ONCE again, real Christmas trees will be on sale in Osmington next month in aid of our church and of local charity. If you have not already ordered your Christmas tree, you still have time to do so and have it delivered to your door (within Osmington & Poxwell). Alternatively you can come along to Osmington Hill Farm, on the A353 at the top of the village, during the weekends of December 12/13 and December 19/20 and select your own. All trees will be Nordman Fir (a superior tree which does not drop its needles so much as the traditional tree) in a range of sizes. Prices will be very competitive, and all profits will be divided between St. Osmund’s Church and the Weldmar Hospice Trust. To order your tree in advance, call or e-mail Mary Kempe (01305 834095 - mek.thebeehive@phonecoop.coop) Volunteer helpers for the sales are still needed, so if you can spare a couple of hours to help man the stall during either weekend, please contact Mary Kempe (see above).

  • DETAILS of the Osmington Society’s AGM evening on Saturday, November 28 have now been announced. The brief formal AGM starts at 7.00pm in the village hall, and will be followed by a short presentation on the progress of the Osmington Community Plan, including first results of the initial survey. This will provide an opportunity for people to become more involved and to contribute further to the project.

After that, members can enjoy a delicious two-course supper, and take part in the always popular annual fun quiz. Soft drinks will be available, but bring your own wine or beer. Supper tickets cost only £5, and can be obtained from Geoff Codd at The White House (01305 832247) or any Osmington Society committee member.

  • THIS year’s fantastic Osmington Christmas show is entitled Christmas Musical Mayhem and takes place in the village hall on Friday and Saturday, December 4 and 5. Evening performances start at 7.30pm on both nights and there is a matinee, especially for children, at 2pm on the Saturday.

However, if you want tickets you will have to be quick, as they are selling fast, and the evening shows are usually sold out well in advance. Get them from the Co-Op shop in Preston for £8 each (£5.50 for under-14s). Proceeds go to Osmington Village Hall and the Meningitis Research Trust.

  • THERE will be a modest rise of 4% in the Parish element of Council Tax next year, as Osmington Parish Council has agreed an increase in its precept of £335 (from £8035 to £8370). There would have been a slight decrease, but it has been decided to install salt bins at the tops of Church and Chapel Lanes, so that these roads, where they come out on to the main road, can be treated in cold weather. Dorset County Council will keep the bins topped up with salt.

The highway authority’s maintenance plan has revealed that they intend to refurbish Mills Road, over two weeks next autumn. The road will have to be closed, and the parish council is concerned that this will prevent normal access by residents, businesses and the emergency services. Dorset County Council has indicated that there will be times when access/egress will be possible, but the parish council is pressing for this to be clarified and quantified.