Weymouth and Portland, England News

TESTING economic times in 2009 saw the - people's bank' of Dorset expand its service to help more people in their hour of need.

TOURISM leaders are setting their sights on a soaraway summer for Weymouth and Portland .

FANCY a dip - " Lions Club president John Cake tested the water before the Weymouth Harbour Christmas Day swim.

CAMPAIGNERS have declared that a green energy plant on Portland would - lead to the destruction of rainforests'. But applicant W4B Renewable Energy Ltd boss has hit back with a pledge that every year a public report will prove its power sources are sustainable.

A Weymouth community is appealing for drivers to limit their speed to 20mph. The group have joined forces with police in an attempt to crack down on speeding by pushing for a 20 is plentya traffic signs.

DORSET may be hundreds of miles from Denmark but campaigners hope they were able to send a message to decision-makers at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

A Dorset castle which has been gradually crumbling into the sea for five centuries may finally be restored thanks to a lottery grant.

A CHRISTMAS tree donated for a community green was stolen less than 24 hours after it was planted.

A HOSPITAL governor has hit out at the A 3million pay-off to senior staff at Dorset County Hospital .

BUSINESS leaders hope the completion of the A 87.4million relief road will boost the economy of Weymouth and Portland .

Sailing academy chief executive John Tweed has been in Monaco to discuss the future of global yacht racing.

STAY parking char-ges in Dorchester a s car parks look set to be frozen for the fifth year in a row.

A NEW A 3million youth centre has been given the go-ahead thanks to the determination of the youngsters who need it most.

THE floats are coming back to a new-look Weymouth Carnival after a two-year absence.

MAYOR Anne Kenwood has called for donations to help Weymouth and Portland a s most needy.

YOUNG people collecting charity funds in Weymouth town centre have hit back at passers-by who accused them of being frauds.

HIGH rents and soaring business rates are crippling businesses in Weymouth, it was warned today.

THE Conservative bandwagon came to a shuddering halt yesterday when the party lost five seats in a pre-Christmas set of local government by-elections. Labour gained seats in Hastings, Rushmoor and Weymouth & Portland from the Tories and the Liberal Democrats took a seat from David Cameron in West Devon and Strathkelvin/Bearsden in Greater Glasgow.

Digital mapping and geographic information systems software developer Cadcorp has announced that Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has selected Cadcorp SIS - " Spatial Information System desktop and Cadcorp GeognoSIS web-based software for its new corporate GIS.

SOUTH Dorset MP Jim Knight has had to repay over A 900 in wrongfully claimed parliamentary expenses for life insurance.