Tag: #Covid19

New Rules & Free Rapid Home Testing for Employers

On the day when the Stay At Home rule ends and the Rule of 6 (outdoors) comes into force and when shielding is due to end in 2 days, from 6th April, the workplace testing programme will supply home test kits to companies with over 10 workers where it is not possible to set up testing on-site, due to a lack of space or because companies operate across multiple sites.

Businesses across the country will be eligible to order the home test kits online to distribute to their employees. These self-test kits will be picked up by staff from their employer with clear instructions about how to take the test. Staff will then complete the home test in the normal way, before reporting their results to the NHS using the provided gov.uk address.

Businesses are encouraged to register before 12th April in order to access free tests until the end of June, even if they’re not yet open or are not able to start using the tests straight away. Start HERE.

CoronavirusTesting will form a crucial part of everyday life as parts of society reopen. Regular testing could be the difference between a workplace being able to stay open and operational, or needing to close due to a Covid-19 outbreak.

For many employers on-site testing has already become an essential part of its employee offer and a routine part of working life.

Around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus don’t have symptoms, which means they could be spreading the virus in workplaces without knowing. The Government has also confirmed twice-weekly home testing using lateral flow tests for free to all adults in households with Primary, Secondary school and College aged children and young people, including childcare and support bubbles.

The Official of National Statistics (ONS), in response to the NHS Test and Trace, revealed that 86% of people testing positive for Coronavirus are fully complying with self-isolation guidance for their full isolation period. The majority of respondents (68%) also fully understood the self-isolation guidance. Of people who did not fully comply, the most common breaches were to buy food, get medicines or medical appointments.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#2021,#NationalLockdown,#BWGPC,#RuleOf6,#Coronavirus,#Covid19,#Pandemic,#TestKits,#ONS,#SocialDistancing,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Work Party Needed At Bernards’ Place This Sunday

Outside brushes and shovels will be the order of the day. Help is needed this Sunday, 28th March at 9am at Bernards’ Place in Broadwindsor. The plan is to tidy up the area and make it all look good for Easter!

AmmoniteChris Edgerley has almost completed his feature wall.  Flowers are already appearing in the trough planted by Ruth Stevens at the end of October last year. This Sunday, there will be some wildflower planting alongside the Old George as well.  With preparation of the verges at Crosskeys now underway, Broadwindsor is set to look very pretty indeed.

Please telephone David Leader on: 01308 868275 or 07867 608652

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#Village,#Community,#BWGPC,#BernardsPlace,#Spring,#Flowers,#SocialDistancing,#Volunteer,#ComradesHall,#COVID19,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

A Day of Reflection – 23rd March 2021

Today, the UK remembers those who have died with coronavirus, marking one year since the first lockdown began.  Prime minister, Boris Johnson will address the nation this evening.

At noon, a minute’s silence is being held in memory of those who have died and at 8pm people are being encouraged to stand on doorsteps with phones, candles and torches to signify a “Beacon of Remembrance“.  In Wales, more than 100 historic buildings, including the Senedd, Britannia Bridge, Principality Stadium and castles at Caerphilly, Conwy, Caernarfon and I’m A Celebrity’s Gwrych, will be lit in yellow in memory of all those who have lost their lives.

It is one year since the Prime Minister directed the nation to “Stay at home!“.  With over a quarter of a million people in the UK lost to the Coronavirus, the Prime Minister claims the past year has been one of the most difficult in the country’s history. The Prime Minister also praised the “absolutely astonishing achievement” of British scientists and businesses in developing a vaccine and delivering it to half the adult population within a year. Unfortunately, the anniversary coincides with Boris Johnson fighting a diplomatic offensive behind the scenes in a bid to prevent the European Union carrying out a threat to block exports of Coronavirus vaccines to the UK.

From next week – £5,000 fines are set to come in for people who try to holiday abroad.

CoronavirusVets are warning of a possible link between a new variant of coronavirus and heart problems in cats and dogs after a increase in pets presenting with myocarditis at a specialist veterinary hospital in Buckinghamshire during the pandemic’s second wave.  Read the Guardian‘s full report HERE.

Businesses, theatres and other amenities are cautiously planning their reopening in April and May but the threat of a new variant of the virus and another Lockdown is very real as France and Italy are experiencing a third wave of infection. Germany goes into another Lockdown over Easter.
Public Health England figures show that 11,622 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Monday (March 22) in Dorset – an increase from 11,560 the same time on Friday (March 19th).

Pablo Picasso's "Dove Of Peace"
Pablo Picasso’s “Dove Of Peace”

Many people have died the past year for reasons other than the Coronavirus but the restrictions in place have made the grieving process even more difficult than it would have been. It is a day of Reflection for us all.  Please, be safe and stay safe.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#2021,#NationalLockdown,#DayOfReflection,#23March,#Coronavirus,#Covid19,#Vets,#Pandemic,#OneYearOn,#Grief,#Loss,#TheGuardian,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Grand Silent Auction Starts March 12th

Starting today and running until Sunday, 28th March, the Rotary Club of Lyme Regis are hosting a Grand Silent Auction of Goods & Promises. 

The event will be hosted online and is raising funds for Lyme Regis Food Bank, Julia’s House, Weldmar Hospicecare and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Mark Hix
Lot 3: A “Hix at Home” fish box plus a live “cook along with Mark”.

There are over 100 Lots with a vast range of fantastic offers including:

  • A voucher for a £250 discount on a Lyme Regis holiday cottage from Lyme Bay Holidays.
  • Cook-a-long lessons with celebrity chef, Mark Hix.
  • Autographed memorabilia from Lyme Regis resident & Deep Purple’s vocalist, Ian Gillan. Ian has kindly offered to personally sign the auction items on request 🙂
  • Half a day fishing off the Jurassic Coast.
  • A weekend experience at a Caterham Club Motor Race.

Bidding will begin at 12 noon on March 12th and will close at 9pm on Sunday, 28th March.

To get started, simply

  1. Click on the red ‘Sign in’ button.
  2. Register your contact details.
  3. You will then be able to place bids by clicking on the item and press “Bid Now“.
  4. Follow the online instructions.

To view all the Lots – Click HERE.

At the end of the auction, the winning bidders will be contacted by email, once payment is received. They will then be provided with an address in Lyme Regis from which their Lot may be collected.
Alternatively, the Rotary Club is able to arrange free delivery up to 10 miles.

You will be supporting four local charities, Lyme Regis Food Bank, Julia’s House, Weldmar Hospicecare and the Alzheimer’s Society, all of which have struggled to raise funds in the past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

To contact Lyme Regis Rotary Club directly, please telephone the Secretary on 01297 560081.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#LymeRegis,#IanGillan,#DeepPurple,#SilentAuction,#LymeRegisRotaryClub,#LymeRegisFoodBank,#JuliasHouse,#WeldmarHospicecare,#AlzheimersSociety,#MarkHix,#Prizes,#JurassicCoast,#Fundraising,#Covid19#Charity,#SocialDistancing,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Land South Of Fullers Development

The detailed planning shown was published on this website on 19th February (You can read the post HERE).  There remains some confusion as what the planning application WD/D/21/000123 is for.

The developers have already outlined planning permission to build 22 houses and this has been approved. Application WD/D/21/000123 is concerned with the layout, landscaping and possibly the most important – what traffic calming measures will be in place on the Salway Ash road?

Councillor David Leader commented: “In essence we can’t stop the houses from being built but we can potentially influence the layout, design, traffic calming and landscaping. Residents can make their own comments and the Parish Council will submit their collective view based on residents’ opinions and their own.
Please be aware that there are two applications for the land south of Fullers, one is the original outline application which has been passed. The one we need to consider is WD/D/21/000123.
Cllr. Dorothy Rowe and I are collating residents’ views and have spoken to many. I would urge residents to contact us with their views and to make their comments on the Dorset Planning website. We don’t have long to do this.”

The matter is an item on the Parish Council’s agenda for their meeting on Monday 8th March.
You can comment, support or object on this development online HERE until 22nd March 2021. The comment box they give you has a 1000 character limit.  (If you wish to enter more than 1,000 characters, please type your response in a text document and add it as an attachment.)
#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#BWGPC,#WestDorset,#2021,#NationalLockdown,#Covid19,#HousingDevelopment,#NewHouses,#DorsetCouncil,#StayAtHome,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Wall At Bernards’ Place Almost Complete

 As the wall in Bernards’ Place nears completion, Chris Edgerly had some help at the weekend from Matthew and James Pickering of Broadwindsor. The boys each placed an ammonite into the wall as part of the montage Chris has created from the smaller ammonites donated.
Photo: Luke Pickering
The ammonite montage itself is now complete and Chris hopes to complete the whole wall by the end of this week, fair weather permitting.
Photo: Luke Pickering


Matthew & James’ enthusiasm and involvement prompted a memory for Chris – he recalled from a young age when he was led up a ladder by a bricklayer to cement and lay his first brick. We hope that Matthew and James enjoy their memory and showing their friends with a sense of pride.

Well done all & Thank you.

Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#Village,#BWGPC,#Community,#BernardsPlace,#SocialDistancing,#Ammonite,#ChildhoodMemories,#Volunteer,#BuildAWall,#ThankYou,#Community,#ComradesHall,#COVID19,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Proposed Development South Of Fullers, Broadwindsor

The photograph above shows the view from a village resident’s window in Fullers.  The photograph below shows details of the 22 dwellings and associated works, including the formation of access, surface water attenuation pond, landscape and ecological enhancements proposed to go on the same piece of land.  Resident, Ruth Stevens commented  “How sad will it be..to see this lovely view being replaced by the new housing development!”

With reference to Planning Application: WD/D/21/000123 

Proposed Development

You can comment, support or object on this development HERE until 22nd March 2021. The comment box they give you has a 1000 character limit.  (If you wish to enter more than 1,000 characters, please type your response in a text document and add it as an attachment.)

Proposed site of development. Photo credit: Ruth Stevens

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#2021,#NationalLockdown,#Covid19,#HousingDevelopment,#NewHouses,#DorsetCouncil,#StayAtHome,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Covid 2nd Vaccine Update From Barton House Surgery

Barton House Medical Practice in Beaminster have released an update:

They started vaccinating in late December 2020 and the 12 week intermission until the 2nd vaccine dates are fast approaching.  They are now receiving information about their next delivery from the NHSE.  They will be inviting patients in order of clinics – data is on the Central National Database.
They need confirmation from NHSE centrally of vaccine delivery before they can put clinic dates on; dates are not known far in advance.

The clinics will be running in March once dates are confirmed.

When they began, they did not have an IT solution that allowed patients to book their own appointments online.  They do now, and so if they have your mobile number, they can send your invite via a text and you can book a vaccine appointment directly online.
Please make sure they have your mobile details as they send a text message to book you into the clinic directly.  If you do not have a mobile – they will telephone you.

Patients do not need to contact the surgery.

Upload your details to their website HERE.

“Thank you for your patience – we will get to everyone as soon as we can; as you know – we have a fantastic healthcare and community team who have worked hard to bring this together and make it happen. Stay safe.”  – Dani Farrell

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#2021,#NationalLockdown,#Covid19,#2ndVaccine,#BartonHouseMedicalCentre,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Excellent Progress At Bernards’ Place

The photo shows Chris Edgerley standing next to the beautiful ammonite which has been donated for the wall.  Something else is still required to balance the wall out at the other end.  If anyone has anything appropriate they could donate – please contact David Leader or Chris as soon as possible.

It wasn’t just Chris working this morning – there were many busy and active people working in the sunshine and cold at Bernards’ Place. Lots of digging and more clearing of the guttering and hedges.  They made excellent progress.

Massive thanks to Jamie, Margaret, John, Stefan, Terry and Chris for all their hard work.


There will be another work party in a couple of weeks and David will let everyone know.

Well done everybody!Scroll

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#BWGPC,#Community,#Village,#ThankYou,#FeatureWall,#ComradesHall,#Charity,#COVID19,#NationalLockdown,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Apply To Get Help with Bills By Friday,12th February

Dorset residents have until Friday, 12th February to put in their applications to apply for funding to pay utility bills.

Vulnerable families in Dorset can apply for money to pay their utility bills, but the deadline is approaching fast.

The programme is being administrated by Citizen’s Advice Dorset. To access the funding, which come from the Government’s Covid Winter Grant Scheme, log on HERE.  You can also call on 01929 408950 to apply.

Cllr. Jane Somper

Cllr Jane Somper, Dorset Council lead member for Safeguarding, said, “I urge families, and others, who need support this winter with essential bills like heating, to apply online for help or get in touch by ringing our helpline. These are difficult times and helping our most vulnerable families, who have been hard-hit by the pandemic, is vital. We are working with schools and other organisations like Citizens’ Advice to get help and support out to those who need it.”

At least 80% of the Covid Winter Grant will be used to help vulnerable families in Dorset; some of the remaining 20% will either be used to support other vulnerable residents across the area or will also be spent supporting families.

Support and advice for all residents, including information about accessing food and other financial support is available online at: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/reaching-out.

Scroll#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#Covid19,#DorsetCouncil,#StayHome,#SaveLives,#CovidWinterGrant,#ReachingOut,#CAB,#ApplyNow,#NationalLockdown,#2021,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe