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January 2021 January 2021

Emile and Sean were soon chasing after this old part of the 5G Rural Dorset project, a £6.675 million initiative which aims to assist
boy and were off swimming around the rural communities in benefiting from next generation mobile connectivity.
circumference of the large bay. Emile was soon
with me and swimming side by side. We The SCM buoys will measure sea state, including tidal current, temperature and
stopped a little while for Sean to catch up and wave height data, and communicate the information via 5G to project partners.
generally tried to stick together. Sean is a The information will be displayed on the connected digital signage which will be
relatively recent recruit to open water installed at busy locations on the Jurassic Coast and will be available via a
swimming. We had been swimming in the published feed, available to the general public, and accessible by the
Dorchester Leisure Centre Pool during the winter emergency services to support their operations. This is a very exciting project and
for some while and a couple of years ago we when fully working will help the emergency services prevent incidents and
persuaded him to come and join us. He loved it! improve coastal public safety in what is a beautiful but potentially dangerous
environment. I am pleased to be leading on this project.
We ploughed on through the murky water

through the odd bit of kelp and taking care to
avoid some rocks lurking just under the surface of the water. Sometimes when we Surgery
swim here, the water is crystal clear and you can see the little fish darting hither
and thither. However, not today. We had been swimming for around 20 minutes We are not holding face to face meetings until we are clear to do so under
when we got to the steps leading up out of the cove to the grassy hill above. “It government guidelines. However, we would be delighted to talk to you. Please
looks good, are we going for it?” I asked the others. “Yes, let’s” they replied. ring or email us with the subject matter so that we can prepare ourselves. Peter’s
email address is peterwharf@hotmail.com telephone 07986 600799 and Laura’s is
So off we set for Stair Hole. We had first to pick our way around the substantial cllrlaura.miller@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk telephone 07814 569563.
bank of seaweed on the outer edge of the cove. The weather was almost perfect
and the sea flat in the cove but I am always filled with a slight sense of adventure Peter Wharf & Laura Miller, Dorset Councillors for West Purbeck
when we do this swim. Outside the cove and in open water, conditions can
change quite dramatically and there have been times when I have likened it to
trying to swim in a washing machine.
Today, the weather was fine and the sea was flat calm (well, almost!). We eased Dorset Property Care
our way out of the rocky entrance to the cove and swam a while across its jaw to Allan Slater
the headland on the other side. Time to re-group, we decided to continue our Based in Briantspuddle
swim and after another 400/500metres, Stair Hole in all its glory lay before us. I 
guess you would describe it as a smaller version of Durdle Door, another fabulous Services
location along the Jurassic Coast. However it has its own majesty with its  Building maintenance
cathedral-like arch of rocks. Swimming through it is one of life’s experiences. It is  General joinery
always a magical moment.
 Garden maintenance
We stopped a while in the small pool of  Garden landscaping
water inside and as Stair Hole has two
entrances, we decided to exit through the  Kitchens
smaller one. There is a connecting tunnel  Man and digger hire
between to the two entrances and
depending on the state of the tide you can 07973 158092
swim between them. I have done it a

couple of times but if you are like me, a bit allan@dorsetpropertycare.co.uk
claustrophobic, it is really quite scary.
www.dorsetpropertycare.co.uk
Soon we were in open water again and

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