Tag: community

Christmas Opening Hours At Broadwindsor Community Stores

Our wonderful village shop will be closed only on Christmas Day.  The staff and volunteers have been busy today preparing orders of fresh meat and veg to be collected tomorrow.  We are exceptionally lucky to have all the volunteers that do their 2 hour shift to keep our shop open – they are always looking for more – why not volunteer* in 2021?

Christmas GarlandPlease see the hours for the rest of the festive period below.

  • Christmas Eve: 7.30am – 4pm
  • Closed on Christmas Day
  • Boxing Day: 10am – 12 noon
  • Sunday 27th: 8am – 12 noon
  • Monday 28th: 7.30am – 6pm
  • Tuesday 29th: 7.30am – 6pm
  • Wednesday 30th:7.30am – 6pm
  • New Year’s Eve: 7.30pm – 4pm
  • New Year’s Day: 10am – 12 noon
  • Saturday 2nd: 7.30am – 6pm

The shop then resumes normal hours.

Christmas Garland

Thank you to all the staff and volunteers!

* Want to know more about volunteering?

You can be reassured that all the necessary measures are in place to keep you Covid-19 safe in the shop environment. There is also a panic alarm fitted to ensure your safety.

You can download an application form to volunteer HERE. Email your completed form to Volunteer Co-ordinator, Teri Small (her email address is on the form) or call into the shop and leave it there and speak to Kevin (Shop Manager) or if you prefer, phone him: 01308 867922.

Haven’t helped in the shop before?  Not confident in operating the till or debit card machines? This is NOT a problem. Full training is given and you will always have a trained co-worker alongside you.

What do you get out of it?  Working as part of the team, you can:

  • Get out your home for 2 hours and talk to people!
  • Participate in an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
  • Make new friends
  • Use your skills and share your experience, interests and knowledge.
  • Learn new skills
  • Increase your connection to the community.
  • Feel productive.

Please don’t assume that because it’s only two hours, that there will be someone else to fill it because often there isn’t! 

Christmas Garland#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#BroadwindsorCommunityStores,#Volunteers,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#VillageShop,#ThankYou,#Dec2020,#WearYourMask,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Broadwindsor Parish Group Council

The focused faces in the photograph belie the festive feel to Monday night’s Group Parish Council meeting.  Helen, the Town Clerk reported:

“ It was lovely to see everyone looking so festive thanks to those members of the public who joined us. Another busy agenda, we welcomed Lloyd Curtis back to the Council and paid thanks to Susanna Laurie who has recently stepped down as Councillor for Seaborough. Susanna has made such a positive contribution to the Council and has worked hard to represent and support her community.

The next online meeting will take place on 11 January, please do join us!

Wishing all parishioners of the Grouped Parish a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year.“

Susanna responded “Thank you for the kind words it was a pleasure to be part of this Parish Council, to meet you all and work in such a positive environment.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.”

Christmas Garland#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Christmas,#Zoom,#Tier2,#StaySafe

Councillor Simon Christopher’s Report – Dec 2020

Here is our local Councillor Simon Christopher’s interim report submitted to the Parish Council’s meeting this evening.

“I am actually writing exactly seven days before the meeting and as a politician famously said, a week is a long time in politics.

I thought I would set out some thoughts at the last meeting of the year. A difficult year in which we have seen so many people rally around to help vulnerable people.

The council has risen to the task of helping the elderly, the infirm and has acted positively to help with the provision of meals to vulnerable children over holiday times.  There has of course been financial consequences and the council has had to utilise reserves.

Councillors Jill Haynes and Councillor Tony Ferrari as portfolio holders have written to all Town and Parish Council clerks re the Dorset Council area.  The communication is in respect of the Dorset Council Asset review Process, which was presented to Cabinet on 3rd November 2020.
Extracts include ‘There are a number of (property) holdings which we need to consider in order to rationalize the estate and reduce cash’

‘The desire is to

  1. Create economic growth by creating new homes and jobs
  2. Delivering a more integrated customer focused service, through joint provision with partner organisations
  3. Generate efficiencies through capital receipts and running costs’.

Please contact me if you have not seen the aforementioned email or wish to discuss the matter. 

Councillors are currently discussing the budget setting process, primarily:

  • Children’s Directorate
  • Place Directorate- including property’s, highways and Dorset Waste
  • Adults Directorate
  • Corporate Directorate

There is to be a concentrated effort to achieve savings in contract arrangement without a reduction in service.

The Parish Council will be aware of the considerable correspondence involving Highways and the police about continuing damage to the verges etc at Common water Lane.  This is an ongoing matter and many of us are determined  that the above authorities are made aware of the continuing concern of residents.

I will be pleased to receive your thoughts on possible changes to Dorset Council car parking charges. 

You may have noticed that Dorset Council car parks will be free on Saturday’s in December 2020. (In Sherborne I understand this will be on Mondays)

The mailbag of a Dorset Councillor in a rural ward appears to show continued concern about speeding motorists and I pass on these concerns to the relevant highways officers and other agencies.

Thank you to those Parish Councillors who contact me re concerns about footpaths and I have contacted the officer on   your behalf.  I continue to request a pavement be installed from Broadwindsor Village to the cricket ground.

I am in touch with officers to make sure drains in Seaborough are properly cleared,  as a result of residents concerns.

Rachel Baker, senior communications officer Digital and Change Dorset Council has been publicising the Gigabit Voucher Scheme.  An email has come out to John and myself, which has been further circulated and you have comments on this.

On 30th November 2020 the Government has unveiled its Path to Sustainable Farming.

The reason I draw your attention to this is :

  1. The mere fact that even in the heart of your village you are but yards away from a field managed by members of the farming community.
  2. This will impact on the County Farms Estate of some 46 farms and all our local farmers.

The Government states that it plans to deliver a better fairer farming system in England with the objective of changing the way the Government supports farmers.  The roadmap has outlined changes that will come in over a seven year period.

‘The changes will be designed to ensure that by 2028 farmers in England can sustainably produce healthy food profitably without subsidy, whilst taking steps to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare and reduce carbon emissions.

Next year marks the start of the transition where we will begin to move away from the Basic Payment Scheme(BPS) towards new policies that will be co-designed and tested together with farmers, land managers and experts, to ensure that the new systems work for them.

The ‘Path to Sustainable Farming’ document  sets out more detail on the changes we are going to make, and what they will mean to farmers.

The key changes include:

  • Introducing the Environmental Land Management scheme to incentivise sustainable practices, create habitats for nature recovery and establish new woodland to help tackle climate change.
  • Investing in improving animal health and welfare as part of our sustainable farming approach. This will initially focus on controlling or eradicating endemic diseases amongst cattle, pigs and sheep.
  • Direct payments will be reduced fairly, starting from the 2021 Basic Payment Scheme year, with the money released being used to fund new grants and schemes to boost farmer’s productivity and reward environmental improvements.
  • Launching a Farming Investment Fund, which will support innovation and productivity. This will open for applications next year and will be used to offer grants for equipment, technology and infrastructure for the future.
  • Simplifying and improving existing schemes and their application processes further from January 2021 to reduce the burden on farmers, and we will take a modern approach to regulation, cutting unnecessary red tape for farmers and working together with industry to design a more targeted regulatory system.

In a nutshell, the bulk of future payments will be through the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS), but it will not be fully available to farmers for four years.  Meanwhile, cuts to the old scheme will begin in January 2021.  By the time  the ELM Scheme is fully available, farming businesses face losing 50% of the financial support they previously received.  The reliance on BPS for farming businesses of all sizes is it seems, such that farmers may struggle.

The Dorset Local Plan

Many of you will have noticed that there will be consultations in respect of The Dorset Local Plan.  The timetable will approximate to:

1st December 2020 –  Details published on the Dorset Council website for discussion at Dorset Council Cabinet

8th December 2020 – Discussion at Dorset Council Cabinet

Mid January 2021 – Consultation period opens for a period expected to be for 8 weeks.

In the event the Cabinet agenda was published yesterday evening and I will be pleased to discuss initial thoughts with you at the meeting this evening.

To quote the documentation:

‘ Having an up to date local place is critical in order to shape the future of the Dorset Council area, providing for development to meet the areas needs and manage decisions of planning applications.  Public consultation is a vital part of the process and this consultation will enable a wide range of views to be taken into account in moving the plans forward.  The plan includes potential development sites in order to meet the needs for housing, employment and other uses over the period to 2038’

It is proposed that the public consultation takes place for eight weeks starting in mid January 2021. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic means that face to face consultations are unlikely to be possible but in addition to the document and supporting evidence being available online a range of consultation methods are proposed including  online events, social media and copies available to loan in libraries.

After consultation a final draft plan will be published with an opportunity for further feedback and comments before being submitted for examination. At that stage responses will be considered and assessed by the independent inspector who examines the plan.

The intention is to adopt the plan by April 2023 .

Dorset Council has published the Dorset Highways Winter Service Policy and Operational Plan 2020/21.  This document has been made available to all Parish Council clerks.

I wish you all a safe very enjoyable Christmas and New Year.

Best regards

Councillor Simon Christopher
Dorset Councillor for The Marshwood Vale Ward
https://www.simonchristopher.info/

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#Community,#DorsetPolice,#Farmers,#DorsetHighways,#DorsetLocalPlan,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#Christmas,#Zoom,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Tier2,#StaySafe

Shelter At Broadwindsor Community Stores

Extending the thanks to the squad who worked in the wind and rain over the weekend so that customers can be better protected from the weather when queuing this winter.

Thank You!

From left to right. Terry Clarke, Phillip Coltart,  Andrew Hookings (Chairman of BADCE), Kevin Madder-Smith (Shop Manager), Chris Edgerley, Ryan Smith, Jamie Dawson and John Heys.

 

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BroadwindsorCommunityStores,#Volunteers,#Community,#MassiveThanks,#SocialDistancing,#StaySafe

Hedge Cutting Complete

Earlier today, the voluntary work party cut back the very overgrown hedge between Comrades Hall and the church yard. On what was a very wet morning the task was completed thanks to the hard work and commitment from the volunteers saving the hall funds many hundreds of pounds.
David Leader, who took part and the photograph expressed a massive thank you to Bob, Stefan, Terry, Chris, Phillip, Andrew and Dave.

Well done all!

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#ComradesHall,#Volunteers,#MassiveThanks,#SocialDistancing,#TidyUp.#StaySafe,#Community

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council – Online Meeting Monday 14th December 2020

Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are meeting online using the Zoom platform at 7.30pm on Monday 14th December 2020.  You are also invited to join from 7.00 pm with your festive drink and nibbles!
All are welcome to attend.

The full agenda is available to download HERE.

The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 925 993 0185
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.

In the matters arising, there is a Parish Council Vacancy, for the Seaborough Ward.

Residents are invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on issues on this Agenda.
a. Report from Councillor Christopher, Dorset Council
b. Report from Dorset Police
c. Co-option to Broadwindsor Group Parish Council, Burstock Ward

An update from Councillors re: Covid-19 and a Union Connectivity Review: Call for Evidence

Once the Finance Report (Balance £39,807.66 as of 30 November 2020) is received and payments approved, there are two Planning Applications to be considered this month:

WD/D/20/002442 – The Old School House, High Street, Broadwindsor, DT8 3QP
WD/D/20/002187 – Ellaway Cottage, Wood Farm, Wood Lane, Kittwhistle, DT8 3LG

With updates from Broadwindsor Cricket Club, the Working Group for Climate Change Emergency and the Allotments, there will also be a website review.

Dog Fouling is included in the items to be addressed in the Highways section:
a. Report from the Footpaths Officer
b. Verge Management in the Grouped Parish Area
c. Maintenance of Signs in the Grouped Parish Area
d. Update on Oak Tree, Crewkerne Road, Drimpton
e. Dog Fouling
f. Common Water Lane Verges Update

The Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust will deliver a report on Affordable Housing.

The public are then invited to participate, 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,#PlanningApplication,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#BroadwindsorCC,#ParishCouncil,#Coronavirus,#ClimateChange,#Zoom,#AffordableHousing,#ComradesHall,#VillageHall,#Highways,#FMRTrust,#Tier2,#StaySafe

Community Help Needed Next Sunday 13th December From 9am

If you are able, please help to form a work party
at the Comrades’ Hall in Bernards’ Place, Broadwindsor.

THE WORK INVOLVES TACKLING THE OVERGROWN HEDGE BETWEEN
THE CAR PARK AND THE CHURCH YARD
PRIOR TO TREE WORK COMMENCING ON MONDAY 14TH

YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AT THE CAR PARK MAKING A 9AM START

It is expected that the work will take a couple of hours depending on how many dedicated workers come forward.

All will remain socially distanced and comply with other Covid advice, although being outside will provide a better position.

Please contact David Leader on 01308 868275 or 07867 608652.

 

#Broadwindsor,#Village,#Community,#BernardsPlace,#SocialDistancing,#TidyUp.#ComradesHall,#StaySafe

 

Drimpton Outdoor Christmas Market – Saturday 5th December

This is a jolly post-Lockdown event to be held in Drimpton Village Hall’s car park on Saturday, 5th December starting at 4pm.

COVID guidelines:

  • Make space!
  • No hugging friends.
  • Gel your hands.
  • Car Parking spaces will be available.
  • Toilets will be open.
  • Please bring plenty of £1 and 50p coins to avoid money handling.

In the event of really bad weather they may need to change the date – keep an eye on the Drimpton village website, Facebook and the village notice boards to be kept up to date.

#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#WestDorset,#PostLockdown#OutdoorChristmasMarket,#Christmas,#Community,#AdventWindows,#BeKind,#Social Distancing,#WearYourMask,#StaySafe

 

Drimpton’s Advent Windows Map

Next door in Drimpton, they also will have 24 different windows around their village themed around Christmas.  Participants are asked to have their windows lit between 4pm until 9pm.

Above is Drimpton’s map with Broadwindsor’s map below in case you plan to take both villages in and view them all 🙂

Advent Windows in Broadwindsor

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#Drimpton,#BeaminsterTeamChurches,#Advent,#Christmas,#Fun,#AdventWindows,#Community,#AdventWindowTrail,#AdventWindows,#BeKind,#StaySafe

A Reminder About Helping Hedgehogs

Now the hedgehog has been listed as vulnerable to extinction in the UK, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society are calling on the Government to move hedgehogs to schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 to allow them greater protection. At the time of publishing, they have just over 60,000 signatures of their 100,000 target. (At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament).

You can add your name to the petition HERE.

Signs That A Hedgehog Needs Help:

Hedgehogs Need HelpHedgehog First Aid

 

#Broadwindsor.#WestDorset,#BritishHedgehogPreservationSociety,#Petition,#DorsetWildlifeTrust,#Hedgehogs,#Garden,#Community,#Wildlife,#BeKind,#SocialDistancing,#StaySafe