Dorset County Council are currently consulting over a proposal to further reduce support of the concessionary pass scheme.
Dorset Travel proposes removal of free travel before 09:30 on routes that have no other services until after 10:30. Impact on the 311 service will be that passengers from Milton Abbas will no longer be able to use their concessionary pass on the 09:25 to Dorchester if the proposal goes through. Thankfully, the only bus to Blandford on a Thursday morning is currently unaffected. Free travel before 09:30 for blind and partially sighted pass holders will continue as it is currently.
DCC claims that by ceasing to provide free concessionary travel before 09:30, savings will be made that will enable them to focus financial resources more effectively. It does not, however, suggest the potential value of these savings! The changes will also allow for the wider use of schools transport routes for public services. Following on from the results of this consultation, any changes will be implemented to the service in April 2017.
To have your say, you can complete the consultation online here, or if you need a paper copy contact Nigel Hodder on 881709 and he will get one to you. Closing date for consultation is 13 January 2017 so you do not have very long. Unfortunately, we were only advised of this by DCC on 1st December (the start day of the consultation) so missed the December issue of The Bulletin!
by Nigel Hodder

Over the Christmas period, your bin collection day will be different. Check the table below for revised collection days:
Usual collection day Friday 23 Dec Revised collection day No change
Usual collection day Monday 26 Dec Revised collection day Tuesday 27 Dec
Usual collection day Tuesday 27 Dec Revised collection day Wednesday 28 Dec
Usual collection day Wednesday 28 Dec Revised collection day Thursday 29 Dec
Usual collection day Thursday 29 Dec Revised collection day Friday 30 Dec
Usual collection day Friday 30 Dec Revised collection day Saturday 31 Dec
Usual collection day Monday 2 Jan Revised collection day No change

Remember:
• they will collect up to two extra sacks of rubbish left beside the bin on the first rubbish collection after Christmas Day
• they will collect extra recycling if placed in residents’ own boxes, with glass kept separate
• fortnightly garden waste collections are suspended over the Christmas and New Year period, from Saturday 24 Dec to Sunday 8 Jan

Further information can be found here.

There will be no Parish Council meeting in December.  The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 11th January 2017 at 7.30pm in the Reading Rooms.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.