The September 2025 edition of the Bride Valley News can be read HERE

The deadline for copy for any month’s issue is mid-day of the second Thursday of the preceding month. All material for publication must be sent to the Village Correspondent. For Litton Cheney this is: John Firrell, Tel: 01308 482313 email: jfirrell20@gmail.com

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Parish Council There will be a Parish Council Meeting on Tuesday 9 th September, 7pm at LATCH. Local residents are encouraged to attend, and can ask questions during democratic time and make a point. There are currently two vacancies on the Parish Council – could you be the person prepared to help administer your village? We would love to hear from you. Please contact Clerk Debbie, or Councillors – contact details can be found on the Litton website littoncheney.org.uk Irresponsible Driving There have been numerous comments made on FB regarding irresponsible driving through the village, including speeding. This issue has been taken up with Dorset Police who will be siting speed traps at various times and points in the village and surrounding areas. It is said that a sign of maturity is discovering that the accelerator lifts off as well as being able to be pressed down. Are those who are likely to be guilty of tearing through our villages likely to be reading this august publication? Perhaps not, but there may be family members who know who the culprits are who can have a quiet word in their shell-like ear before the police come calling, and come knocking they will if it continues. This issue has been brought to the attention of the Parish Council and will be discussed at the next meeting in September (9th). If you have concerns, come along and discuss how best you can assist us in addressing this matter. CPR/Defib Training Many thanks to Pete Dennis for setting up the CPR/Defib training session at LATCH in July. 18 people attended who are now much better briefed should there be a need to provide first aid which, in many cases, is so often the reason a person survives. Pete has suggested further training in about a year’s time, but will arrange something earlier if there is a demand. 18 people also attended a Long Bredy event, overall offering up a further 36 people fully capable of administering CPR and a defibrillator. Riparian Ownership – Could that be you? A ‘riparian owner‘ is somebody who has a watercourse running through, beneath or adjacent to their land. If the watercourse forms the boundary with your land, you will usually own up to the centre of the channel. If in doubt, you will need to check your title deeds to confirm exact ownership. This can be done via the land registry. It is the responsibility of a riparian owner to carry out the safe maintenance of the bed and banks of a watercourse to ensure the free flow of water, that falls within their property boundary. Further information can be found on the village website – www.littoncheney.org.uk Full Fibre – we believe that the final connections in the village are in the process of being completed. If you have access to full fibre, you are encouraged to get connected. Leaving it until later may mean a greater expense. Stop Press – Chalk Pit Lane/Litton Hill: Full Fibre now available – contact your service provider. REGULAR EVENTS Mondays 3.30 – 4.30 Big Q in meeting room (term time only) Tuesdays 4.45 – 5.45 Short Mat Bowls (Ron Davidson 482661) Start date t.b.c. Wednesdays 4.45 – 5.45 Table Tennis (Paul Kingston 482162) 19.00 Mindful Movement (Jane Hutchins 07882 527697) Thursdays 9.15 – 11.15 First Steps Toddlers (fortnightly, term time only) Fridays 10.00 – 12.00 Art Group in meeting room (not 19 th ) OTHER EVENTS Saturday 6 th 10.00 – 12.30 Village Café in aid of St. Mary’s Church Tuesday 9 th 7.00 Parish Council in meeting room Monday 15 th 7.00 Garden Club meeting Thursday 18 th 7.00 BV W.I. Qigong Session Friday 19th 6.30 Bingo Night Thursday 25 th 7.00 Puncknowle History club – Film show Sunday 28 th 10.00 Yoga with Nadiya Wynn Sunday 28 th 4.00 Community Church

The Bridport Local Area Partnership (BLAP) is here for the community. Current members of the partnership include Bridport Town Council, 10 Parish Councils and more than 80 community organisations and individuals working to improve the social, economic, and environmental wellbeing of Bridport and surrounding areas. For information or if you have a piece you would like included in the BLAP Bulletin, please contact Jo Hughes by email at jo.hughes@bridport-tc.gov.uk BLAP Annual Members' Assembly The BLAP annual Members' Assembly will take place at Bridport Town Hall on Thursday 11th September at 5.15pm. If you are unable to attend, do please offer this invitation to someone else within your organisation or group. We are keen to have as many BLAP members represented as possible. The guest speaker will be Dorset Council Leader Nick Ireland. BLAP Nominations - Chair and Vice Chair Nominations are now invited for the BLAP Chair and Vice Chair for the coming year and any BLAP member who wishes to stand should use the nomination form. Candidates will need one other person from amongst the BLAP membership to support their nomination, but by all means ask if you need help finding someone to do that. All nominations should be sent to Jo Hughes (jo.hughes@bridport-tc.gov.uk) no later than Friday 5th September. The BLAP annual Members' Assembly on Thursday 11th September will include the election of the BLAP Chair and Vice Chair. Bridport Carnival Events Bridport Carnival events taking place this week: • Tuesday 12th August - Carnival Quiz at the Ropemakers from 7.30pm • Wednesday 13th August - Carnival Bingo at the Beehive Football Club, doors open at 6.30pm, eyes down at 7.30pm • Friday 15th August:- Darts Competition at the Beehive Football Club, sign on by 7.30pm- Fair at West Street Car Park • Saturday 17th August:- Golf Competition at the Bridport & West Dorset Golf Club- The Wessex Military Band in Bucky Doo Square from 10.00am- The Bridport Broadsides Shanty Crew in Bucky Doo Square from 5.45pm-6.45pm- Carnival procession line up West Allington from 5.45pm - moves off from 7.00pm- Winners presentation at 9.00pm in Bucky Doo Square followed by Dancing in the street to Static Flight- Fair at West Street Car Park Wessex Water Community Drop-in Wessex Water’s community outreach team will be at Bridport Library on Wednesday 13th August, 10.00am - 12.00pm and 1.00pm - 2.00pm for anyone who needs support or has a question about their water bill, water and sewerage services, how to save water and how to prevent blockages (or anything else water related). RNLI Seatown BBQ This year's RNLI Seatown BBQ will take place on Wednesday 13th August outside the Anchor Inn, Seatown from 4.30pm. Activities will include RNLI souvenirs, cake stall, tombola, skittles, crockery smash, hoopa la, bric a brac, barbeque, live music and sea rescue by Lyme Regis Lifeboats. Bridport Pantomime Players - Showtime Performance An evening of toe tapping entertainment on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th August at Salwayash Village Hall from 7.30pm. Come tap your toes and sing along! Tickets cost £7.50 (£5 for children) and are available from Carpet World, West Street, Bridport or they can be purchased on the door. This is a fundraising performance to raise money for our next pantomime. VJ Day - Friday 15th August Bridport Town Council will gather in Bucky Doo Square just before 11.00am on Friday 15th August to proclaim the 80th anniversary of VJ Day with the Mayor, Town Crier, and others. This will include a two-minute silence. Edible Bridport Are you interested in getting involved with Edible Bridport? Come along for cake and a cuppa and to find out more… plus, free veg plants to take home! Where? - upstairs at the Bridport Youth & Community Centre, Gundry Lane, Bridport.When? - 11.00am - 12.00pm on Saturday 16th August and Saturday 20th September. For more information email us at: ediblebridport@gmail.com Bridport Torchlight Procession The Bridport Torchlight procession will be held on Sunday 17th August. Torches will be on sale from 6.30pm in Bucky Doo Square. The procession will set off at 9.00pm from South Street, Bridport and will end at West Bay where there will be food stalls, bar, bonfire and dancing on the beach. The fireworks display will take place at West Bay after 10.00pm (weather permitting). A return bus service from West Bay to Bridport will be available from 9.15pm - midnight - £1.00 per person and under 10's free of charge. The Melplash Show This year's Melplash Show will be held on Thursday 21st August from 8.30am - 6.00pm at the West Bay Showground, Bridport, DT6 4EG. Tickets are on sale at Bridport Tourist Information Centre, £22.50 or £25 on the gate. Children aged 16 and under enter free (no ticket required), free onsite parking and dogs are welcome but must be on a retractable lead. Full show information is available here. West Bay Discovery Centre Children's Summer Art Workshop On Thursday 28th August, 11.00am - 3.00pm, Jo Burlington is inviting children to "Imagine A House Made From Cliffs & Fossils & Fish! Rock bashing, paint mixing, mark making. Inspired by the Pier Terrace building, we will make our own paint from the local cliffs and discover unusual making techniques to build our pictures to take away. Ideal for kids age 3 and up. This is a free drop in event for children (must be accompanied by an adult) and there is no need to book. Donations are very welcome. Visit our website for more information. Bridport Fire Station Open Day On Saturday 6th September from 10.00am - 4.00pm, Bridport Fire Station will be hosting their annual open day which will include a BBQ and refreshments, fire fighters charity stall and tombola and teddy zip wire ensuring fun for all the family. Bridport MS Social Group Join the Bridport MS Social Group on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 11.00am - 1.30pm for coffee, gentle exercise or Tai Chi and the occasional speaker at Viking Village (Seals Cove), St Andrews Industrial Estate, Show Lane, Bridport DT6 3EX. Whether you live with MS, support someone with MS or have a relative with MS, everyone is welcome. The next session will take place on Wednesday 10th September. Bridport to West Bay Weekend Shuttle Bus The new WB1 Bridport to West Bay shuttle bus runs almost every half hour on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings between Bridport town centre and West Bay. View the bus timetable here. Bridport Town Council Community Grants Scheme Bridport Town Council’s Community Grant Scheme is open and accepting applications until Thursday 21st August at 5.00pm. Grants are awarded each year to local charitable, voluntary or other similar bodies but not private organisations or individuals. For 2025/26, the Town Council particularly welcomes, but not exclusively, applications that demonstrate a benefit in terms of youth and young people. Further information, the application form and guidance can be found here. Burton Road to West Bay Trailway Consultation Bridport Town Council has produced a draft management plan for the Burton Road to West Bay trailway area. This area has never been designated an open space and does not currently have a management plan so Bridport Town Council want to formalise this and hopefully work with a volunteer group to manage the area. The draft management plan is available to view here. The consultation postcard can be viewed here and can be returned to the town council office or to the Bridport Tourist Information Centre. The closing date for comments is 31st August 2025. Dorset Council Public Information Session Come and find out more about the planned Bridport Reablement Centre on the site of the former Sidney Gale Care Home. There will be a public information session at Bridport Town Hall on Tuesday 19th August from 2.00pm - 5.00pm. The architects will be present and leaflets available. All welcome. Dorset Council Parking Survey Dorset Council are inviting residents, businesses, workers and visitors to take part in a new parking survey that will help shape the future of parking across the Dorset Council area. The survey is part of a comprehensive parking review, which is assessing how well the current parking arrangements are working and exploring opportunities to improve access, fairness and sustainability. The review covers all 117 council-operated car parks and on-street parking areas, including resident zones, coastal destinations and town centres. The survey is open until Thursday 4th September, and can be completed online. Alternatively, printed copies are available on request by contacting Dorset Council's customer services team on 01305 221000. Dorset Council Community Transport Grant 2025-26 A new grant is available from Dorset Council called the 'Dorset Community Transport Grant 2025-26. The aim of the Dorset Community Transport grant is to to invest in the sustainability of Dorset's community transport network and to support Dorset residents with the continued cost of living challenge. It is delivered by Dorset Council services and with our Voluntary Community Sector (VCS) partners. Capital grants of up to £5,000 with 20% match funding and/or a revenue grant of up to £2,500 (no match funding required) are available. The application process is live until midnight on Monday 8th September. For further information and to apply, click here. Mayor of Bridport Blog The latest edition of the Mayor's Blog is now available and features many events including hosting the towns Twinning Group from St Vaast la Hougue, opening of the Beach Wheelchair Store, West Bay Raft Race, and the launch of the West Bay Shuttle Bus. Eggardon & Colmers View The August edition of the Eggardon and Colmers view magazine is now available. This includes updates and events from Askerswell, Broadoak, Dottery, Eype, Loders,Powerstock and Symondsbury.

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