AT the last Parish Council Meeting, one of the items resulting from "Broadmayne Looks Forward" is a possible Broadmayne to Dorchester footway/cycleway.

The County Council is keen to investigate whether a suitable low cost solution could be implemented by developing existing rights of way and will be asking if the Parish Path Officer and the Clerk can be included in the discussions.

As there had been no recorded casualties at or near the Rectory Road junction during the last 3 years, it does not meet the criteria for local safety schemes but the County Council will re-assess in the autumn and inform the Parish Council of the results towards the end of the year.

The parish council will keep this under review and raise again in a year's time.

The clerk had met recently with the Parish Rights of Way Officer to discuss improvements to furniture on rights of way and information on local circular and linear walks.

As a result of helpful information from a parishioner the clerk had written again to Persimmon regarding the Old Brickfields Nature Reserve.

The 'Friends of the Surgery' project is making progress, there are volunteers available and the parish council has agreed a £50 "pump priming" grant which will be paid if and when required.

West Dorset District Council has approved the erection of an oak framed barn/workshop with storage over at Broadmayne House, Osmington Drove.

Also approved was tree felling of one horse chestnut and one beech tree at 16 High Trees plus the reduction of one beech tree by 15% to remove damaged/decayed branches and reduction of crown of one beech tree by 10-20%.

The parish council bulletin has been delivered to all households in the parish. If not received, please let the clerk know.

For information, only those living in houses numbered 2 to 26 are within Broadmayne. All other numbers are in Knightsford Parish Council area.

The seat in Knighton Lane has been ordered, will be delivered to Mr Hammett in South Drove and he will assemble and install it on a concrete base.

The bus shelter near Charlmont has been ordered and delivery and installation are due at the end of August.

No further action has been taken as a result of discussions regarding the allotments and Broadmayne West Knighton Sports Facility. Letters have been sent to all the allotment holders explaining the position.

Connecting Dorset is a county-wide scheme to connect all parish councils and village halls to the internet and to have an address which will not change when the clerk does.

This is a real problem for those wanting to contact councils but you can contact Broadmayne's clerk through the Broadmayne website. The parish council has agreed to be part of the scheme.

The parish is also one of only a very few to receive an offer of a free projector from West Dorset District Council so that planning applications can be shown at meetings using a laptop.

Needless to a say it has accepted the offer and eventually paper copies of planning applications will no longer be sent to parishes, which is a Government strategy as part of its E-Government agenda.

"Contacting Dorset County Council has just got easier" is quoted from a recent communication.

If you need to report blocked drains, fallen trees and holes in roads, you can ring between 7am - 8pm Monday - Friday on 01305 221000.

The highly trained customer service officers aim to resolve a wide variety of enquiries at the first point of contact.

It is preferable for you to report directly, as quite often they will ask supplementary questions, but the parish council is always there to try to help you.

The clerk has lodged the Annual Parish Meeting minute book at the Local History Centre.

It dates back to 1894 and has been in use since then until 2008 and there were still several blank pages left.

The clerk always worried about having such a valuable book in the filing cabinet, so it will now be in a safe environment and anyone can have access to it.

During the democratic period, members of the parish are always welcome to attend and speak by arrangement with the chairman.

The next meeting of the Council is on Monday, August 4 at 7.30 pm in the hall at the back of the Methodist Church.

Website: www.broadmayne.org. Clerk: Mrs S Blake, 19 Shaston Crescent, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2EB 01305 263759. parishclerk@broadmayne.org