The Parish Council met on Thursday 11th September 2025 in the Village Hall. Seven members of the public were present, together with Dorset Cllr Laura Beddow. Members of the press and public are welcome and there is a period for public participation at the start. If you are unable to attend but wish to submit a comment or question, please contact the Clerk or any member of the Parish Council.
Councillor Update
It was with great sadness that the Chair announced the recent passing of Cllr Tony Bates, He had been a member of the Parish Council since May 2014 and his knowledge of the natural environment and locality has been invaluable. He was instrumental in setting up the Wildlife Group and the Nature Reserve on Souls Moor. Tony passed away on Monday 8th September and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time. A minute’s silence was held in his memory.
The Parish Council was pleased to confirm a grant for £500 to the Friends of Bere Regis School (FoBRS) for the purchase of non-fiction books to support the various topics studied across the different year groups. The additional books will also increase the school’s library offering.
Copies of the three proposals for the play park were displayed, together with their respective quotations. Members agreed that Sutcliffe Play would be nominated as the consultant for the project. The Sutcliffe representative will be invited to attend the next Parish Council meeting. A more detailed report of councillors’ work on the project to date will be published separately.
The Parish Council continues to receive complaints about the state of several of the allotments. We currently have a waiting list of 18 people but there are several allotmentsthat are clearly not being used in the spirit of the tenancy agreement – some are just grass and others have not been cultivated for some time. With this in mind, a new tenancy agreement will be drawn up and allotment holders will be asked to sign up to cultivating their plots for vegetables, fruit and flowers. Should this not be done, a warning letter will be sent, followed by a second letter requiring the plot to be vacated. The new agreement will come into effect from 1st April 2026 but will be sent to all current holders before Christmas for their comments.
The cost of the Christmas trees has now been confirmed as £15.60 for a 4’ tree. If you would like to reserve a tree, please contact the Clerk and forward payment by bank transfer – details available by emailing the Clerk.
Our thanks are extended to the team, who are clearly make a great difference already. Thanks to them, the Police Camera Crew are also regular visitors. If you are able to offer a few hours a month to help with this incredibly worthwhile initiative, please contact the Clerk.