Group offered olive branch after ‘shock’ eviction notice

WAREHAM men’s shed has been given more time at its current base following outrage from residents.

Care Dorset, a company wholly owned by Dorset Council, asked the group of men to leave their Sandford Lane workshop last month “out of the blue”.

The 30 volunteers were dismayed by the shock eviction and Care Dorset admitted that notice “should not have been given at the time it was”.

But following outrage from the group and Wareham residents, shed chairman Harold Forbes said his group had been promised they could stay at the Purbeck Connect day center “for the foreseeable future”.

Mr Forbes said: “We had a positive meeting and agreed to meet more regularly to better understand Care Dorset’s requirements for their premises and customers.

“No timetable has yet been set for the ‘foreseeable future’, which means the Shed must keep an eye on finding a new base.

“We were overwhelmed by the support from the community, which included many offers of alternative accommodation.

“Some have great potential but none currently offer the facilities that would allow us to move in straight away.

“That is why we are currently investigating various options that offer the best path for our future.”

He added that there had been “hundreds” of messages of support for the Men’s Shed on social media.

Read more: Beloved Wareham Men’s Shed group kicked out by council

Since its establishment six years ago, Wareham Men’s Shed has carried out voluntary work for schools, councils, churches and charities.

Examples include the restoration of the clay mining cart destroyed by a car at Wareham roundabout for Wareham Town Council, a climbing wall for children at Stoborough Primary School and a platform raft spider observation center for RSPB Arne.

She also made countless small items such as hedgehog houses, birdhouses and planters for nature groups.

Last year they created a new tourist attraction for Purbeck by carving and painting a 14ft totem pole for the blue pool.

But for its members, it’s more than just a project: some of them would otherwise be alone, others are disadvantaged or retired, and the club gives them a chance to come together and do things for the benefit of Wareham.

A Care Dorset spokesperson previously apologized to the group, adding: “(We) want to assure everyone involved in this project that we are committed to developing our services with local people and community groups. »