DORSET County Showground could host up to ten events a year if plans to change an agreement governing the site's use are approved.

By Aaron Hendy »

PROTESTERS have set up a camp in the trees to protect ancient woodland from being destroyed for the Weymouth relief road.

Three men made it over a fence and past security staff in the Two-Mile Coppice before scaling the trees they want to save. They used climbing equipment to make it up the trees and have tied up sheeting to sleep on. One of the men, Nick Pepper, 41, who is from Weymouth originally but now lives in Bristol, intends to stay in the trees until Dorset County Council decides against building the road.

DORSET people have chosen a flag to represent the county after voting in their thousands.

The winning design - flag B in the four choices - was submitted by Dave White of Dorchester.
He said: "We're very pleased about the result - we're glad that when it went to a vote, what we believed has been proven.
"We're thankful for the process that's got us here."

VOTING HAS STARTED TO SELECT THE FLAG FOR DORSET.

Please visit the Flag Institute Website for details on how to vote by clicking here.

VOTE NOW.

The vote is open to all the residents of Dorset. You will find voting forms in the local press, in your local library or you can download one clicking on the link above. You can send these forms in by post, by email or using the ballot boxes in libraries. There will be a prize draw for a Dorset hamper for all valid votes cast.

Please visit the Flag Institute website for all details and voting forms. Good Luck with your favourite choice.

The vote closes on 12th September 2008.

CRIME in Dorset is at a five-year low according to figures released by the Home Office.

A Government report puts Dorset top of the 43 police forces in England and Wales for public confidence and Dorset has the lowest number of violent offences involving knives or sharp implements in the country.
The annual Home Office report, based on figures from April 2007 to March 2008, shows a seven per cent decrease in overall crime in the county. Violent crime is down while burglary and car crime are both at a 10-year low.

As the people of Dorset campaign for their county flag to be flown in every town and village, Mervyn Hanock asks whether we should all stand up and be counted

A few decades ago, I didn't need to bother about flying a flag to prove that I was an Englishman - we did have a few, small Union Jacks which were tucked away in the cupboard under the stairs, leftover relics of special occasions - royal visits, commemorations and suchlike.

But, generally, we knew exactly who we were, where we came from, and were justly proud of the fact. County rivalry existed here in the West Country - Devon had the best clotted cream, Cornwall's pasties were unrivalled, Somerset is where the cider apples grew, and the Cotswolds would claim the prettiest countryside.

The cells where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were held during their trial will be open to the public when the Old Crown Court in Dorchester opens for the summer season later this month.

The courtroom, which is best known for the 1834 trial of the Martyrs, has staged many dramatic cases over the years, including the case of Martha Browne, the last woman to be hanged in Dorset after murdering her husband with an axe.

Goulds department store renowned for its customer service is striking out into the cut-throat world of online shopping. Customers are now just as likely to be clicking a mouse as ringing a bell when shopping at their Dorchester store. The independent store - now in its 105th year - has launched an e-commerce website to keep pace with chain store rivals.

PLANS to pedestrianise a town centre street are set to win the backing of councillors.
The proposal to make the full length of Dorchester's South Street traffic-free is part of the Dorchester Traffic and Environment Plan being formulated to reduce congestion in the town. The push to make lower South Street and adjoining New Street pedestrianised in common with the rest of the main shopping street is being spearheaded by Dorchester Chamber of Commerce.