BeneathSupported by the Upper Marshwood theVale Vale Parish Council Autumn 2019: Issue 33

Parish council chairperson Matthew Bowditch examines affected trees in Little Giant Wood in Stoke Abbott. Ash tree disease is here First it was called Chalara fraxinea, and shows many healthy mature trees then science showed it was just one stage will eventually succumb. Spores are of a fungus, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, released from fruiting bodies and can so the name was changed. Gardeners be wind-spread for tens of kilometres. know Fraxinus as the ash, so this is now First noted in Polish forests, it was first the proper name of a very serious threat recorded in our lands in 2012, prompting to UK’s countyside – ash dieback. Worse, swift action by the authorities; sadly it is here now, spread through our Vale. even this was too late.

A fungal infection, it affects young trees Parish council chairperson Matthew most of all, but European experience Bowditch showed us examples of ash

Marshwood, Stoke Abbott, Pilsdon and Bettiscombe Contents Pothole party - the ‘hole’ truth page 4 Parish council meeting report for July page 5 Parish council meeting report for September page 7 Recipe: peppermint slices page 8 Local bus timetable updates page 10 Parish contacts page 12 Council trust funds page 15 Beneath the Vale is published four times a year with support from the Upper Marshwood Vale Parish Council and posted to homes in the combined parishes of Marshwood, Stoke Abbott, Pilsdon and Bettiscombe. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the parish council and advertising in the magazine does not imply council endorsement of any goods or services. Our mailing list covers household addresses using information that is in the public domain. We use this list solely to send out copies of Beneath the Vale and associated information relating to the parishes. We do not share data with third parties. To unsubscribe from the list, please contact Cllr Ali Cameron, who manages the data: [email protected] Tel 01297 678 546. Printed by Creeds, Bridport.

continued from p1 Spreading ever westward, wind-born dieback in Little Giant Wood, where many distribution has reached our parishes as the ash trees were planted when this community photos show. wood was created. Some of the less vigorous are already dead or dying – and releasing All is not lost; some ashes seem to be the infecting spores to further destroy our naturally unaffected by dieback. Asian woodlands. species are immune to ash dieback. There are over 60 species of ash worldwide and Experts claim there are 60 million ash trees in others seem to tolerate the disease, showing the UK. According to the Woodland Trust, leaf damage alone. up to 95% of these will die. This is going to have a devastating impact on the landscape Government officials calculate the social and the biodiversity of our woodlands, as and environmental value of ashes as well as a major loss in connections between in excess of £230 million annually. So habitats as we lose hedges and individual substantial research by DEFRA, the Forestry trees outside of woods. Commission and others here in the UK and abroad is investigating ways of mitigating Ash trees suffering from ash dieback, clockwise from Ash dieback is thought to have been the impact of ash dieback as well as finding above: A dead sapling near Marshwood, close-up accidently imported via nursery stock rather unaffected variants. of ash leaves, a young tree in Little Giant Wood. than on spores blown across the Channel.

2 3 Marshwood’s number 1 pothole Parish council meeting: July Following the eventful May meetings, flat for his dad, John W, and adding a second mended after 3 years of damage councillors gathered at Bettiscombe Village floor to accommodate a carer. Just as we were planning a special celebration puncture when he reached Beaminster and Hall to be greeted with a distinct lack of one of our most vicious potholes, Dorset caused possible damage to the car. of access keys. A new number had been It turns out this application is being made Highways spoilt the sad story by repairing adopted for the key receptacle, which no now to obviate long delays should John the offensive Hole just before the third Locals decided to take action to celebrate the one knew – save for Cllr John Brown who ever have need of this arrangement. John anniversary of the first reporting of said Hole’s third birthday, set for the upcoming looks after the hall. has assured councillors that his present Hole. anniversary. It is very doubtful that news facilities are entirely acceptable, with a stair- of the happy event had reached the ears of With the number noted and the door lift and strong grab handles to enable him Initially reported in 2016 via the old county the Highways Authorities; it is more likely unlocked, everyone was delighted to find to get around the old milk parlour. This council’s website for road complaints, it that enough points had been registered to the tables and chairs properly placed for application was opposed by two members had been left unrepaired for a decent, but Marshwood to justify real action, but on 15 councillors and public alike. John had fully of the public who were neighbours since it unspectacular length of time enabling August no fewer than six operatives gathered prepared the hall for the event. would overlook their back garden. our Hole to slowly grow in order to trap outside the Bottle Inn as the Hole, just down unwary cyclists, bend car wheels, damage the road, had been officially marked and an Only one absence was recorded when Cllr Recommended refusal vehicles’ front suspension, inflict injury to authorised traffic cone placed thereon. Matthew Bowditch as chairperson gavelled travellers and cause manual mayhem on the the meeting into action. Minutes of the last Councillors felt that, sympathetic as they Marshwood main road, the B3165. Less than an hour later the repair was meeting rarely excite interest but this time were towards John and the work he had complete and even the all-important Cllr Jacqui Sewell complained of being done in running the shop for all those years, Rather than getting larger, the Holy one warning signs removed, leaving the slightly misreported. the plans before them would represent decided to become deeper. Estimates of the raised hump to subside back level to the overdevelopment, take up too much room number of Mentions In Despatches to the surrounding road surface with only a slight However there was no doubt about what and would interfere with the privacy of the Authorities, along with other Complaints splatter of tarmacked particles to indicate our new Dorset Council councillor Simon neighbours. So they recommended refusal. to the Council have not been revealed, but the demise of the Marshwood Hole. Christopher wished to impart as he had sent Sadly this discussion had an emotional effect this small pothole filled with rainwater and a written statement of what he had done for on one neighbour who left the meeting in assumed the disguise as a puddle. If nationwide publicity is to be believed, a UMVPC, including meetings with Dorset tears. new hole is registered every 46 seconds so Council officers. He had a more pressing It also featured at our parish council we are indeed fortunate to get our serious engagement, but it would be a pity if Cllr Finance was next on the agenda as meeting, when injury to a cyclist and his potholes filled in and road repaired at all. Christopher’s diary were so full as to miss councillors agreed payments and accepted velocipede were discussed. Unfortunately But a three-year wait for a repair that took these meeting since we now have but a clerk John Vanderwolfe’s report. this coincided with the absence of the sole less than an hour to complete does indicate single senior councillor not the four we have representative of our senior council, Cllr a issue with our reporting of such problems enjoyed previously. The next highlight was placing the draft Simon Christopher, whose predecessor, and even more with the assessment of just Neighbourhood Plan before the council to Cllr Turner, so often praised the reporting how severe is the damage to all who use our During the democratic period we heard approve for onward presentation to Dorset system, defending it when it failed. roads. To report a fault use: comments from the public concerning a Council and the appointment of an inspector planning application for change of use of to critique our draft Plan. NP chairman In another recorded incident, oncoming www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/roads-highways- the old post office at Marshwood. ‘Bash’ Charles Somers told the council that this traffic prevented a young driver from maintenance/report-a-problem-on-the-road-or- (Sebastian) Walther was proposing to would lead to a referendum probably early dodging the obstruction, resulting in a pavement.aspx develop the site into a substantial downstairs Continued on p6

4 5 Stephen Lee in 2020, which if approved by local voters would mandate the whole plan. Landscape Gardening Parish council meeting: Sept After a cloud-free Indian summer’s day, eight ‘where all actions are taking place under one 1 Vale View, Salwayash, He and Matthew Bowditch both thanked of your councillors and eight members of hat.’ Bridport, DT6 5JB the NP team especially their consultant, Jo the public gathered at Bettiscombe Village Witherden. Hall. Newly-retired vet and current council Two new categories of discussion were Hi, chairperson Matthew Bowditch called next: both established policy to guide My team and I do most kinds of The final item on the agenda relate toa time on the opening chitchat to declare future debates by councillor. The first was a gardening from clearing overgrown acres private matter so cannot be reported. to fixing fences, planning patios and the session open as agricultural machinery resolution to declare a climate and ecological deployed behind a towing tractor descended emergency, the other on council trust funds paddocks to looking after your lawn and Subjects to be discussed maintaining landscapes. on the adjacent fields outside. (covered in a separate article on page 15). What started as a rather fractious meeting Oh yes! We are also the parish In spite of this ongoing distraction, events During the democratic time, Sara Hudston lengthsman so we fend off floods by was actually was very useful and illustrated within the hall swiftly moved towards the spoke in support of the resolution to declare clearing ditches, placing storage bins the skills of councillors. A small but democratic period when the public can a climate and ecological emergency in our and looking after public places for your particularly welcome addition to the minutes address the council. Stoke Abbott resident parishes. She emphasised that she was not parish council. by John Vanderwolfe the parish clerk, now John Quarm who objected to his neighbour’s speaking as editor of Beneath the Vale, but on shows the subjects to be discussed in future So if you have a garden problem, why not plans for Woodlands Cottage, but it seems behalf of the Bridport Extinction Rebellion meetings which will allow councillors to find give us a call? 07971 116660 that they are in discussion over the changes group. out what people in the parishes – YOU – and a suitable compromise can be expected. think on a given subject. Stephen Lee: [email protected] When councillors considered the resolution, Two other applications were supported in Cllr Jacqui Sewell spoke in support of the principle by the council. These applications call for action. She referred to the rural now go before Dorset Council’s planning nature of our parish and listed biodiversity committee for approval. loss, damage to the environment, and cuts to bus services as challenges we face. Our new Dorset councillor, Simon Christopher gave his report on events at Cllr Sewell suggested we should have more Dorchester and around, saying that the solar panels for village halls, charging points new make-up of the planning committee for electric vehicles and appeal to other areas with Lib Dems, Greens and an independent to work together and to publicise sources of representation is working well. funding. The resolution to declare a climate and ecological emergency was passed. Additionally, he has held a wide variety of meetings with council officials on our behalf, With no fewer than 18 items on the agenda, but appealed to us all for emails on all our the usual date of the next meeting – 21 outstanding problems so he can deal with November, 7.30pm, also at Bettiscombe them effectively. The fact that councillors – completed this council meeting. weighed in with copious verbal reports indicates the need for his support. Cllr Members of Upper Marshwood Vale Parish Council in Bettiscombe Village Hall in July. Christopher contrasted the old way with the newly joined-up single council’s efforts

6 7 Peppermint slices Your local sweep: Glyn Yorke This is a recipe from way back. It was Peppermint essence - about 1 tsp passed on from my mother who was Green colouring - about 3/4 tsp well-known for her cakes. At my kids’ school functions, the teachers always Half a slab cooking chocolate Chimney Sweep Services asked me to make these! Sieve dry ingredients. Melt marg 5oz margarine and add dry ingredients. Mix well Stoves fitted and refurbished ◆ Birds’ nests 4oz self-raising flour and press into a greased Swiss roll removed ◆ Birdguards, chimney pots and 2oz soft brown sugar tin. Bake 15-20 minutes at 180-190 2 level tsp cocoa degrees centigrade just above the cowls fitted ◆ Chimney lining service ◆ Stove 1 level tsp baking powder centre of oven. Cool well. Cover with spares supplied - glass, fire bricks etc. Pinch of salt peppermint icing and cool completely. 3oz crushed corn flakes or Rice Melt chocolate and pour over the top, Crispies spreading up to edges and mark into squares before absolutely hard. Store ‘A clean chimney is a safe chimney’ Icing: in fridge. 8oz icing sugar Joy McClellan 3-4 tsp tepid water Professional, reliable, family service, established 1992 Fully insured - certificate of insurance issued for every job Brush and vacuum sweep - power sweeping also offered Specialist in multi-fuel stoves

Tel: 01297 678549 ◆ Mob: 07778 524142 Email: [email protected] Chimney Sweep Services Ltd, 4 Marshalsea, Bridport, DT6 5QE

8 9 The A2 Holditch to Woodroffe via Birdsmoorgate 0808 Local bus timetable and funding Marshwood service continues to be fulfilled Marshwood 0811 by a single-deck bus, but with decreased Hawkchurch Turn 0816 pupil numbers travelling this academic Woodroffe School 0830 updates for Marswood Vale area year, it is now available for use by the Wednesday PlusBus (Bridport) and Thorncombe Parish Council’s precept). general public. It is very important to note A02 Woodroffe School - Holditch Thursday Routes 14, 688, (Chard and that this service runs on school days only, Axminster) Fundraising events so has to be viewed along The Woodroffe Woodroffe School 1550 Service 14 continues to have the greatest Coffee Morning and table top sale in School term dates. Since travel starts before Hawkchurch Turn 1604 footfall but with more support needed for Thorncombe Village Hall has been re- 9.30am, Concessionary Bus Passes cannot Marshwood 1609 the 688. This is also particularly true for the scheduled to Saturday 9 November. The be used, on single outward journeys. The Birdsmoorgate 1612 PlusBus. All three of these buses continue Breakfast Club and Raffle in Thorncombe fare structure is available from First Wessex. Blackdown Triangle 1616 to run on the back of the Beaminster Village Hall has also been re-scheduled Kittwhistle 1622 Secondary School Contract. Dorset and will now take place on Sunday 17 A2 Holditch to Woodroffe School: Maudlin Cross 1627 Community Transport have said that so November between 9 and 11am. Enjoy a Thorncombe Village 1636 long as this contract continues, these three slap-up breakfast for a reasonable price. All Holditch 0723 Forde Abbey 1643 bus services will be sustainable along with proceeds will go to support the buses. All are Chard Junction 0733 Chard Junction 1647 financial help, as detailed below. very welcome to attend these events. Forde Abbey 0737 Holditch 1657 Thorncombe Village 0744 Funds raised for 2019-20 Thorncombe and villages schedules Maudlin Cross 0753 Cllr David Marsh and Mrs Mary We were successful in obtaining another Kittwhistle 0758 Marsh,Thorncombe And Villages Bus grant from Tatworth and Forton Parish Wednesdays: Blackdown Triangle 0804 Users & Supporters Council. This grant of £400 was deposited PlusBus – Thorncombe to Bridport. in September 2018, and is a very welcome £5 return fare. This bus route remains boost to the rural bus funds. unchanged.

Thorncombe Parish Council remains the Thursdays: custodian of our earmarked funds for the No. 14 – Regular scheduled bus service. rural buses and we continue to be very Thorncombe to Chard via Chard Junction, grateful for this support. The rural buses Perry Street, Tatworth, with a £4 return account stands at a healthy £3,921 (N.B. fare for adults without a Concessionary this figure includes contributions from Bus Pass. The revised timetable for this bus remains unchanged. Upper Marshwood Vale Parish Council meeting dates No. 688 – Regular scheduled bus service. Thorncombe to Axminster via Marshwood and Hawkchurch, with a £3.80 return fare 21 November for adults without a Concessionary Bus Pass. 16 January The timetable for this bus remains Meetings start at 7.30pm in Bettiscombe unchanged. Village Hall. Everyone welcome. Schools Transport, by First Wessex, (Staged Carriage Service): 10 11 Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee: Members Marshwood Community Land Trust: Officers

Chairman Rob England 01297 678 548 Chairman Charles Somers 01297 678178 [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer Ali Edwards 01297 678 382 [email protected] Secretary John Vanderwolfe, UMV parish council clerk Secretary Emma Davies 01297 678 768 [email protected] Members Jacqui Sewell, UMV parish councillor Directors Fred Bailey 01308 868 015 Ali Cameron, UMV parish councillor [email protected] Ali Edwards, UMV parish councillor Ann-Marie Chapman 01297 678 579 Rob England, Marshwood CLT chairman [email protected] David French, Stoke Abbott resident Charles Somers 01297 678 178 John Piper, UMV parish councillor [email protected] Sara Hudston, Editor, Beneath the Vale Sonia Yorke 01297 678549 Jacqui Sewell 01308 867 145 Address: NP Steering Committee, c/o The Old Rectory, Marshwood, Dorset DT6 5Q [email protected] www.uppermarshwoodvale.org

Marshwood Shop sub-committee Dorset Council, Marshwood Ward

Chairman Helen Golding ([email protected]) Cllr Simon Christopher (lives in Whitchurch Canonicorum) Vice-chair (Currently vacant) Treasurer John Piper Tel 07798 833715 email: [email protected] Community Land Trust website: www.marshwoodclt.org.uk Facebook Page: Marshwood CLT Beneath the Vale Editorial Board

Pauline Bailey [email protected] 01308 868 015 Interested in renting affordable housing? Matthew Bowditch [email protected] 01308 862 758 Are you registered with Dorset Home Choice? Ali Cameron [email protected] 01297 678 546 David Corneloues [email protected] 01308 868 094 Would you, or someone you know, be interested in moving into one of the houses at Joy McClellan [email protected] 01297 647 185 Bramblehay, Marshwood, should a property become available? Allocation of these Jacqui Sewell [email protected] 01308 867 145 properties, and similar schemes in neighbouring villages, is handled by Dorset Home Newsletter Editor: Choice. To be considered as a tenant, you need to be on the housing register. Be Sara Hudston [email protected] 01297 489 253 prepared by registering now at www.dorsethomechoice.org

When registering, please make sure you put the following statement on your application to show you qualify for Marshwood CLT housing: ‘Have local connection required to qualify for CLT housing’

These houses are for those in our community. Please register, even if Dorset Home Choice would normally regard you as adequately housed.

12 13 Parish Council Website: www.uppermarshwoodcouncil.org A trust fund for our council? There are plenty of areas where our council occupied elsewhere, the GR never lets up in is different; we are a quality council, we his visit to elderly communities such as ours. Chairman Clerk still run a lengthsman service, we have a And these visits are a great opportunity Matthew Bowditch 01308 862 758 John Vanderwolfe 01297 344 44 Stokewater Farm Newenham, 5 Halletts Way magazine run by group of parishioners to spread your generosity. With the family Stoke Abbott, DT8 3JL Axminster, EX13 5NB independently from the council. All are provided for why not offer your permanent [email protected] [email protected] what we are or have but what is still missing? thanks to the community – and encourage Stoke Abbott The answer is: a Trust Fund. something really worthwhile in doing so?

Councillors Researching for the background to the What is needed to set up a trust fund? Fred Bailey 01308 868 015 Trevor Richards 01308 868 848 Neighbourhood Plan, we noticed that, as Firstly, the availability of money – someone Meadowrise Deer Park Farm, BTV attended other councils seeking to co- of goodwill who wants to be remembered Bettiscombe, DT6 6HP Marshwood Vale, DT6 5PZ, operate on a joint plan, some councillors by our community. Secondly, a project or [email protected] [email protected] Marshwood Marshwood were referring to the ‘Trust’ as a source of an idea. It is up to the trustees who would further funds. So what is a trust fund, and implement your wishes to decide how your John W. Brown 01308 867 542 Eddie Rowe 01308 867 577 does the council really need one? money is spent. 2 Church Cottages Highlands Farm, Bettiscombe, DT6 5NT Templemans Ash, DT6 5NX There are many kinds of trust funds, but Recent changes in the council’s makeup [email protected] [email protected] in this context, a trust fund is a way of have given us the experience of setting up Bettiscombe Bettiscombe leaving your money to your community and running such trusts. Perhaps this alone in general when you shuffle off this mortal could be the justification for someone to Ali Cameron 01297 678 546 John Piper 01297 678 398 coil. Recently, the Grim Reaper has worked change their will – and in doing so gain the Blue Haze Gladhayes Marshwood, DT6 5QB Marshwood, DT6 5QB overtime with the loss of members of the permanent gratitude of our four villages. [email protected] [email protected] Marshwood family, but although often Marshwood Pilsdon

Alison Edwards 01297 678 382 Jacqui Sewell 01308 867 145 3 Marshalsea Krumbs Marshwood, DT6 5QE 2 The Old Bakery [email protected] Broadwindsor, DT8 3RU Marshwood [email protected] Stoke Abbott Jane Gillingham 01308 867 197 Mabeys Cottage Robert Wyatt 01308 868 249 Pilsdon, DT6 5NY Blackney Farm, [email protected] Blackney, DT6 5PB Pilsdon [email protected] Stoke Abbott Christopher Rabbetts 01308 867 474 Gerrards Farm Pilsdon, DT6 5PA [email protected] Marshwood

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