DORSET County Council (DCC) is working on several projects ahead of the 2012 Games.

These include the management of transport infrastructure projects currently either underway or in the planning stages:

Weymouth Transport Package

Granby Way cycleway – complete

Marsh Route – underway

Redlands Route – planned for later this year

Nothe Route – in design stage

Phase one of Portland Beach Road cycleway improvements – early next year

Newstead Road bridge – in design stage Although not strictly an Olympic project, the Weymouth Relief Road is also a significant public investment in the local area in the run up to the Olympics.

The council’s arts development team is also working on what has been termed the ‘Cultural Olympiad’, which is a series of cultural events including music, arts, festivals and celebrations that are being planned not only around the Olympics in 2012.

The projects that DCC are directly involved in helping to organise include: Inside Out, held across Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole, September 10-19, international outdoor arts festival, with events in Bournemouth, Poole, Winspit near Worth Matravers and Dorchester.

Further information from insideoutdorset.co.uk or ActivatePerforming Arts, 01202 884340

B-Side at Weymouth and Portland, from September 17 to 26, cutting edge, new media-based festival led by its own organisation.

This independent organisation is made up of representatives of PVA media lab, Sherborne House Arts, Alan Rogers Arts Development Officer, Departure Arts and two independent artists, Sally Watkins and Becca Gill

Count Me In, a South West region-wide project, September 25 and 26, with events in Dorset including young musicians band concerts, band stand celebrations and Morris Dancing.

Count Me In is an annual event and commissioned by the Cultural Olympiad programmer.

In 2012 it will coincide with the close of the Paralympics, on September 7 to 9.

Inside Out and B-Side are biennial and will continue after 2012 on that basis, but will take place during the Paralympic period in 2012 as part of the celebrations.