The Bournemouth One News Centre

All the news you need for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with travel information and national headlines.

• Dorset e-scooter plan set for approval

  An e-scooter rental scheme could soon be introduced across several parts of the Dorset Council area. Councillors are expected to include Corfe Mullen and Upton in the existing BCP Beryl Bikes scheme, while seeking another operator for Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester and Chickerell. Geo-fencing is likely to stop the rental scooters entering restricted places, including shopping centres, while riders would need a valid driving licence and could only use defined areas. The proposal follows the BCP scheme, operating since twenty twenty-three, which has supported hundreds of thousands of journeys and is described as one of the stronger national trial areas. Cabinet members are expected to decide whether to approve the Dorset rollout when they meet tomorrow.

• Plans turn former Taco Bell into bookies

  A vacant former Taco Bell in Poole could be turned into a betting shop. Boylesports UK Limited has submitted plans for the High Street unit, along with three air conditioning units and two satellite dishes as part of the proposed conversion. The company operates nearly four hundred shops across Ireland and the UK, with its British estate now approaching eighty locations as it continues expanding into selected areas. The application says the existing shopfront would be refurbished without changing its overall style, with cleaning and repairs intended to respect the character of the conservation area. BCP Council is consulting on the plans until the fourteenth of August.

• Man critically hurt on A338 in collision

  A 27-year-old Bournemouth man suffered serious injuries after a collision on the A338 Spur Road. Dorset Police were called at 12.41am on Saturday 25 July 2026 following a collision involving a red Ford Fiesta and a pedestrian on the southbound carriageway between the Kings Park off slip and the Springbourne off slip. The man was taken to hospital for treatment and his condition is described as potentially life threatening. His family has been informed. The driver of the Ford Fiesta was not injured.

• Dorset Council unveils SEND reform plan

  Dorset Council has proposed a three-year plan to improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The Local Area SEND Reform Plan aims to provide earlier intervention, strengthen mainstream inclusion, and expand local specialist services, moving away from a reactive and costly system. If approved, the plan could see most of the council’s High Needs Block deficit written off, allowing for more sustainable support. The council expects fewer children will need out-of-area placements as local provision grows, with a decision from the Department for Education due in September.

• New domestic abuse strategy launched

  BCP Council has approved a new five-year strategy to address domestic abuse, focusing on prevention, survivor support, and action against perpetrators. The plan includes early intervention, professional training, and education for children, as well as improved support services for survivors. Housing provision will be expanded to support a wider range of victims, including male victims and larger families, with new refuge units and dispersed properties. The strategy, backed by annual funding of up to one and a half million pounds, was unanimously approved by the Cabinet.