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Second defibrillator Installation

The Parish Council is pleased to report that our second Community Defibrillator is now installed on the outside wall of the Surgery, see attached photo. This has been partially funded by the British Heart Foundation.

There is no lock on the box, just pull the top towards you to open. The door is alarmed and should only ever be opened in an emergency or for authorised maintenance.

Also, a reminder that a Defibrillator & CPR training session has been organised for Thursday 18th July at 7pm in the Reading Room. If anyone else would like to attend please email davidacocking@gmail.com

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Polling Arrangements Review

Dorset Council is required by law to review all polling district, polling places and polling stations in the Dorset Council area by 31 January 2020.
The electoral register for Dorset Council is divided into approximately 400 local areas (polling districts) and by law every polling district must be assigned a polling place where electors can go to vote. Around 320 buildings are used as polling stations by Dorset Council with most being village and church halls, schools and community centres. This review aims to ensure that voting arrangements for future elections suit the needs of electors in each area, so that electors have access to reasonable facilities for voting.
The Council is consulting the public to seek their comments on the suitability of the polling station where they voted in person on 2 May. The Council is also consulting members of Dorset Council and local political parties.
The review starts today and the first round of consultation ends on 27 August 2019.

The consultation document and information about the current polling arrangements are available online here.
Please note that no changes can be made to existing ward or parish boundaries during this review and that any recommendations need to be in alignment with existing parliamentary constituency, ward and parish boundaries.

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Councillor Resignation

Please see notice of a Councillor vacancy which has recently arisen.

There are currently two Councillor vacancies within the Parish Council and the Councillors would be pleased to consider co-option of new Councillors to the Parish Council.  If you are interested in the role of Parish Councillor, please click here for further information.

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Temporary Closure of The Street, Milton Abbas 29th July 2017

TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF THROUGH ROAD WAITING OR LOADING AND UNLOADING
For the purpose of a Street Fair, DORSET COUNTY COUNCIL has issued a Notice under Section 16A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to prohibit the use of The Street, Milton Abbas by cyclists, horse riders and all mechanically propelled vehicles, except those taking part in the event and emergency vehicles – on Saturday, 29th July 2017 between 09.30 hrs and 18.00 hrs
The alternative route for diverted traffic will be:
From Western End of Closure – south via Milton Road to Milborne St. Andrew; left on A354 to Winterborne Whitechurch; left onto Chescombe Lane and north to eastern end of closure. The reverse route applies. Please click here for official notice.
If you would like further information about the event please contact: Event Organiser: Mrs Elaine Payne Tel: 01258 880981

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Highways Information – Scheduled Road Works

A350, Sturminster Marshall
daytime closures 9am to 3.30pm, 30 May to 7 June (weekdays only)
A354, Basan Hill
daytime closure 9.30am – 3.30pm, 8 June to 16 June
*convoy working 9.30am to 3.30pm, 19 June to 23 June
daytime closure 9.30am – 3.30pm, 26 & 27 June
A354, Thornicombe
daytime closure 9.30am – 3.30pm, 29 June to 5 July
C12, Wolfeton Eweleaze to Lower Burton
daytime closure 9am – 4pm, 6 July to 14 July
Dick O’ the Banks Road, Crossways
daytime closure 9.30am – 3.30pm, 17 July to 21 July

Premium surface dressing (carried out by Eurovia)
The following schemes will all be carried out 9am – 4pm under *convoy working and are weather permitting:
A354 Tarrant Hinton to Handley Roundabout, 24 May to 27 May
B3073 Ham Lane, Stapehill, 30 & 31 May
C12 Charminster to Charlton Down junction, 1 & 2 June
C12 Black Hill Cross to Alton Lane Cerne Abbas, 3 June
A30 dual carriageway Yeovil to Sherborne, 5 June to 9 June, with 30mph speed restriction 5 June to 23 June (for the works & loose chippings afterwards)
*convoy working is for safety reasons, there will be a small works vehicle leading traffic through the site at a controlled speed of between 5mph & 10mph
Dates can be subject to change. We’ll keep you updated and add more dates as they’re confirmed by our #HighwayFixers.

For more information please click here.

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Annual Parish Meeting 2017

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.

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Broadband Speeds & Mobile Phone Reception

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.

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Milton Abbas Annual Parish Meeting

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.