Chairman's Report 2003 - 2004

(presented to the Maiden Newton Parish Meeting on April 15 2004.)

In April 2003 , the Council welcomed Mrs Diane Wright as their new clerk and we have to thank her for all her hard work during this year.

Elections were held at the beginning of May, Councillors Mrs Crocker, Mr Harvey and Mr Pritchard did not stand for re-election, leaving three vacancies. Mr David Chaffey was the only new candidate. Ms Jenny Symes and Richard Watts were co-opted to fill the two vacancies in June. Mr Patmore replaced Mrs Harris as our West Dorset District Councillor.

It has been another busy year for the Council. Links have been maintained with the County and District Councils, with the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils, with the Dorchester Area Community Partnership and with the "Chalk and Cheese" initiative. The Council have considered and commented on planning applications and various consultation documents from local and national government sources.

The state of roads and pavements throughout the Parish are a continual problem and we maintain regular contact with Dorset County Council's Highways engineers. Parish Maintenance Units now visit the area on a regular basis to carry out minor repairs of defects notified in advance by the Parish. In June work was carried out to rectify the drainage problems which resulted to the flooding of newsagent's shop after heavy rain. The need for restructuring and resurfacing of Church Road was examined: this work is now in the County's budget for 2004 - 2005.

The posts and chains around the War Memorial were installed last year to protect the structure. In the present year three of the six posts have been broken by reversing vehicles. In all cases pedestrians have been able to identify the offenders and insurance claims have met the costs of repair.

In May 2003 the Council objected to the County Council's proposals to transfer Maiden Newton from it's present position in the Cerne constituency, where we are linked to our neighbouring parishes in the Frome valley, to join Beaminster and Broadwindsor. These objections have now been passed onto the Boundary Committee for England.

The demand for allotments has risen and there is now a waiting list. The Council will review the situation at the end of April 2004. On two occasions there have been leaks in the water supply, one underground and the other caused by the fracture of the intake pipe to the lower water tank. Allotment and grazing rents were reviewed and have been raised for 2004 - 2005.

In August we began a protracted battle with British Telecom to retain the two telephone boxes in the village. Both boxes are still in place and operational but we are likely to loose the one on Dorchester Road. I should like to thank George Guy from West Dorset District Council for all his help and support,

At our August meeting the Council welcomed Andy Lloyd, Rural Housing Enabler from Dorset Community Action. The survey to find out the level of housing need in the Parish took place at the beginning of November. Councillors delivered the forms to every property. The report was published at the end of February and further action is in hand. (Andy Lloyd is here to up date the Council tonight.)

Dog fouling continues to be an issue regularly raised by members of the public at Council meetings. Advice from the Dog Warden on responsible ownership was displayed on the Parish Notice board and published in the Herald.

The application for registration of the footpath from the Station to Bull lane and the byway from the Station to Station Road is still "live". The former goods yard has been sold on to another developer which has delayed the legal processes.

Car parking remains an issue. Members of the Council met with West Dorset District Councillors and officials on 26 March 2004 to explore the possibility of extending the Car Park. Bollards are being placed outside numbers 59 and 61 Dorchester Road to prevent vehicles parking on the pavement and restricting access to these properties.

I would like to finish by thanking everyone who helped with the Parish "Spring Clean" on 3 April. Thirteen sacks of rubbish were collected.

Sally Falkingham ' April 2004.