PUBLIC NOTICE – B3146 Glanvilles Wootton.pdf

The B3146 is scheduled for closure from 10th to 14th May 2021.  See the link for more information.

Traffic Interruptions

South Farm To Park Lane War Memorial, Glanvilles Wootton, Dorset
13 November – 13 November

Delays likely – Road closure

Name: South Farm To Park Lane War Memorial, Glanvilles Wootton

Location: South Farm To Park Lane War Memorial

Description: Streetworks / License – Streetworks

Responsibility for event: Dorset

Current status: Planned

Roadworks

South Farm to Park Lane War Memorial, Glanvilles Wootton, Dorset
13 November — 13 November

Delays likely – Road closure

Works location: On the bridge near sewage works

Works description: Repairing railings on the bridge

Responsibility for works: Dorset

Current status: Planned work about to start

Works reference: B319014160605
 

Before he died in 2019 Sir Howard Guinness was keen to give a piece of land to our church in Glanvilles Wootton with a view to finding a permanent solution to issues around parking and access. Most people will be familiar with the current access and parking arrangements but maybe not the actual status of those arrangements.

The current carpark is on private land. Robert Frankcom very kindly allows the church to use this land and to access it by car along his private drive. Although it has been in place for a number of years this is a temporary arrangement. At any time, we could lose this parking at which point the church would become effectively landlocked, except by the footpath or along Rectory Drive. The alternative would be parking on the B3146 road through the village or on the first (public) part of Rectory Drive.

For many people in this village and surrounding areas the continuing survival of the church of St Mary’s Glanvilles Wootton as a functioning building is very important. We need to avoid a situation arising in which the Diocese of Salisbury opts to close the building, something they would be more likely to consider if access and parking became difficult. We believe that there may already be pressure to close a number of rural churches in our area, so the threat is real.

Sir Howard Guinness’ gift of the land to the Church finally completed last month. Subject to Planning approval being obtained and through agreement with the owners of The Old Rectory, to replace the existing right to access the church along the full length of Rectory Drive with a new right to access the gifted land, the PCC would like to use it for occasional parking primarily for church services. Nowadays there are typically two regular services a month plus a small number of weddings, christenings and funerals. The numbers attending the regular services are low and since some people walk to church there are relatively few cars. The car park we require would reflect this and be low key, there would be no lights, no tarmac, just an informal surface akin to that we currently have on the temporary car park. Furthermore, there would be no interruption of the public footpath that runs diagonally across the field.

We hope that people in Glanvilles Wootton, whether churchgoers or not, would like St Mary’s to continue as a living part of the village and will understand that this parking provision will help to achieve that.

This will be my last report as your County and District Councillor as both the County and District Council’s ceased to exist on the 1st April and were replaced by the Dorset Council. Along with three others I am putting my name forward in the Dorset Council Elections on 2nd May but at this point who knows what the outcome will be.

It has been eight years since I became your District Councillor and six since I became your County Councillor. The main local authority theme running through those years has been Highways – speeding, vehicle size, road conditions, parking and potholes. The next most important theme as been planning – where properties are proposed, what the properties are for, density of building, impact on neighbours and whether or not the parish should do a Neighbourhood Plan. I fear it will be ever thus under the new Council. The main issue raised with me outside of local authorities matters is that of local policing and unhappiness with the service provided in the rural area. The next most important is that of rural transport. Our rural area has changed from the long settled dairy farming area I grew up in to an area which is increasingly urban in its population and in the expectations of that population, the majority of whom are newcomers from towns and cities elsewhere.

I thank all those who have worked with me over the years as your Councillor, especially in those parishes which will no longer be part of the Blackmore Vale Ward, should I be successful in being elected as its councillor.

Pauline Batstone
County and District Councillor
Elvlyn Cottage,
Glue Hill,
Sturminster Newton
Dorset DT10 2DJ
Clr.p.batstone@btinternet.com
Facebook – Councillor Pauline Batstone

Latest news on The Stainer Field  – 2 April, 2019

Following the sad death of Margaret Stainer some months ago, her daughter Carol very kindly agreed to separate the field attached to her mother’s bungalow in Glanvilles Wootton. Today, her agents accepted an offer made by the Village Hall Committee for the 2/3 acre field which is directly behind the village hall.

At last week’s AGM of the Village Hall Committee, with 57 people attending, 48 pledged their financial support for this exciting project. The present Hall was built in 1932 and funds for that were raised in exactly the same way as now; by the generosity of people here in the villages of Glanvilles Wootton, Holnest & Middlemarsh.

Through the efforts of everyone who has contributed, this important addition to the village means we can use it as overflow parking for village hall events. So, no more tricky parking on the grass verges at night.

We can also use the extra space for community events – barbecues, children’s parties, picnics etc.

The committee set themselves a target of £25,000 to buy the field and we’re almost there!

However, we still need to raise some more before the field is properly secure. Everyone is delighted and proud to hear of the amazing support shown by our own small community.

If you want any more information or wish to contribute yourself, please get in contact with the Chairman of the Village Hall Committee, Paul Goodfellow on 01963 210487 or the Chairman of the Parish Meeting, Mike Sandy on 01963 210256 (email: chairgwparishmeeting@outlook.com)

Glanvilles Wootton, Holnest & Middlemarsh Village Hall Appeal

Your village hall needs you!

As you may have heard, Margaret Stainer died a short while ago. Her property, next door to the village hall, is now coming onto the market via Symonds & Sampson. The Village Hall Committee as been given first refusal to buy the field directly behind the hall.

This small paddock will provide an extremely worthwhile amenity for all of us here in the three villages. However, we now need to raise up to £25,000 to help cover the cost of purchase and all legal fees etc.

The Village Hall has very limited funds and so we are asking people to contribute towards this appeal. If you would like to help in any way or want any further information please  contact Mike Sandy in the first instance on 01963 210256 (email: chairgwparishmeeting@outlook.com) before 27 March 2019.

There will be an AGM of the Village Hall Committee open to everyone on Wednesday 27 March 2019 at 7.30 pm and this appeal will be an important item for discussion.Whether or not you’re able to help, do please come along and hear about Margaret’s field.

Dear All,

I have found recently (much to my own amazement) that I have signed up to do the Diabetes UK Swim22 Challenge. In the next 3 months I need to swim as many miles across the English Channel as possible; 22 miles apparently (good grief). Thankfully I can swim this in the Oxley Sports Centre pool at my own convenience. Phew.

Please forgive me but could I ask for sponsors? So far I’ve swum 5.34 miles and raised £100.00, I’m aiming for £220. The link for my Just Giving page where you can donate electronically is below:

https://www,justgiving.com/fundraising/Bernadette-Egan?utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_transactional_

Thank you all in anticipation,

Bernie Egan ( Ben and Tess’ Mum).

By the time you read this April edition, the Dorset County Council and North Dorset District Council will be no more as the new Dorset Council comes into being on 1st April. The aim of all those working in either organisation is that there should be a seamless transfer of responsibilities with the new body being safe and legal on Day 1. The current phone lines and e.mail addresses should still be working unless you have specifically been given a different one. The administrative address is South Walks House, Dorchester, although different services will still be operating from County Hall or Area Offices. Savings made through amalgamating services and reducing management, Councillors and backroom staffing are going into front line services where there are increases for children and families services, care for vulnerable adults and the homeless. Those increases are to keep up with the increasing demand and also to invest in different ways of working to save money in the long term. For example an additional £900,000 is being used to expand our fostering service with the aim of keeping those Dorset children who cannot live with their families, in family homes in Dorset, rather than in institutions. As I have written before, it is those services where the bulk of the Council’s income goes.

There will be one councillor for the Blackmore Vale which is as it is now coincidentally, as I am both your District and County Councillor. On 2nd May there will be an election to elect one Councillor to represent the Blackmore Vale Ward on the new Dorset Council. The villages in that Ward are Pulham, Mappowder, Kings Stag, Hazelbury Bryan, Stoke Wake, Fifehead Neville and St. Quintin, Woolland, Ibberton, Okeford Fitzpaine and Shillingstone. Glanvilles Wootton will now be represented as part of the Sherborne Rural Ward. There is a weird period between 1st April and 2nd May when the new Council is in existence but all the Councillors remain legally in office Some parishes may also have Parish Council elections on that day. I would urge anyone who has the time and energy to put their name forward to the Parish Council as they are usually struggling to find volunteers and it is a interesting role to play – its not all planning and footpaths, it can be an opportunity to promote new ideas and support village life. For those of you in villages where there are Parish Meetings rather than Councils (notably Pulham, Mappowder and Glanvilles Wootton) you all have an equal say as long as you turn up twice a year.

I am always happy to be contacted by phone or e.mail…
Preferred e.mail address – cllr.p.batstone@btinternet.com
Phone – 01258 472583 Twitter @paulinebatstone Facebook Page – Councillor Pauline Batstone
Facebook – Councillor Pauline Batstone

Elvlyn Cottage, Glue Hill, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 2DJ.