The Bournemouth One News Centre

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

• Play area upgrades move ahead across BCP

  Play area improvements are moving forward across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole over the coming months. Treasure Island in Canford Cliffs is due to reopen in the coming weeks after refurbishment, with a new pirate ship, slides, climbing equipment, sensory play and a miniature zip wire. Major improvements at Kings Park, Hamworthy Park, Bourne Valley, Noyce Gardens, Muscliff Park and Mallard Road have also moved forward after contractors and suppliers were appointed. Noyce Gardens will include new swings, slides, zip wires and climbing equipment, with separate areas for toddlers, primary school children, teenagers and sensory play. BCP Council says its Plan for Play is improving more than one hundred and twenty play areas.

• Cliff Top Music Festival 2026 cancelled

  The Cliff Top Music Festival has been cancelled after organisers reviewed future delivery challenges. Stir Events says rising event infrastructure costs, ongoing pressures, objections, and limited moral and financial support have made the festival too difficult for its volunteer led team. Stir launched ambitious plans to grow the festival for this year but was met with objections. The organisers thanked everyone who bought tickets, volunteered, traded, performed, sponsored, danced and sang at the event over the years. All ticket holders will receive refunds, while traders, artists and sponsors affected by the cancellation are being contacted directly. Stir Events says it remains committed to future community projects.

• Demo planned over Charminster Library closure

  A community group is holding a demonstration outside Charminster Library as it campaigns to save the building from permanent closure.

• Families invited to explore Canford Heath

  Families can enjoy a free day out at Canford Heath this summer. The heath covers three hundred and forty four hectares and is the biggest area of urban heathland in Dorset, with paths and bridleways for walking and cycling. Visitors may spot rare wildlife, including dragonflies, damselflies, Dartford warblers, nightjars and all six of the United Kingdom’s native reptiles. Dogs must be kept on leads during bird breeding season, which runs from the first of March to the thirty first of July, because some rare birds nest on the ground. Visitors are also asked to stay on marked routes, take litter home and avoid fires or barbecues.

• Fire service warns over scam emails

  Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is warning people to be vigilant after scam emails claimed households could be charged for not having a working smoke alarm.