BRIDE VALLEY NEWS
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
VILLAGE INFORMATION
VILLAGE INFORMATION
NEWS
Village Newsletter July 2024
Photo by Claire Moore 3_7_2021
Bridport Local Area Bulletin 23
rd
July 2024
PARISH COUNCIL
ABOUT LITTON CHENEY
VILLAGE FACILITIES
LOCAL SERVICES
VILLAGE INFORMATION
The Bridport Local Area Partnership (BLAP) is here for the community. Current members of the partnership include Bridport
Town Council, 13 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 for the
bulletin please contact Claire Peters-Way on 01308 456722 or by email at: Claire.Peters-Way@bridport-tc.gov.uk
Helplines
NHS Dorset Health Care - 0300 123 5440
Dorset Together Helpline - 01305 221000
Dorset Adviceline - 0800 144 8848
Harmony Mental Health Support - 07597 379290
Dorset Digital Hotline - 01305 221000 (Mon-Fri 10am -12noon)
Litton Cheney Parish Council
The next meeting of Litton Cheney Parish Council will be on Tuesday 10
th
September at 7.30pm at LATCH. As ever, we invite
local residents to attend and participate during democratic time. If you have thoughts on how community infrastructure funds
held by the parish council can be put towards worthy village projects, we wish to hear from you. The Parish Council has
recently given a grant of £4,000 to the Community Hall towards the cost of solar panels which will be installed during July.
Parish Clerk – Sadly, due to personal circumstances, our Clerk, Lucy, has found it necessary to step back from her role, so
we are back in search for a new Parish Clerk. Whilst it is a task requiring a fair degree of organisation, it is not onerous in
terms of working conditions and time. This would suit someone who perhaps has spent some time in administration and would
like to put their talents to further good use. We are hoping to recruit someone who can take on both Litton Cheney and
Shipton Gorge parish councils as indeed Lucy has done with some success. This situation provides the Clerk with the ability
to interact between the two councils, allowing both organisations to learn from each other, and work in conjunction. If this
position interests you, we would be delighted to hear from you. In the first instance, contact Clerk Lucy Beasley at
littoncheney@dorset-aptc.gov.uk
Full Fibre Update
There has been excitement amongst residents of Litton Cheney, after a flurry of human activity around the poles carrying
telephone wires, Openreach have been seen to be active in and around the village. Engineers are either carrying out
overhead connections from pole to pole or making the underground connections to the poles. The final piece of the installation
will come when the connection is made to the premises.
There are some hold ups, for example, with landowners not accepting new poles or Openreach waiting for updates to
agreements with Electricity suppliers for permission to co-use their poles. These situations, although frustrating for those of
us waiting for connection, are being worked upon. Good news came out of a discussion with one of the engineers, when he
revealed that priority would be given to those who committed to Full Fibre via the voucher scheme. Some lucky residents in
the Barges and Baglake vicinity have already been connected. To check your availability, use the Openreach website
www.openreach.com For many, the suggestion is from soon until Dec 2025 as a completion date, but it is hoped that the
infrastructure will be in place well before 2025. Fingers crossed.
Litton and Thorner’s Community Hall (LATCH)
Weekly:
Wednesdays: 4.45 pm - Table Tennis (Ron Davidson 01308 482661)
7.00 pm – Mindful Movement with Jane Hutchins (07882 527697)
Special:
Thursday 8
th
: Artsreach – Indian Story Telling. Daytime (Children) and evening shows - more here
Sunday 11
th
: Yoga with Nadiya Wynn (nadiyasime@hotmail.com)
Monday 12
h
: 9.00am to 4.00pm NHS Health checks - more here
Note: The hall will be unavailable from 29
th
July to 4
th
August for floor maintenance.
Village Cafés: The hall is available for hire free of charge on Saturday mornings for a Café to raise funds for any group. It’s a
good social event for the community and always popular – contact me to book a date.
Hall Bookings/viewings: Wendy Firrell 01308 482532 wtlitton@gmail.com
Thank You - Litton and Thorner’s Community Hall Trustees would like to hugely thank Litton Cheney Parish Council and Low
Carbon Dorset for providing grants of £4,000 and £8,000 respectively towards the costs of installation of solar panels on the
community hall roof.
Bride Valley Vineyard – Your Invitation
Invitation to Bride Valley Vineyard - Friday 16
th
August, 5.30pm - 7pm
We warmly invite the residents of Litton Cheney to join us for a glass of wine in the vineyard. Come along and see our vines,
taste our wine and meet our passionate team.
If you would like to pop along, please R.S.V.P. to tours@bridevalleyvineyard.com.
To find us, please take the track directly next to the village's thatched bus stop or use what3words/label, however announced.
We recommend that you walk to the vineyard if you are able to as there is limited parking.
The White Horse – Have you seen our ducks?
After the last Duck Race on Easter Sunday, two of our ducks, Frank, aka Francis Drake, and Ida, aka Ida Down, went missing.
We hope they have found a good home, but if you do happen to find them bobbing about somewhere on the briny or a river
near you, give them a wave and wish them well.
For all the latest happenings at your local, visit the website – Whitehorselittoncheney@gmail.com
The Duck Race by Quentin Blacke
Episode 4 – The Final Adventure
The waves lapped relentlessly against the rubber inflatable, threatening to overwhelm it completely. The men and boys tried
desperately to bail it out, but they were facing a losing battle as it settled deeper in the water.
The Dorset coast loomed large, but without the now defunct engine, the refugees were powerless to reach the shore. Time
was running out…
Little Aisha, huddled in the bow between her Mum, Jasmine and another lady, shivered in the cold. She was soaked through,
frightened and hungry.
Suddenly, her brother, Roj, shrieked loudly and pointed at something in the sea.
“What is it, Son?” called his Mother, but the boy pointed all the more and began to laugh.
Bobbing towards them without a care in the world, came Frank and Ida, miraculously still together after weeks at sea.
The boy lent over the side, plucked them from the waves and handed them to Aisha. A tide of joy swept over her and she
smiled for the first time in ages. For the first time in fact, since she and her family had been forced to leave their home in
Syria.
Moments later, the RNLI Lifeboat rescued them just in time and brought them to the safety of Poole harbour.
Epilogue
Months later, Frank and Ida have a new home in Somerset. They have pride of place on the bathroom window ledge in a
small flat that Aisha and her family can at last call home.
She plays with them at every bath time and they particularly love the suds!
Moral of this tale: Love a duck (or two). You never know where it or they might end up!
West Bay Discovery Centre - Summer activities
West Bay Discovery Centre will be hosting kids activities over the summer. All the events below are from 11am - 3pm:
Tuesday 23rd & 25th July - drawing 'the holiday resort of dreams' session
Wednesday 31st July - Make and build West Bay out of cardboard
Tuesday 6th & Thursday 8th August - Arts & crafts and Victorian games
The guided walks continue to take place every Thursday at 10.30am from the Discovery Centre. Walks are £6pp and last over
an hour. The topic for the walk on the 25th July is River and Rail followed by West Bay hidden history on the 1st August. For
more information on the walks please click here.
Bridport Town of Culture and Swift Town - Summer Events Programme
Bridport Town of Culture has a number of free events taking place including:
•
Tuesday 23rd July - Swift walk with RSPB's Luke Phillips from 6pm - 8pm from Bridport Arts Centre.
•
Saturday 27th July - The Last Baguette presents 'Bin Rat' a fun family walkabout from Bridport Arts Centre forecourt
•
Sunday 28th July - Bridport Vintage Market - music and performance programmed by TOCIYA (Town of Culture Initiative
for Young Adults)
•
Wednesday 31st July - Swift town tales from 2pm at Bridport Community Orchard, South Street.
•
Sunday 4th August - Dorset National Landscape photography exhibition on West Bay Esplanade
There is a limited number of spaces for the swift events, to register your free place please send an email. More information can
be viewed here.
West Bay - Raft Race
The RNLI will be hosting their annual raft race at West Bay on Thursday 25th July from 5pm - 9pm. The race starts at 7pm
and a road closure will be in place along George Street, West Bay from 6pm - 9pm.
Dorset Police - Bridport Neighbourhood Policing Team
The Bridport Police Team covers the towns of Bridport, Lyme Regis & Beaminster and smaller, dispersed communities of West
Dorset. Residents will have the opportunity to speak to PCSO Pete Smith on Saturday 27th July at 10am at the Co-op Store,
Bridport. For a full list of events and for details on the Neighbourhood Policing local priorities please click here.
Bridport Folk Festival
The year's Bridport Folk Festival will be held on the 26th - 28th July. Events will be held in Bridport town centre, the Millennium
Green and Borough Gardens. Music and dancing will be held in Downes Street and parts of Barrack Street, both roads
including South Street from the traffic lights to Gundry Lane, and part of Rax Lane between the entrance to the car park and the
Lyric Theatre will be closed on Sunday 28th July from 8.30am until 6.30pm. The road closure notice can be viewed here.
Tickets are available to purchase from the Bridport TIC and online.
Powerstock County Fete
Powerstock country fete will be held on Saturday 27th July at 2pm - 5pm at The Weir Playing Fields, Nettlecombe,
Powerstock, DT6 3SY. There will be a fun dog show, tug o'war, children's fancy dress competition, stalls, refreshments, crafts
and amusements. Adults £2.50 and under 16's free.
George Biles - Signwriting Exhibition
A celebration of the life and work of local Bridport artist Frederick George Biles is on show from Thursday 1st to the 29th
August. The artwork showcases a large selection of his original artworks namely pub signs from Palmers Brewery and theatre
backdrops from Bridport Pantomime Players. Pieces are on display at:
British Legion Hall, Victoria Grove - Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 4pm
Bridport Arts Centre - open daily from 10am - 4pm
Bridport Museum - open daily from 10am - 4pm
The Lord Nelson Skittle Alley, East Street - during pub opening hours
The Electric Palace Box Office - open Saturday 10th and Saturday 24th Aug from 10am - 2.30pm.
For more information on the project please click here.
The George Biles Project will be delivered by Bridport Town Council working with Palmers Brewery and local signwriter Jemma
Thompson.
Burton Bradstock Church Fete
This year's Church fete will be held in the Rectory Garden, Burton Bradstock from 2pm - 4.30pm on Thursday 1st August.
There will be a grand draw, children's magic show, refreshments, live music, stalls and games. Admission is £1 and children
under 12 are free.
Loders Fete
This year's annual fete will be held on Saturday 3rd August from 2pm - 5pm at Loders Court. There will be a grand raffle,
crockery smash, dog show, stalls, tea tent, music and magic. Entry to the fete is £2 per person and children under 12 go free.
Free parking is also available in the field.
Charmouth's Party in the Park
Party in the Park will be held at Charmouth Playing Fields on Saturday 3rd August from 5pm - 10pm. The event will include
a bar, bbq, music & disco, stalls, face painting, fireworks and more. £3 entry and under 14s free.
West Bay Day
West Bay Day will be held on Sunday 4th August from 12noon - 11pm. The event will include live music, a duck race, classic
cars & bikes, model airplane & railway exhibitions, games, stalls and refreshments. Please note that there will be a road closure
in place along the Esplanade and part of the Quayside from 6am until 11.30pm.
Wessex Water Community drop-in
Wessex Water are holding a community drop-in event on Wednesday 7th August from 10am - 12noon at Bridport Youth &
Community Centre, Gundry Lane. This is a chance for people to chat to Wessex Water about water bills, water and sewerage
services and how to save water.
Charmouth Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme - Survey
Charmouth has been selected as a recipient for funding as part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and
the Environment Agency’s Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme. This helps communities adapt to and manage coastal
erosion. The outline business case is currently being written and residents & visitors are being asked to consider the 15
different options. To view the proposals and to take part in the survey please click here. The closing date is Wednesday 31st
July.
River Char Project
The River Char Project will be holding a celebration day on Wednesday 7th August. Meet at Charmouth Village Hall, DT6
6QT. Starting at 5pm with a walk along the river down to the beach with short talks about the history & geology of the river,
water quality testing and wildlife. At 7pm there will be a film in the hall about the river and last year’s Charmouth Dragon River
Festival.
Bridport Town Council - Annual Grants
Bridport Town Council's grant scheme is now open. Grants are awarded each year to local charitable, voluntary or other
similar bodies. They are not for private organisations or individuals. For 2024/25, the Town Council particularly welcomes, but
not exclusively, applications that demonstrate a benefit in terms of youth, inclusivity, culture and the arts.
The application form and guidance is available on the website. If you would like a paper copy please call 01308 456722. The
closing date for applications is Thursday 22nd August 2024 at 5pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
Dorset Council - Bins, recycling and litter
Dorset Council are asking for views and experiences of using the food waste collection service so that they can improve and
encourage more people to participate. The survey takes around 5 minutes and can be completed here. Alternatively paper
copies are available from Dorset Council customer access points including Bridport library.
Mayor of Bridport Blog
The latest edition of her Mayor's blog is now available and features St James Park Care Home, Mayor making ceremony,
Bridport Gig Club Regatta and West Bay Discovery Centre.
