Poole said: “The because of a cancer diagnosis. Through fundraising and events, the charity has since donated over £646,000 to help cancer patients pay for specialist equipment, travel to and from hospital, childcare during treatment and everyday living costs. Cancer Support UK is now training DCCF staff and volunteers, including an introduction to its Cancer Coach peer support group programme. DCCF staff and volunteers are also being trained as Workplace Cancer Support Ambassadors.

DCCF charity administrator Penelope Saunders said: “As someone who has both survived cancer and now talks each day to Dorset people who are struggling under a cancer diagnosis, I can see the huge benefits of Cancer Support UK’s programmes.” n Go to cancersupportuk.org and dccf.co.uk

Weymouth Land Train is the absolute best way to discover Weymouth and provides lots of fun for all ages. The kids really like having their photo taken in the driving seat of the train too.

“The train will run every day now until September providing a circular route from the seafront to Hope Square, many people hop off at Hope Square for the

Nothe Fort and Gardens and then hop back on the train when they are ready to return to the seafront. “This year for the first time in a long while, the train will be travelling along the Esplanade during June, July, and August providing a transport link between car parks at Lodmoor and the town centre.”

Clunes’ setback in travellers site bid

Doc Martin star Martin Clunes is losing his battle with Dorset Council after a proposal to build a permanent traveller site next to his farm was recommended for approval. The 61-year-old actor objected to the application made by his neighbours –former town councillor Theo Langton and his partner Ruth McGill, who own the land and have lived there in a mobile home for 25 years.

Dorset Council had granted the couple a five-year licence to live on the land in 2015 but they are still there.

The couple are now trying to turn their land into a permanent private residential traveller site. Mr Clunes and his wife Philippa lodged an objection to the couple’s proposal, claiming it would only cause an increase in travellers visiting the site and would spoil an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Mr Clunes’ planning agent Will Cobley said: “Our clients have lived at their property for many years and are concerned by the proposal, which seeks to authorise and intensify a nearby traveller use on a permanent basis.”

Mr Cobley said Mr Clunes believes protected countryside is a ‘wholly unsuitable’ location for a traveller site and pointed out the lack of access to basic services like electricity, water and sewage.

Beaminster Town Council also said the land was ‘unsuitable’ for a travellers’ encampment but Dorset Council officers have now recommended the proposal for approval.

Beaminster resident and WDM columnist Rachel Hayball said: “I would hate to see a family who have lived happily in this town for over 20 years with temporary permission to become homeless because others with money like to shout. Theo and Ruth have done no harm to this town and has helped many groups within the town.

“It’s their home on their land and they should be able to stay in my mind.”