Bere Regis

  • SWIMMING club members and parents gathered at Purbeck sports centre for the presentation of the awards by Wareham Lions president Mike Bartlett for the swimarathon held recently.

Bere Regis Splashers won the age 11 and under trophy with team members Dan Miller, Mathew Hart, Isobel Smith, Grace Ritchie, Joe Brown, Harry Stuart and Harriet Blick.

Bere Regis Barracudas won the trophy for the age 13 and under, and their team comprised Alex Moore, Rachel King, Cameron Findler, Koura Stuart, Mia Brown and Emma Menzies.

Speaking on behalf of the Lions, Colin Appleton said that 22 sports and youth organisations and individuals had taken part in the swimarathon, and had raised £3,700 to date for charities with more to come in.

He also paid tribute to Bere Regis swimming club chairman Bob Holman who had been running the club for almost 35 years during which he had taught hundreds of youngsters to swim, and had been a loyal supporter of the Lions’ annual swimarathons each year.

Colin added that many people there that evening would not be aware that Bob also recently took part in a project to swim a mile in each of the 100 lidos still in existence around the country.

Affpuddle

  • PARISH council members heard from Jon Munslow, winter services manager, Dorset county council.

Along with our county councillor, Mrs Alex Brenton, members quizzed Jon on why expected salt supplies had not been delivered, why the parish seemed to be left stranded and what service can be expected for the remainder of the winter.

The county council had been caught out by the much earlier than expected arrival of winter weather.

The severity of the weather was also a problem as although the county council had received fifty percent more salt this year than last, only thirty per cent of it remained with no prospect of receiving anymore.

Grit bins are no longer provided, but salt would be supplied for them if the parish council bought them.

.

The council considered buying a supply of salt for the parish and will consult with the county council to identify key routes through the village and liaise with volunteer farmers to store and use emergency snow ploughs.

Members heard from the county councillor, Mrs Alex Brenton, about the proposed budget cuts that were being discussed at the county council. This included a seven per cent reduction in the roads budget.

One of the impacts of this is that any road classified as a minor lane would not receive any routine maintenance, except urgent safety work, for the next five years.

The criteria for pot hole repairs would be increased, meaning that pot holes would have to be deeper and wider before being classified as urgent.

Verge cutting would also be reduced.

Other potential cuts included lollipop men and women no longer being paid by the county council.

Cuts in library provision were likely, but the mobile service is likely to remain largely untouched.

The likely cuts in road maintenance prompted members to look again at the lengthsman scheme.

This is where a parish council, or group of parish councils, employ someone to carry out basic road clearance and maintenance tasks.

For full minutes of the meeting, look at www.briantspuddle.info