The Bournemouth One News Centre

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

• Boscombe’s Urban Reef joins Boathouse Group

  Urban Reef has joined the Boathouse Group as its latest coastal venue on the coastline. It now sits alongside The Boathouse, Sobo Beach and Beach House Cafe, with its new owners planning to retain the established team while developing the venue. The menu has been refreshed around fresh produce from local suppliers, with small plates, seafood, chicken, lobster, wood fired pizzas and desserts among the options. Live acoustic music will take place on Sunday afternoons, while DJs will perform on alternating Saturday evenings throughout the summer. The group says it wants the food, service and atmosphere to meet the expectations of longstanding customers and first time visitors.

• First hosepipe ban in 50 years for Wessex Water

  A hosepipe ban begins across the Wessex Water region just after midnight on Tuesday. The restrictions follow record breaking heatwaves, below average rainfall and unusually high demand, with more hot weather expected and no significant rain forecast. Customers must not use hosepipes to water gardens, wash private vehicles, fill pools or clean domestic windows, paths, patios and other outdoor surfaces. Essential household use is unaffected, while watering cans, water butts and buckets filled for washing cars can still be used. Exemptions apply to customers with certain mobility needs, medical conditions and other specific requirements.

• £1,000 grants open for Christchurch projects

  Christchurch Town Council is inviting voluntary and not-for-profit groups to apply for its Community Grants Scheme, which offers up to one thousand pounds for local projects. The scheme supports a wide range of initiatives, from youth and wellbeing activities to environmental and heritage projects, aiming to benefit residents and strengthen community life. Applications will be judged on community need, value for money, and positive impact, with a focus on inclusion and supporting vulnerable people. Interested groups can find details online, with applications closing in late September twenty twenty-six.

• AFCB says sorry for email sackings

  AFC Bournemouth has apologised for the way it communicated changes to long-serving matchday workers. Emails told some people their contracts would not be renewed for the new season, including one person who had worked on matchdays for almost sixty years. The club says the communication fell below its expected standards and it is now contacting those affected directly to hear their concerns and review their individual circumstances. Changes have been made to several matchday roles and working requirements as AFC Bournemouth seeks to strengthen safety and security at the stadium and in surrounding areas. The club accepts it should have handled the changes better and has thanked those who served for decades.

• Behind the barricades: Video shows what’s happening on the A31

  New footage shows the damage and continuing emergency response along the A thirty one in the New Forest. The road has been closed since a vehicle fire on Sunday the ninth of August, with more than thirty emergency response vehicles now parked along road. Fire engines, police cars, ambulances and incident response vehicles can be seen beside rapid response tents, portable toilets and large water pipes. The footage also shows burnt sections of the central reservation, missing roadside fencing and scarred areas of the carriageway following the fire and emergency operation. The video showing the current scene is available to watch on Bournemouth One’s Instagram account and website.