Your Residents' Association Newsletter

Get fit with 2 Riversmeet!

2 Riversmeet Leisure Complex has recommenced their popular free virtual classes. They want to keep the community fit and healthy through lockdown and make sure that everyone has something positive to focus on at the moment.

 The sessions are free to join in with no subscription or sign up needed, just the opportunity to join a great online community and get fit. https://www.facebook.com/2RMLC

Videos can be seen on their YouTube channel 

    

 

A fleet of brand-new electric powered scooters will soon be available for hire across Bournemouth and Poole following approval for a trial in the area.

BCP Council is one of a number of local authorities across the country to be given permission by the Department for Transport (DfT) to run a controlled trial for type approved rental e-scooters only, which will assist the DfT’s national research into e-scooters. The initial trial is set to commence on 25 January 2021.

The e-scooters will provide an innovative, emission-free transport option for both residents and visitors to the area. The Beryl hire e-scooters can be ridden on all existing public roads in Bournemouth and Poole as well as on the expanding network of signed cycle lanes and cycle/shared-use facilities. They cannot be used on pedestrian pavements.

The initial operating zone of the trial is within Poole and Bournemouth only. This reflects the hillier nature of the two towns (which is ideal for e-scooters) and potential greater demand. An expansion into Christchurch can be considered at a later date as the scheme progresses.

Privately owned e-scooters remain illegal to use on public roads including in trial areas.

 

Want to get more exercise during lockdown? The Beryl Bike rental service has now been expanded to cover the Christchurch area. 275 new Beryl Bikes will be available to hire at 50 new Beryl Bays in the town and can be hired at a reasonable cost via the free to download Beryl app.

https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/news-article.aspx?title=beryls-bike-share-scheme-arrives-in-christchurch

 

If you are visiting Hengistbury Head beach, please be vigilant. A 500 metre section of beach around the Head, between Hiker Café and Long Groyne, is closed due to the recent cliff slip and high tides, and is no longer accessible.
Please exercise caution, take a different route and avoid walking at the cliff base - don’t put yourself, your children or pets at unnecessary risk.



 

Proposals for a leading-edge medical research facility at Wessex Fields have been approved by BCP Council’s cabinet.

Following detailed conversations with key stakeholders and partners, agreement has been reached for BCP Council to work in partnership with the University Hospitals Dorset and Bournemouth University on plans to bring forward a high tech, “Living Lab” science park, facilitated by the sale of part of the site to the local hospital trust.

https://bcpcouncil.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a8a5b42a486fe4c6b83f98b58&id=57dffa04e7&e=33dd73b422

 

Plans to transform travel in the south east Dorset city region are taking shape. BCP and Dorset Councils have been working together on planning the £100+ million Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) investment in sustainable public transport infrastructure for the region.

https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/news-article.aspx?title=plans-for-transforming-travel-in-south-east-dorset-city-region-take-shape
 

Take 2 Minutes and Have Your Say Now on Dorset Police Funding

I hope you have had as good a Christmas as possible in the difficult circumstances. I know that, because of the COVID-19 restrictions facing all of us, many of you will not have been able to see family and friends as you would have liked this year.
We are now coming to the end of the most difficult year many of us can remember and I speak for many people across Dorset and further afield when I say I hope 2021 will give us reason to be optimistic.
I am now asking you to spend two minutes completing my survey into something that affects us all – the future funding of our police force.
I’m asking our county’s residents if they would pay the equivalent of £1.25 a month to ensure Dorset Police can deliver a balanced budget, recruit new officers and pay for additional costs – some of which have been created because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Policing has been placed on the front line, dealing with this crisis – something that has brought with it new costs – and this means additional funding is needed which once again will not come from central Government.
An extra £1.25 a month, based on an average Band D property, will enable Dorset Police to meet these costs, provide an enhanced service in the face of the global health emergency, and recruit new officers.
How will the money be spent?
The Force are now predicting they will recruit 64 new officers by the end of March – more than had been planned. Now, in the second year of the Government’s three year ‘uplift’ programme, the Force plans to recruit further officers in 2021/22.
But police forces have faced considerable budgetary pressures in recent years with the need to manage more demand, real-terms cuts to funding and a number of nationally imposed costs.
I remain immensely frustrated that the financial burden for policing is being passed to local taxpayers once again. I have consistently argued that the funding settlement is unfair to smaller forces like ours, which has to make up almost half of its budgets through local taxation.
Although I have already said I will not be standing in next year’s PCC elections, I will use my remaining months in office to continue demanding a fairer settlement for Dorset Police, which remains one of the lowest funded forces in the country.
Once again, please take two minutes to complete my survey here and tell me what you think.
If the link above doesn’t work, please cut and paste the following into your web browser:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/6XMG28N

Martyn Underhill - Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner

 

Action Fraud has seen a surge in reports relating to fake emails and texts purporting to be from DPD. The messages claim that DPD was “unable to deliver your parcel today” and provide instructions on how the recipient can arrange another delivery. The links in the emails and texts lead to fake websites that are designed to steal money, as well as personal and financial information.

Victims of this scam have reported losing over £242,000 since June.

For more information, please visit
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/alert/fake-dpd-messages-lead-to-over-200000-in-losses-since-june

Please be vigilant as there is increased criminal activity on St Catherine's Hill and other local areas.

When reporting a crime to Dorset Police you can be assured that you will be listened to, understood, informed and together with our partner organisations, protected and safe.