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July 2020 July 2020

If you live within the parish and need any help coping with the restrictions caused
NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER - VIRTUALLY by Covid19 please don't hesitate to contact the group through the parish
helpline - email or phone below. We are aware that some people are reluctant
to ask for help, but please know that our lovely volunteers are there to help you
Dorset is such a beautiful and wonderful place to
live and work, and we are very lucky to have both during these difficult times.
the Jurassic Coast and areas of accessible In case anyone hasn’t heard, Amelia Chorely is working away at her new project
heathland right on the doorstep. However, as I - an amazing effort to produce an embroidery patchwork of the parish in
write, we have recently had problems at the pictures. Details are on the community website https://briantspuddle.info/the-
beautiful beaches of Lulworth and Durdle Door of parish-in-pictures. Also Elizabeth Whatley’s incredible project to produce a VE
overcrowding and antisocial behaviour. We have day Scrapbook is practically complete although there are a few spare pages if
also had the devastating fire in Wareham Forest.
anyone would like to send material in to her via the email below. More details on
These areas are normally extremely busy at this time the website https://briantspuddle.info/ve-day-75-memories
of year and it is right to highlight how important Contact details for the COVID-19 Response Group will remain unchanged
visitors are to Dorset’s economy, which is highly throughout this crisis.
dependent on tourism. It is also the case that many areas in Dorset, including
other parts of our coastline have not experienced the same problems. The Email: parishhelpline@gmail.com Phone:07745 796 118
unusually hot weather has undoubtedly played its part too.
David Griffith, Response Group Coordinator
I visited the fire site with
the Chief Fire Officer to

speak to the teams
fighting the fire, and to
see for myself the
damage that was
c a u s e d . I t w a s
devastating to see our
heathland scarred with
burning, and I repeat
their request that people
should not have Bar-B-Qs
or camp fires out in the
open to prevent a
r e p e a t o f t h a t
fire. However, even in a
short number of days after the fire, nature was fighting back and green shoots
could be seen through the ashes.
I believe that it is right that we are gradually beginning to get back to normal,
whilst maintaining the clear need to social distance. As more restrictions are
lifted, and cases of Covid-19 continue to fall, there will be greater opportunity for
people to spread out, visit other parts of our wonderful country, and lessen the
burden on the one or two locations that have been in the headlines locally. This
pandemic is both a health and economic crisis and with careful management it
is possible to support Dorset’s vital tourism industry whilst keeping local people
and tourists safe.

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