Portland Town Council

27/10/2026

27/10/2026

Is your vision roadworthy?

Dorset Police are supporting a national campaign highlighting the vital role that good vision plays in safe driving.

Poor vision costs lives. Eighteen people sadly lost their lives on UK roads in 2025 and around 3,000 are seriously injured every year due to drivers or riders with uncorrected or defective eyesight.

With the clocks changing, we will have fewer daylight hours over the coming months. We need you to make sure your eyesight meets the minimum standards for driving, including when travelling at night.

We would ask everyone to please watch this video of a driver who was unable to read the numberplate of a police vehicle until he was a very short distance away: https://youtu.be/CE1jqw1Kw-M

You must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away (about the length of five parked cars).

We all can play our part in helping to keep the roads safe and protect all road users."

24/10/2026

🚨UPDATE: POTENTIAL CLOSURE OF PORTLAND BEACH ROAD DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER

As part of a coordinated multi-agency response, and in line with Met Office guidance, we are advising residents and road users that Portland Beach Road and the causeway may be affected by severe weather this afternoon and evening Saturday 24 October.

As a result, the road may need to be temporarily closed until conditions improve.

Current forecasts indicate a risk of flooding and waves overtopping the road during the period of highest risk between approximately 4pm and 8pm. On site teams will continue to monitor conditions.

The road will remain open for as long as it is safe to do so.

Any decision to close the road will be based on real-time observations of conditions on site. The timing of any closure, and when the road can safely reopen, will depend on weather conditions, sea state, and any flooding and/or debris affecting the route.

Multi-agency teams are currently monitoring forecasts, local conditions, and water levels. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.

People planning to travel to or from Portland this afternoon and evening are advised to:

✅ Check travel conditions before setting off
✅ Allow extra time for journeys
✅ Make essential journeys only when possible
✅ Be prepared for possible disruption to travel plans
✅ Check with our Disrupted Services pages on the Dorset Council website

Residents and visitors across Dorset are also advised to take sensible precautions ahead of the forecast weather, including securing bins and loose outdoor items, taking care around coastal areas and checking that animals and livestock are safe and protected.

Latest updates will be published here and on our Dorset Council UK WhatsApp channel. We will continue to keep residents, businesses and road users informed as conditions develop.

23/10/2026

UPDATE: 08:55 Friday 23 October PORTLAND BEACH ROAD AND CAUSEWAY REOPENED

The Environment Agency have reopened Portland Beach Road and the causeway following severe weather overnight associated with Storm Austen.

The reopening of the road came into effect at 08:50 following an earlier closure due to flooding. A yellow weather warning is still in place, with the period of highest risk continuing this morning through until 1pm Friday 23 October.

Multi-agency teams are closely monitoring forecasts, local conditions, and water levels. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.

The road will remain open unless conditions deteriorate.

Those who are planning to travel on Friday 23 October are advised to:

✅ Check travel conditions before setting off
✅ Allow extra time for journeys
✅ Make essential journeys only when possible
✅ Be prepared for possible disruption to travel plans
✅ Check with our Disrupted Services pages on the Dorset Council website for local school closures and disruption to travel arrangements.

Latest updates will be published here and on our Dorset Council UK WhatsApp channel.

We will continue to keep residents, businesses and road users informed as conditions develop.

22/10/2026

Flood alert for West coast of Dorset

Updated 2:40pm on 22 October 2026

Strong winds and large waves tomorrow morning may lead to flooding.

Flooding is possible from 03:20am to 11:00am on 23/10/2026

Areas most at risk include Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Seatown, West Bay, Bothenhampton, Burton Freshwater, Burton Bradstock, Cogden Beach, Chesil Beach, West Fleet, East Fleet and particularly at Chiswell. Further flooding is possible at Chiswell throughout the morning due to Storm Austin bringing force 7 to 8 high winds and large waves.

Exposed coastal areas may be hazardous due to strong winds and large waves. Avoid coastal roads, footpaths and carparks, which may be flooded.

https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/target-area/111WACWCD

22/10/2026

PROPOSED HIGHWAY WORKS
LOCATION: - Weston Road into Wide Street, Portland.

Further to our previous correspondence, a programme change means Dorset Council have had to change proposed dates for planned maintenance works on the above site. Works will now take place between 30th November and 4th December 2026. All other information will remain the same as below. Any previously agreed adjustments will stand for the new dates.

The road will be closed daily, between the hours of 09:00 and 16:00, and will be re-opened to traffic overnight and at weekends.

We will be carrying out targeted and localised repairs to sections of those roads highlighted in red on the attached map. The recommended diversion route is marked in blue, and this will remain in place for the full duration of the above works. National regulations state that traffic must be diverted onto roads with the same classification as the one that is closed. During the closure periods there will be no on street parking available, and temporary parking restrictions will be implemented to prevent waiting or parking on the roads listed above. Please note that any vehicle waiting in contravention of temporary parking restrictions may be removed under the provisions of the Removal and Disposal of
Vehicles Regulations 1986. If a vehicle has been removed, the owner must contact the Council’s vehicle recovery contractor: Ashleywood Recovery Ltd/Bride Valley Recovery Ltd on 01305 889421.

If you wish to discuss these works in more detail, please contact me using the details below.

Dorset Highways
Tel: 01305 228100

22/10/2026

Portland Town Council are holding a Planning, Highways and Licencing Committee Meeting on Wednesday 28th October 2026 from 7.00 pm at the Portland Community Venue.

For a copy of the agenda, please visit:
https://portlandtowncouncil.gov.uk/news-events/events/planning-highways-and-licensing-advisory-committee-31?occurrenceID=13760

22/10/2026

Portland Town Council are holding a Staffing and Training Committee Meeting on Wednesday 28th October 2026 from 10.30 am at the Portland Community Venue.

For a copy of the agenda, please visit:
https://portlandtowncouncil.gov.uk/news-events/events/staffing-and-training-committee-9?occurrenceID=13759

21/10/2026

Update received from Dorset Council:

BT Openreach have notified us of an urgent closure on numbers 17 - 23 Fortuneswell, Portland due to fix an unsafe frame and cover .

The works are expected to be completed by 23 October 2026.

For more information or any access concerns please contact
0801 023 2023.