Bradford Peverell held its Annual Parish Meeting recently.

The retiring Chairman, Cllr Pat Burns, explained that this would be her last report to the Council In her review of the past year she reported on the success of the reinstated diverter and weir on the River Frome.

A survey of the hillside above Church Lane has revealed that the existing refurbished road drains may not be adequate in future and more work is needed.

Fingerposts in the village have been reviewed and Phase four of the Pounbury development is of concern especially access to the 'back road' to the villge which is very narrow.

Concern is also felt over traffic diversions through the village when the A 37 floods under the railway bridge.

Cllr Pat Burns finished by thanking Councillors and the clerk for their support over the past year.

The year was then reviewd by officers and representatives of the village and the main points were that the Amenity Fields are in excellent order although Village Hall bookings have taken a downturn owing to the recession.

Cllr Neil Howard reported on Village Maintenance and thanked all those who had taken part in the Village Spring Clean.

Joyce Heath reported that there was great uncertainty over the 212 bus route which appears to cease at the end of the school term.

Following the Annual meeting Peter West gave a presentation entitled "Global Warming and Possible Solutions".

There ensued a lively discussion on windfarms, solar panels, hydropower and the new breed of energy efficient boilers.

After this there followed the Annual Parish Council Meeting.

Tributes were paid to Pat Burns for her two years as Chairman and she was presented with flowers on behalf of the Council.

Cllr David Ackerman was elected as the new Chairman and Neil Howard agreed to stay as Vice Chair.

Other representatives and officers remain the same.

There was further discussion on the problem of diverted traffic and it was agreed to ask the police for their view.

It was unanimously agreed that at Giles Cross a post indicating 'Bradford Peverell' and 'Dorchester via A 35' was needed and also a fingerpost at Muckleford crossroads pointing to the Hamlet itself.

The next meeting of the Council will be on Thursday July 7th.