Leaves Cleared

In today’s stormy weather, a massive thank you to Jamie Dawson who helped Cllr. David Leader clear all the leaves from the pavement and car parking area from our Community Stores down to the school entrance.

This considerate, community action is what makes our village Community great – whatever the weather! 🙂

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#AutumnLeaves,#ClearPathway,#CommunitySpirit,#BWGPC,#WearYourMask,#StayAtHome,#StaySafe

Councillor Simon Christopher’s Report – Nov 2020

Our local Councillor Simon Christopher has granted permission for his report to be shared to the public via Broadwindsor.

Here is his report:

“I am writing this report after the announcement of the National Lockdown on Thursday 5 November 2020 . I have had a long discussion with the hard working council leader Mr Flower on the impact of lockdown for residents and businesses.

I look forward to the virtual parish council meeting but thought I would share some of my thoughts now.

I have stressed  to Mr Flower the importance of keeping services available to local residents, our transport network and looking forward to the future where we can  for example keep our local leisure centres open. Leisure centres are used often by the young , who have suffered so much by restrictions since March  2020 and by the young at heart and they contribute so much for physical and mental well being.  I have subsequently made all other 81 Dorset Councillors aware of my views.

I appreciate many of us do not use leisure centres for their exercises and I would comment that  I have also spoken with Russell Goff  of Dorset Council re footpaths. Russell  is aware of my concern that all footpaths are open and not blocked.  Russell informs me that there is also a busy programme of stile replacement and footbridge replacement  Should you have any concerns re particular footpaths please contact Russell and myself. Footpaths and walking will be more important than ever this Autumn/Winter for the physical and mental health of many of us.  I would however stress that there is a constant concern from farmers and landowners throughout The Marshwood Vale Ward, about dogs attacking and worrying sheep.  I have noted some landowners imploring dog owners to keep their dogs on a short lead.

We will now have a lockdown that will bring new challenges to both residents and business’s and hope that the restrictions  will not continue past 2nd December . The lockdown will be be different  from previous where there were only a few types of businesses and amenities that could stay open . Now it appears it is a case of what has to be closed by HM Government until 2nd December. Dorset Council  car parks  and recycling centres will stay open. This leads me onto to the question of council car par parking charges that has had much consideration in the local press. I would wish to receive your thoughts but would point out the costs of having  road surfaces in good condition etc is high .  I am continuing to press for the funds to be made available to reopen Norway Lane down to Stoke Abbott.

I repeat  from previous reports any comments /criticism of highways please pass them on to me!

Schools will this time stay open despite the new lockdown and I keep in regular touch with the portfolio holder Andrew Parry. Again ,please let me have any comments re the reopening of the school and also how school buses are working.

I am pleased that Broadwindsor Cricket Club is seemingly making progress on purchasing the ground.  I am lobbying the Highways portfolio holder for safer pedestrian access to it.

One of the things that has been noticeable has been an increase in correspondence from those in Assured Shorthold Tenancy   properties in the private sector and those in social housing questioning whether I can assist in them moving from villages in West Dorset into our local towns .

I would be pleased to receive your further thoughts on what can be done better in respect of local bus provision so I  can once more lobby portfolio holder  Councillor Ray Bryan .

We face huge challenges in terms of employment with the threat not just to Jobs within the aeronautical sector in South Somerset and Dorset but also the threat to jobs at Oscar Meyer across the border in Chard. For farmers the future has rarely looked more uncertain with a  seeming no -deal Brexit looming , uncertainty as to what ultimately replaces the existing subsidy scheme and the future of our West Dorset abattoir being questioned .

With no farmers discussion club evenings ( greatly missed ) ,village halls typically standing empty, social isolation is often very much the order of the day Never has good broadband and mobile coverage been so important. Again please let me have your comments suggestions and concerns for relaying to portfolio holders and our MP.

I continue to receive comments from residents about planning applications in the Broadwindsor  Parish area.

As the weather deteriorates ,please do let me have your comments re any local drains ,road surfaces and hedges and verges etc that are giving concern. There has been perhaps some decrease in e mails complaining about speeding and an increase in complaints about damage caused by off roading groups.  I continue to correspond with officers and the portfolio holder about speeding and road safety.

I have passed on your concerns re the desirability of greater police resources in the Ward to, amongst others , our MP Council members are focusing their attention on the budget for 2021/2022 and also the new Dorset Local Plan . The cabinet of the Council will  consider the property portfolio of the Council . We look to meet the future challenges of an ageing population , ever increasing demand for resources generally and a poor financial position. The council will accordingly look to make the best use of these various asset types. This  will ,for instance, involve assessing commercial returns as a landlord, management of 130 or so car parks and assessing the amount of office space that will need to be retained.

As we approach the eleventh day of the eleventh month I reflect on what my ancestors in the Marshwood Vale and all their friends had to deal with and believe that their experiences may just put everything into perspective !

Councillor Simon Christopher 
Dorset Councillor Marshwood Vale 

Tel: 07798 833 715 

Dorset Councillor for The Marshwood Vale Ward”

https://www.simonchristopher.info/

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#KissingGate,#PlanningApplication,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#ClimateChange,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#FMRTrust,#Lockdown2,#StaySafe

Stop Press: Online Council Meeting Zoom Details

Due to a technical issue – the new details are:

Go to Meeting HERE.

Login to Zoom and Join the Meeting now.

Meeting ID: 899 1041 4222

Passcode: 131372

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council – Online Meeting Monday 9th November 2020

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are meeting online using the Zoom platform at 7.30pm on Monday 9th November 2020.
All are welcome to attend.

The full agenda is available to download HERE.

The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 858 2158 2924
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

Residents are then invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on issues on this Agenda. (There is the opportunity for Public Participation towards the end of the meeting)
Reports are to be expected from Councillor Simon Christopher (Dorset Council) and Dorset Police.

There will be an update on the fundraising from Bridport Cricket Club.

The Parish Council will give their response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19): their actions and support during this second Lockdown and community updates from the Councillors.

Climate Change Emergency will be discussed with an update from the Working Group and Climate & Ecological Emergency Strategy Consultation.

They will then be reviewing the contracts and approving the formal adoption of the BT Telephone Kiosks in Broadwindsor and Drimpton.

There is just the one Planning Application to be considered:
WD/D/20/002170, Manor Farmhouse, Bridport Road, Drimpton, DT8 3RD.

There are several parking issues being addressed regarding our Highways:
a. Report from the Footpaths Officer
b. Verge Management in the Grouped Parish Area
c. Installation of Kissing Gates Update
d. Speed Indicator Device Update
e. Reported Highway Problems Update
f. Parking in Broadwindsor Square
g. Car Parking Area Outside Broadwindsor School
h. Common Water Lane Verges

After a Report from the Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust on the topic of Affordable Housing and after any Matters of Interest and Information that may arise, there is the Public Participation, where residents are invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on any outstanding issues on this Agenda or raise issues for future consideration.

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#KissingGate,#PlanningApplication,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#ClimateChange,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#FMRTrust,#Lockdown2,#StaySafe

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council – Online Meeting Monday 12th October

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are meeting online using the Zoom platform at 7.30pm on Monday 12 October 2020.
All are welcome to attend.

The full agenda is available to download HERE.

The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 820 9569 3135
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

There is a vacancy for Burstock Ward.

Residents are then invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on issues on this Agenda. (There is the opportunity for Public Participation towards the end of the meeting)
Reports are to be expected from Councillor Simon Christopher (Dorset Council) and Dorset Police.  Broadwindsor.org will be making a presentation too.

Councillors will deliver their updates on their response to Coronavirus (Covid-19) and how they are supporting our vulnerable residents.

Following the Correspondence (our Community Stores are requesting support to purchase an Outdoor Customer Shelter) and Accounts, there are no new Planning Applications received this month but there are two results:

  • WD/D/20/001368, 16 Trusthams, Broadwindsor, DT8 3QB: Approved
  • WD/D/20/000706, Blackdown House, Coombe Water Lane, Blackdown, DT8 3LE: Approved

There will be Reports from Blackdown Village Hall Committee and from Broadwindsor Cricket Club.  Support is to be confirmed for the future development of Comrades Hall and Bernards’ Place.

Several issues are addressed with the Highways Department:
a. Report from the Footpaths Officer
b. Verge Management in the Grouped Parish Area
c. Installation of Kissing Gates Update
d. Speed Indicator Device Update (SID)
e. Winter Salt Bins and Dumpy Bags
f. Hedgerow Removal Notice – Land North of B3162, Laymore, Winsham, Chard, TA20 4NT

After a Report from the Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust on the topic of Affordable Housing and after any Matters of Interest and Information that may arise, there is the Public Participation, where residents are invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on any outstanding issues on this Agenda or raise issues for future consideration.

At the very end of the meeting the FMR Trust will address the following:

  • To receive the Finance Report (Balance ÂŁ3,672.07 as of 30 September 2020)
  • To approve payment of ÂŁ226.00 for Broadwindsor Group Parish Council (Trust Administration)
  • To consider a grant for Broadwindsor Cricket Club (Support Purchase Cost of Site)

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#KissingGate,#PlanningApplication,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#FMRTrust,#StaySafe

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council – Online Meeting Monday 14th September

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are meeting online using the Zoom platform at 7.30pm on Monday 14 September 2020.
All are welcome to attend.

The full agenda is available to download HERE.

The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 857 1410 9082
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

There will be Reports from the Village Hall Committees of Broadwindsor (Comrades Hall Committee), Drimpton (Drimpton Village Hall and Recreational Trust) and Blackdown (Blackdown Village Hall Committee).  Reports are also expected from Councillor Simon Christopher* (Dorset Council) and Dorset Police.

This month’s meeting also includes the following Applications Received and Circulated for Consultation:

  • WD/D/20/001756, Broadwindsor Craft and Design Centre, Redlands Lane, Broadwindsor, DT8 3PX
  • WD/D/20/001880, Notification of Adoption of Telephone Kiosk, The Square, Broadwindsor
  • WD/D/20/000052, Blackbird Cottage, The Square, Broadwindsor, DT8 3QD
  • WD/D/20/000053, Blackbird Cottage, The Square, Broadwindsor, DT8 3QD
  • WD/D/20/001912, Potwell Farm, Potwell Farm Road, Mosterton, DT8 3HG

together with the following Application Results:

  • WD/D/19/002200, Land Adjacent to Hayes Barn, Broadwindsor: Refused
  • WD/D/20/000157, Glebe Cottage, Church Path, Broadwindsor, DT8 3QE: Request for confirmation of compliance with conditions 3 (Complied), 4 (Partially Complied) & 5 (Partially Complied) of listed building consent WD/D/19/002473)
  • WD/D/20/001499, Cambridge House, The Square, Broadwindsor, DT8 3QD: Approved

Following the approval of development at Netherhay last month – there will also be a Report from the Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust.

Cllr_SC*Councillor Simon Christopher gave up his role as Chair of the Area Planning Committee at the end of last month to concentrate on problems locally arising from the A35. He will also no longer sit as a member of the Dorset Council Audit and Governance Committee, although he still remains a Dorset Councillor.
A separate post on Cllr. Simon Christopher, with reference to his interview with Trevor Bevins at the Dorset Echo on 31st August 2020 and his interaction with Broadwindsor residents will be published sometime next week.

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#TelephoneKiosk,#PlanningApplication,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#ParishCouncil,#Zoom,#TrevorBevins,#DorsetEcho,#VillageHall,#Highways,#StaySafe