Affpuddle

  • THE coffee morning in aid of church funds at Moor Lane House was a great success.

It was well supported and much enjoyed. This was in large measure due to Sheila Kayll who kindly opened up her lovely house and garden for the occasion.

Also we must thank those who ran the stalls and contributed in one form or another. Stall profits were: Entrance £57, plants £22.25, books £16.80, crafts £66.69, cakes £110.30, raffle £110, and donations £30. The total profit was £413.04

  • ANTHONY Braine reports for the parish council: At the July meeting of the parish council, we intend to review requests for donations to local charities and non-profit making organisations as authorised under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972. Anyone wishing to make an application for such a grant please write to the Clerk, Anthony Braine as detailed below, to be received by Friday, June 26.

You can write to Anthony either by email at anthony@abraine.wanadoo.co.uk or by letter to 2 St Catherines, Wimborne, BH21 1BE.

The parish council meeting in May was the annual meeting where councillor Jenny Lightfoot was re-elected as chair of the parish council and councillor Nick Gore was re-elected as vice-chair. Cllr Lightfoot summarised the previous year’s activities of the parish council, which included continued campaigns to close the illegal travellers' camp at Sares Wood, to try and increase safety measures on the B3390 and to ensure proper controls on organised events at Shakes Hole. On behalf of the parish council, Cllr Lightfoot also thanked all local organisations who give their time and effort to the benefit of everyone in the parish.

The parish council also received details of the Drive 55 Plus courses.

These are free short courses organised through the county council to refresh and update driving skills. It is a three hour course and requires no driving. To book a place or find out more, call the road safety team on 01305 224558 or email roadsafety@dorsetcc.gov.uk The next meeting of the parish council will be on Wednesday, June 11 at 7pm.

Puddletown

  • THE pre-school is organising an evening of entertainment by The Crack at the corn exchange on Friday, June 12 at 8pm.

There is a licensed bar and a raffle.

Tickets cost £7.50, and are available from the pre-school by telephoning 01305 849533, or from Tourist Information or Scats in Dorchester.

Bere Regis

  • THIS is a shortened version of parish council chairman Ian Ventham's report: At the May meeting of the parish council Andy Kent and Roger Duncanson showed the plans, for the proposed development of the Sports Club facilities.

The council was happy to give its support to these plans, provided that the outcome benefited the largest possible number of parishioners.

Jim Parsons, parish council chairman for the past three years, and a council member for six, announced that he was standing down, not just as chairman, but also from the council.

Jim was congratulated and thanked for his leadership, not just by the Council, but also by Jane Woodward on behalf of those parishioners who regularly attend our meetings.

Ian Ventham was elected as Chairman, and Laurie Fairhurst as Vice Chairman.

On taking the chair, Ian Ventham said that he wished to continue the efforts to achieve what was agreed in the Parish Plan. He said he felt that most of our residents share quite modest aspirations.

They want to live in a place which is safe, clean, and has a strong community spirit. To that end, Ian, with the council, would like to set as his priorities: • Strengthening the links between the village organisations and the council • Presenting our village better through good signage, less litter and a tidied up village car park • Trying to provide improved facilities for our young people, particularly the teenagers.

• Enabling some modest housing development to include a proportion of affordable homes.

The council felt that the Sustainable Communities Local Spending Reports consultation document, which had been issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government, did little but add to the already heavy burden of bureaucracy in local government.

The council therefore refused to endorse it, as had been requested.

Dog poo bins had been requested for Snow Hill, Shitterton, and Chalk Pit Close. We are going to get some prices for additional bins before taking this further. Dog owners are reminded that they are responsible for picking up and binning dog waste. Please do not throw plastic bags of dog poo in the hedges!

It was noted that that a number of street signs are either broken or unreadable.

Purbeck District will be asked to clean or replace such signs.

Dorset county council will be reminded again of the need to cut back foliage that obscures traffic signs.