• Dorset County Council have been considering possible improvements to the Preston Road, with the intention of reducing the volume and speed of traffic to an appropriate level for the route (their words) and to improve pedestrian and cyclist facilities. Proposals include modifications to the Chalbury Roundabout and Overcombe corner junctions, additional pedestrian islands and the provision of cycle lanes. I can’t help wondering why these facilities weren’t available when it was the only, and very busy, major route into Weymouth from the east? Anyway, the project team will be available to answer questions and discuss their proposals at three Public Exhibition Days at the Spyglass Inn on Wednesday 19 September between 2pm and 8pm and on Thursday 20 September between 10am and 5pm then at the Village Hall on Saturday 22 September between 10am and 4pm. Detailed plans of the proposals - a preferred and alternative option for the length of Preston Road - will unfortunately only be available to view online from Wednesday 19 September, so there will not be much time to formulate questions for the team. Apparently further details for the scheme will be available once the proposals have been finalised, and construction is currently programmed to start early in 2013! The scheme is being funded through the Weymouth Relief Road, with improvements to Preston Road included within the relief road business case. Whilst there is no doubt about the need for an improved junction at Overcombe Corner, suggestions of a T-junction at Chalbury Corner were supposedly dropped some time ago, so do go along on the Exhibition Days and make your views known.

• There have been a number of complaints recently about the state of the Chalbury Corner roundabout. In the past was a joy to behold, with a colourful show of flowers to delight both locals and holidaymakers alike. Recently however it has taken on a much neglected air, with fewer flowers and more weeds, some of which are knee high. Previously the roundabout was maintained by the Weymouth Parks Department, who clearly took a pride in their work but responsibility for its upkeep has now apparently transferred to Dorset County Council, whose policy, I am led to believe, is not to spend any money on roundabouts unless sponsors can be found to pay for the work! If the roundabouts on the relief road are anything to go by then I fear that the one at Chalbury Corner has seen its best days!