“A massive thank you to Chris Edgerley, John Hayes, Ruth Stevens, Jamie Dawson, Morgan Napier, and George Calverly for all their fantastic work in painting Comrades Hall with 3 coats of Sandtex paint.
The paint was donated by Bridport Building Supplies for which we are incredibly grateful.
This work took a week of hard graft and would have cost thousands of pounds if we had to pay for it. Many people have commented on how good the finish looks and it seems like a different building. I cannot thank all the volunteers who have given so much in scorching heat to improve Comrades Hall, one of the most important community buildings in our village. Thank you.“
– David Leader
Tag: #Dorset
Invasive Plants Cleared At Hursey
The weather was glorious and a lot was accomplished on Saturday when volunteers helped clear invasive plants from the wildflower meadow at Hursey…
Many thanks to volunteers from Dorset Wildlife Trust.
Read the original post from Nick Gray, West Dorset Conservation Officer HERE.
#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#Village,#BWGPC,#WestDorset,#Conservation,#HurseyCommon,#DorsetCouncil,#Mow,#Rake,#Scythe,#Volunteer,#Outdoors,#ThankYou,#Sunshine,#SocialDistancing,#BeSensible,#BeSafe,#StaySafe
Coffee Morning, Comrades Hall – Saturday, 24th July
The Post Office Users Group are delighted at having the opportunity at last, to use their new coffee machine which has been boxed up, unopened in a cupboard since March 2020!
The coffee morning will start at 10.30am. Bring your own cup and get free refills 🙂
There will also be the opportunity to buy some garden plants, this time from Sally Sarling. If anyone has any donations of plants, please contact Sally at: thesarlings@btinternet.com.
All proceeds will go to the Post Office User Group.
#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#Village,#CoffeeMorning,#PlantsForSale,#RealCoffee,#BeSensible,#BeSafe,#StaySafe
Conservation Volunteers Meet At Hursey Common – Thursday, 15th July
Very recently confirmed, Nick Gray, Conservation Officer for West Dorset’s Wildlife Trust will be at Hursey Common tomorrow (St. Swithin’s Day), July 15th and is calling out for local volunteers to join in…
“Dear All,
I hope this finds you well and relishing sunny prospects. We meet this week on St Swithin’s Day, July 15th, a day steeped in folklore and hay-making tradition… appropriately enough, as it turns out, because we’ll be swinging scythes and raking up arisings from a couple of species-rich patches at Hursey Common, near Broadwindsor.
You might think it’s a bit early to be cutting wildflowers off at the knees but I don’t have to tell you guys there’s always a balance with the more boisterous species, and cutting some areas slightly earlier will prevent weed species seeding and, as our aim is only to cut between a third and half of the target areas, begin a rotational cutting pattern that will tempt the flowering season to continue well into the autumn. Justification enough, I hope, and I’ll look forward to seeing you for a bit of mowing or raking or both.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW if you can make it so I can keep an eye on numbers as there may be a few local volunteers along to join us too. And, with apologies for another truncated day, we’ll be finishing around lunchtime again this week. But, in the sunshine’s honour, some of us can start a bit earlier too…
Please meet at Hursey Common – as on the map, or grid ref ST434026. There is a parking area on Hursey Common where there’s plenty of room. There are two patches to tackle, one next to the car park and one down the road, so if anyone who’s keen to do some mowing can arrive a bit earlier than usual at 9am, we can get a head start before rakers arrive at normal time of 10am… When you reply, if you could let me know your preference, I can manage tools too. If anyone has a rake or pitchfork they can bring along, that would be brilliant. And don’t forget gloves for the attendant nettles and thistles.
Also below is the Coronavirus Consent form that you may know about by now. Anyone who hasn’t already done so, please fill it in and email back to me, or if that’s tricky, I’ll bring along some paper copies. But please do have a look at it before the day. (Anyone who HAS already filled one in, I’ll bring your form along so you can just sign and date for this week…)
Don’t forget your drinks and snacks as I fear we still can’t share just yet.
Very many thanks as always, I’ll look forward to seeing you there.
Best wishes,
Nick”
Nick Gray
West Dorset Conservation Officer
The Kingcombe Centre
Toller Porcorum
Dorchester
DT2 0EQ
Tel: 07824 438974
*If you would like to be involved with the limited volunteer activities going ahead – please download and complete the Coronavirus Consent form HERE.
#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#Village,#BWGPC,#WestDorset,#Conservation,#HurseyCommon,#DorsetCouncil,#Mow,#Rake,#Scythe,#Volunteer,#Outdoors,#Sunshine,#SocialDistancing,#BeSensible,#BeSafe,#StaySafe
Broadwindsor CC v Les Erbs – Saturday, 17th July
This Saturday at 2pm, Broadwindsor Cricket Club are playing host to Les Erbs at Broadwindsor’s Cricket ground.
Les Erbs comprise of players from different clubs around the U.K. who all went to University together. They have been playing matches here for approximately 20 years.
A bar will be available – bring your own sandwiches or snacks and enjoy a sunny afternoon 🙂
Learn more about Broadwindsor Cricket Club – Click HERE.
Good luck Broadwindsor CC!
#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#Village,#BWCC,#CliveSSmith,#BWGPC,#Community,#LoveCricket,#Sport,#Family,#BroadwindsorCC,#LesErbs,#DorsetCouncil,#BeKind,#BeSafe,#StaySafe
A Poet In Residence In The Village – Peter Roe
Peter Roe was born and raised a ‘Northern Lad’ in Buxton in the Peak District. He served in the RAF and has had a career with computers and emerging technologies in education. He has lived in Dorset for nearly twenty years and recently moved into Cambridge Barn in Broadwindsor. Peter is a performance poet and writer, a self confessed “Nerd” and “Technology Geek”. He is co-host of Bridport’s spoken word event Apothecary and the Second Bard of Caer Dur (Dorchester).
He has two published poetry collections and has recently been short listed and Highly Commended for a third collection written during lockdowns. Both Peter’s previous collections sold out and his second collection was reprinted last November. “I’m in Love With My Barista” is by turns a funny and heart warming romp through middle England in pursuit of love, revolution and vegetable boxes. Peter is a frequent performer across the SouthWest and is currently organising a spoken word event at The Roman Villa in Dorchester for Dorset Museums.
Broadwindsor.org has three copies of Peter Roe’s “I’m in Love With My Barista” to give away.
All you have to do is… Craft a Haiku
…about Broadwindsor or Dorset… That’s three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables and submit to info@broadwindsor.org by the 23rd of July.
Peter was recently shortlisted and won a ‘Highly Commended’ in the Hedgehog Poetry Full Fat Poetry Collection competition. Upon leaving his old home last month, Peter wrote ‘In You I Live…’
That first night with you I remember laying here
Listening to the sounds
Soft noises
As you relaxed
Releasing the days tension
Alien to me then
But now familiar
A part of me
Your rhythm has become mine
The breath and pace in your day
Matched with my own
To feel so welcome
Accepted
To feel your presence
Your warmth
Was special
Now as I place my things In boxes and bags
Ready to leave you
Sounds have changed
Noises echo
I feel you are more distant
This is as it should be
I go now to a new home
I hope she is as kind to me
As you have been…
– Peter Roe – June 2021
Welcome to Broadwindsor Peter 🙂
May you be happy & healthy in your new home.
#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#Village,#Welcome,#PeterRoe,#CraftAHaiku,#Competition,#HedgehogPoetry#SecondBardOfCaerDur,#Poetry,#Apothecary,#NewHome,#BeSafe,#StaySafe
The River Char Project
Broadwindsor’s Group Parish Council have agreed ‘in principle’ and will provide a letter of support for the River Char Project. The source of the Char is said to be on the flanks of Lewesdon Hill and other tributaries run down from Bettiscombe and Marshwood. Its valley quickly broadens to become the Marshwood Vale which, as its name suggests, is characterised by clay soils and lies wet for much of the year.
The Char is approximately 16km long. The entire catchment is in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the coastal strip, known as the Jurassic coast, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Medium to large dairy units dominate much of the area with agricultural land use in the catchment being nearly all permanent and temporary grassland. The exception to this is maize cultivation, the extent of which varies from year to year. The river is not formally fished and, it is believed, has never been stocked resulting in an unusually ‘natural’ brown trout population of high conservation value.
To view the full map of the River Char sub–catchment – Click HERE to download the pdf file.
For more information and to keep up to date on the project itself – Click HERE.
#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#BWGPC,#BGPCLT,#SocialDistancing,#RiverChar,#RiverCharProject,#UNESCO,#ParishCouncil,#CllrSimonChristopher,#BeSafe,#StaySafe
Councillor Simon Christopher’s Report – July 2021
Cllr. Simon Christopher submitted the following report at this evening’s Informal Meeting of the Group Parish Council:
Dear Helen and Councillors,
It is good to see so much physical activity in keeping our local village halls up together and meeting the aspirations of residents both in terms of their actual use, but also their environmental impact. There was much discussion of what was termed the big society a decade or so ago and evidence of collaboration is very much in my mind in terms of not just community shops, but also possible community run pubs and existing community sports clubs in the Dorset Council Marshwood Vale Ward.
Dorset Council has continued to have virtual meetings. The most recent meeting of the Cabinet was on 22 June 2021 as social distancing requirements were not lifted on 21 June 2021.
Members were advised that where a Cabinet decision was required the appropriate Portfolio holder would be the responsible individual to make the decision whilst considering the views expressed by the wider Cabinet membership
You will be aware that the 2 main budgets in Dorset Council are in respect of care for Adults and Care of Children. There are also huge challenges around mental health generally and in respect of learning difficulties .
One report that was considered was the Dorset Care, Support Housing and Community Safety Framework. Against a backdrop of an ageing population The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health Laura Miller, advised that the Council Sought to provide high quality personalised care and support services meeting the needs of service users whilst ensuring that they are delivered and financed in a sustainable way. The current Dorset Care Framework for Older People expires on 30 November 2022 and the Dorset Care Framework for Learning Disabilities needs to be refreshed to include mental health.
Procurement is governed by the Public Contract Regulations 2015 which allows Public Sector Bodies such as Dorset Council in terms of health and social care to adopt /innovate procurement models to best meet the needs of service users.
The framework will be in place for up to 10 years and will enable providers to join at any time (provided clearly that specific criteria is met) instead of fixed opening periods.
The proposed new Framework tool is the key to delivering flexible contracting with all sectors of the provider market including ( and I believe this is absolutely crucial) micro enterprises.
It is fair to say that Dorset Council continues to be under pressure both in terms of dealing with an increase in the number of planning applications and has been attempting to deal with an increase in the level of land charges searches. Across Dorset we are seeing changes in rural property ownership and re-evaluation of business models within the rural community, (which I will write more about later), but often these changes involve the need for planning applications.
With respect to Bus Back Better which was first publicised by H M Government in March 2021, I would like to reiterate that the Dorset Council bus service improvement plan will be published in Autumn 2021.
Councillor Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for Highways Tavel and Environment ,has been working on the Dorset Council Bus Service Improvement Plan.
He is quoted as saying “In response to the Government’s new National Bus Strategy which aims to make bus services more attractive, cheaper, easier to use, Faster, more reliable and greener.
The plan, is the so called Bus Service Improvement (ie: BSIP Plan)
As a recap a plan will be a collaboration with local bus operators, community groups, and with passengers themselves.
The Council has reviewed the operations that Dorset has through the National Bus Strategy.
Their preferred approach is to develop an Enhanced Partnership for the council area.
An Enhanced Partnership is an agreement between the council and local bus operators to work together to improve local bus services. It requires an agreed vision of improvements and an action plan that will form the Bus Service Improvement Plan”
The plan will involve 5 key aspects:
- Network and services
- Fares
- Ticketing
- Passenger facilities
- Bus priority measures
Councillor Bryan has further said that
“By working in close collaboration with the operators and local groups we will develop and deliver an ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan for Dorset that puts the passenger first, raises further the perception of bus travel, generates mode shift away from private cars, and sees decarbonisation of the local transport fleet.
As a point of record the official notice is as follows
“By executive notice dated 29 June 2021 Dorset Council gave approval to proceed with the Development of and Enhancednotice of the intention to prepare an Enhanced Partnership Plan and accompanying Enhanced Partnership Scheme,as required and set out in section 138F of the Transport Act 2000.
As part of the process to develop the BSIP, the Council will be talking with community groups ,business groups passengers and the public to collect a wide range of thoughts and ideas which will help to shape the future vision and priorities for our bus network. The BSIP will be published in the Autumn”
I make no apology for stressing the importance of the Bus Service Improvement Plan that will be published in Autumn 2021 but the importance of public transport generally to include improvements to rail services and stations.
Several parish councillors are aware that I have continued to lobby Councillor Ray Bryan (mentioned above) and the lead member for Highway Surfaces Councillor, Cherry Brooks to address the need for extensive parts of our local road network to be re surfaced. There are assurances that further resurfacing , and I refer in particular to the B3165 will take place this autumn.
We are of course in the middle of the most intensive part of the farming year.
While there are many who like seeing so much agricultural machinery working in the fields the fact that the machinery has to travel on our roads causes concern to some residents who write to me in connection with damaged roads, drains and verges. Of course, some damage may for instance be caused by say buses and lorries .
I would naturally be interested to hear the further thoughts of parish councillors and residents. I say this as I have within the Marshwood Vale Ward experience receipt of communication citing oversized agricultural machinery. In my experience agricultural machinery does not appear to be any larger than that you would see across the West Country.
I am writing this as we anticipate further easing of Covid restrictions and at a time when Covid cases are rising again across Dorset.
As of 9 July 2021, hospitalisations have been increasing with there being 14 people in hospital with Covid 19 in Dorset . The vaccine programme is however assessed as having a significant impact on the number of people being seriously unwell. That is the number of people requiring hospital treatment is at a much lower level compared to when Dorset was experiencing similar case rates in previous waves.
There are several walk-in vaccine clinics taking place across Dorset as residents are encouraged to grab a jab as it is termed prior to likely further easing of Covid 19 restrictions under step 4 of HM Government roadmap.
In summary the most recent data, to 9 July 2021 is as follows:
7 day cases per 100,000.
Dorset 96.4 compared to 69.2 per previous week.
The equivalent figure for Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole was 236.8 per 100.000 compared to 147.7per previous week.
I thought I would now turn to the question of the management of Dorset Council Owned Tree Policy . It is my understanding that Dorset Council is responsible for approximately 250,000 trees . The responsible Portfolio holder stated that town and parish councils were continually consulted and also confirmed that he was working closely with the County Farms in respect of tree replacement.
This now leads to the portfolio holder being quoted as stating that it was important to plant the right tree in the right place. This may seem an obvious comment but never more relevant.
I write this as it is a HM Government target to plant 30,000 hectares a year by 2025 this is under the DEFRA England Trees Action Plan 2021-2024. As part of the plan ,it was announced that the Forestry Commission would launch a new England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO),
There is much discussion of carbon sequestration biodiversity and timber production. And which tree species and location to assist in a fight to prevent soil erosion.
We are now seeing tickets being sold for some local agricultural shows eg: Honition at the start of August and Gillingham and Shaftesbury in the 3rd week of August . Both shows are unusually going to operate as 2 day shows due to ongoing concerns and capacity numbers appear somewhat uncertain Dorset County show in Dorchester and Melplash are both Cancelled.
These events are hugely important as are the functioning of livestock dispersal sales such as the one taking place at Frome market tomorrow (12 July ) in respect of a herd of organic dairy cows as farming is seen to operate in a manner closer to normality and a time when there is so much stress in the farming community . This stress includes the high incidence of TB in cattle and increasing testing requirements and cuts in Basic Payment ie support payments. Income is being lost in the the reduction in the Basic Payment Scheme which is being phased out Payment rates for the new sustainable farming incentive have now been set out by Defra Secretary George Eustace . This will have an impact naturally on farmers in the Marshwood Vale ward and indeed for farmers on the Dorset Council Farms Estate . Many of you will be aware that HM Government are encouraging farmers to move towards what is termed sustainable farming but also encouraging farmers to collaborate be more efficient and diversify.
In fact, with enhanced capital allowances for businesses in assisting with their tax it can be argued that HMG is being very generous in encouraging all rural business to be more efficient but increased efficiency and indeed diversification is not without broadband challenges……
Finally, within the Marshwood Vale Ward I have received notice of difficulties in respect of private drainage. You will be aware that not all of the extensive Marshwood Vale Ward is on mains drainage. The specific difficulties involve soakaways and I would welcome your thoughts by e mail as to the extent to which private drainage is a problem for individual householders and their neighbours and the wider community.
Best regards
Simon
Councillor Simon Christopher
Dorset Councillor Marshwood Vale
077988 33715
#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#Village,#BWGPC,#SimonChristopher,#DorsetCouncil,#MarshwoodVale,#EWCO,#NSA,#BusServiceImprovementPlan,#DEFRA,#Covid19,#BusBackBetter,#2021,#WearYourMask,#BeSafe,#StaySafe
Astronomy – 3pm, Wednesday 14th July
Village resident Peter Davies will present his 3rd session for those with an interest in Astronomy this Wednesday at 3pm on Zoom. Last month’s session had to be cancelled due to illness.
This month there will be a recap on previous content and then move onto the subject of Time.
The sessions are 90 minutes each and there will be a 5-10 min break for tea after 40 mins. Peter does recommend having a notepad and pen to take any notes. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions and/or discussion.
To listen/participate – you must first email: Lori.Lee@magna.org.uk to register your interest for Data Protection reasons. If you do not receive an invitation to join from Lori Lee, please email Peter directly: pdavies1812@gmail.com.
Those who have already registered should receive their email invitation.
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.
This event is sponsored by Magna Housing and Broadwindsor.org.
The Delta Aquariids meteor shower is visible from 13th July – 24th August, peaking around 30th July.
#Broadwindsor,#Drimpton,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#Somerset,#MagnaHousing,#2021,#DorsetCouncil,#BWGPC,#Astronomy,#LookUp,#Stars,#Planets,#Space,#Time,#Gravity,#Time,#LightYears,#Zoom,#BeSafe,#StaySafe
Broadwindsor Parish Group Council – Informal Online Meeting – Monday, 12 July 2021
The Broadwindsor Parish Group Council have published their agenda for their meeting on Monday evening. As the meeting is informal, any opinions expressed by the Council will seek approval through the Scheme of Delegation* after the meeting.
The full agenda is available to download HERE. Minutes of previous Group Parish Council meetings can be found online HERE.
The meeting will be held using the Zoom platform and all are welcome to attend.
The meeting can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID: 897 5277 5290
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.
*Local authority decisions are made by elected members but for the Council to be able to function on a day to day basis the law enables the various executive and non-executive functions to be delegated to Officers. It is called the Scheme of Delegation.
First to be addressed in their correspondances is a Notice of Application for a Definitive Map Modification Order, Dorset Council. The effect of the application, if successful, will be to alter Dorset Council’s record of public rights of way by adding a Byway Open to All Traffic along Common Water Lane from the end of the public road in Broadwindsor near Providence Farm to the public road, east of the tunnel in the Beaminster Parish.
The investigation into this application has not yet begun but in the meantime parishioners if they so wish, can submit any relevant evidence which will be included in the Council’s report. Evidence can be submitted to the Clerk or sent directly to Dorset Council.
Included this month are 2 Planning Applications have been Received and Circulated for Consultation:
- P/HOU/2021/01969, 6 Netherhay Lane, Drimpton, DT8 3RL
- P/HOU/2021/01463, Wood Farm Wood Lane, Kittwhistle, DT8 3LG
Broadwindsor’s Community Pub Proposal is item 10 on their agenda.
Item 12 addresses the BUS BACK BETTER scheme: A long-term strategy for buses in England.
The HIGHWAYS address the following:
a. Report from the Footpaths Officer
b. Verge Management in the Grouped Parish Area
c. Common Water Lane Update
d. Dog Fouling
e. B3164 RiskAssessment
Bees on the allotments?
A tenant’s request to put a beehive on his plot will be addressed at item 15.
After public participation and the date of the next council meeting is decided, the FMR Trust will convene:
a. To receive the Finance Report (Balance £4,357.27as of 5 July 2021)
b. To approve payment of £235.00 for Broadwindsor Group Parish Council (Trust Administration)
c. To consider grant of £750.00for Drimpton Hall & Recreational Ground (LED Floodlights)
d. To consider grant of £369.41for 1st Broadwindsor Rainbows/Guides & West Dorset Rangers (Outdoor Shelter)
e. To note payment of £711.75 for Broadwindsor Group Parish Council (MUGA Loan Repayment)
The meeting will then close.
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 14 Elected Councillors (Burstock Ward vacant) – 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.
Download the full agenda HERE.