Susan Jefferies

Today I was on Beacon Heath to see the launch of a new initiative, Fire fighters on Mountain bikes on the Heath.  We also had a policewoman on one of their Mountain Bikes with us.

Annette and I were delighted to learn that firefighters will patrol the Heath aiming to prevent Heath fires.  They will be talking to youngsters about the dangers of fire, and also looking out for fires.  This time of year the Heath can be at it’s most vulnerable, the ground is dry, the undergrowth is dead and dry.  We have already had two big heath fires in other parts of Dorset this week.

Two of the bikes will be stationed at the Hamworthy Community Fire Station, close to Upton Heath.  When not on Heath watch duty, these teams will carry out Home Fire Safety checks in the local area.  This should be very efficient and bicycles will help us to reduce our carbon footprint and keep firefighters fit !

Today Annette and I visited Cobhams (Flight Refuelling) in Wimborne.  We met all of the Senior Management Team who were not in Singapore !  the Home Team !

It was a very interesting visit.  We talked a lot about Cobhams, 75 years old now and a major employer all that time in Wmborne.  A large local employer who produces a valuable product and has offices and plant all over the world.

They are completely rebuilding the site and we were taken on a tour of the new facilities.  The offices and work floor will relocate over the road to innovative new buildings, user friendly, atttractive, much more efficient in terms of energy and fit for the 21st Century.

The existing site, the huge site along the river, they hope to develop, with partners, for residential use,  much needed extra housing for Wimborne with a mix including affordable housing, all with the beautiful riverside views presently enjoyed by the office staff.

Thank you very much for an very interesting morning.

We are campaigning hard  for the approaching General Election.  Today Sandra, Michael, one of our Youth Group and I were out with Annette in the Spring sunshine calling on residents in the newest addition to the constituency, Wimborne and Colehill.

We are getting a very good reception on the doorstep, many people are delighted at last to be in a good position to elect a Liberal Democrat MP for their area.

Earlier on this evening Paddy Ashdown came to visit us in Lytchett Matravers.

An excellent evening !  He spoke about the four main issues before the Electorate. which he considers to be the Economy of Britain, the state of Politics and politicians, the disengagement of most people from Politicians, and Climate change, as he said, how we are destroying our world.

All of the questions asked him were Global in content, he was asked a lot of questions about areas of conflict, all of which he knows about, most of which he visits regularly.

He was asked about Afghanistan, why we are there and whether we should be.  He answered that we are there because of a UN resolution to send in Peace Keepers.  He feels we are at last making some headway there, but much of the delay and the problems have been caused by a lack of proper clear political direction.

He talked about the Middle East conflict and how he considers that Israel are slowly committing suicide, how the pattern of their behaviour is turning their allies away from them.

Finally he talked about Northern Ireland where he feels very optimistic  at last that we are moving towards a permanent and lasting conclusion of the troubles.

200 people had gathered enthusiastically to hear him speak.

Zac has just read a comment on another website talking about restrictions on Dog walking in Corfe Mullen.

‘Another suggestion is that dog owners take their dog to walk on the local bridal paths. This is totally unworkable. Dogs can not run free in these locations.’

Please, I  said BRIDLE paths not Bridal paths.  I don’t interfere with weddings.  I thoroughly enjoy walking on bridle paths, they are not fenced, I can run as freely as I like, try Stoney Down, plenty of lovely scents to follow.

The Tories have opened their Conference today saying that they want you to vote for Change.

Change ?  Will this not just be turning the clock back to the days of Maggie Thatcher ?

Vote for REAL Change !!  Vote for Vince Cable in charge of the economy.

The LibDems are looking forward to being able to REALLY  change the political climate in Britain

General Election planning has been going on for some months and now General Election activity is hotting up.  We are all seeing and hearing more in the media about the impending Election, though we have not been told for certain that it will be called for May 6th that is what we are all planning.  You will also get more delivered through your letter box from all the parties for the next few weeks.

Sorry about the nuisance!  I have a great deal of trust in the voters in this area and I think that most are capable of making their minds up without badgering but we are told to to keep pushing the message through your door.  The most important message to you all is to Please use your Vote on the Day!

I am asked by one person who wants to move into the area close to Beacon Hill whether we ever have health problems connected with the Household Waste site.

As far as I know we have never had any health problems connected with living close to the Tip.  Neighbours do complain periodically about noise and smells, but they are simply an irritation.

At the moment there is quite a lot of activity going on at the Waste Site, noise and a few odours.  They are engineering the next cell.  This  involves digging out a new area and moving and storing the spoil.  They are storing the spoil on the top of an exisiting finished area for a temporary period.

We can hear and see what is going on.  I live close to the Tip, on Beacon Road, and I can hear and see what is going on, but I seldom have a problem with smells, though some closer neighbours do complain.   I walk my dog below the Tip everyday but only very rarely find a problem.

The Hill looks higher at the moment, as the spoil has added height.  Eventually the hill will end up higher than we have been used to as the plan is to restore it to the height that it was in the 1830’s, before any quarrying began.

They are making an effort to do this work during the winter months when we are not outside in our gardens and having Barbeques.

We have had another episode this year of cold weather and lethal ice on the roads.  Further requests for grit bins in Corfe Mullen.

The Parish Council debated the question again (this year in good time, in October), but again voted against installing grit bins in the Parish.

The reasoning is that these bins would be important for just 8 or 10 days in the year.  For the remaining 350 days in the year they would be redundant, would sit on our street corners and probably be used as receptacles for rubbish, as happened in the past.

I, personally, would like to pilot a local grit bin scheme.  The residents of Victoria Close would like grit bins and they managed to persuade the Housing Assoc to contribute part of the cost.  I, myself, think that this would be an ideal place to pilot a scheme.  Mixed occupation, older people and families with children, and a community spirit.  However I could not persuade the Parish Council to support the scheme.

There are problems.  If you install a grit bin sponsored by the Parish Council then the County Council agree to refill the bin when necessary.  The grit delivered is for use and spreading on the Highway, not for the pavement and not for your own driveway.  Usually this is where it is used.

Another problem is insurance.  If you do not grit in front of your house or shop you cannot be liable for  accidents that happen there.  If you do grit and someone falls they can blame you and sue you for imperfect gritting.

I will keep trying to achieve a pilot scheme.

First I must apologise, I have not updated my website for too long.  I have been very busy, no excuse.  There are messages on there which have not reached me.  They should have done.  I must take this up.