• AT the annual meeting of Broadmayne and West Knighton WI, Peter Brown of the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service gave a most interesting and informative talk about safety in the home, with a film showing how quickly a small smoulder in a chair can develop into a whole room ablaze.

Members were advised on many areas of potential danger, especially with cooking, cigarettes, candles and electrical equipment and if members had thought they knew it all, they were wrong, as Mr Brown’s horror tales were a salutary reminder of the care that should be taken.

The position of smoke alarms, the shutting of doors and road safety when evacuating a burning building were some important points he made.

Leaflets were distributed inviting members to contact the Fire and Rescue Service for a free visit to advise on potential hazards in the home and it was interesting to note that if electrical fires are considered too old and dangerous, new ones are given free. Mr Brown was thanked by Marjorie Turner.

As this was the annual meeting, ‘Jerusalem’ had its yearly airing, ably accompanied on the piano by Christine Bradshaw.

The financial statement, given by the treasurer, Ruth Small, showed a healthy balance and together with the annual report given by the secretary, Margaret Cushing, reminding members of all the events over the past, very successful year, both of which were adopted.

The president, Wendy Stent, thanked everyone in the institute for their contributions, said how much she had enjoyed her year and was warmly thanked for supporting and entering into every aspect of the institute.

Sandra O’Hara showed excellent designs for a proposed logo, and was thanked for embroidering members’ names on a tablecloth and will be entering a design for the county competition.

Peggy Baker was presented with the shield for promoting the monthly family skittles, and Marilyn Holehouse gave the group report.

Margaret Cushing, who did not stand for the committee, was especially thanked for her work as secretary over the past years, three new members were elected to the committee and Wendy was re-elected president.

She expressed a wish that a craft group might be formed and with the enthusiasm of members, one was, with Kathryn Woodrow and Sandra O’Hara, leading it.

  • AT the last parish council meeting, approval was granted for agricultural building on land adjacent to Chalky Road.

No objection was raised regarding the replacement of a dormer window at 7 Rectory Road, but an appeal was made against refusal to develop land at 3 Martel Close by the erection of a detached bungalow.

The council will be writing to the planning inspectorate to add to its previous objections made to West Dorset District Council.

An enforcement officer will be making a visit in a few weeks to monitor the situation and encourage the owner to repair the building at 10 Main Street and will also be investigating the Cowley House site.

Damage to Cowleaze Road has been patched but the clerk still needs to take action about the blocked drain.

The chairman had met with County Coun Crowhurst to look at extending the grass cutting of the Chalky Road verge by the county council and they also looked at the damage to the bank from the junction of Chalky Road along Rectory Road.

At the same junction a request had been received from a parishioner to demarcate the road and footpath by the post box and notice board as she had been “singed” by a car whilst reading notices.

The clerk would take action.

The council reviewed the position on four parish plan schemes.

The multi-user path from Broadmayne and the footway in front of the church are ranked but the junction with the A352 at Rectory Road and a footway along Cowleaze Road are not ranked.

The council agreed to ask for further consideration of the former but to delete the latter.

With regard to hedges overgrowing footways and roadways, the council refused the invitation of the county council to deal with this locally on its behalf but it is, however, willing to publicise the responsibilities of parishioners.

The environment agency encourages villages to have flood wardens and at present the contact is the clerk, who of course, does not live in the village.

The county council will be revising its emergency plan in due course and the council agreed to revise its own emergency plan at the same time.

Whilst appreciating the value of their work, in line with decisions in previous years, the council did not feel able to give grants to victim support and life education The £50 won in 2008 for the ‘Best Kept Village’ had not been spent and the council agreed to add £50 and ask for more daffodil bulbs to be planted on the verge of the A352 at the western end of the village.

Two quotations will be evaluated to ensure that the council receives best value covering insurance.

With minor changes the annual report was approved for reproduction, which includes the draft accounts for 2008-2009 and the agenda for the annual parish meeting to be held on Monday, May 18 in Broadmayne Village Hall at 7.30 pm.

The council was considering a composting facility for the allotments, but on receiving a 40 page document from the county council, it was decided not to proceed due to the legislation around the fact that the material is legally defined as “waste” and Broadmayne is not the only parish council to have considered and rejected the idea.

Three tenants have not renewed their tenancies and in due course, three of the six on the waiting list will be allocated an allotment.

The council has received approval in principle from the district council for the sharing of the Broadmayne sports facility planning gain, funding 75% Broadmayne and 25% West Knighton projects.

During the democratic period, six members of the public were present and the next meeting of the council is on Monday, May 11 2009 at 7.30 pm in the hall at the back of the Methodist Church and is the annual parish council meeting.

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