12 Feb 2012
Surviving winter - emergency funding available
Advice, help and useful contact details from the Dorset Community Foundation

8 Feb 2012
India Day extravaganza at Parley First School

8th Feb 2012
On Tuesday afternoon, 7th February 2012, the pupils of Year 4 at West Parley First School organised an India Day to which their parents were invited and they also invited the Mayor of Ferndown and Councillor Geoff Dark to represent West Parley Parish Council. The children themselves were responsible for the programme of events which included a taste of Indian food served to the visitors, some Indian dancing and a fashion show of some of the lovely costumes worn by the children.

There was also a replica of a small Indian hut they had built in the playing field, a DVD about India produced by the children and displays of lots of work and projects that they had carried out in preparation for the India Day. There was also an Indian song very well performed by the children. The afternoon was extremely successful and congratulations are due to all the children of Year 4 for a very entertaining afternoon.

8 Feb 2012
Local MP Chris Chope against District Council plans for building in green belt
Chris Chope, our local MP, wrote the following to West Parley Parish Councillor Kenny Pearce:

Dear Mr Pearce,
Thank you for your email of 1st February about the meeting scheduled for later that same day.

I am happy to reconfirm my commitment to campaigning against building on the Green Belt in the Christchurch constituency. I am well aware that the threat to the Green Belt in and around West Parley remains and that the District Council is engaged in a pre-consultation process which will result in a formal public consultation later this year.

I have made it clear to the Leader of the Council, with whom I discussed this matter last week, that I remain of the opinion that development on the Green Belt in West Parley is an unacceptable proposal and one which I will oppose strongly.

With best wishes,
Chris Chope

5 Feb 2012
Green Belt Housing Plans - public speaking at Barrington Center

Standing Room only at Barrington Center, Ferndown 1st Feb as public air their views to the District Council

please click here for the full report and the text of some very interesting speeches.

26 Jan 2012
Church Lane footpath - West Parley Volunteers replace old stile

The old stile at the New Road entrance to the Church Lane footpath had been there since time immemorial - not really a stile, but two iron bars giving the user an awkward choice of climbing over or squeezing through. Not too friendly for senior citizens.

On Thursday this week the West Parley Volunteers replaced it with a proper swinging gate, paid for and authorised by the Parish Council. Fancy getting involved? Click here for contact details and to find out what our volunteers get up to!

23 Jan 2012
Councils give new Dorset recycling and waste service the green light
Christchurch and part of East Dorset will be first to receive the service. . more

20 Jan 2012
District Council publishes its new green belt housing proposals
520 houses to be built in West Parley on the Dudsbury Heights and New Road fields

For all the details on this major story, please click here.

21 Dec 2011
Parish Plan now online

The West Parley Parish Plan has now been distributed to all households. Based on a residents Survey and wide consultation, this represents the wishes of the community for future developement and action. Please click here.

16 Dec 2011
Support for new Community Groups

West Parley Parish Council is getting in the community spirit! Funding is available for new Community Groups to hire one of our Halls for meetings. The Parish Council wants to encourage people to start new groups and use our excellent facilities.

For full details of the offer please click here.

5 Dec 2011
Crowded Meeting at the Memorial Hall, Friday 2 December

150 residents pack the Memorial Hall for the Launch of the Parish Plan and an update on the green field housing plan options.
The Parish Plan was launched by Steering Group Chairman Cllr John Cullen. It has now been distributed to all houses and is receiving a favourable reception. Cllr Cullen briefed the meeting on the main points of the Plan, emphasising that it was the production of the residents as a whole. Many had taken part in the work, and 1000 residents had sent in the detailed survey form on which the Parish Plan is based. It gives a vision of the kind of West Parley we want in 5 to 10 years time. The action points will be followed up by the Plan's steering group and by the Parish Council.

It is hoped to put the whole Parish Plan on line here shortly.

Parish Council Chairman Richard Heaslip then informed the meeting of the dates and procedures that will be adopted by the District Council for their decisions, and subsequent consultation, on the housing sites and plans that were last published as Options in September 2010. It is expected that the EDDCs Policy & Resources Committee will publish the new and updated plans at a meeting in the Barrington Centre on February 1st and that the combined Christchurch/EDDC Councils will decide on these plans a month later. This will be followed by a major consultation.

30 Nov 2011
New teenage nightclub in Ferndown

Bar Frantic, the new teenage nightclub has been launched in Ferndown at the Barrington Centre.
Offering young people of the area something very different to do on a Sunday evening, it targets young people between 13 and 18 years of age with a non-alcoholic bar. Evenings will include karaoke, disco, dance, Zumba and a Nintendo Wii plus a lot more in the weeks to come.

Each week there will be a different theme. Entry is free so all you have to do is pay for your own drinks.

If you are interested in being on the working group who put these evenings together or have other questions please contact Alan Ball or Chantelle Day at the Ferndown Youth Office on 01202 874448
article from the Stour and Avon Magazine

27 Nov 2011
New road signs
"Welcome to West Parley" signs on New Road North and South, and Christchurch Road East and West. .see pictures. . new . . old

22 Nov 2011
Dorset Fire and Rescue - Budget Cuts - Residents Survey

Following Government cuts to their budget they ask our views on adding to local rates to make it up.

Please click www.dorsetfire.gov.uk/uploads/file/ResidentsSurvey2011-12.pdf for background

Please click www.dorsetfire.gov.uk/survey/residents_surveyweb.htm for the Survey.

18 Nov 2011
Important Public Meeting - 7.30pm Friday 2 December at the Memorial Hall

• Learn what's happening about housing estates in the Green Belt.
• When and how will the District Council decide?
• What can we do?
• What can you do?

Have your say on this major issue.

9 Nov 2011
Parish Council honours volunteers at 28 October reception

West Parley Parish Council recently held a reception in the Memorial Hall to honour the volunteers who work tirelessly in the village on behalf of all residents. The Council is very proud to have approximately 100 volunteers who assist in improving the appearance of our village by doing a variety of tasks and we are very pleased to have this opportunity to pay tribute to their efforts. The reception was attended by over 50 of the volunteers, by all Parish Councillors and both District Councillors. The main guest was Mr Christopher Chope MP who presented awards to the Volunteers of the Year:

• Working Party - Frank Trollope
• Watering - Jon Ladd
• Delivery of Leaflets - Marianne Parker
• Litter Picking - Lorna-Jean Heaslip
• Emptying Litter Bins - Andy Steele and Diana Penwill

For more photos of our award winners and details of our what our volunteers have been up to please click here

4 Nov 2011
East Dorset District Council to vote on complete change to waste services

At 10am Wednesday 9 November in the Council Chamber at Furzehill, East Dorset District Council is meeting to vote on new waste services. This meeting is open to the public.

As part of a Dorset wide initiative designed to save some 17% yearly on present Dorset waste collection services, EDDC's Policy and Resources Committee will be meeting to decide on a new and completely changed waste collection service.

For West Parley this will (if decided upon) commence in June 2012 and in essence will be:

• A weekly food waste collection
• A fortnightly recycling collection, with a wheeled bin and a box
• A fortnightly waste collection, much the same as the present weekly one, but with a wheeled bin
• An optional garden waste fortnightly collection, at an annual charge.

For full details go to the Dorset for You website and see EDDC Policy and Resources Committee Agenda and papers for 9 November 2011 meeting. - click here

23 Oct 2011
Volunteer Party at the Memorial Hall

The Parish Council is proud of the many West Parley volunteers who distribute leaflets, pick up litter, maintain the flowers, clear pavements and hedges and generally help to see that the village is tidy and attractive.

There is a party in their honour at 6.15pm Friday 28 October at the Memorial Hall. Chris Chope MP will be there and will present our Volunteer of the Year awards.

If you have helped out at West Parley do come, and bring your spouse/partner.

20 Oct 2011
Parish Council appoints new Clerk

The previous Clerk having resigned, the Parish Council held a successful recruitment exercise and had 9 applicants. The successful candidate is Mrs Linda Leeding, who was appointed as Clerk at the Parish Council meeting on 19 October. Details will be on the Parish Clerk page shortly.

19 Oct 2011
Councillors visit ECO Sustainable Solutions, the waste and power plant on Chapel Lane

On 19 September West Parley Parish Councillors visited ECO Sustainable Solutions, the waste and power plant on Chapel Lane. Trelawney Dampney, the managing director, showed Councillors the modern "use it all" plant where all manner of waste is taken in, sorted, separated, treated and then sold as usable commodities - fertilisers, compost etc. ECO has approved plans to put itself at the front of waste technology by building a facility to turn some of the incoming waste, mainly wood, into usable heat.

The Council is also obliged to ECO for donating the turf that has just been laid on the verge in front of the Recreation Ground.

4 Oct 2011
Parish Council makes traffic proposals to County. . more

4 Oct 2011
Housing in the green belt at West Parley - Parish Council wants better Consultation.
At their 21 Sept meeting the Parish Council passed the following motion:

Major Planning Consultations - Motion to separate West Parley and Ferndown

"The Council sees East Dorset District Council's (EDDC) new practice of combining Ferndown and West Parley in major planning consultations as disregarding the separate constitutions, identity and character of the two communities, and as contrary to Government policy on communities. It is greatly to the disadvantage of West Parley.

The Council insists that it is West Parley's right to be consulted separately and requests the West Parley District Councillors to urge the EDDC to revert to its former consultation practice in this regard."

12 Sept 2011
Ferndown Area 50+ Forum
meeting Friday 16th Sept 2011, everyone welcome. . more

24 Aug 2011
Canford Bottom Roundabout - All Change
After transport ministers said on 15 August they were putting the Canford Bottom roundabout works on hold, it is reported on August 24th that they have now changed their minds again. Transport minister Mike Penning has given the scheme the go ahead, citing possible delays to the Olympic route network if the scheme was delayed.

18 Aug 2011
Street light renewal to begin soon
The street lights in the following roads are soon to be renewed:
Cammel Road
Linden Close
Christchurch Road (215 to 374)
New Road (Bridge to 294)

Residents effected will be notified by SSE Contracting / Dorset County Council prior to the works starting.
Should you have any concerns or issues please call 0800 068 4145
To see the plans in detail please use the following links: plans 1  plans 2  plans 3

16 Aug 2011
Canford Bottom roundabout works,
due to start next month, put on hold by Ministers . . more

8 Aug 2011
EDDC car park survey - Have Your Say and Win £50
Residents, businesses and visitors to East Dorset are being given the opportunity to express their views on car parking in the area. East Dorset District Council is undertaking a survey to review the needs of motorists who use the Council's car parks.

The survey will assist the council in making future decisions about the car parking service. This will help ensure that best value is provided for car park users and to council tax payers in general. To have your say, and to claim your chance of winning £50 in our entrants' free prize draw, please take a few minutes to complete the online survey by visiting www.dorsetforyou.com/carparksurvey/east

Alternatively you can fill in a copy of the survey by visiting the reception area at the Council Offices, Furzehill, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 4HN. Please submit your completed questionnaire by 31 August 2011.

3 Aug 2011
Dorset Police warning on theft from vehicles . . more

21 July 2011
Open Day success in West Parley
Organisers were delighted as residents turned out in their droves to see and comment on the Draft Parish Plan. . .full story

2 July 2011
Open Day for the Draft Parish Plan
Residents in West Parley have had their say about what they would like the village to look like in the future. Last year a large number of residents completed a survey about the village and made comments on a wide number of subjects, including roads, housing, the environment and community facilities. These comments have been written up into a Parish Plan and residents now have the chance to see the draft plan at an Open Day so they can make comments before it is printed.

The Open Day is to be held on 19th July from 4 to 8pm at the West Parley Memorial Hall on Christchurch Road.

The Parish Plan Steering Group Chairman John Cullen says "This is a great opportunity for everyone to have their final say about the place they live in and how they wish to see it develop over time. We hope everyone will try to drop in to see what has been done so far. We have invited local clubs and societies to be there as well." Richard Heaslip, Chair of West Parley Parish Council says "We have had an excellent response to the survey and know residents are very interested in what happens here, especially on the plans for new housing."

Contact John Cullen, Virginia Cottage, Barrack Road, West Parley
Tel: 582662 email: johncullen50@hotmail.com

21 June 2011
Government considers new Parish Council powers
The Government is about to circulate a White Paper on public service delivery, giving people more choice in several areas and devolving some powers downwards. One of the changes is said to be giving powers to Parish Councils to take control of local parks, playing fields, and parking and traffic restrictions. Bearing in mind the views expressed by West Parley residents in the Parish Plan Survey, this could be quite useful. It will take a year or more to play out, and we shall watch this space.

8 June 2011
New plans for the Dormy Hotel
Several amendments have been made to the plans for the site of the former Dormy Hotel in Ferndown. . .full story

25 May 2011
Millhams Press Release
Dorset Waste Partnerships announces that all East Dorset residents can now use Millhams Community Recycling Centre(tip) by showing their council tax bill from East Dorset. This ends the existing voucher scheme. Please let your friends and neighbours know!

6 May 2011
Parish Council Election - 5 May 2011 - New Council Elected.
The previous Council understandably disappointed not to be returned but congratulate their successors and wish them well.

23 April 2011
Brand new Play Area achieved
The natural looking, ecologically-themed attraction is now fully open. Do please visit and let us have your feedback. . .full story

28th March 2011
West Parley Memorial Hall
Upgrading Program off to a good start, new double glazing installed throughout.
The Chairman, Secretary and Management Committee are to be congratulated on achieving the first stage of their ongoing program of improvements to the building. The Chairman, Shaun Webb, who has recently worked extremely hard in obtaining funding for improving this independantly managed hall is, unfortunately, now quite seriously ill in hospital. Everybody will wish Shaun a speedy and complete recovery.