The Parish Council met on Thursday 9th January 2025 in the Village Hall. 1 member of the public was present, together with our Ward Councillor Laura Beddow. Members of the press and public are welcome and there is a period for public participation at the start. If you are unable to attend but wish to submit a comment or question, please contact the Clerk or any member of the Parish Council. VE Day Anniversary Thursday 8th May 2025 marks the 80th Anniversary of VE Day. Cllr Jackie Percy will be co-ordinator this event on behalf of the Parish Council. If you, or a group you belong to, are planning to hold an event for VE Day, please let her know. If there is sufficient support, the Parish Council will draw up a flier to go to every household in the parish listing all the events that are happening, when and where they will be taking place. You can contact Cllr Percy on j.percy@bereregisparishcouncil.gov.uk .
Community Hall update
We have now received a response from Natural England – the body that oversees Common Land. They have been very helpful and supportive and given detailed information regarding the Section 38 we had hoped to apply for. However, they have made it clear that they will not support any form of development on Souls Moor. They have indicated that the Scout Hut site may be more amenable to them but there would still be a great many details that need to be considered and other statutory bodies that need to be consulted. At the same time, a response has also been received from Dorset Wildlife Trust offering the Parish Council, or other appropriate body, the opportunity to consider the purchase of a long lease on a plot within the development area of Court Farm. The Parish Council will continue to pursue both options at this stage.
Tree works
As many may have noticed, one of the pillars in the cemetery wall is beginning to crumble. This is as a direct result of the tree growth alongside it in the cemetery. It has got to the stage now that it is necessary to undertake some fairly drastic work involving the removal of the Ash tree and the adjacent laurel in order for the work to be undertaken on the wall. As soon as the work is completed, we will look at planting a more appropriate tree or shrub.
Traffic Surveys
In October 2024, four traffic surveys were undertaken around the village. The results are now in and will be available shortly on the Parish Council website.
Play Park
The current structures continue to deteriorate and it is becoming more important that a replacement park is built. However, in order to do this, volunteers are needed to undertake the work of fund raising, consultation and deciding what should be put there. If we do not get the volunteers, this will not happen. If you are able to spare some time for this valuable village asset, please contact Cllr Sam Bardwell on s.bardwell@bereregisparishcouncil.gov.uk
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 13th February 2025 commencing 7pm at the Village Hall. If you wish to have an item added to the agenda for discussion, please contact the Clerk or a member of the Parish Council. A full copy of the minutes is available on the Parish Council website.
February 2025
Bere Regis Parish Council
The Parish Council met on Thursday 13th February 2025 in the Village Hall. 1 member of the public was present, together with our Ward Councillor Mike Baker. Members of the press and public are welcome and there is a period for public participation at the start. If you are unable to attend but wish to submit a comment or question, please contact the Clerk or any member of the Parish Council.
VE Day Anniversary
Thursday 8th May 2025 marks the 80th Anniversary of VE Day. Cllr Jackie Percy will be co-ordinator this event on behalf of the Parish Council. If you, or a group you belong to, are planning to hold an event for VE Day, please let her know. If there is sufficient support, the Parish Council will draw up a flier to go to every household in the parish listing all the events that are happening, when and where they will be taking place. We are also looking to have a display of memorabilia from the time, and if you have any relevant items you wish to loan for the purpose of this display, you can contact Cllr Percy on percy789@outlook.com.
New Councillor
We were delighted to co-opt James Hawkins into our current vacancy, and welcome him into the Parish Council.
Tree works
Further to our notes last month, the trees in the Cemetery surrounding the wall that’s in urgent need of repair have now been removed, and once we have results of the root surveys we will seek quotes to repair the wall. Once that has been fixed, we will look to plant similar trees in the area.
Traffic
Following the 2024 parish survey, there was strong support for measures to reduce the speed of traffic in the village and to address a number of other vehicle related issues. In July 2024, we met with representatives from Dorset Council to discuss both speed and parking issues in the centre of the village and on Rye Hill. As a result of this meeting, we requested that an all our yellow lines be repainted, and our white lines in the village centre be either repainted, or in some cases added at various junctions. We also requested that yellow lines outside the Royal Oak be investigated, and that Green Close / Rye Hill junction be reviewed to see what safety improvements could be made. Yellow lines outside the Royal Oak have subsequently being rejected. None of our requested yellow or white lines have so far been repainted or added. We are not aware of the outcome of any review of the Green Close / Rye Hill Junction. As a further result of the July meeting, in October 2024, Dorset Council undertook four traffic speed and volume surveys on our behalf, on Rye Hill, Southbrook, West Street and Elder Road. The results of these surveys have been published on the Bere Regis Parish Council website. In summary, they indicate that less traffic than we perhaps expected is exceeding the 30mph speed limit, with the exception of Rye Hill where levels of speeding match previous surveys, and remain unacceptable. In the centre of the village, in particular West Street, average vehicle speed is less than 20mph. On Southbrook and Elder Road, average vehicle speed is less than 30 mph. We therefore do not believe it is necessary to apply for a 20mph speed limit in the village centre at this stage. Rye Hill remains a problem, but far more traffic was recorded as speeding coming down the hill. We still await the extension of the 30 mile an hour zone further towards Wool, and we will assess the impact on speeding traffic once this has taken place.
Play Park
The current structures continue to deteriorate and it is becoming more important that a replacement park is built. However, in order to do this, volunteers are needed to undertake the work of fund raising, consultation and deciding what should be put there. If we do not get the volunteers, this will not happen. If you are able to spare some time for this valuable village asset, please contact Cllr Sam Bardwell on S.bardwell@bereregisparishcouncil.gov.uk
Car Park
There is currently a Silver Nissan X Trail in the Main Village Car Park, registration YP07 UED which has been there for a number of months without moving and is untaxed. With the upcoming work to install the EV Charging points later this year, we do require it to be moved and hope that the owner or someone who knows them can see this and arrange for it to be removed, before we have to remove it ourselves.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 13th March 2025 commencing 7pm at the Village Hall. If you wish to have an item added to the agenda for discussion, please contact the Clerk or a member of the Parish Council. A full copy of the minutes is available on the Parish Council website.
March 2025
Bere Regis Parish Council
The Parish Council met on Thursday 13th March 2025 in the Village Hall. 3 members of the public were present, together with our Ward Councillor Mike Baker. Members of the press and public are welcome and there is a period for public participation at the start. If you are unable to attend but wish to submit a comment or question, please contact the Clerk or any member of the Parish Council.
Cllr Peter Wharf
After 25 years serving on the Parish Council and with Dorset Council, Peter has decided to step down from the roles. He has been seriously ill over the last two years but, despite that, he has always been available at the end of the ‘phone to help with any queries. His tireless efforts and work on behalf of the parish over the years has been invaluable and he will be greatly missed. We wish both Peter and Pat, his wife, all the very best of wishes and thank him for his commitment to the Parish Council and community over the years.
VE Day Anniversary
Thursday 8th May 2025 marks the 80th Anniversary of VE Day. Cllr Jackie Percy is co-ordinating this event on behalf of the Parish Council and a flier listing the various events will be delivered to every household in the parish in early April.
Communibus
We are very pleased to announce that we have been able to purchase a new bus to replace our existing one. The current bus has been very well used over the last few years and is beginning to show signs of wear. With the closure of Nordcat, we have been able to secure one of their fleet at a cost of £11,000. This will be funded by an £8,000 grant from Dorset Council and £3,000 raised by donations and the sale of the current bus. We hope the new bus will be in service by the end of April.
Tree works
Following a tree hazard survey that was undertaken in February, several trees along the riverside walk were highlighted as ‘priority 2’ which meant work had to be undertaken quite quickly. This involved the removal of overhanging branches, pollarding where the tree is split, felling where the tree is leaning against its neighbours or where the tree is in danger of falling across a public area. This is the first phase of the works required but, once completed, no further maintenance will be undertaken until the autumn unless completely necessary. We also hope to start looking into planting replacement trees in the autumn.
Energy Bus
The Dorset Energy Advice Bus will be in the Turberville Road car park every Wednesday in April, commencing the 9th April from 10am to 1pm. No appointment is necessary and anyone can turn up and talk to the staff present about energy efficiency, resolving billing issues, meter problems, supplier issues or anything else relating to energy usage. It is completely free of charge. So do go along if you have any questions or worries about paying your bill.
Play Park
A small group of volunteers has been set up to look into replacing the existing play area and organise some fund raising. More volunteers are needed. If you are able to spare some time for this valuable village asset, please contact Cllr Sam Bardwell on S.bardwell@bereregisparishcouncil.gov.uk.
Grants
Members were pleased to assist the Scout Group with another grant, this time towards the cost of new tents and an indoor rifle range. The Parish Council has funds set aside to assist parish groups with any projects or costs they may have. This could be anything from paying for guest speakers, assisting with the cost of kit or buying a particular piece of equipment. If you do have a project in mind, please contact a member of the Parish Council and ask for a grant application form.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 10th April 2025 commencing 7pm at the Village Hall. If you wish to have an item added to the agenda for discussion, please contact the Clerk or a member of the Parish Council. A full copy of the minutes is available on the Parish Council website.
