16 June 2025 / 25 June 2025 by chrishenderson
Mark Williams has been chosen as the Green Party candidate for the Tophill East by-election to Portland Town Council on 10th July. A keen angler and motorcyclist, Mark was born and brought up on the island, moved away for work, and has now returned home. Mark says: "I have been knocking on doors around the area over the last few weeks. It's been great to meet you and to find out how I could help as your local councillor."
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12 June 2025 / 18 June 2025 by chrishenderson
Portland Town Council has agreed a proposal by Green Councillor Kia Pope to call on King Charles to intervene and help stop the proposed construction of a waste incinerator on the island at Portland Port. This will cite the island's 1,000 year history as a Royal Manor, with its Court Leet guarding the rights and privileges of the islanders.
12 June 2025 / 12 June 2025 by chrishenderson
Further to our update earlier this year, a beloved section of the South West Coast Path near the Fleet Lagoon in Ferrybridge, Weymouth, has officially reopened just in time for the peak walking season, following extensive restoration works. Closed since 2023 due to landslides and coastal erosion, the path had forced walkers onto a lengthy inland diversion.
7 June 2025 / 7 June 2025 by chrishenderson
Dorset Council has unanimously backed a motion to become a Rights Respecting Authority. This formally embeds the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into its policies and practices. Green Councillor Clare Sutton, cabinet member for children’s services, seconded the motion at the 15th May Dorset Council meeting.
17 May 2025 / 17 May 2025 by chrishenderson
Ten Conservative councillors walked out of the Dorset Council chamber on Thursday, rather than hear a public deputation requesting that the Dorset Pension Fund take investments out of companies supporting the Israeli war effort in Gaza. Green Councillor Clare Sutton said she could only interpret the choice of those who left the council chamber during the session on Gaza as support for the Israeli leader’s decision to bomb children and hospitals.
15 May 2025 / 17 May 2025 by chrishenderson
Dorset Council Children's Services have been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted. Its Cabinet member is Green Councillor Clare Sutton (since May 2024, in an otherwise Lib Dem Cabinet). Children's Services were graded outstanding in its impact of leaders on social work practice, experiences and progress of children who need help, experiences of children in care and overall effectiveness. It was graded good for the experiences and progress of care leavers.
13 May 2025 / 13 May 2025 by chrishenderson
Helen Toft. Green Weymouth Town Councillor for Wyke Regis, has been knocking on doors and chatting with residents about reducing the speed limit. "There’s strong support for introducing a 20mph zone — especially on Doncaster Road, Marlborough Road, and Wyke High Street, which are often used as cut-throughs."
8 May 2025 / 13 May 2025 by chrishenderson
Ken Huggins, Green Party Parliamentary candidate for North Dorset in 2019 and 2024, has had his latest column published in The New Blackmore Vale magazine. Ken writes: “Both Tories and Labour have failed us badly on protecting the wellbeing of citizens. “Widespread dissatisfaction with the state of British politics has doubtlessly contributed to the relative […]
1 May 2025 / 13 May 2025 by chrishenderson
A well-used route near the Rodwell Trail is once again open for use, following stabilisation of the surrounding bank and resurfacing. This restoration comes after a landslip and a fallen tree had left the path unusable. Dorset Council's highways team cleared vegetation and rubbish and rebuilt the bank along the footpath from Rylands Lane off Doncaster Road in Wyke.
18 April 2025 / 12 June 2025 by chrishenderson
Green Councillor Clare Sutton was quoted by the Dorset Echo: "For Portland Port to claim in its newsletter that it has our ‘community at heart’ is not just insensitive and ill-judged; it is downright insulting. Would that be the community which has come out in force to oppose the waste incinerator at every step of the way for over five years?"
