Thieves destroy Cliff Gardens

Shrub thieves have stolen so many plants from Boscombe Cliff Gardens, the council can no longer afford to replace them.
Newly planted shrubs have been gradually disappearing from the pleasure gardens between The Marina and Boscombe Cliff Road and, to begin with, council workers replaced them.
But a sign from Dorset Police pinned to a lamp post informed visitors it was no longer worth replacing the plants until the culprit was found.

New surgery for Boscombe

Patients in Boscombe Spa will have to travel further to see their GP from September when the area's surgery relocates to Shelley Manor.
Dr Poulton and Partners, currently based at Adeline Road Surgery, will move to new premises a mile away. The new facility will allow Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust to treat more patients in the community instead of sending them to hospital.
Dr David Poulton said: “This is excellent news for everyone – patients, the practice, including our staff, and the people of Boscombe. This represents a new phase in the development of the practice which will enable us to deliver even more services.”

High demand for surf pods

More than 400 people have registered interest in just 59 'surf pods' in Boscombe's Overstrand building within days of the price tags being announced.
Estate agent Savills announced the price of single units at £64,995 and £89,995 for a double.
The 1950s building has been refurbished under the direction designers of Wayne and Geraldine Hemmingway. It originally contained 72 single beach huts but around half of them have been combined to create larger units. Many have balconies overlooking the beach at the surf reef construction site.
Wayne Hemmingway said: "The Overstrand excites us both as designers, and as people interested in seaside regeneration. It’s the restoration of a cool, historic building. With the great work being done on the Pier and Europe’s first artificial surf reef, Boscombe is about to become big news."
The surf pods are nearing completion but only half will be offered for sale. The remainder will be available to rent through Bournemouth Borough Council.
Savills is organising a sales event for the surf pods on May 15.

Rally beset with problems

Motorsport fans were left disappointed two days running after both legs of the two-day Rallye Sunseeker were cut short.

Friday night's action came to an abrupt end after a Subaru Impreza, driven by Geoff Underhill, brought down a lamp post in a dramatic 100mph smash on the Undercliffe Drive between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers.

The danger caused by the exposed live cable meant organisers had no choice but to halt the race. Underhill had to be cut out of his car and was taken to Poole Hospital with ankle injuries.

A Land Rover Discovery, driven by Andy Drummond, also made an early exit after losing an argument with some railings just half a mile into the stage.

The contest continued in Ringwood Forest the following morning but had to be brought to an early conclusion shortly after 5pm after a spectator was taken ill with a suspected heart attack. The race was stopped and the track cleared to allow emergency crews to gain access.

After thirteen gruelling stages Will Nicholls, from Ventnor, Isle of Wight, and Nick Broom, of Yeovil, Somerset, emerged triumphant in their Subaru Impreza WRC, almost half a minute ahead of their nearest rivals, Roger Duckworth and Mark Broomfield, both from Northamptonshire.

Subaru Imprezas dominated the podium as Sean Devine and Francis Regan, of Ireland, took the third place.

The annual event, now in its 24^th year, also acts as the opening round of the Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Championship and the Mitsubishi Evolution Challenge.

Brazilian beats rock 2020

Bournemouth’s 2020 club seemed a fitting place to welcome an emerging international star like DJ Marky. The Brazilian is no stranger to these shores and as drum and bass becomes ever more popular, Marky is there setting the benchmark.

The venue is reminiscent of London’s Fabric or Brighton’s Audio, with a plush interior, leather sofas and chandeliers – both venues have welcomed Marky in the past but this time it was the rare turn of Bournemouth to welcome the showman from Sao Paolo.
It is eight years since the release of The Brazilian Job, the album which turned so many heads. Expectations are high wherever Marky plays, which could be why he was greeted with a hail of boos as 2020 sound engineers scrambled to remedy the silence which followed after the DJ connected his laptop to the mixer.
But the mishap was soon forgotten when the first tune soared through the speakers. Marky’s unique blend of Brazilian samba and flowing drum and bass captured the mixed crowd.
Throughout his set Marky teased the audience with snippets of old favourites like LK and Nightfall, but despite the roars from the dancefloor, Marky resisted the crowd pleasers, opting instead for new music fresh from his Macbook.
Midway through the set the crowd erupted as Marky, one of the few DnB DJs who can scratch properly, ripped it up while goading the crowd. A few minutes later he could be seen singing along to soulful remixes of Fernando Porto records, arms outstretched and eyes closed.
He is, without a doubt, a showman and a great ambassador of Brazilian music of all genres.

Father's plea to students

A Bournemouth father is urging young people to join a bone marrow register at a recruitment event in the town this Thursday.
Saroosh Farid, who lives in Springbourne, has spent nearly eight years watching his 17-year-old son, Adib, battle a rare form of leukaemia and says more people are desperately needed to help save lives.
Adib was 10 when he was diagnosed and had his first lifesaving operation at the age of 11. Now, just weeks away from his 18th birthday, Adib is facing the prospect of a second bone marrow transplant.
The Anthony Nolan Trust, which organises the bone marrow register, is coming to Bournemouth University on Thursday and is encouraging students to sign up by giving a teaspoon of blood.
Saroosh said: "By giving that kind of help to others we can save lives and change lives. I wish that could have been the case much earlier for some of Adib's friends because maybe they would be sitting with us now."
Karen Archer, who is organising the event, said: "When students come along on the day they will be given an application form and will be asked for a teaspoon of blood and that might be the only thing they need to do unless they become a match for somebody."
Mrs Archer said the newest methods of extracting bone marrow are not dissimilar to giving blood. She said: "It's very similar but a lot longer and you have two needles instead of one. You're wide awake and you have someone with you that you know.
"You can have your iPod on or the TV on and the time goes very quickly and the most important thing is that it's a life-saving procedure."
There are currently 16,000 people around the world who are desperately trying to find a bone marrow donor.
The trust is urging anyone, not just students, aged between 18 and 40 to come to Poole House at Bournemouth University on Thursday, February 19, between 11am and 2pm.


Saroosh Farid talks about the bone marrow register.

Goats get a view with pastures new

Six lucky goats will soon be taking up residence above one of the most sought-after addresses in Boscombe.

Bournmeouth Borough Council is bringing in the animals to help control vegetation on the cliff above Honeycombe Beach.
The goats, due arrive in April, will enjoy some of the best views in Britain – looking out over Boscombe’s surf reef to the Isle of Wight and Purbeck.
The council will run the trial scheme for six months and, if it is successful, more goats will be invited to come and live on other areas of the cliff.
Workmen are already fencing off the area between the Honeycombe Beach development and Manor Steps ahead of the goats’ arrival.

Economy and tourism councillor Beverley Dunlop said: "Following discussions and site visits with Natural England and, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, we decided that the ideal area to trial the grazing project is from Honeycombe Chine to Manor Steps. If the scheme is a success, the aim is to introduce grazing management on the majority of the cliff.

"A decision to make this type of grazing permanent will be done in consultation with local residents, beach hut owners and ward councillors."
The scheme is being paid for by Honeycombe Beach developer Barratt Homes.