July newsletter

Good News Section – Part One…
We met the Christchurch Council directorate and learned that following the Christchurch-East Dorset rationalisation internal systems are being harmonised; staff retention and morale are high; there is no perceived skills shortage across the administration; the rationalisation will lead to better career development for staff; the perceived stability of the new arrangement has assisted in recruitment, giving our council an edge over councils that may need to rationalise in the future.

There was scope for this to all go horribly wrong so congratulations to all concerned.

…and Part Two - Town Centre-Druitt Gardens
The directorate were keen to tell us that there has been some real progress in relation to the refurbishment of Druitt Gardens. Major external funding and Committee approval have been obtained subject to confirmation of additional internal funding. Work is planned to commence in September on improving what has become something of an eyesore but including a perhaps controversial cycle path.

A full account of our meeting with the Council is on the website.

Bad News Section – Part One - Shamrock and Rambler
Unfortunately as you will probably have heard by now they have gone broke. Yellow buses have taken over route 111 whilst Wilts and Dorset have picked up the school buses 88 and 89. Full details on www.shamrockandrambler.co.uk but be quick – the website will degrade now that nobody is looking after it

Bad News Section – Part Two - The Dorset Council Inferno
In the middle of the night of June 6^th – June 7^th Dorset Council unleashed a hell of: houses vibrating so much that ornaments fell off walls; incessant noise; flashing lights; and an awful penetrating smell. These were the Hurn Road-Fairmile road-works that in their words “might cause some slight inconvenience”. After consulting with us, as an immediate step Councillor Sue Spittle obtained an agreement that future work would cease at midnight rather than go on into the small hours, which was helpful.

For the longer term we talked to Dorset about the fact that whilst they had consulted with the bus companies they had somehow managed to avoid talking to our ward councillors and ourselves. If residents had been warned of what was coming students taking exams could have stayed with friends, new born babies could have visited grandparents, ornaments could have been made safe, and so on. They promised to do better in future – but don’t bet on it.

Public Consultation - The Future of our Forests
Our response to this public consultation can be seen on the website. If you want to use all or part of it as a template for your own response – feel free.

And More Public Surveys
CBC will conduct a survey of residents in autumn 2011; at approximately the same time there will be a consultation on local arrangements for gypsies and travellers; the local development strategy will go out for consultation in 2012: full details in future News Letters.

If You’re Nosey About Local Planning Applications
Full details of all local planning applications, updated weekly, can now be seen on the website

Finally, at the bottom so to speak, The Sore Feet Section
We distributed 2,300 copies of a progress report plus our own covering letter (both of which can be read on the website) dealing with the St Catherine’s Hill Management Plan. Many thanks to the residents who volunteered to help us – much appreciated. We still don’t have a date for the full plan or the public consultation that will follow – late autumn, possibly (year carefully omitted).