Category: Latest News

Cllr. Simon Christopher’s Report – Jan 2022

Cllr. Simon Christopher submitted the following report at this evening’s Informal Meeting of the Group Parish Council:

Dear Helen and Councillors,

A Happy New Year to you all.

As I write this it has been announced that there have now been in excess of 150,000 Covid deaths.

Despite the current HM Government advice, which continues to restrict normal living whether through advice to work from home , the wearing of masks in certain places or indeed the predominance of virtual meeting as opposed to face to face meetings there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. This takes many forms, whether through Melplash show planning their AGM and also the Annual Dinner to tour operators for overseas travel reporting bookings returning to normal.

Clearly the vast majority of us want a return to normality as soon possible.

Before I set out the latest Covid news and report on other matters I want to write about road safety.  I have to comment that there can be few things more harrowing to receive than a road safety report after a fatality . The reports give details of road circumstances weather conditions on how an accident is perceived to have occurred and is completed after work undertaken by both Dorset Police and the Dorset Road Safety expert . I know from my discussions with our MP Chris Loder , that he is truly shocked at the number of fatalities and serious injuries as a result of accidents on the roads of Dorset.

I continue to liaise with the road safety expert at Dorset Council but also with our MP in connection with road safety, whether in connection with speed limits, speed cameras, additional payments and appropriate work on road surfaces. Particular roads of concern include Broadwindsor to Drimpton and sections of the B3165 . I have met with the safety officer prior to Christmas and have a virtual catch-up meeting on Monday 10 January .

You will see that this is continuing work and in addition to the work agreed to be instigated following the meeting with Councillor Leader, Councillor Huges and the Highways safety officer and myself, as Dorset Councillor, in November 2021.

The November 2022 meeting subsequently led to the following written commitment from the Highways Safely Officer:

“ Dear Cllr Christopher,

Further to our recent meeting I can confirm that we will be putting in various lining as set out below.

On Common Hill additional slow markings with yellow bars and also edge lining.

On the B3163 close to the cricket ground extras slow marking with yellow bars.

On the approach from Salway Ash extra slow markings with yellow bar markings.

I have spoken to Rob Camp regarding the SID (Speed Indicator Device) and hopefully delivery will be soon and I have given you Helen Jackson in the LTP Team as your contact to discuss possible footway link to the cricket pitch.

We will be out to mark up the various lining etc but I cannot promise when it will be done as salt is being laid on the road due to the weather so it is likely to be well into the new year but we will ask for the work to be done as soon as possible.

Any other queries please do not hesitate to come back to me.”

Clearly, I will be keeping up my work with the Highway Safety Officer in the above and other areas.

FARMING

In the same way that there is concern about the financial viability of shops, retail units and pubs, there is also concern about the financial viability of farming operations.

There is, and always has been in my time as Local Authority Councillor some speculation about the Dorset Council Farms Estate. Regardless of this, what we do know is that there may never have been a greater time of change for the farming industry than now. The reason I devote so much of this report to Agriculture in this January 2022 report is a result of the following.

  1.  The lack of Dorset Council meetings since the last BGPC meeting, In the interim our waste collection service has, I believe, continued to perform very well.
  2. The importance that I am sure we place on the appearance of the country side and the survival of small family farms in particular.

Following our departure from the EU the Marshwood Vale farmers and indeed Dorset Council tenant farmers and farmers across the Country are impacted by the introduction of a new farming policy under the Agriculture Act 2020.

There is huge concentration on key farming issues succession , capital investment and profitability . Few farmers will be unaware that half of their Basic Payment Scheme ie BPS money will no longer be available by 2024. This is I would argue a man concern of the farming community .As farmers seek to diversify this will have an impact on all of our residents . Other uncertainties include whether relatively high sales prices that have prevailed in many ( but not all ) sectors will continue. if consumers change their buying habits post pandemic . There is also the requirement to be legally compliant and to address environmental issues especially climate change.

One of the greatest concerns is for small farms and tenanted farms, in particular it is my understanding that approximately 50 per cent of land is farmed by tenant farmers (including of course the tenants of the Dorset Council farm’s estate.) My concern is based on the fact that BPS is being gradually reduced this has been hugely important to all active farmers and that tenant farmers should not be excluded from receiving agri- environmental subsidies.

For those farmers amongst you there should be a concern that safeguards that exist for those who rent under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 should extend to Farm Business Tenancies such that tenants will not be prevented by landlords from accessing the schemes.

I will detail the concern. There are three proposed ELM (Environmental Land Management) schemes and in respect of the first 2 of them there are uncertainties as to the extent to which tenant farmers will benefit. The reasons for the uncertainties with respect to the first 2 schemes involve

1 ) The Local Nature Recovery Scheme, which will not be widely available until 2024,  that amongst other things, encourages farmers to create new habitats and plant trees.

2) The Lanscape Recovery Scheme which seeks a more dramatic approach assisting farmers and land owners who manage 500 to 5000 hectares (and note hectares not acres) and so only benefiting larger agricultural concerns.

3) The sustainable Farming Incentive which will fund sustainable farming practices and should be widely available.

You may wish to contact your Member of Parliament to address any particular concern you may have for the future of the countryside and indeed family farms. There are a great many who are uncertain about the future prospects for farming and would welcome clarification of eligibility, rules and payment rates for schemes 1 and 2 above.

BUSES

The portfolio holder responsible for buses is continuing his work (and this is a non-exhaustive list:) following on from the submission of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in October2021

  1.  The launch of the statutory consultation on the Enhanced Partnership Plan
  2. The legal framework through which Dorset Council will deliver the BSIP.

Before I consider these 2 points, I will repeat what the Bus Service Improvement Plan seeks to achieve

a) buses being a more attractive mode of transport for customers
b) bus journeys being more affordable
c) bus services timetables and journeys being easier to use
d) journey times being shorter
e) services being more reliable
f) buses being greener ie more environmentally friendly

The Enhanced Partnership Plan and scheme document has to be produced by 31 March 2022 and is the means by which the BSIP will be delivered. It follows a statutory process defined in the Bus Services Act 2017 and updated in the light of the National Bus Strategy.

Work on the Enhanced Partnership is continuing though there is no definite date by which the Department for Transport will respond to the request for £92million of funding both capital and revenue within the submitted BSIP .

The Enhanced Partnership Plan high level vision will have objectives which is expected to closely follow the Bus Service Improvement Plan. It is expected that the Enhanced Partnership scheme will set out the precise details of how the Bus Service Improvement Plan vision and objectives will be achieved . These details will include any commitment made by the Local Transport Authority and standards to be met bus operators.

The legal framework mentioned in (2) above will include governance and user representation.

Town and Parish councils have I understand been invited to stakeholder meetings next week.

If there are any issues arising, please e mail me.

DORSET COUNCIL LOCAL PLAN

Following the consultation last year, Dorset Council continue to gather information to inform the proposals for the plan. This will involve consideration of national planning policy including the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) and the expected housing need for the County. The Local Plan is an important document as it will assist in the delivery of appropriate housing facilities and employment in the long period to 2038.

Dorset Council is aiming to publish the final draft, which will be available for comments in the middle of this year. The timescale then on is for the comments on the final draft to be considered prior to submission to a planning inspector in the Autumn of this year. If all these dates are adhered to public examination will then follow on from the comments of the planning inspectorate in 2023 with adoption in late 2023.

Here is the latest Covid information

Published: 7 January 2022

This week’s overview

Case rates have continued to rise quickly over the past week across Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, and remain higher than at any other point during the pandemic. Infection rates are very high across the country.

In Dorset we have started to see hospitalisations related to COVID-19 rise, up to 74 from 55 in a week. Our hospitals and other critical services are also under increasing pressure due to staff absences related to COVID-19. The number of deaths related to COVID-19 has remained relatively stable and continue to be much lower than during previous waves of the pandemic.

Testing remains key to stopping the spread and protecting others. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, you must get a PCR test and self-isolate whilst waiting for the result. Lateral flow tests should be used by anyone without symptoms, particularly before meeting others – if you get a positive test, you must log the result and follow self-isolation guidance. Most people no longer need to get a PCR test to confirm a positive lateral flow test.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from serious illness caused by COVID-19. As well as people getting boosted, it’s been great to see people in Dorset coming forward for their first and second doses in recent weeks, and we’d urge anyone who hasn’t yet had their jabs to come forward. There are plenty of opportunities to get vaccinated in Dorset.

Latest data

The visualisation below shows the seven-day case rate, people in hospital beds and deaths for the latest data periods available. There can be a time lag to allow us to report the most complete data. We provide this local update weekly, but you can find information daily on the UK Health Security Agency data page.

N.B. the dip in the number of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients on 28 November is due to missing data for one of the hospital trusts.

Summary

Summary of the most recent data:

  • 7 day case rates per 100,000
    • BCP: 1,406.6 (compared to 1,087.9 in last update on 31 December)
    • Dorset: 1,190.1 (compared to 783.1 in last update on 31 December)
  • Confirmed cases in last 7 days
    • BCP: 5,584 (compared to 4,319 in last update on 31 December
    • Dorset: 4,521 (compared to 2,974 in last update on 31 December)
  • Current COVID-19 patients in hospital beds in Dorset: 74 (compared to 55 in last update on 31 December)

COUNCIL TAX

Many of you will have read reports that the Dorset Council tax budget could have been worse. In fact, Council Tax will be determined at a full council meeting in February 2022. Dorset Counci has been helped by larger than expected settlement from the Government although only for one year. I thought I would share with you some thoughts on additional Government funding. First of all, the extra funding will assist with our perceived budget in circumstances where income has been reduced as a consequence of Covid whether reduced income associated with property or through reduced use of paid for services eg reduced income from leisure centres The Council should then reflect on allocating further funds to assist with housing delivery .The Council is under an obligation to fund work to prepare for the social care market reforms In addition, funds should be earmarked for social care demand and inflationary pressures next year.
Best regards,
Simon Christopher
Dorset Councillor Marshwood Vale
077988 33715

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Sheep Attack Yesterday

Local farmer, Andrew Frampton has reported the following:
A sheep attack at Wall Farm on Sunday 9th at 4pm. The culprits were walking off towards Brimley Coombe from Wall Farm.
Owners of sheep are very distressed as it’s their pets.
Please! Dog owners – keep your dogs in sight if you let them off the lead!
#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#Village,#SheepAttack,#KeepDogsOnLeads,#Livestock,#Farming,#Pets,#WallFarm,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Girl Guides Plant Over 600 Trees

At the weekend, along with girls & leaders from Bothenhampton Guides, Charmouth Guides & West Dorset Rangers, the Broadwindsor Guides planted over 600 trees as part of the Queens canopy, by kind permission of the landowners at Downbarn Farm in Mosterton.
This also reinstated a county boundary (Dorset/Somerset) Hedgerow that was removed by previous land owners in the 1930’s.
They first learnt about the different types of trees and the benefits of planting new trees/hedges.

They worked really well, met new friends and thoroughly enjoyed hot chocolate and cake to warm them up!

Well done to all involved!

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Broadwindsor Parish Group Council Meeting – Monday, 10th January 2022

An Informal Meeting of the Broadwindsor Group Parish Council will be held this evening, Monday 10th January 2022 at 7.30 pm. This will be an online Meeting using Zoom:

  • https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86100137041
  • Meeting ID: 861 0013 7041
  • Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

The full agenda is available to download HERE.

Included this month:

  • an update on Broadwindsor’s Community Pub.
  • an update on the Lewesdon Hill Project.
  • an update on the Queen’s National Jubilee Celebrations.

The press and public are invited to attend.  Under the Openess of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, members of the public may now film, photograph and make audio recordings of the proceedings of the formal Council meeting, though not, under current legislation, of the Public Participation session, as this is not part of the formal agenda of the meeting. Recording activity should be respectful to the conduct of the meeting and behavious that disrupts the meeting (such as oral commentary) will not be permitted.  Any member of the public shall not speak for more than five minutes.  A question asked by a member of the public during Public Participation shall not require a response or debate during the meeting though the Chairman may direct that a written response will be provided subsequent to the meeting.

There are currently 13 Elected Councillors (Broadwindsor Ward & Blackdown vacancies) – Click HERE to identify them.

The contents of this post are compiled by Wendy Shields, with information taken from the Broadwindsor Group Parish Council’s website.

 

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#BGPC,#Agenda,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#PlanningApplication,#ParishCouncil,#SaveTheWhiteLion,#Coronavirus,#PalmersBrewery,#CommunityPub,#CouncillorVacancy,#ClimateChange,#Allotments,#AffordableHousing,#Highways,#Zoom,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Tuesday’s Save The White Lion Meeting Also On Zoom

David Leader, Chairman of the newly formed Broadwindsor Community Pub Limited (BCP Ltd.) and of the Steering Group of the Save The White Lion campaign is inviting one and all to their Public Meeting on Tuesday evening.

The meeting will take place at 7pm in the Comrades Hall, Broadwindsor but anyone unable to attend may observe and/or participate as the meeting will also be shared LIVE using the Zoom platform.

Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

  • Once downloaded, open Zoom on your device.
  • Select ‘Join a Meeting‘ (Top, right)
  • Enter Meeting ID: 875 8965 0598
  • Enter Password: 545860

They will present their vision of the future, the plan they have drawn together and how you may help.

This is an important meeting to determine the future of our village pub!

Please! Attend in person or online. Thank you 🙂

Please click on the links below to read how the campaign has progressed:
Each link will open in a new tab.

SaveTheWhiteLion.Org

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Work Starts At Comrades Hall – Monday 10th January

Work begins on Monday, 10th January at the Comrades Hall to replace the central heating system. An air source heat pump system is being installed to replace the current old oil-fired system. In addition, they are installing 36 solar panels (PVs) across 3 roof surfaces.

The electricity generated will power the daytime use in the Hall, with the surplus directed to heating the water, and any remaining surplus after that sent to the National Grid. These installations will greatly reduce the carbon footprint of our village hall. This work is being funded largely thanks to grant funding awarded by The National Lottery Community Fund and Low Carbon Dorset.

Obviously there will be disruption to normal hall usage while this work is taking place, but please be assured that  Post Office services and Comrades Arms sessions will still take place as usual, and that any existing hall bookings will be able to go ahead.

Please direct any enquiries to Chairman, David Leader: 01308 868275.
Thank you.

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Village,#WestDorset,#Dorset,#2022,#ComradesHall,#CarbonFootprint,#SolarPanels,#NationalLotteryCommunityfund,#LowCarbonDorset,#ERDF#ClimateChange,#WearYourMask,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Beetle Drive Afternoon – 2pm Saturday, 29th January

Broadwindsor Fun Group are holding a Beetle Drive afternoon at the Comrades Hall at 2pm on Saturday, 29th January to raise funds for the Jubilee Fun Day in June.

Great fun for all the family – the aim of the game is to be the first player to draw a complete beetle and shout ‘Beetle!’. In teams of four…

Each part of the beetle’s body has a number that matches a number on the dice:

Once ‘Beetle!’ has been called the game will end. Each member of the group works out their score; 1 point for each part of the beetle that you have drawn. The person with the highest score on your table has won your game and now would move to the next table (in an anti–clockwise direction). If 2 people on the table have the same highest score, then the youngest person would move.  Because of the pandemic, the Group will not have people moving onto different tables so you will stay with your group throughout the afternoon.

12 games will be played.

There will be a short interval halfway through with light refreshments on sale.

Prizes will be awarded for those with the highest overall point score and for the best drawn beetle by a junior 🙂

Tickets on sale now: £2.00 in advance at Broadwindsor Community Stores or £3.00 at the door.

🙂 An affordable afternoon’s fun in a somewhat dreary January!

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Village,#WestDorset,#Dorset,#2022,#DAONB,#BFG,#BeetleDrive,#FamilyFun,#Fundraising,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

#NoChildLeftBehind – Email Your MP

Incredible as it may sound, 4,165 children in West Dorset are trapped in poverty. That equates to 28%. That also doesn’t include the figures for 2021. No Child Left Behind have launched their campaign and to date, at the time of publishing, our local representative in Parliament, Conservative MP for Dorset, Chris Loder has NOT yet taken the following pledge:

As a member of Parliament, I pledge to do everything in my power so that no child is left behind in West Dorset:

  • I call for the development of a cross-Government strategy to eradicate the poverty faced by the 4.3 million children currently growing up trapped in poverty.
  • I will use my vote and voice in Parliament to try to stop an expected 730,000 more children being plunged into poverty by 2024.

We must value and invest in all our children, so they are supported to learn, succeed, and go on to have bright futures.

 What to write?  An example email is provided HERE at the No Child Left Behind website.

The No Child Left Behind campaign is fighting to break down the barriers poverty puts up around equal access to education.

Please visit nochildleftbehind.org.uk for further information.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#Village,#WestDorset,#NoChildLeftBehind,#ChildPoverty,#ChrisLoderMP,#Parliament,#2022,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#WearYourMask,#StaySafe

Join Broadwindsor’s PCC 100 Club

Different from Broadwindsor’s 100 club run by the Comrades Hall Committee which raises funds for the Comrades Hall,, the PCC 100 Club raises funds for our church, St. John the Baptist church. A note from their secretary…

Thank you for all your support over the past year. It is now time to think of this year.  So please! Subscriptions are due for the year 2022.
There are spare numbers if you wish to join.  contact details below.

  • Cost: £12 for the year. Half of the subscription goes to the Church.
  • The Draw: takes place every 2nd Saturday of each month.
  • Prizes: 1st – £15.00; 2nd – £10.00; 3rd – £7.00 & 4th – £5.00
    In June & December: 1st – £50; 2nd, 3rd & 4th – £20.00 each.

Subscriptions can be left at Broadwindsor’s village shop. Please put in an envelope with your name and address and marked for ‘Robin‘. Cash or cheque.
Cheques should be made payable to: Broadwindsor PCC 100 Club.
A further alternative is through the letterbox at 8, Redlands Lane.

It would also be helpful if you could advise me if you do not wish to continue with the Club.
Thank you.

Robin Louden – 01308 867997

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#Village,#WestDorset,#SocialDistancing,#BeaminsterTeamChurches,#100Club,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#WearYourMask,#StaySafe

Hursey Common Now Clear

The sheep grazing at the sports field in Hursey Common have now left.  It is now safe for dog walkers to allow their dogs to run inside.  Please remember to pick up any mess your dog may deposit 🙂

Please also share this information with other dog owners you know/see as not everyone uses the internet and/or social media.

Thank you.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#Village,#DAONB,#HurseyCommon,#Dogs,#Sheep,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe