Thursday 2nd May 2024 is the election day for Dorset Council and the Town and Parish Councillors. The list of nominations for Sixpenny Handley and Pentridge are below with a full list nominations by Town and Parish Councils can be found here.

There are 8 seats for Sixpenny Handley and 2 for Pentridge. Please make sure you vote for the Parish Council for the next 4 years.

There is also voting for our Dorset Council representatives with ours covering Cranborne Chase, the full list can be found here

Guidance on how to vote is here

Do not forget you need to have a photo ID with you when going to vote

Details on the road closure on 4th April whilst Open Reach replace Telegraph Poles on the road out of the village to the roundabout.

Dorset Council are half-way through their joint survey with BCP Council seeking the views of residents, visitors and businesses on travel and transport opportunities and issues across the county.

It’s gathered a lot of interest so far, so thank you for your support.

Please complete a survey on transport in Dorset.

Dorset Council and BCP Council need your views to help them develop a new local transport plan to travel safely and easily around the county, while protecting its special landscape.

This is essential to help the two councils shape a transport plan that works for everyone in Dorset.

Find out more and complete the survey HERE

Survey closes Sunday 3 March 2024.

Issued at the request of BCP and Dorset Council

Government Granting has been made available to deliver Fibre Broadband Capabilty to Sixpenny Handley. The Parish Council are supporting this initiative through close liasion with the Wessex Internet team. This will be to provide 'local' communications via this website and awareness of what may be needed to help make this a reality.

Wessex Internet are very experienced at deploying Fibre capabilities having experience across the county and specifically with the Dorset Council Gigabit project, which in our village enabled Fibre connectivity for the School.

25 October join us at Sixpenny Handley Village Hall to meet Josh from Wessex Internet. Discover our exciting plans for the village, and have any questions answered by Josh, who is our Wessex Internet Community Engagement Manager.

Make sure you have your say on the future of Affordable Housing across Dorset, but more importantly how our Parish will benefit.

Residents who take part will have the opportunity to influence the council’s approach to housing over the next five years.

The consultation is primarily a questionnaire, with some space for free text, it’s anticipated it will take just minutes to complete.

The aim is for as many people as possible to contribute with their views about what is important to them.

Key issues such as housing need, supply, and standards are some of the issues highlighted. The over-arching aim of the consultation however is simple, to hear what residents have to say.

Lead member for Housing Councillor Graham Carr-Jones said;

“The housing strategy is for and about the residents of Dorset. Dorset Council does not want to produce a strategy without collaborating with the people it is about and the people it is for.

Our residents’ feedback is as important as ever and when we’ve consulted in the past we have been encouraged by the response.

The consultation is for everyone, individuals, families, organisations, people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Visit the website to take part in the consultation. There are also short videos about residents’ experiences. The consultation is open for 10 weeks.

If residents are unable to complete the consultation on -line or wish to request a paper copy, please call 01305 221000 for further information.

The strategy will run from 24 July 2023 for ten weeks and closes on Monday 2nd of October.

An evidence-based document will also be available for anyone who chooses to read it, it is not compulsory. It can be accessed on the consultation site or at libraries.

Paper copies will need to be returned by 6th October 2023.

Country Watch

A collective of partners working together to tackle rural crime in Dorset.

Its great to see a county wide initiative that supports rural communities, more details are Here!

With winter approaching and the on-going cost of living crisis, many people are increasingly worried about how they are going to pay bills, heat their home and put food on the table.

Citizens Advice in East Dorset and Purbeck would like to remind residents to seek help early on and that they are here to offer free advice and support.

Experienced advisers are available to provide support about a wide range of issues including, debt, energy advice, employment, benefits and housing. There is a range of support available particularly to low income households which many residents many not know about.

Advice is provided through multiple channels including telephone, email, video conferencing and face to face from their offices in Wimborne and Wareham and from outreach services across the region. Home visits are also offered to those more vulnerable people who are unable to access these services.

Free Carbon Monoxide Monitor

Citizens Advice in East Dorset and Purbeck are offering free Carbon Monoxide Monitors. Please speak to an adviser for a chat about the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning and a free monitor will be ordered for you.

Drop-in Locations

Local residents can call into one of the drop-in sessions at the following locations. Advice is free and no appointment is necessary:

• Wimborne Citizens Advice - Monday 10am-12noon

• Wareham Citizens Advice - Thursday 10am-12noon

• Ferndown Library - Tuesday & Friday, 10am-2pm

• The Centre, Barns Road, Ferndown - Thursday, 10am-2pm

• Lytchett Matravers Library - Friday 10am-12noon

• Swanage Town Hall, Wednesday 10am-2pm (except first Wednesday of the month)

• Herston Village Hall, Swanage - First Monday of each month 10am-12noon

And by appointment only at:

Bovington Hive, Lytchett Minster & Upton Town Council, Swanage Library, Upton Library &

Verwood Library.

For details of all of outreach and drop-in locations visit www.edpcitizensadvice.org.uk/get-advice/in-person

For general advice and support call the Dorset Adviceline freephone 0800 144 8848 (Textphone: 0800 144 8884), 10am-4pm weekdays or visit www.edpcitizensadvice.org.uk

ends

For more information contact:Sian Smith, Comms Officer, tel: 01929 408947, email: sian.smith@edpcitizensadvice.org.uk

About Citizens Advice in East Dorset and Purbeck

Citizens Advice in East Dorset and Purbeck have offices in Wareham and Wimborne with outreach clinics throughout East Dorset and Purbeck.

Citizens Advice in East Dorset and Purbeck provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities to enable them to find a way forward whatever problems they face. We value diversity, promote equality, challenge discrimination wherever we see it and aim to improve the policies and practices that affect people's lives. Visit www.edpcitizensadvice.org.uk for more information.

Citizens Advice in East Dorset and Purbeck is a registered charity, charity number: 1068414

Concern about the cutting back of the recreation ground hedge (part of the medium-term plan below) has been raised on Facebook, this report is to clarify issues raised and provide details on what is taking place. Please note every Parish Councillor is a volunteer, voted in by the community. If you feel strongly about this and other issues please contact a member of the council directly, our details are in the Downsman and on the Parish Council website – https://sixpennyhandleyandpentridge-pc.gov.uk.

The recreation ground hedges have not been managed for over 25 years, this is due to the fact that ownership was not clear, as part of the Recreation Ground review ownership was identified and is the responsibility of the Parish Council. The whole Parish Council met at the Recreation Ground earlier this year to discuss upkeep and maintenance of the ground and facilities which is owned by the Parish. This included buildings, boundaries, and the ground maintenance. All aspects to be considered by the Parish Council were captured in the ‘Grounds Maintenance & Future Planning’ document. At the Finance and General Purpose Parish Council Meeting held on the 3^rd of June at the Parish Office the document was reviewed. The outcome of this was a short, medium and long term plan being agreed and minuted. The following is an extract from the minutes which are available from the Parish Office on request.

Short Term

Members agreed to engage with local contractor Bradley Kilshaw to discuss matters relating to the Cricket boundary perimeter & banking, Artificial strip maintenance & practise nets, Play area & Church boundary hedge and the School end boundary - removal of elder & scrub encroaching onto recreation area. Members agreed to meet Mr Kilshaw at Recreation Ground 4th June @ 5pm Cllrs Reed, Meaden & New to attend. The new hedge along Saddlers boundary needs regular watering – the Bowls Club have an outside tap to provide a possible solution. Cllr D Adams agreed responsibility to mow the L shape grassed area whilst maintaining a pathway for school pick up. Members agreed for the Pitch Groundsman to continue to mow the cricket outfield.

Medium Term

The planting of a hedge behind the green container – continuation of hedge to tidy up the corner of the cricket boundary. The large hedge row between S Judd’s land and the Recreation ground is the responsibility of the PC but works to layer/reduce will require access for the appropriate machinery. Members agreed to gain permission and quotes from landowner & contractor and begin work at the (Church end) and continuing towards the corner of the rapeseed field. Commencement of work late September/October as any waste can be disposed of on the annual bonfire. Cllr D Adams to approach Mr S Judd. A local contractor has been contacted to landscape & grade the land at the rear of the Pavilion – waiting for a child friendly natural design and quote.

Longer Term

• The continuation of hedge row layering – Autumn 2022.
• The reorganisation of storage, increasing capacity, replacement/removal of the green container and the amalgamation of machinery to one compound area – formal planning and grant funding will be required.
• The purchase of a new mower will require raising funds.

Vegetation on the steep football bank to be left longer - a home to wildflowers encourage flora & fauna.

Why cut the hedge back

It is very difficult to find suitably qualified contractors at this time of year and there is limited time for this work to be conducted and allow time for the remaining work in time for spring growth. The state of the hedgerow, habitation, fruit etc was also made, normally at this time of year frost have set in and fruit has been eaten by the wildlife. Whilst the season is mild at the moment it was deemed suitable to complete the work as there were fruit available in the remaining hedgerow and no evident nesting. An opportunity to gain someone was identified earlier this month and so a meeting with the contractor was held at the start of this week. The following was discussed:

We looked at the first 150m from the playground down towards the pavilion up to the point where the grass becomes the arable field. The remainder would have to be done next year if this fitted in with Steve’s cropping plans. This would involve cutting the hedge down close to the ground, removing most of the brush with some being replaced to protect the stumps and any new hedge plants as and when these are planted. Some of the hedge is quite large and would need to be cut with a saw due to the diameter of the wood but there isn’t much scope to leave larger plants to grow into full trees because of the power lines.

The contractor was only available this week and so with agreement with the Parish Council the work was initiated. Unfortunately, this did not give time to inform the wider community and it also transpired that Steve Judd had not been fully briefed on the extent of the work. A member of the Parish Council therefore updated Steve on the work to address this shortfall.

Whilst the cutback looks extreme it is in fact in line with best practice, cutting close to the ground encourages ground level regrowth leading to a stronger hedge, leaving stumps encourages top growth and a weaker hedge. The trees needed to be removed due to the power line running over the top of the hedge line. The brush needed to be removed as it had become a habitat for rabbits which were digging holes in the football pitch resulting in broken ankles and therefore a public liability if not addressed. They also were infected with myxomatosis and so were also an issue to other rabbit populations.

The hedgerow has also become much wider than intended, the ground now exposed will be laid with native wildflowers, there are 400 native bushes on order which will be planted this winter. There are saplings on the bank which will also be relocated to fill gaps and help establish the run of the hedge. As stated, the full hedgerow is not being cut this year, this is to ensure there is still a habitat for wildlife in this area of the recreation ground. Whilst there has been some loss of fruit, most was stripped and there is still the remaining hedgerow as well as the abundance of hedges around the parish.

It should be noted that there is further work being carried out over the coming weeks, trees next to the pond at the entrance to the village hall are being felled, this is to improve visibility at the entrance and again address management of the areas the parish council are responsible. All legal aspects regarding the felling of the trees have been addressed and planning permission is not required due to the tree species.

If you feel strongly about any of this, please contact a member of the parish council directly. Please do not publish further comments on Facebook, not everyone has access, and it can lead to mis information and upset, we are a community and face to face talks are always the best way forward. If you would also like to volunteer to help in this long-term project then please contact us, we are few and could do with some help every now and then.

Thankyou

The Parish Council

 “105” has been launched by electricity network operators for customers to call should they need to report or get information about a power cut in their area. Dialling 105 will put customers through to their local electricity network operator – the company that manages the cables, power lines and substations that deliver electricity into homes and businesses in their area.

Customers can call 105 no matter who they choose to buy electricity from. Customers can also call 105 if they
spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put anyone in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, they should call the emergency services too.