About Dorchester Transport Action Group (DTAG)

The Dorchester Transport Action Group (DTAG) is group of volunteers who want to see better transport in and around Dorchester, in Dorset, UK.

We are members of the public, councillors, professionals and amateurs.

We have no budget and no formal transport responsibilities. We are non-political and supported by Dorchester Town Council and Dorset Council.

Our objectives

To make travel easier

To improve travel choices

To build a better Dorchester

To reconnect our communities

To tackle some of the short-term transport issues that affect us – walking surfaces, cycling routes, parking, electric charging points, footpaths, bus routes and train timetables and more. All these affect how much we all use any specific travel mode.

We would like to improve the transport experience of everyone in the area while also having a special interest in creating opportunities for active transport, more public transport and low-carbon solutions. DTAG would like to see a better balance between the car and other forms of transport in Dorchester.

We look at longer term issues around reducing noise and pollution, improving safety, driving down carbon emissions to net zero, and through this making Dorchester a better and safer place to live and work for everyone.

We are part of a network of Transport Action Groups across most of Dorset that was set up 20 years ago.

Dorchester provides vital transport links across Dorset and with our outlying villages. We would like to see transport links strengthened and better joined up within Dorchester and across Dorset.

Complaints

Any complaints about specific transport services should be addressed directly to the relevant operator using the contact details here.

DTAG cannot be involved in individual complaints.

The group's remit is the wider picture for better transport, so it would only get involved if a wider issue were identified.

Meet our volunteer team

Stewart Palmer

Chairperson

Stewart worked in the railway industry for over 37 years having graduated from Exeter University with a degree in Geography. He moved to Poundbury in early 2007 and retired from full time work in October 2009 having finished his career as Managing Director of South West Trains.

Stewart continued to do some rail consultancy work after retirement and became heavily involved in charity activity, becoming chair of the Trustees of Brownsword Hall in Poundbury for 8 years and a Trustee of a residential care home in Woking Surrey. He maintained an interest in railways as a Director of rail lobby group Railfuture.

He met Giles Watts by chance and they decided to reinvigorate the Dorchester Transport Action Group (DTAG) as they both felt that the voice of the user, be it by car, rail, bus, cycle or simply walking, was not being heard in a consistent, coordinated way with decision makers.

Giles Watts

Secretary

Giles is a geophysicist mainly working on Carbon Capture and Geothermal projects. Locally, he helps to coordinate the Dorset Climate Action Network and heads up the “Dorset Deserves Better” campaign to persuade Dorset Council to rethink the Local Plan.

Giles started up DTAG with Stewart in 2021 and they have worked closely to bring a greater focus to local transport issues and to plan strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of our transport system.

Giles is a keen cyclist and in 2023, he helped run the Streets Alive event took over the Acland Road Car Park for one day brought the fun of active travel to school children in Dorchester.

Richard Taylor

Treasurer and Rail lead

Richard is a retired Chartered Civil Engineer. His career was principally in the design and project management of civil engineering projects, mainly roads and railways. He has worked in the UK, Hong Kong and the countries of the ASEAN Region.

He graduated from University College London in 1961, holds a Certificate in Transportation Studies and is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

In retirement he has been a school governor and was active in promoting his profession as a STEM Ambassador and a judge in the annual “Big Bang” competition between schools. He moved to Dorchester from the Midlands in 2021. He is married, with two adult children and four grandchildren.

Julie-Ann Booker

Media lead

Born in London, we moved to Dorset when I was five to a small village with one bus a week into Bridport. So it was a bit of a struggle for my mum, who never learnt to drive, with two small children. We moved to Burton Bradstock where public transport was a bit better. When old enough I had to learn how to drive as it was the only way I could get into town to work. I went to London in my early 20’s and was so pleased to be able to get around on public transport and by bicycle – I couldn’t afford a car as a student anyway.

I spent my career working in social housing. I understood difficulties faced by some of our young tenants living in rural areas, trying to go to college or work and for many having young families with children reliant on public transport.

That’s why reliable, affordable and accessible public transport is an important issue for me, as well as our urgent need to move away from our dependence on cars to reduce carbon emissions for the sake of future generations.

David Durose

Cycling lead

David has been a regular road bike rider and car driver all his adult life. Over the last 30 years, as well as riding competitively and touring widely, locally and in France, he has been involved in cycling club administration at various levels in Dorset.

In 2003, he organised the CTC’s 125th Birthday Rides at Warmwell, for which he was awarded a Certificate of Merit. He has always been aware of the cyclist’s vulnerability in relation to other road traffic and the need to protect their lawful rights and by the provision of first class facilities.

He currently represents Cycling UK in West Dorset as their CAN (Cycling Advocacy Network) Rep. He supports the ideals of Active Travel England and he is a long time member of the road casualty charity RoadPeace.

Frances Hogwood

Walking lead

Frances sits on Dorchester Town Council representing the Poundbury ward.

She is a retired GP living in Dorchester since 2012. IN addition to being an active member of DTAG, Frances organises Poundbury Litter Pickers and is a member of Transition Town Dorchester and Dorset Climate Action Network.

Frances is also a trustee of Dorset CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) and a trustee of Opus Anglicanum - a renowned performance group. She is a keen musician and supporter of Dorchester Arts.

William Gibbons

Buses lead

William was elected as an independent for Dorchester Town Council for the Poundbury Ward in May 2024.

William spent most of his career in Travel and Transport. He worked for British Rail, Sealink Ferries and was General Manager of Sealink Isle of Wight Ferries (now Wightlink) between 1987 and 1990. From 1994 to 2013 William was Director of the Passenger Shipping Association, which was the Trade body for Cruise and Ferry companies and from 2013 to 2220 he was Director of Discover Ferries.

William says “I am delighted to take over the bus portfolio on the DTAG committee. I see my task to try and help raise the awareness and use of bus travel in Dorchester and its surroundings”.

David Moss

Vehicles lead

David was a town planner for 29 years. His last job in local government was head of Development Control at a council in Hertfordshire. He then joined Railtrack/Network Rail as a planning consultant. He appeared as an expert witness in a public inquiry seeking powers under the Transport and Works Act to improve the West Coast Main Line, which ran for 15 months. He retired in 2011 and moved to Dorset.

David enjoys all forms of travel whether on foot, bike, bus, train, car or plane. His main motive in joining DTAG is to encourage innovation in the design and use of roads, which has been dominated by the needs and convenience of motorised transport for the past 70 years. He thinks it is time to redress this balance, particularly in urban areas, to positively encourage active travel.