The first illustration details the planned development for Bernards’ Place play area in Broadwindsor. The application being made by the Comrades Hall Management Committee is a very large project involving installation of a new state of the art low carbon heating system in air source heating and installing solar panels onto the roof.
As well as this, an overhaul of the play equipment is planned as shown in the second illustration below.
All of this transformation is subject to getting funding, applications have been made to National Lottery and Low Carbon Dorset.
The full Planning Application, P/FUL/2021/01358 can be accessed by clicking HERE and is included in the Group Parish’s Agenda for their meeting on Monday evening.
Please direct any enquiries to Cllr. David Leader: 01308 868275 or 07867 608652.
Broadwindsor Community Stores announced this morning that they are now allowing 3 customers at a time into the shop. They do have a one way system in operation. Please follow this without bumping into each other: the social distancing rules are there to protect everyone.
Cashback:
The store has also reintroduced their Cashback facility: up to £30 cashback with a minimum spend of £5.
They issued their thanks “to our wonderful customers for helping our dedicated volunteers make sure we’re all as safe as can be. ”
The Dorset Tourism Awards are free to enter as they are supported by many Sponsors and Partners.
The 2021/22 awards categories cover the full range of tourism-related businesses including pubs, cafes and restaurants as well as accommodation, wedding and business venues, attractions, events and experiences. There is a new award for ‘Resilience and Innovation’, as well as opportunities to submit entries for Unsung Heroes, new businesses, dog friendly, accessibility and sustainability.
To view the many award categories and their sponsors this year – Click HERE.
To create an account to submit your entry to – Click HERE.
To submit your entry through their Online Portal only – Click HERE. Note: entries cannot be accepted via email or any other format.
There are two workshops to help you with your entry – they will be online using Zoom and can be booked via the links below:
All entries must be submitted online by 31st August2021 but with the optimistic outlook of a very busy summer ahead, it is recommended that businesses start their applications as soon as possible.
Key Dates:
May 2021 – 2021/22Awards, now open for entry.
25th May 2021 – Awards workshop, 2.00pm.
15th June 2021- Awards workshop, 11.00am.
31st Aug 2021 – Awards close for entries.
May – Oct 2021 – judging, to include mystery visits (if Govt. …
21st Nov 2021 – Jan 2022 – Finalists announced.
20th January 2022 (TBC) – Dorset Awards ceremony, Lighthouse, Poole.
If you haven’t applied for this grant previously, you are eligible to apply for Phase 3 which covers the lockdown period of 16th February to 31st March 2021.
have been open before January 2021 national restrictions were in place
must have been required to close due to national restrictions that came into force on 5 January 2021
must not have a liability to pay business rates
Or your business:
may be eligible if it has remained open during the January national restrictions but has been significantly impacted and suffered a severe loss of income directly as a result of the national restrictions (severe loss is defined as 50% or more, compared to your usual or forecasted income for this time of year)
Exclusions –
The following businesses are not eligible for this grant:
businesses in areas outside the scope of localised restrictions, as defined by government and not subject to a widespread national restriction
businesses that have chosen to close but not been required to
second homes
landlords of properties where they are not occupying them directly themselves for trading business purposes
businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum levels of State Aid permitted under the de minimis and the COVID-19 Temporary State Aid Framework
businesses that have received a Local Restrictions Support Grant in relation to the national restrictions commencing on 5th November 2020
businesses that were in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice had been made at the date of the national restriction, 5th January 2021
If you have more than one business at the same address or premises, you will only be eligible for one grant.
Payments –
Grants will be awarded for each 14-day period of lockdown based on the size of business determined by number of employees:
Businesses that applied for and received an ARG payment previously will receive a further automatic payment covering the 11 days from 1st April to 11th April 2021 inclusive. You do not need to re-apply. A confirmation email to qualifying businesses in the week beginning 19th April was sent.
Previous successful applicants were paid automatically for the period covering the 44 days from 16th February to 31st March 2021 inclusive.
Cllr. Simon Christopher submitted the following report at this evening’s AGM of the Parish Council:
Dear Helen and Councillors,
Further to my previous report I comment as follows re school buses:
My understanding is that Service SB5 route operated by First Wessex running via Misterton Drimpton and Broadwindsor has been affected for a number of weeks by a road closure at Misterton associated with bridge strengthening.
I further understand that the work is for Somerset County Council and per the latest report I have, the work is due to end on 21 May 2021.
I am informed by the Head of Travel at Dorset Council that First Group have been impacted by a number of other roadwork schemes happening before the tourist season proper commences and indeed the head of travel also points out that the service was further affected by Somerset County Council roadworks south of Crewkerne for a couple of weeks during March.
The Head of Travel at Dorset Council has informed me that First Wessex did communicate with the headmaster at the school about the roadworks before hand and attempted to make appropriate adjustments to pick ups.
The head of Travel at Dorset Council has also passed on the additional comment from First Wessex:
‘’All drivers we use are familiar with the routes ,in fact we do not allow any driver to drive any routes they are unfamiliar with and they can only drive a route once fully trained and signed off’.’
Finally , the Head of Travel reported that First have agreed to look at the diversion route again to see if there are any alternative solutions to avoid the delay and promised to keep the portfolio holders, Councillor Ray Bryan and Councillor Andrew Parry and myself updated
I now turn to the support from HM Government for the bus sector. This involves the Covid 19 Bus Service Support Grant (CBSSG) Restart
It is interesting to read in HM Governments communication Bus Back Better that there is a declared belief that and I quote ‘ Local collaboration is a key tenet of emergency funding”. As a condition of receiving CBSSG, the Department of Transport can ask operators to demonstrate on request that consultations on service levels have taken place and that reasonable requests from Local Transport Authorities for service changes have been considered in good faith.
The Department for Transport can deny or recover CBSSG payments from operators who have not engaged adequately with Local Transport Authorities. By the end of June 2021 Dorset Council, in order to have access to CBSSG is required to commit to entering into Enhanced Partnerships. By the end of October 2021 Dorset Council is required to have developed and agreed a Bus Services Improvement Fund. Clearly there is a lot for Councillor Ray Bryan , the portfolio holder for Highways Travel and Environment to think about.
I continue to engage with interested parties about damage to the verge etc at Common Water Lane.
Turning to farming, which is at the core of economic activity in so much of the Marshwood Vale Ward, farming has always been a dangerous industry. At this time of year many of us would have been thinking about attending the May agricultural shows including Devon County Show and Royal Bath and West Shows . These shows are both cancelled and as a consequence charities and other organisations and firms lose the opportunity to discuss with people in a true face to face way how farming can be made safer.
Close to one person a week dies in an accident on farms in this country despite countless campaigns to raise awareness of dangers whether to farmers and farm workers or walkers.
Farmers and farming organisations together with the Health & Safety Executive and charities have publicised the risks yet still people die on farms through accidents . No councillor should give up working towards farm safety. With respect to walkers there are risks associated with large livestock and large farm machinery.
Of course farming has changed with some farmers keeping their cattle indoors more than others . It is always helpful when farmers can have the chance to explain what they are doing to arrive at common sense solutions so that farming is safer.
One of the most famous farming commentators recently described the situation in a national magazine for those who work in or enter a farm environment, your friends and family and I quote ‘may just have a concern about you because you are not young and nimble enough any more to climb a ladder or jump a gate if the bull turns nasty ‘ This may be seen by some as helpful advice!
After recent disturbing local events re attacks on sheep, I was interested and indeed saddened to read that more than two thirds of UK sheep farmers have experienced an increase in attacks on their flocks by dogs in the past year according to a new survey. The National Sheep Association (NSA) said the findings of its survey added further weight to evidence that an increase in dog ownership during the coronavirus lockdown may be driving the rise in attacks.
The NSA chief executive Phil Stocker noted that there was still much work to do to educate the dog owning public about the need to keep their pets under control- and preferably on a lead in the countryside ,especially near livestock.
Last Friday the National Sheep Association launched #LeadOn – a two week campaign that aims to encourage dog owners to be responsible and act as an example to others by keeping their pets on leads in the presence of livestock.
Sheep farmers across the UK will be posting their experience on Facebook and Twitter about the devastating effect a dog attack on their flocks can have for all parties.
Finally in the Dorset Council area elections are taking place on 6 May 2021 for the Police and Crime Commissioner. Elsewhere in Dorset there will also be some town and parish council by elections. I am advised that measures to ensure polling stations are safe include:
1 social distancing inside and outside venues.
2 limits on the number of people inside polling stations.
3 maximum ventilation of polling stations.
4 hand sanitiser.
5 regular cleaning.
Other points:
Voters will be required to follow the signage and any instructions at their polling station.
Voters are encouraged to bring their own pens/pencils.
Face Coverings are also required to be worn inside the polling station (Unless exempt).
Election staff will also be wearing face masks.
Please note that this not an exhaustive list of measures and advice from the Comms team further info may be available in the first instance from the following – Dorset Council 01305 858233 or email: comms@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.
Best regards,
Simon. Dorset Councillor Simon Christopher Marshwood Vale Tel: 07798 833 715
Bridport Medical Centre – now under the new name of ‘Ammonite Bridport‘ have issued this statement for those due to attend their Covid Vaccination Clinic this Saturday, 8th May.
The weather on Saturday is predicted to be heavy rain all day.
The field behind the medical centre is not available on Saturday due to weather conditions and marshal availability.
Parking at the medical centre is extremely limited and will STRICTLY allocated to BLUE BADGE holders.
Please either park in and around Bridport and walk to the clinic or ask a member of your COVID “bubble” to drop you off/pick you up.
Whilst we do everything possible to minimise waits, queues do often spill outside.
Please come prepared for bad weather.
**THIS IS AN URGENT UPDATE – PLEASE SHARE WIDELY**
Today at 3pm, taking place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, is the funeral of H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who died peacefully at his home in Windsor Castle last Friday, 9th April. His death is being mourned across the world.
The photograph shown is one which our Queen shared last night, of the royal couple relaxing on the grass at the Coyles of Muick near the Aberdeenshire town of Ballater, close to the Queen’s private estate of Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands, taken by the Countess of Wessex in 2003.
Prince Philip was born on 10th June 1921, in Mon Repos, Corfu,Greece. His mother was Princess Alice of Battenberg and through his maternal lineage, Philip was a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria. His father was Prince Andrew of Greece & Denmark. In 1922, Philip’s uncle, King Constantine I of Greece, was forced to abdicate after the debacle of the Greco-Turkish War. Philip’s father, who was working in the army, was accused of treason. The family was forced into exile and left the Greek island on board HMS Calypso, a Royal Navy gunboat. Legend tells how then 18-month-old prince was carried in a makeshift cot fashioned out of an orange crate.
Philip attended the MacJannet American School before he was sent to the UK to study at the Cheam School. During the 1930s, he relocated to a school in Germany and then moved again to Scotland’s Gordonstoun School, founded by Jewish headmaster Kurt Hahn following the rise of the Nazi party. Philip then spent most of his youth in the UK.
Philip and Elizabeth were third cousins through different lines of their family trees. He first met our Queen when Philip was 13yrs old and the Princess Elizabeth was 8yrs. They both attended the 1934 wedding of Philip’s cousin Princess Marina, later Duchess of Kent, and Elizabeth’s uncle, Prince George, Duke of Kent. They were also both present at the coronation of George VI in 1937. It would be in the year of 1939 when his romance with Princess Elizabeth blossomed from a summer encounter at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. During World War II, he served in the British Navy. After extensive courting, Philip was invited to spend the Christmas of 1943 with the Royal Family at Windsor.
In the summer of 1946, Philip asked King George for his daughter’s hand in marriage after allegedly proposing to PrincessElizabeth first. To prepare for the announcement, Philip renounced his Greek and Danish royal titles, took on the surname Mountbatten from his mother’s family, adopted Anglicanism as a religion and in February 1947, Philip became a naturalised British subject, thus he became known as Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten.
The style of His Royal Highness was authorised shortly before his marriage on 20th November, 1947 at Westminster Abbey and he was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, and made a Knight of the Garter. He married our Queen on 20th November 1947.
At the Queen’s coronation in 1953, they were joined on the balcony by a young Prince Charles and a younger Princess Anne.
Philip launched the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in 1956, with a focus on youth achievement. He modelled his programme on Kurt Hahn’s four solutions to his “Six Declines of Modern Youth“. He played polo until 1971 and competed in carriage and boat racing, with piloting airplanes, oil painting and art collecting also among his hobbies. The DofE award now extends across 144 nations.
He was accorded by the Queen the style and title of a Prince of the United Kingdom in February 1957. Prince Philip was also the first member of the Royal Family to be interviewed on television: in May 1961 by Richard Dimbleby.
Many quotes and anecdotes have been published this week as Prince Philip was well known for his outspoken nature and controversial remarks. In honor of his 97th birthday, in 2019, the Daily Mirror published a list of “90 classic gaffes” that were attributed to Philip over the years.
To the President of Nigeria, who was in national dress, 2003: “You look like you’re ready for bed!”
When offered wine in Rome in 2000, he snapped: “I don’t care what kind it is, just get me a beer!”
When a man opens a car door for his wife, it’s either a new car or a new wife.
At a project to protect turtle doves in Anguilla in 1965, he said: “Cats kill far more birds than men. Why don’t you have a slogan: ‘Kill a cat and save a bird?’”
To a Scottish driving instructor, 1995: “How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?”
To Aboriginal leader William Brin, Queensland, 2002: “Do you still throw spears at each other?”
On Princess Anne, 1970: “If it doesn’t fart or eat hay, she isn’t interested.”
To the General Dental Council in 1960: “Dontopedalogy is the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it, which I’ve practised for many years.”
To nursing-home resident in a wheelchair, 2002: “Do people trip over you?”
Prince Philip’s last public engagement in August 2018, attending the Captain General’s Parade at Buckingham Palace.Prince Philip was the longest-serving British consort in history. Made Prince Consort after he married Queen Elizabeth II in 1947, he became Britain’s longest-serving consort in 2009.
The Earl Peel had overseen arrangements for the Duke’s funeral – known as Operation Forth Bridge. The Lord Chamberlain’s Office, led by the Queen’s ComptrollerLieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon, is tasked with the practical side of the day. In overall charge is Baron Parker who took up his new role on 1st April, following the Earl Peel’s retirement after more than 14 years in the post.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrived in the UK earlier this week from the USA. His wife, the Duchess of Sussex had been advised by her doctor to not travel because she is heavily pregnant.
The Prince worked on creating the bespoke Landrover Defender TD5 130 hearse for 16 years, starting in 2003. He designed the open top rear section where his coffin will rest, made to his exact specifications, including the rubber grips on silver metal pins known as the”stoppers” which prevent the coffin from moving. The Landrover also has matching green wheel hubs, a black front grille, a single cab and no registration plates.
Only 30 mourners are allowed to attend the service because of coronavirus restrictions. The procession route will be lined by personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland and the Royal Air Force. Prince Charles, along with other members of the royal family, which will include three of Prince Philip’s German relatives, are set to walk in the procession. The Queen will join the procession to the chapel in the state Bentley, following behind the walking members of the Royal Family and staff.
Live coverage of Prince Philip’s ceremonial funeral service will be shown on most TV Channels from 12.30pm as well as being streamed and viewed on the internet and various apps. Prior to the service, at around 2.45 pm, there will be a ceremonial procession inside the grounds of Windsor Castle, also set to be televised.
The Royal Family is observing two weeks of mourning. R.I.P. Prince Philip.
Our prayers, thoughts and hearts go out to our Queen, Elizabeth II.
Cllr. Simon Christopher delivered the following report at this evening’s Parish Council meeting:
Councillors
During the last month I have had further discussions with Dorset Council Highways officers re speed limits signage and speeding generally. This is an ongoing matter and will hopefully involve actual face to face discussions with officers in some Marshwood Vale ward villages This is dependent on officer time and when Covid Restrictions allow I have continued to press for improvements in broadband and mobile in discussions with officers portfolio holders and our MP I have also corresponded with local farmers and other business owners.
Dorset Council is considering appropriate action as result of the expected greater influx of tourists this summer. As this is a major task for the Council I will talk about this further at the Parish council meeting. With the increased use of footpaths there is concern about adherence to the Countryside Code and most importantly avoid circumstances where dogs chase and attack livestock . Livestock worrying may lead to dogs being shot.
We are seeing some fundamental change in farming with a re assessment on occasions of future farming directions and structures. The full impact of brexit and the gradual movement from basic payments will take some time to assess. Clearly some farmers are aware of the Defra Agricultural Transition plan published at the end of last year . We will see the support Defra provides for farmers change over the next 7 years with cuts to the basic payment ie area based scheme and the introduction of schemes to at least partially replace it. These are envisaged to include productivity schemes and the sustainable farming incentive in the short term and eventually Environmental Land Management scheme implementation from 2024.
It was been helpful to see HM Government this week commit itself to the importance of rural public transport especially buses. With the influx of visitors expected, subject to the relaxation of Covid restrictions of course, I am even more conscious of the importance of public transport.
The period for initial consultation in respect of the draft Dorset Council Local Plan has ended and I understand that there is satisfaction with the amount of interest shown and the number of responses received. If we do not have an up to date plan then there is the risk of developments being passed merely under the sustainable development criteria of the National Planning Policy Framework Dorset Council has set a budget to spend £312.4 million in the year ended 31 March 2022 ie outside of the dedicated schools grant.
It is envisaged that of this £312.4 million the majority will be spent on 2 statutory services £124.9 million will be spent on Adult social care and £52.8 million on Chidren’s social care.The budget will be funded by increasing council tax by just under 5% that is just under 2% increase in general Council Tax and just under 3 per cent to help fund adult social care – known as the adult social care precept. This equates to the rate for a band D Property increasing by £84.60 for the year or £1.62 per week. To fund the £312.4 million the majority of the funding is intended to be received in the form of £263.9 million from Council tax and £44.3 from retained business rates.
A few other points as Dorset Council looks to deliver services often in rural areas.
The percentage of income coming from business rates is relatively low compared to other local authorities while the percentage of the population aged over 65 is higher than any other unitary authority.
You may recall that in March 2020 the government published The Electrical Safety standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 which came into force on 1 June2020.The regulations apply to existing tenancies from. 1 April 2021. Covid regulations have made life particularly difficult for landlords in compliance matters and of course in terms of regulation.
I remind you of the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in May.
Councillor Simon Christopher Dorset Councillor Marshwood Vale
As always, Cllr. David Leader sends a huge thank you to all the wonderful people who turned up to help at Bernards’ place on Sunday morning.
A very productive morning. The main photograph shows Chris, Jamie and John ready for action. The volunteers also managed to plant wildflower seed in prepared ground alongside the footpath by The Old George and clean the fingerpost sign in the square.
Clive and Dorothy planting wildflower seeds by the side of The Old George, Broadwindsor.Clive, Bob and Izzie. At the back of The Old George, Broadwindsor.Sally and Dave, clearing at the Comrades Hall car park, Broadwindsor.Terry and Brian, Comrades Hall, Broadwindsor.
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