Polling stations opened at 7am this morning at The Comrades Hall, Drimpton Village Hall and Blackdown Village Hall. They will remain open until 10pm.
Your vote is to elect the Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset. You do not have to take your voting card, providing you are registered to vote. Please wear your face mask (unless exempt) going into the Polling station.
**You are also being asked to provide your own pen/pencil to mark your ballot paper**
Read more about the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)‘s responsibilities HERE.
For more information on the Candidates, please click HERE.
Broadwindsor Group Parish Council are holding their Annual General Meeting online using the Zoom platform at 7.30pm on Thursday, 6th May 2021. All are welcome to attend.
The full agenda is available to download HERE. Minutes of previous Group Parish Council meetings can be found online HERE
The A.G.M. can be accessed HERE.
The Meeting ID:93 9228 7205
Zoom is Free! – Sign Up and get it HERE.
The meeting begins with the election of the Chairman, currently Rowland Hibbardand the Vice Chairman, currently David Leader. The election is then followed by the signing of the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.
There will be an update of Councillor’s Disclosures of personal and prejudical Interests and Dispensations prior to the last meeting’s minutes being approved. Any matters arising will then be addressed.
Public Participation is item 6. and parishoners are invited to give their views and ask questions of the Parish Council on issues on this Agenda. The next Public Participation is item 21. at the end of the meeting 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.
Item 7. Correspondance: there is a Message from the High Sheriff of Dorset, Michael Dooley.
Item 11. is when Representatives are appointed for the following:
Broadwindsor School.
Blackdown, Comrades Hall and Drimpton Village Hall Committees.
Broadwindsor Community Sports Field.
Broadwindsor Allotment Group.
Footpaths Officer (Rights Of Way and Liaison Officer).
Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils (DAPTC) Western Area Committee.
Other Representation.
Item 13. indicates there are no Planning Applications received.
Item 18. addresses our Highways:
Report from the Footpaths Officer.
Verge Management in the Grouped Parish Area.
Common Water Lane Updated.
Results of Traffic Surveys for the Installation of Speed Indicator Devices.
Request from Resident, Seeking Permission to Install New Field Gateway between Shepherds Meadow and Bridge.
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.
The next Meeting of the Parish Council will convene on Monday, 21st June 2021.
There are 15 Elected Councillors to Broadwindsor Group Parish Council – Click HERE to identify them.
Thursday, 6th May is also the Election day for Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner. Read more HERE.
All last week walkers have been reporting padlocked gates at Lewesdon hill and one has already been vandalised.
Farmer, Tim Frampton explained: “Every year gates are left open letting cattle & sheep out which ruins our crops of silage. The locking of one gate on the footpath is only until the silage has been taken off.” There will soon be a directional arrow to the one kissing gate in the corner of the field.
His brother, Andrew commented: “Two kissing gates are right beside the existing field gates and the other one is 50 yards to the left in the corner against the hedge. The grass is now starting to grow and cattle are in the neighbouring field – it’s a tiny re route to prevent what happens every year, several times without fail!” He continued, “The Dorset footpath officer installed the gates for us and now just waiting for official signage from them“.
This is also at a time when young calves, sheep and lambs are grazing and are easily spooked. Dog walkers are again reminded to keep their dogs on leads through these fields. Last week, farmer Rachel Hayball issued a plea re: lambing season after losing a lamb early last month. Not restricted to Springtime, farmer, Jo Stover had her sheep attacked by dogs last November. Dorset Police signs were put up last week.
Senior Ranger for the West & Coast, Russell Goff when asked, was unaware of the changes made to the footpaths and at the time of publishing has yet to respond further. However, the post will be edited to include them, should he provide any comment or information.
Broadwindsor’s councillor, Dorothy Rowe is the ‘Rights Of Way and Liaison Officer‘, colloquially known as the Footpaths Officer. She has worked with Russell Goff, Senior Ranger on a number of footpath issues over the past three years. Cllr. Rowe, who has over time posted numerous notices up on footpath gates asking walkers to pick up after their dogs and respect the countryside, had spoken with Andrew Frampton and also walked up to Lewesden to look at the gates:
“There is now a clear sign by the locked gate indicating the site of the kissing gate 50 yds to the left. I understand that the footpath will be re routed to the kissing gate in the near future, I believe at the expense of the landowner.”
Wanting to share some of the issues around footpaths with people generally, Dorothy continued, “I think we are extremely lucky to have so many footpaths in this part of the world and such beautiful countryside. I don’t think that most people are aware that the designated space for a public footpath is a one metre width right of way across private land. It is appreciated that whilst dogs are able to be let off the lead and will inevitably wander off the path (where no livestock are in the fields) they must be kept under control. That means no throwing sticks , balls etc for dogs to chase. And all dog mess picked up immediately and taken away. Extra bins have been provided for this purpose on the way to and from Lewesden. The areas either side of the footpath are private and not a public park, are managed by the land owners for grazing and planting of crops, and this must be respected.”
Public Right Of Way
For reporting footpath & bridleway problems to Dorset Council – Click HERE.
To report the problem by locating it on a map – Click HERE
Alternatively you can report problems by telephoning Dorset Council on 01305 2211000
Leading to Lewesdon Hill [Google]
The Rules:
Signposting and waymarking
Dorset Council has a duty to signpost public rights of way where they leave a metalled road. Rights of way are also signposted or waymarked particularly where the route is not obvious.
Stiles and gates
It is the landowner’s responsibility to maintain stiles or gates on public rights of way on their land. Dorset Council usually contributes a minimum of 25% of costs.
Obstruction
It is an offence to intentionally obstruct a public right of way. An electric fence across a right of way is an obstruction, regardless of whether the current is live or not. Electric fences alongside a right of way should be adequately signed and give plenty of width to ensure there is no danger of users coming into contact with the electric fence.
Ploughing and cropping
Crossfield paths may be ploughed or cropped as long as the path is reinstated within 14 days. Headland paths should not be ploughed or cropped.
A dog related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across the Dorset Council area came into force on January 1st 2021. Read moreHERE.
This year, Broadwindsor CC and Beaminster CC are jointly delivering a youth development section. They are currently looking for some more girls and boys who are interested in playing hardball competitive league cricket at under 14 & 16 ages this summer. The project is called ‘BCC2‘. More details are HERE.
Please get in contact if you are interested:
Email: secretary@broadwindsorcricket.co.uk or Chairman.BeaminsterCC@gmail.com
Telephone: 07494 841249 or
Message them through their Facebook page HERE.
Desperate to get back out playing, young cricketer, Jack Ronan hopes to play a major role in a victorious campaign by the Under-14’s and will play nine league games in addition to the Sunday games he plays for Broadwindsor 🙂
Broadwindsor Cricket Club made this week’s edition of theBridport News highlighting their new car park which will be big enough for 20 cars. Dorset Council has approved a planning application for the change to a 885 square metre plot which will see the surface covered in crushed and rolled stone.
“Not only have we managed to secure the future of the club by raising the money to buy the ground this winter, we also have some improvement projects planned.
We plan to finish the internal amenities in the pavilion, install mains electricity and have just had plans approved to construct a new car park – might even be building some nets soon too.
The new car park will be big enough for 20 cars and will be constructed in the adjoining field to the right as you come in the entrance to the ground. We are aiming to complete all these projects over the next few months!“
Broadwindsor Cricket Club are participating in the free junior cricket on offer. They are providing a sporting opportunity for locals and school children to use in the summer holidays for coaching The local Girl Guides will also use it for a camping expedition this summer!
The link to register your child is at the foot of the page.
From April: Every Tuesday evening.
From May – September: Every Saturday morning.
All Stars:
All Stars Cricket provides a fantastic first experience for all children aged 5-8 years old where they’re guaranteed 8 weeks of jam-packed fun, activity and skills development. The programme is designed to introduce children to the sport, teaching them new skills, helping them make new friends and have a great time doing so.
Every child that registers will receive a backpack full of goodies. Your child’s pack will include:
Backpack
Cricket bat
Cricket ball
Personalised t-shirt with your child’s name
Early sign-ups will also receive a cap (new participants only)
All children returning to All Stars will receive a kit bag, a set of stumps, a new ball and a personalised t-shirt.
Children will learn fundamental movement skills including catching, throwing and batting. Soft balls and plastic bats are used by everyone and all participants are given their very own cricket bag full of everything they need to play the game.
Every child will earn stars in their own activity booklet that match the skills learned during the programme:
Batting – hitting a moving ball
Throwing – underarm and overarm
Catching – small and large balls
Bowling – overarm
Running – lots of movement
Teamwork – fun games with friends
Communication – the basics of cricket
Spirit of Cricket – how to respect others
Dynamos Cricket:
Dynamos Cricket provides a fantastic next step for all those graduating from All Stars Cricket and the perfect introduction for all 8-11 year-olds new to the sport!
Children will use soft balls and light wooden bats
Minimum of six 60-90 minute sessions
Introduction to game play through a countdown cricket match
New Balance personalised t-shirt with name and number
Valuable time with your kids – mums and dads are encouraged to take part too
Complementary digital app experience*
Exclusive access to Topps Cricket Attax cards
Safe and fully accredited
Sessions begin with a 5-10 minute warm-up to get the children moving and recapping on gross motor skills and basic ball handling.
The sessions continue with skill builders for 15 minutes, providing everything children need to play, particularly focusing on bowling, which can be the make-or-break element of any game of cricket! The session finishes with a game of countdown cricket that will take 30-45 minutes and give everyone a chance to participate in all elements of the game – batting, bowling and fielding.
*The Dynamos Cricket app, designed both for those who have never played cricket before, and those looking to build on what they already know, is packed full of amazing features for all children aged 8+ to enjoy. The skills videos and interactive quizzes provide lots of ways for children to get active – even with minimal space and equipment.
Register your child for either or both programmes HERE.
Click HERE for Broadwindsor Cricket Club’s 2021 Fixtures.
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
The CB3 bus service is now operational, serving Broadwindsor and the surrounding villages.
Buses to Bridport will leave the Old Bakery at 10.45hrs and 17.49hrs.
Buses to Crewkerne will leave The White Lion at 09.51hrs, 13.02hrs, 14.50hrs & 19.04hrs.
All passengers are required to telephone the bus prior to their journey: 07716 643087#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Marshwood,#Mosterton,#Crewkerne,#Bridport,#Dorset,#CB3bus,#DorsetCouncil,#BWGPC,#WearYourMask,#SocialDistancing,#BeSafe,#StaySafe
The Broadwindsor Group Parish Community Land Trust released this statment today:
“On behalf of BGP CLT, I am very pleased to inform you of the latest progress on our proposed development at Netherhay Lane, Drimpton. The S.106 Agreement has now been signed by all parties and was sealed by Dorset Council on 19 March 2021. This completes the planning process and gives BGP CLT full planning permission for our development site, after a long and exacting 1 year and 10 months through the planning system.
Within the next few weeks, the 1.5 hectare site will be transferred to CLT ownership and immediately leased to the CLT’s development partner, Yarlington Housing Group (YHG. The BGP CLT Board has been closely involved with the planning and development process at all stages and will continue to take an active role throughout the construction stage. Our development partners are currently undertaking the tender process to select a construction company. BGP CLT is managing a project of community involvement throughout the construction stage, being led by Lesley Tibballs. We will be keeping the communities within Broadwindsor Group Parish area well informed about progress through local Newsletters, websites and Facebook.
Through the initial stages of the design process, 2 shared ownership units were included as part of the project. Problems have arisen recently, however, concerning this type of property: YHG has merged with Abri, and their latest business plan means that they will no longer buy back a share of these properties when they come on the market. This makes it very difficult for the owner/lessee, without the help of the housing association, to find another buyer who can access the required mortgage funding and also matches the local connection criteria required on this development. In addition, there are very few mortgage lenders willing to finance shared ownership properties. Because of these difficulties, the BGP CLT Board, which has always wished to support people on to the first step of property ownership, very reluctantly agreed to withdraw the shared ownership option. All 15 housing units will now be offered for affordable rent.
I and all members of BGP CLT Board, are greatly cheered at our achievement of full planning permission, and we look forward with great enthusiasm to participating in the next stages of this long-term project in Drimpton.”
The principal aim of the Broadwindsor Group Parish CLT is to provide a small development of affordable housing for rent to people with a direct connection to the villages within this Parish:
Blackdown
Broadwindsor
Burstock
Drimpton
Hursey
Kittwhistle
Seaborough
Anyone interested in being part of the current and future CLT community projects are invited to contact Sheila Hawkins (11esgh528@gmail.com) for a CLT membership. Learn more at their website HERE.orm.#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#BroadwindsorGroupParishCommunityLandTrust,#Netherhay,#BGPCLT,#DorsetCouncil,#NewHomes,#BeSafe,#SocialDistancing,#StaySafe
Parents and Carers of children with a Special Education Needs Disability (SEND) are being asked to give their feedback on how they view the services provided by Dorset Council.
You can read a previous post published at the end of January on SEND‘s report into remote education HERE.
The aim of their survey is to gather your views and experiences of the services and provision in Dorset for children and young people aged 0 – 25 years with additional needs and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can choose to feedback on the sections relevant to you and your child or young person. The survey is open until 31st March 2021. They state that it should take about 20-30 minutes to complete, depending on the number of sections you choose to answer, so please take the time out, along with a well deserved cuppa perhaps and complete the survey.
If you have more than one child with additional needs or a disability, you will need to complete a separate survey for each person aged 0-25 yrs.
Your comments are valued and will be taken into consideration in order for them to:
Update the Dorset SEND strategy
Help both Dorset Council and the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group to continue with their improvement work.
Anticipated to be completed by 12th March,Wessex Water have completed their roadworks at the top of the Salway Ash Road to Bridport and traffic can now flow through 🙂
It has been almost a month since works began and this will be very welcome news for many, particularly ahead of more children returning to schools and colleges on Monday 8th March.
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#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#Elections,#Vote,#YourVoteIsYourVoice,#DorsetCouncil,#CllrSimonChristopher,#PCC,#APCC,#CutCrime,#PoliceThePolice,#BeSafe,#StaySafe
