Please join us in St James Church Milton Abbas on 31st May 2017 at 7pm to meet the people behind the rich and diverse organisations, clubs and activities that Milton Abbas is privileged to host.   There will also be an opportunity to express your views and questions relating to life in Milton Abbas and to partake in tea and cakes.

During the January 2017 meeting, it was demonstrated that whilst superfast broadband is now available in Milton Abbas, many properties have been omitted from this roll out, including parts of Catherine’s Well and outlying properties.  In addition, local businesses will be unfairly discriminated against since utilities providers will quote higher charges for businesses who cannot use smart meters to determine consumption.

It was agreed that the Parish Council should write to MP Mr Simon Hoare on behalf of residents, asking for his support to address current deficiencies in service.  Councillors request residents to write a letter addressed to the MP detailing their own personal concerns and experiences because of the lack of broadband or mobile services, and forward this letter to the Parish Council to be included with the PC letter.

Letters should be addressed to Mr S Hoare MP, The Stables, Whitecliff Gardens, Blandford Forum DT11 7BU and emailed or posted to the Clerk, left at the Post Office, passed to a Councillor or brought to the PC meeting on 8th March 2017.  The deadline for receipt of letters is Friday 17th March 2017.

If you are not sure whether you should be able to benefit from superfast broadband services, please check here.

On 17 June 2016, the Annual Parish Meeting was reinstated in Milton Abbas.  Vice Chairman Rowan Woodhouse explained that it was not a Parish Council meeting but a general meeting of the parish where matters can be discussed on any subject relevant to the parish and for an exchange of views and ideas.

The Annual Parish Meeting is a much older institution than the Parish Council and is held by all villages regardless of whether they have a parish council or not.  Where a parish has a parish council, it is required that the chairman presides.

The Councillors would like to adopt an informal, interactive format for our future annual parish meetings to avoid it becoming akin to a Council meeting, and invite your comments and suggestions as to preferred day, time and format.  You can present your suggestions to any Councillor, post or email them to the Clerk or drop written responses to the Post Office during March.  In addition, suggestions can be presented at the Open Forum of the March meeting.  All responses will be considered and a date, time and location will be set at the April Meeting.