Author Archives: Leigh Hatts

Investigation work for  a possible coastal defence scheme at Barton-on-Sea can now start following a £300,000 government grant. New Forest District Council will attempt to reduce the speed of erosion caused by the flow of inland water. This news comes … Continue reading →

To  leave the Borough of Poole on the coast path you climb out of Branksome Dene Chine and turn into Sandbourne Road. The first striking building is number 37 across the road. It is a Cape Dutch-style house with a … Continue reading →

There is no Sandbanks ferry service during November. The vessel is being towed to Southampton for a refit. There appears to be no alternative crossing available. Wilts & Dorset has an temporary timetable for the 50 route which is running … Continue reading →

BBC South Today is reporting growing local anger over an empty hotel on Bournemouth’s West Cliff. The St George Hotel at the south end of West Cliff Gardens has beautiful red hanging tiles but the only occupants are pigeons. Neighbours … Continue reading →

Yesterday Bournemouth’s Mary Shelley Festival ended with a performance of a play at the Mary Shelley pub and a brief poetry reading at the Shelley tomb at St Peter’s. At the end of this month there will be an opportunity … Continue reading →

Following improvements to the cliff exit from Highcliffe Castle there is now news of a new surface for the Christchurch Coastal Path in front of the car park to the east. Work started last month on laying a long lasting … Continue reading →

In The Guardian this weekend Simon Hoggart deplores the fact that this year no party conference is at the seaside. He seems to have enjoyed coming to Bournemouth and although he is rude about the seafront (meaning the IMAX) he … Continue reading →

Sandbanks Ferry will be out of action during November. There will be no service from Monday 1 November for at least three weeks. Wilts & Dorset bus route 50 has a special November timetable. See page 20.

The Bankes Arms at Studland is named today by Good Beer Guide editor Roger Protz as one of his top ten brew pubs “Alongside the pub is the Isle of Purbeck Brewery, a substantial 10-barrel plant that started life as … Continue reading →

This weekend comes the astonishing news that the Point House Cafe building is to be demolished. Permission for a replacement in the form of  a block of flats has come from a planning inspector who says that a new building … Continue reading →