January 2003 Meeting
The January meeting was addressed by a resident from Hyde complaining of the activities of the Shooting School on the Puddletown Road.
The pity is that these comments were not heard when the School's application for permanent usage was heard in November when the Council decided not to oppose the application for an activity which has been active for seven years.
The Council has asked Parishioners previously for assistance in getting the legal status of Chapel Lane correct.
Older Parishioners will recall that this 'dog legged' path leading from West Street to the Car Park, once led to the old Chapel which subsequently became the carpenters shop in Mr Barnes builders yard.
When the houses were built the lane was diverted and what the Council is attempting to do now is to legalise the lane in its present form as until that is completed it is difficult to maintain.
For a start we need evidence that the lane has been in use previously.
Thus if anybody can recall using Chapel Lane to get to the old Chapel and they are prepared to sign a paper to that effect, then would they please contact the Clerk on 01 929 556263.
Parishioners walking up past the Cemetery will not have failed to notice the hedge laying that has been undertaken recently.
This splendid improvement has been undertaken by Mr John Cleave who has only recently come to live in the village.
The Parish Council recorded their gratitude at the meeting for this very impressive hand work.
At the same time they expressed their thanks to the other voluntary work being undertaken in the Cemetery.
An untidy area, in fact three untidy areas, which were discussed by the Council were the roundabouts at the entrance to the village. There is a strong opinion that they should be adopted as in the cases of the roundabouts in other places.
Initially they need weeding and the Council has requested that the County Council gives them some tender loving care.
In the meantime inquiries are being made for long term adoption of each.
If any Parishioners have any suggestions for likely adopters then please advise the Clerk.
Traffic on the C6 and in particular on Rye Hill was discussed.
Currently the Council was advised that on 5th November there were nearly 7,100 vehicle movements in the 24 hours of that day.
The maximum in one hour in the morning was 651 and in the afternoon 570.
This was November which is not the busiest of months in the year.
The Council is very concerned for the future as in the long term the Winfrith site is likely to expand to beyond its previous size when transport of personnel to and from the site was by special buses.
With so many diverse industries on the site individuals will be travelling presumably by car and many of those people the Council feels will be coming from the larger conurbation's.
Thus the Council is drawing the attention of the Planning Authorities to a potential problem in only a few years time.
The Local Plan Inquiry Report has been studied by the District Council and proposed amendments have been published.
These are now available for comment by the Council and any Parishioners.
The publication is available at libraries, in the District Office or, I am reliably advised, on the 'Web'.
By coincidence on the day that the District Council proposals were published, there was a banner headline outside Mr Seymours stating that Dorset House prices were up by 30%.
From the publication one learns that the average house price in Purbeck is £117,552 and that 60% of Purbeck households have incomes of less than £20,000.
Regrettably these details seem to have escaped the good Councillors of Purbeck in their deliberations on the Inspectors report as there are no recommendations for affordable housing in Bere Regis.
It is thus hardly any wonder that few young people can return to their home villages.
If you wish to comment you have until the end of February to do so.
February 2003 Meeting
There was a strong visitation of Parishioners at the February meeting expressing their concern on a number of topics.
One Parishioner spoke of the return of the travellers to the Picnic Area and requested that something be done.
Sadly the Parish Council can do little more than express their concern to the County Council and request that further steps be taken to protect the areas that the travellers descend on.
This will be done but as was stated, these actions take time.
Several parents of the younger children who frequent the play area expressed their concerns on the condition of the play area.
As reported previously the wood chips have been contaminated with glass from broken bottles etc.
Sadly we seem unable to prevent the older children from using the area and spoiling it for the younger children.
The play area is a constant task for repairs and maintenance and the Council budget over £1500 each year.
The Community Wardens visit the area when they are in the Village and report their observations, however the Council are unable to employ anybody to constantly clear it up.
Thus the state of the area is dependent upon the good services of the parents of children using it.
Clearly the problem is the glass and the youngsters who deposit bottles without any thought.
Nobody seems to know them or where they live but they are of our own and one day they may be the parents of young children wishing to make use of-the play area - safely.
Where, one may ask, do they learn this irresponsibility?
The Council hopes to be able to make the area safer and several ideas are being looked into.
In the meantime the Council is aware that the older children have desires for their own 'area'.
Ideas abound and it is hoped that a meeting can be set up with them - again.
The Council has learned of some money that could be applied for as schemes to reduce crime and disorder do attract some funding.
However at the end of the day it is likely that the available sums for both the play area and the older children's area will be but a fraction of the costs actually required, which leaves the balances to be raised by fund raising.
The School Governors attended the meeting to express their concerns about the traffic on Rye Hill by the school.
Some Councillors were pleased to see that the speed limits had been embossed on the road surface and that slow warnings had been included before the school.
Others thought that they were ineffective.
Sadly the County Council Roads Department had failed to remember that they had promised a return visit to the Parish Council at this meeting and the Governors were hoping to meet with them.
The DCC officers will be asked to a future meeting to discuss the plan that had been suggested by the Governors to improve the safety along this road.
Our own County Councillor advised the meeting that the problems of the Cb were being reviewed by the County Council taking into account the impact of greater traffic flows with the expansion of business at Winfrith.
For a long while Councillors have complained about the condition of the roundabouts at the entrance to the Village on both the A31 and the A35.
The feeling has been that they both require tidying up.
It has been suggested that the Council endeavour to find firms who would be prepared to sponsor a roundabout and dispense some 'tender loving care' to improve their appearance and consequently to raise the initial impression of the village.
The Council were advised of a transport scheme run by the Wareham Transport Action Group and named 'Home Hopper'.
This is a scheme based in Wareham but extends from Bere Regis to Corfe Castle and Wool to Holton Heath for people who find it difficult to use public transport.
Information on this service is available on 552586, 550268 or 556655.
March 2003 Meeting
The March meeting of the Council is the Annual Parish Meeting and is specifically advertised around the Parish as such. All Parishioners are invited to attend and to air their particular concerns.
Unusually the 2003 meeting attracted a large number and the Drax Hall was very nearly full to capacity.
At this meeting the Chairman reports on the activities of the Council throughout the previous twelve months.
People often laugh about the activities of a Parish Council as they are dealing at the grass roots end of activities, but listening to the Chairman list the number of achievements this year it is clear that the Council has been very busy.
Considering that we started the year without Councillors it is a credit that much has been achieved.
Perhaps a reflection to the Council meeting of one hundred years ago would be of interest as the Minutes for the meeting held on March 23rd 1903 record that there was not a Quorum so no decision could be made in respect of an application from Mr John Barnes, the grave digger, for an increase in salary.
The matter was resolved at the next meeting on 16th April 1903 when an offer of an increase of ten shillings (50p) per annum was made.
This was immediately accepted and actually increased the salary to Five pounds ten shillings (£5.50) per year for looking after the Cemetery.
Fortunately he received five shillings (25p) for each grave that he dug.
Back to today!
At the public participation period one Parishioner expressed concerns about the return of the Travellers to the Gallows Hill area and the Picnic Area in particular, a matter to which the Council is equally concerned but unable to act beyond seeking the assistance of the County Council. Another Parishioner expressed her concerns about the Children's Play area and reported on the activities and aims of the committee that has been formed to take care of the area.
The Council welcomed this new initiative and promised as much help as is possible to ensure that the Play area is both enjoyable and safe.
A Parishioner asked about the application by the Royal Oak for an Entertainment Licence and this provoked a wide debate on what was being requested, what had been advertised as requested and the vivid description of the proposed activities envisaged.
The matter was well aired under the control of the Chairman.
Finally another Parishioner questioned the reasons for any proposed increases in Council Tax, particularly the precept from this Parish. He noted that there were reserves in the Council account.
It was explained that the Council has to pay increasing amounts, as everybody does, for items.
The reserves are there today for items awaiting attention - we need to put aside money to keep the play area in order, we put money aside each year for the new Village Hall and we have to try to foresee what might become a problem.
As was pointed out the Budget decision resulted from several Council meetings and was deliberated slowly and carefully, it was not simply 'add five percent to last year'.
The Council considered the application by the Royal Oak for an Entertainment's Licence and debated the matter fully.
There were discrepancies between the application form and the Official Notice as published in the Press, and also with the description of the proposed activities by the Applicant.
After a careful discussion the Council resolved to defer a recommendation on the application and requested that the District Licensing Officer be requested to investigate the matter and advise the Applicant on the presentation of the application.
For a number of the years the Council has been concerned about the appearance to visitors of the entrances to the Village.
A number of organisations were approached to see whether they would be interested in sponsoring a Roundabout.
Favourable replies have been received and these have been passed to the Authorities concerned.
It is to be hoped that we may see some improvements to these Roundabouts quite soon.
The Council was advised that the overall increase in Council Tax this year will be 15.5%.
The letters advising individuals of their obligations will be arriving in the next few days.
Of this increase the Parish Council is responsible for a 5% increase.
The Council continues its concern for the traffic and speed on the C6 particularly on Rye Hill.
Residents are not impressed with the new signs.
The County Councillor is in deep discussion with the County Officers concerning the long term solutions.
The Council is attempting to establish the status of the Green Lane that extends from Snowhill to Townsend.
This has come about because a number of four wheel drive vehicles have been sighted on the lane.
Parishioners are asked to try to remember whether the lane has been used as road in the past or was it just a Bridleway?.
If anyone can help they are asked to contact the Clerk on 556263.
April 2003 Meeting
The vehicular traffic on the Green Lane from Snow Hill down to Townsend was the subject for debate at the April meeting.
This lane had been blocked off by the Estate but had been re-opened after the County Council gave instructions whilst they investigated its status.
Historical connections were quoted in support of its status as an access to the fields.
The matter is being further investigated.
The Council had been advised that the PDC Licensing Board is to hold its May meeting at The Drax Hall to hear the application for an entertainment's licence for the Royal Oak.
This meeting, which will be open to the public, will be on Tuesday 13th May at 10.00am.
Parishioners expressed concern about the wording on a notice that had appeared outside the Royal Oak during the previous week.
The recently formed Play Park Committee, reported on their meeting and on the progress to improve the existing facilities.
The Council is grateful to this Committee for working so hard to improve the play area.
Parishioners expressed their concerns about the travellers and their coming and goings at the Picnic Site and at Gallows Hill.
It appears that the ownership of the land at the Picnic Site has been in dispute since the Army own most of it but the County owned the remains of the original road.
It has now been decided that the Army should take possession of the whole site.
In turn they will clear the area and create a Picnic/Viewing Site.
It is anticipated that the Travellers will be cleared off the site in the near future.
The Council were advised that the County is seeking specified areas where Travellers may stay so that the new legislation whereby Travellers are only permitted on specific sites can be enforced.
If Travellers then park themselves on other sites they can be moved on without the need of the delaying Court actions.
The Council have been advised that the Military Traffic restriction signs for the area of road by the school should be appearing soon. They will advise a speed restriction of 20mph and of the limited times for heavy traffic to access the area.
The Council were very pleased to learn of the progress with the provision of a Youth Shelter.
A very successful meeting had been held with the Youth, the residents and the Police together with the Wardens.
Cllr Storey had prepared a design for the Shelter and the area between Elder Road and the stream and all had agreed to proceed.
An application for planning approval will be made.
Funding for this project is available from a variety of sources and Cllr Foster is to be congratulated for his efforts in finding those sources.
The Council were advised of a proposal for a Wind Farm at Winterbourne Zelston.
An exhibition has been held at Blandford and Councillors were invited to attend.
It was very encouraging to see and hear of the favourable response to the proposal from people who live closest to the sites.