MILLIONS of pounds have flooded into Dorset thanks to the Dorset Coast Forum – spread between almost twenty projects.

Coordinator Rhiannon Jones said that between them they amounted to spending of £12.5 million, more than half the income from the Coastal Communities Fund.

She told the annual meeting of the Forum in Poole on Thursday that although funding for most of the projects was due to finish in December for many the work would still continue.

The projects have include the Gateway scheme at Weymouth, a number of initiatives at Swanage including the setting up of a ‘green’ business group, and work with the local fishing industry.

Other successes included taking on an aquaculture development officer who had represented Dorset at national level and had helped shape the Dorset Maritime Aquaculture Strategy and a ‘virtual hub’.

Art projects had included the creation of four sculptures for the Art of Food and Drink and a ‘leave only footprints’ campaign, as well as the ongoing success of the Litter Free Coast and Sea project.

She said that work underway included a short animation about the effect of what is known as ‘blackwater’ in harbours, a project in partnership with Natural England and others.

She said that much of the strength of the organisation was through its partnership working.

The Forum was established in 1995, and today has over 1000 members representing 260 organisations including public bodies, charity and the private sector as well as fishing representatives, environmental, recreational, historical, maritime, business and tourism sectors.