Bob Kerr, Chairman of Dorchester Stop the Drop is seen here launching a campaign to persuade businesses to adopt Council approved stainless steel cigarette bins outside their premises.

Bob launched the initiative at Starbuck's in South Street with Robin Bawtree, Dorset Director of The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, Ian Doyle, the Manager of WDDC's Services Department, Alistair Chisholm the President of Dorchester Chamber and Keir Francis, Chairman of the Dorchester BID (holding the camera).

One of the BID missions is titled Clean and Green and as well as continuing to deep clean grime hotspots in Dorchester the BID is joining the CPRE in subsidising the provision, delivery and installation of the Council-approved stainless steel bins so that they cost the businesses a mere £10 each.

The BID and the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce are keen to rid the town of unsightly litter and the proliferation of cigarette ends outside shops and pubs which has grown since the smoking ban came into force in 2007.

Owners and managers of shops, restaurants, pubs and offices who wish to take advantage of the money-saving butt bin offer can contact Bob Kerr of Stop the Drop on 01305 267049 or Alistair Chisholm on 07773 - 286197 and delivery and installation will be arranged

This link will take you to the December 2008 update.

This link will take you to the August 2008 update.

Following the BID's successful pilot to increase Dorchester's coverage in the autumn/winter Resort Magazine we have used the same supported advertising scheme to achieve 7 pages in the summer 09 edition. The magazine is available free to visitors at hundreds of venues throughout the South which are regularly replenished from the 250,000 produced.

For those on a tight advertising budget we are also offering a much cheaper supported advertising scheme more locally. Contact Phil for details.

The BID has now taken over the distribution of the Welcome Packs for visitors. A packing session took place near the end of March where the packs were stocked with up to date brochures and information about Dorchester.

The most fortunate town promotion event for Dorchester was undoubtedly the opening of Wellworths. The whole BID budget could not have bought the good publicity generated about the town around the UK and Europe - we recently had three film crews in town from three different Scandinavian countries. Claire Robertson has acknowledged that the support she has received in Dorchester from the BID did play some part in her brave decision to open the new store. Wellworths opening pictures

Our new Dorchester website dedicated to Town Promotion now has well over 100 businesses in its Directory. We are developing a web marketing plan to give the site top ranking for the kind of searches potential visitors may make online.

The following are just a few of the other initiatives under way:

Dorchester's 2008 Christmas lights were largely funded by the BID. The BID also made sure that Cracker Night was bigger and better than ever by advertising it far and wide and adding video projections.

With the BID's support the Dorchester Music and Performance Group attracted the Dorset Young Performers Competition into the town. The final took place in the Corn Exchange in March and the 2009 winners were Dorchester band Epic Journey. More details... For a third year running the popular free musical performances will take place every Saturday in South Street.

The Council's DTEP traffic plan for Dorchester has now received the go-ahead and the south end of South Street is now pedestrianised during the day as the first step in this plan.

The BID is monitoring the implementation of the plan and urging the early levelling of surfaces to make this area continuous with the rest of South Street.