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Round 4 of the Household Support Fund is set to reopen

Round 4 of the Household Support Fund (HSF) will reopen for applications at 10am on Wednesday 3 January 2024 for low-income households.

The support will be in the form of supermarket vouchers. Citizens Advice will be allocating this fund on behalf of us and vouchers will be issued to residents who meet the eligibility criteria within 6 to 8 weeks.

If you are applying in this window, please make sure you have not applied for a previous HSF payment since July 2023 as further vouchers cannot be issued and there are a very limited number of applications available for this window.

Residents should apply online and the application form will open at 10am.

Ref Dorset Council News Letter 29.12.23

Find out more

Cost of Living Support going into the new year

As we step into 2024, we understand that many people may be struggling with the challenges of the cost of living increases. Christmas can be an expensive time, and we want to offer support to those who may be feeling the strain.

If you or someone you know is struggling financially or mentally, check out our cost of living help webpage below to explore the support available. It's crucial to start the new year on a positive note, and together, we can make a difference.

Ref Dorset Council News Letter 29.12.23

Find Out More

New rules for dogs in open spaces come into force

A dog related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across the Dorset Council area comes into force on 1 January and will remain in place for three years.

The order replaces the previous dog related PSPO. The reason for implementing a dog related PSPO on specific beaches and open spaces is to keep them free from dog fouling and safe to use by all.

Insisting that dogs are on leads in particular areas means that the owner has adequate control over the dog which means that they can see if the dog fouls and doesn’t cause issues with other people or dogs.

Ref Dorset Council News Letter 29.12.23

Huge achievement and progress made in 2023 with much more planned for 2024

The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project

What we have achieved so far and what's next..

In the last 18 months The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project has achieved an impressive 400km of surveys so far across Dorset.

CPRE - The Countryside Charity states that Hedgerows are the vital stitching in the patchwork of our countryside. Not only are they beautiful, with shifting seasonal colours, but they also provide homes and corridors for wildlife. And all the while they help tackle the climate crisis by capturing carbon.

With increased numbers of volunteers, better-developed local teams and increased demand from the farming community we are now able to set a bold target of surveying a further 500 km of hedges in 2024.

Over 5000 volunteer hours were logged in those first 18 months

- Over 2000 hours on site

- Over 2500 hours planning, mapping, & data entry
- Over 500 hours engaging with farmers
- 280 Volunteers signed up with numbers set to increase beyond 400 in 2024

As the project continues to expand and grow we expect a further 5000 volunteer hours to be logged in 2024.

20 farmers in Dorset have now invited us onto their farms to undertake hedgerow surveys, this almost always leads to the adoption of the Sustainable Farming Incentive with the three hedgerow actions which DEFRA are confident will enhance and restore our hedgerows.

That process began slowly but now it has an increasing momentum, we can expect to be invited to anything between 50 and 100 new farms in 2024.

As we have grown our surveys have also become more ambitious with multiple surveys now happening across any one farm in one day.
Our short Film about Volunteering for the Great Big Dorset Hedge can be viewed here and gives the viewer a lovely introduction to the Project.

Volunteering for The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project

533 views

We have received overwhelming support in the form of crucial funding from CPRE's Hedgerow Heroes project, Dorset AONB, Julia Hailes and the West Dorset Bee-Keepers Association.
Also, we now have a growing source in the form of the farmers, themselves. So far one farmer has donated £1000 and three farmers have donated £500.
This has enabled us to grow in our capacity and cover our overheads so we can focus our efforts on growth and the success of the project.

Most crucially this project's success is entirely reliant on the amazing volunteers who give up their time to help us complete surveys of hedgerows.

Best Wishes from
John Calder - Project Manager

If you feel inspired to join the project in any capacity, you can sign up here:

Sign up to Volunteer Here

Donate Here

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Hi all, I am organising a ramble on the Tuesday 26th Sept, at 10am starting at Corscombe Village hall, walking along Common Lane to Halstock Shop for ice creams, then back to the Corscombe Village hall, where there will be a local history exhibition on display by Freda Hennessy.

The walk is about 6 miles, approx. 3 hours with stopping points and nature/history information. The Beaminster Ramblers will be in attendance, so upwards of 20 people. Unfortunately, no dogs allowed, part of the Ramblers rules, not mine.

Do feel to come along for the walk starting at 10am or drop into the history exhibition which will be on display from 1pm.

Please contact Simon Dalton for more information.

simon.dalton@btinternet.com

or 07713683080

From Corscombe's FaceBook Group, but relevant to Halstock too:

I have just heard from our local beekeepers organisation that two Asian Hornet nests have been found in Portland. This is really bad news for all our native insects as well as honey bees. Is it appropriate for you to put a post on facebook / whatsapp etc to ask everyone to be vigilant?

The Asian hornet app which can be downloaded provides information and allows users to report possible sightings.

I'm going to see if I can pick up some posters to put on our noticeboards.

Many thanks

Deborah

Attention all Riders and Striders! The next Ride and Stride is on Saturday 9 September. Either pick up your sponsorship form from the Community Room or download here. Further details can be found from the Dorset Historic Churches Trust website www.dhct.org.uk Happy Riding and Striding!

Ride & Stride Sponsorship Form page 1
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Ride & Stride sponsorship form p2
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Ride & Stride information and thank you
Ride and Stride information and thank yo[...]
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Click below for information on road closures and traffic information

Dorset Road Closures and traffic info

Somerset road closures and traffic info

Click here to check out the regular events in the Village Hall on the Village Hall page.

Fly Tipping – Reporting & Advice

The link below takes you directly to the reporting page on our Website:

https://dorset-self.achieveservice.com/service/DWP-Report-fly-tipping-in-Dorset

If the Fly-Tipping is on either public or private land, the site will be investigated for evidence and appropriate legal action taken. However, we will only clear waste from the public highway or public land. Waste deposited on private land is the landowner’s responsibility to clear and we cannot remove this waste.

Those caught fly-tipping can be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Every year councils spend a considerable amount of time and money removing this waste from the landscape. We will always try to remove fly-tipping as soon as possible. The site will be investigated for evidence and the appropriate legal action taken. If we can trace the persons responsible for fly-tipping we can recover our costs & potentially the land owners costs in some instances.

Simple rules for reporting fly-tipping

do not remove any evidence found from the fly-tipping location, for example, addressed letters – instead take photographs please
be as specific as possible when describing where the incident has occurred – what 3 words is particularly good
if you see the incident occurring do not approach the persons involved
if you see a person/vehicle involved in an environmental crime take as many details as you can, for example, description of the person or vehicle registration, type of waste(s) and photos, dash cam footage if safe to do so
you may be asked to provide a witness statement and/or attend court in subsequent legal action

Any fly tips reported that do not include evidence will go directly to our depot not to enforcement. Whilst we don’t recommend you searching the waste, cardboard boxes often have address labels and black bin bags normally have paperwork/envelopes etc. If in doubt state evidence present & we can then investigate swiftly.

Littering Report Link

https://dorset-self.achieveservice.com/service/DWP_Report_litter_on_the_highway_or_pavement

LOVE YOUR VERGE??

Fed up with seeing carelessly discarded rubbish, drink cans, fast food wrappers etc., etc., littering our lanes?

Why not join us for the Great Dorset Spring Clean Litter Pick on the weekend of 1st and 2nd April?

For more information or to sign up to volunteer contact Peter Sutton on

litterfreewestdorset@gmail.com

The new Emergency Alerts system will be tested nationally on April 23rd.

The system will warn people when their lives are in danger. An Emergency Alert is a

loud, siren-like sound with a message on your mobile phone screen. To find out more,

visit gov.uk/alerts

SAVE THE DATE and join the fun at the Halstock Coronation Big Lunch on Sunday 7th May.

You will be able to register for this free village event FROM 1st April in Halstock Village Shop

more details on how to secure your place to follow.

The Big Lunch will be held in the hall and a marquee, as well as the field (weather permitting).

Space is limited inside the hall, so the early bird catches the place! Let’s hope it’s a sunny day, but that’s the one thing we can’t plan for

Please put the date in your diary and watch this space for more information.

posted 2 Oct.

Livestock worrying is when a dog attacks or chases livestock on agricultural land or is at large in a field with sheep, which can result in significant injury or suffering and in the worst cases, death of the animals involved. This also has devastating consequences for livestock keepers, causing personal distress as well as significant financial costs.

Please keep dogs on leads near livestock.

posted 10/03/22

WOULD YOU LIKE A GAME OF SKITTLES?

WE ARE A FRIENDLY GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO PLAY SKITTLES IN THE VILLAGE HALL ON THE 1^ST, 3^RD AND 5^TH WEDNESDAYS OF THE MONTH AT 7.00PM. WE WOULD LIKE A FEW MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN US, ARE YOU INTERESTED? IF YOU ARE GIVE ME A CALL TO FIND OUT MORE.

THERE IS A LIMITED BAR WITH VERY REASONABLE PRICES. TO FIND OUT MORE GIVE ME A CALL. PETER BRINCK 01935891

COGS NEWS, INFORMATION AND DATES AVAILABLE ON LOCAL SERVICES PAGE.

dorset wildlife trust

Variation Notice

Notice is given that Peter Brinck has applied to Dorset Council for a variation of a premises licence in respect of Halstock Community Hall, Leigh Lane, Halstock, Yeovil, BA22 9SG for regulated entertainment and the provision of alcohol generally between the hours of 09.00am and 01.00am on Monday to Saturday and between 09.00am and Midnight on Sundays.

Any interested party or responsible authority may make representation to, The Licencing Section, Dorset Council, South Walks House, South Walks Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1UZ within 28 days from the date of this notice. The licensing register and details of this application may be inspected during normal office hours at the above address.

It is an offence under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the offence is a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (£5000)

1^st March 2020