Families produce area cycle map

A map of cycling and walking routes in Boscombe and Springbourne is being launched next week.
The map has been compiled by families from Boscombe Children's Centre with the help of Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity.
Boscombe Children’s Centre manager Lynn Bourne said: "We have been working closely with Sustrans this year to help encourage local families to consider walking and cycling as a healthy and environmentally friendly alternative to driving. The main problem seemed to be that families didn’t feel safe enough to walk or cycle on our busy roads and were unsure of the areas with cycle lanes and appropriate footpaths."
Local families are invited to help launch the map at Boscombe Children's Centre next Wednesday, November 25, at 1pm.
The free A4 colour map will be available from the centre after the launch.

Three jailed for student's murder

From the Dorset Police website:
Three men from London have been convicted of murder after 20-year-old Bournemouth student Luke Desmond Campbell was found stabbed to death in the back garden of a house in the Boscombe area of the town.
All three men were sentenced to life imprisonment.
The verdicts against 21-year-old Delaine Gordon Brown, 20-year-old Larbi Nordin Mohamed and 21-year-old Saeed Alkadir – all from London – came today, Tuesday, 17 November 2009, after a five week trial at Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire.
The jury deliberated for almost 15 hours before delivering its verdict.
Mr Campbell’s body was found by a passing male member of the public at the bottom of the back communal garden of a semi-detached house, which was divided into flats, at the junction of St Clement’s Road and Cleveland Road in Boscombe just after 10am on Saturday, 8 November 2008.
A forensic post mortem carried out by a Home Office pathologist concluded that the 20-year-old student had died of a stab wound to the chest that caused catastrophic bleeding that was not survivable.
At the time of his death, Luke was living in a flat in St John’s Road, Boscombe. He had moved to Bournemouth from Burton-on-Trent during July 2008 and was studying business and information technology at Bournemouth University.

Drivers are fined for shortcut

The council has said it issued 800 fines to drivers using Kings Park as a shortcut while Ashley Road bridge is closed for repairs.
The fines of £60 each were issued in the space of a week and some motorists used the route up to four times a day, collecting multiple tickets.
Bournemouth Borough Council's environment and transport councillor, Robert Lawton, said: "I am very concerned that despite our numerous attempts to advise and warn motorists, people are continuing to drive through the park.
"We don’t want to be in this situation and therefore we have taken every possible measure to inform people that they are not allowed to drive through Kings Park.
"The correct signage is in place warning people that only buses are allowed through the park and our officers were onsite for two weeks advising people of the correct diversions.
"We also allowed a period of time when we only issued warning letters to motorists before we informed people last week that we would be issuing penalty charge notices.
"Again I would like to urge motorists to use the correct diversionary routes and not drive through Kings Park as they do risk a penalty charge notice. The camera does not flash so drivers may think that they are getting away with it."

Surf reef launches in haste

The surf reef was launched this week, although you may not have noticed.
After weeks of waiting, the council seized the opportunity the moment the swell was creating waves over the £2.68m structure.
Councillors raced to the beach to hastily conduct an opening ceremony in front of no one except a handful of reporters.
Bodyboarders dutifully demonstrated its usefulness but many surfers expressed concern and disappointment over the high speed and lack of longevity of waves coming over the giant sandbags.
One board rider said it was almost impossible for stand-up surfers to catch a wave there, although it was great for the most experienced body boarders.
Another body boarder said he had been caught out on the reef and ended up being thrown around under the water, hitting the reef several times.
Despite the concerns, plenty of people seem to be enjoying the new addition. Boscomites are also grateful that the construction site has finally disappeared from the beach.

Sponsored swim raises £400

A 60-year-old who swam from Branksome to Boscombe Pier to raise money for the RNLI has handed over a cheque for £400 to lifeguards.
Long distance swimmer Derek Biggs took the 5km sponsored challenge in August.
Mr Biggs uses the stretch of water for triathlon training and wanted to repay the lifeguards in the area for the service they provide.
He said: "Bournemouth is ideal training area with one of the best-lifeguarded beaches in the country and miles of safe swimming from Poole to well past Boscombe.
"Having swum at other beaches you realise just how well lifeguarded Bournemouth and Poole are."

Pic: RNLI

Winter sunsets on the way

With just ten days to go before the clocks go back, winter is definitely just around the corner. On the plus side, the sunsets and sunrises from Boscombe get more spectacular as the days get shorter.
As sun the sun gradually moves south, it creates a breathtaking show over the Isle of Wight in the morning and over the Purbeck hills in the evening - and you won't have to be awake at a ridiculous hour to see it.

Beach hut design winner announced

The winner of the Boscombe beach hut competition has been chosen.
The winning design, inspired by a beach windbreak, was submitted by architects in Brighton and Hove.
Peter Francis Lewis of Brighton based design consultancy AEREA worked with ABIR Architects to beat 173 entries.
The design, called 'The Seagull and the Windbreak', has echoes of two sights commonly associated with the seaside.
Designer Peter Francis Lewis said: "The seagull is represented by the canopy roof, each wing covering a pair of semi-detached beach huts. The curved horizontal bands of the exterior take their cue from the classic windbreak."
The four accessible beach huts can each accommodate up to four wheelchair users and include facilities such as adjustable height kitchen units.
The huts, which are due to open next summer, will be built west of Boscombe pier, near Coasters restaurant.