May 2021 Forum Focus Issue No.110 The free monthly news magazine for the Blandford area Est: 2012 A day of decision RESIDENTS have their opportu- nity on Thursday May 6 to vote for their new Police Crime Commissioner following the retirement of Martyn Underhill, who has been in post since 2012 (see page 6). People living in Blandford, Blandford St Mary and Bryanston also have an opportunity to vote on the Blandford+ Neighbourhood Plan. If made statutory with a 50 per cent vote Bright spring sunshine greeted in support, it will be used along- the full reopening of Blandford’s side the Dorset Council Local Thursday market on April 15. Plan to decide planning applica- tions for development in the area over the next 22 years. Turn to pages 16 and 17 for details of the plan and why it is important for it to be in place. Polling stations will be open from Back in business 7am to 10pm. Electors should wear face coverings (unless exempt), take a pen or pencil to THE return of a full and colourful Thursday market Crown Hotel, which opened its outdoor area to mark their ballot paper, and have on April 15 was symbolic of the unlocking of retail bookings for food and drinks on Wednesday April until 5pm that day to apply for a activity after the long shutdown since the New Year. 14. Booking was also recommended for The replacement for spoilt or lost As market manager Andy Reynolds had hoped, all Greyhound in Greyhound Yard. postal votes or make emergency the regulars returned to join fishmonger Paul But others have chosen to wait until full reopening is proxy applications. Williamson, who for the last few months has usually possible later this month. been the sole trader. Stallholder Dave Dart reported Nelson's announced that, all going according to plan a roaring trade in the sale of watch batteries which with the government roadmap, they would be had given up the ghost during the lockdown. reopening on Tuesday May 18, and the Non-essential retail outlets, services and activities Constitutional Club, Royal British Legion Club and had busied themselves in the days and weeks Stour Inn at Blandford St Mary also said they would beforehand, ready for the official reopening day on be reopening this month. April 12, with only a handful waiting until the follow- The True Lovers Knot at Tarrant Keyneston, which ing week. reopened on April 12 for outdoor table service until Blandford became busy again with shoppers ventur- May 16, has also organised a grand pumpkin com- ing out to make purchases in person, get back into petition in support of Parkinsons and Macmillan, the charity shops and, where queuing was an with seeds on sale from the pub to be planted and option, get themselves a long-overdue haircut. grown ready for a grand weigh-in and raffle at the In town, a number of pubs and clubs were able to end of October. open in the week beginning April 12 offering outdoor The Milton Arms at Winterborne Whitechurch and A fond farewell to table service, including the Kings Arms, who The Greyhound at Winterborne Kingston have both the Duke: Page 12 announced they were also taking on staff, and the reopened with outside seating areas. 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Follow us on Twitter @forumfocus Where to Covid test site cancelled find Forum Focus after staff threatened FOR the duration of the Covid- 19 emergency the number of A CORONAVIRUS testing site still access Covid tests through a beginning of April that rapid flow Forum Focus pick-up points has due to open in Blandford was number of other testing sites and testing sessions run by Public reduced due to the closure of cancelled after members of staff via home testing kits by booking Health Dorset for those without many premises. faced threats of violence from on the government website at symptoms would start at the However we hope it will again members of the public. gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or Marsh and Ham car park on be in re-opened village pubs It was announced in March that calling 119. Tuesday and Friday mornings as and venues, in addition to pub- mobile testing units would be Dorset Council announced at the from Tuesday April 13. lishing on our website and distri- available for those with Covid-19 bution through social media and symptoms booking PCR tests email. that month at the Stour Meadows Currently confirmed pickup car park from Sunday to Two landmark points are: Wednesday each week. Drivers Blandford and Blandford St were asked to find alternative Mary: Tesco and Homebase, parking in the area. Blandford St Mary; Lidl and homes on market But on Easter Sunday, April 4, Bartletts in Shaftesbury Lane; police were called to the site next Morrisons, Greyhound Yard; TWO of Blandford's premier list- to have been built in 1735 for M&S, Langton Road; the Spar to a busy skate park after staff faced threats from a group of ed buildings are currently on the the infamous fraudster John Shop in the Market Place; market through estate agents abusive young people and their Ayliffe, its walled garden with for- Chaffers and Iceland in Salisbury Symonds & Sampson. mal box hedging and specimen Street; James Newsagents in parents. The Grade II Stour House in trees features a Grade II* listed The Plocks; The Post Office in The testing unit which was sup- East Street is back on the mar- brick summerhouse. the Tabernacle; The 3Cs in posed to operate that day was ket with a guide price of Damory Street; The Co-op, closed and those planned for £1,350,000 and dates from Damory Garage and One Stop in Easter Monday and the following about 1735. It has been thor- Salisbury Road; Blandford Wednesday cancelled. Hospital in Milldown Road; oughly renovated and restyled A spokesman for the Department by its current owners, with Central Shop in Heddington for Health and Social Care Drive. accommodation over three (DHSC) who run the testing floors, including four reception Sturminster Newton: The units, said: "This kind of unwar- rooms and five bedrooms, cellar Emporium and shops in Market ranted behaviour towards NHS Square, The Exchange. storage and outbuildings. Test and Trace staff is abhorrent. In the garden is a two-storey for- In the villages: Bryanston - "They are performing work that is mer coach house for which plan- Bryanston Club; Child Okeford - crucial to stop the spread of The Cross Stores; Iwerne Minster ning permission was given Covid-19 and helping us all - the Post Office; Langton Long - recently for conversion to a stu- return to a more normal way of Abbots Nursery; Pimperne - dio/gym. The garden leads down life." phone box and church; to the River Stour where a Shillingstone - Garage and Co- The DHSC said options were bridge leads across to the part of op; Spetisbury - Village Hall and being assessed "for further an island in the river belonging Clapcotts Farm; Stourpaine - The deployment in the area" but have to the property. White Horse Inn; Tarrant so far been unable to say Also on the market with a guide Keyneston - St Richard Close whether an alternative has been price of £975,000 is the six-bed- bus stop; Tarrant Launceston and found. roomed Grade II* listed Eastway Gunville Farm Shops. Those in the Blandford area can House in East Street. Believed May 2021 3 Kate’s delight as art studio project wins approval BLANDFORD's Free Expression underway, together with construc- Arts Festival director Kate Seeger tion of the planned pergola, and is excited to have at last been people may have seen Kate work- given permission to go ahead with ing away in the garden either side her plans for an art studio at the of the footpath between Langton back of Nightingale Court. car park and East Street.