Gillingham & Shaftesbury News

Gillingham News aims to concentrate on news that matters to the local community, serving as a specialized online newspaper for the area.

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Gillingham Library to close for improvement works

3 days ago | gillingham-news.co.uk | Michael Streeter

Gillingham Library will be offering a limited service from Monday 23 June to Friday 27 June and will then be closed from Monday 14 July to Friday 18 July before reopening on Saturday 19 July. The closure will allow essential building work to be carried out, to prepare for the installation of new technology which will allow library members to use library facilities beyond staffed opening hours.
What's Great in SP8

1 week ago | gillingham-news.co.uk | Michael Streeter

FREE ENTRY Parking on site and nearby Refreshments on site Bouncy castle Face painting Soft play Fun tombola with instant prizes Local societies, charities, clubs and businesses will have manned tables to introduce what makes SP8 so Great! Saturday June 7 10am to 3pm RiversMeet Leisure Centre Hardings Lane SP8 4HX For more information email: [email protected] Organised by Gillingham Rotary Tags:RiversMeetsp8what's great Previous post Next post...
New Gillingham mayor promises 'green' focus for coming year

1 week ago | gillingham-news.co.uk | Michael Streeter

The new mayor of Gillingham, Councillor Fiona Cullen, has promised to put environmental issues at the centre of her 12-month term in office. Councillor Cullen, who was elected mayor at a meeting of Gillingham Town Council on Tuesday, was officially sworn in at a mayor-making ceremony at the town hall on Wednesday evening. She told fellow councillors and guests: ‘It will come as no surprise to anyone that my mayoral theme for the year will be green.
Family pay tribute to Shaftesbury cyclist killed in collision

1 week ago | gillingham-news.co.uk | Michael Streeter

The family of a woman who died in a collision while cycling home near Shaftesbury have paid tribute to her. Mary Emerson-Reed, 63, from Shaftesbury, sadly died after being knocked off her bike on the B3081 between Tollard Royal and Shaftesbury, a mile east of Zig Zag Hill, at around 11pm on June 23, 2023. In a court hearing earlier this month a man was jailed for 10 months for death by careless driving.
Work under way to fix the roof at St Mary's Church

1 week ago | gillingham-news.co.uk | Michael Streeter

Work is now well under way to repair part of the roof in Gillingham’s parish church, St Mary’s. This follows what church warden Tom Wickson calls a ‘very encouraging’ response to the church’s Roof Appeal which was launched a couple of months ago. Repairs are being carried out to broken slates, damaged flashing and weathered stones on and round the main roof which are scheduled to cost £35,000, plus VAT.
'New dawn' for rail as South Western services return to public hands

2 weeks ago | gillingham-news.co.uk | Michael Streeter

History has been made today as South Western Railway (SWR) services become the first to transfer back into public control under the new legislation, ending almost 30 years of ‘fragmentation and waste under privatisation’, says the government. Great British Railways won’t just be the name of the new nationally owned railway, it symbolises a complete reset that will mark the high standard of service and delivery the public should expect to receive.
Dorset Council collected nearly £900,000 from parking permits over 5 years

2 weeks ago | gillingham-news.co.uk | Michael Streeter

New data has revealed that Dorset Council has collected £891,595 from residential parking permits since 2020. The figures have been obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by cinch, the UK’s biggest online used car retailer. In response Dorset Council said the money raised was simply used to ‘administer’ the different schemes and ‘enforce the parking arrangements’.
'Discover Gillingham Day' hailed as a 'resounding success'

2 weeks ago | gillingham-news.co.uk | Michael Streeter

Gillingham Town Council hosted the first-ever Discover Gillingham Day on Friday 9 May 2025 – an event designed to spotlight the town’s growth, community achievements and ambitious vision for the future. The day brought together over 30 distinguished guests, including elected members, senior officers from Dorset Council, representatives from local businesses, and community leaders, for an insightful and inspiring tour of Gillingham’s present and future assets.
Dorset Council expands bus services for Gillingham and Shaftesbury

2 weeks ago | gillingham-news.co.uk | Michael Streeter

Dorset Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is enhancing transport links across North Dorset with more frequent bus services, stronger connections to rail, and what it calls ‘improved accessibility for rural communities’. Through funding provided by central government, these upgrades aim to make public transport a more convenient, sustainable choice for residents, the council says.
Employment, investment and innovation 'set to grow in Dorset'

3 weeks ago | gillingham-news.co.uk | Michael Streeter

Dorset Council is bringing forward a ‘new and ambitious’ Economic Growth Strategy, developed in collaboration with partners and businesses. The strategy is set to drive employment, investment, and innovation across the county, says the authority. The Dorset Council Plan 2024-2029 lists ‘growing Dorset’s economy’ as one of its key priority areas of focus for the council.