The Bridport Local Area Partnership (BLAP) is here for the community. Current members of the partnership include Bridport Town Council, 9 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 Members' Meeting The BLAP Members' meeting will take place this Thursday 5th March, 2.15pm at Mountfield and there is also the option to join via Zoom. The meeting will include a short presentation from Kate Townsend, Stepping into Nature Project Coordinator of the Nature Buddies initiative, coordinated by the Dorset National Landscape team. All BLAP members are very welcome to attend. West Bay Discovery Centre - Talk This illustrative talk 'Boozy Bridport' by Chris Stevens on Thursday 5th March, 2.30pm - 4pm at the Salt House, West Bay DT6 4HB will give a history of the many interesting inns and public houses in the Bridport area. Some of the earlier pubs were run little more than as a sideline in the front room until economics or legislation closed them down. Chris will show where some old pubs were and what has happened to them. He will also look at the pubs that have been in the town for many years, some of which have changed their names many times. Ticket Price: £5.00 available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre on 01308 424901 or online here. West Bay Discovery Centre - March Opening Times • 7th & 8th March - Open weekend, 11:00am - 4:00pm • 14th & 15th March - Open weekend, 11:00am - 4:00pm • From 17th March - 1st November - Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00am - 4:00pm, including Monday during school holidays and bank holidays. After some much-needed maintenance work, the West Bay Discovery Centre is ready to welcome visitors during weekends in March. From 17th March, we will be open six days a week, from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Admission is free and donations are warmly welcome. Wessex Water Community Drop-in Come and meet Wessex Water and chat to us in person if you have a query about: • Your Water Bill • Your Water and Sewerage Services • How to save water and prevent sewer blockages We will be at Bridport Library, South Street, Bridport DT6 3NY on Wednesday 11th March from 10am - 2pm. Bridport History Society - Talk The next meeting of the Bridport History Society is on Thursday 12th March when the Society will be welcoming Prof. Karen Hunt who will give a talk in this centenary year of the General Strike of 1926 called 'What about the workers?' which will explore Bridport's early labour movement. The Society’s AGM will also take place during the meeting. The talk will be held at the United Church Hall on East Street, Bridport. Doors open at 2.15pm for a prompt 2.30pm start. All are welcome. Members £1pp and visitors £5pp. Bridport History Society meets on the second Thursday of each month (except July and August). Membership is open to all (£12 individual/£18 couple). For more information visit Bridport History Society. Holy Trinity Church, Bothenhampton - Jane Eyre An enchanting production of Jane Eyre at Holy Trinity Church, South Lawns, Bothenhampton DT6 4BH on Friday 13th March at 7.00pm. Doors will open at 6.30pm and refreshments will be available for a donation prior to the performance. Adult tickets cost £18.75 and under 16s £14.75 and are available to purchase here. Wheelchair users can access the steps up to the church via the stair climber. West Bay Discovery Centre - New Exhibition From Tuesday 17th March, our new exhibition 'Changing Landscapes' will open as part of the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the Jurassic Coast as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Recognised internationally for its exceptional rocks, fossils and landforms, the Jurassic Coast tells a 185-million-year story of Earth’s history. This exhibition highlights the Outstanding Universal Value of this unique coastline and helps visitors better understand how it has shaped - and continues to shape - the landscape we see today. Although cliff falls have occurred throughout history, their frequency has increased noticeably in recent years, making this topic more relevant than ever. Bridport Town Council - Annual Meeting The annual meeting of Bridport Town Council will take place at the Town Hall on Tuesday 17th March at 6.30pm. Full details of the meeting will be made available on the Town Council website. Bridport Millennium Green - Talk In support of Bridport Millennium Green, Bruce Upton will give a talk entitled 'Corruption and Scandal - The Rotten Story of Parliamentary Elections in Bridport up to 1885' on Thursday 19th March, 2.30pm at the WI Hall, North Street, Bridport. £5 (£4 members), please pay cash on the door. Bridport Stage Company - Juliet and her Romeo Bridport Stage Company has already raised over £8,000 for Samaritans whilst also priding ourselves on offering a project and a group that is supportive and welcoming for those with a variety of challenges, from depression, anxiety, anorexia , ADHD, ASD etc. We welcome all ages, from as young as 5 in the past (with parents accompanying) and are very excited by our progress. Currently we are rehearsing our production of 'Juliet and her Romeo' which will be performed in Bridport Town Hall on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th May. Tickets cost 10.00 and are available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre or online here. Bridport Youth & Community Centre - 18-25s Games Night Calling all 18-25 year olds! Join us for our monthly games night at Bridport Youth & Community Centre, Gundry Lane, Bridport DT6 3RL on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 6.30pm - 9.30pm. There will be a wide selection of games, or bring your own! Help & Care Six Week HOPE Course Take a positive approach to looking after yourself and sign up for the Help & Care free six week HOPE (Help Overcoming Problems Effectively) course. The course covers topics including: • Managing stress and fatigue • Getting better sleep • Mindfulness • Dealing with setbacks • Communication and relationships • Getting active, creative and eating well • Using your strengths to make you happier The course will take place at The Chapel in the Garden, 49 East Street, Bridport DT6 3JX commencing Thursday 16th April - Thursday 21st May, 10am - 12.30pm. To book a place, please contact 0300 111 3303 or email: hope@helpandcare.org.uk. Dorset Council Age Friendly Dorset Work Ageing Without Children (AWOC) is the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting and advocating for people who are ageing without the support of adult children. It is currently reviewing its strategy to decide priorities for the next 4 years and is running a short survey to find out more about your experiences and views. As part of their Age-friendly Dorset work, Dorset Council are encouraging people to respond to the five questions being asked - details of the survey can be found here. The survey closes on Friday 6th March. Dorset Home Library Service The Home Library Service is available free of charge to anybody who is unable to get to their local library due to health or mobility issues, or if they are a carer. Books are chosen individually according to personal preferences and delivered by Royal Voluntary Service volunteers every 3 weeks, providing a constant supply of books combined with a friendly visit. All volunteers are DBS checked and receive ongoing training and support. Anybody interested in receiving the Home Library Service can contact the RVS office in Dorset on 01305 236666 or email: dorsethomelibraryservice@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk, or contact their local library. Health Watch Dorset - Share Your Views NHS and social care staff are doing everything they can to keep us well during these challenging times, but there might be things that can be improved for you and your loved ones. Tell us about your experiences of NHS and social care services. Giving feedback, both good and bad, can help improve local services. Please take three minutes to share your story with us. The Bridge Magazine The March edition of the Bridge Magazine includes updates from Bridport and surrounding parish churches, celebrations to mark the Bridport Branch British Legion Hall's 150th anniversary, spotlight on Bridport Town Council's Works Manager, the threat of the yellow legged hornet on native bees, local clubs and more. Bride Valley News The March edition of the Bride Valley News includes updates and events from Burton Bradstock, Litton Cheney, Shipton Gorge and Puncknowle & Swyre including parish council updates and information and news on a wide range of groups and events. Chideock News The March edition of the Chideock News including Seatown and North Chideock is now available. Eggardon & Colmers View Magazine The latest Eggardon and Colmers View magazine is now available. This includes updates from Askerswell, Broadoak, Dottery, Eype, Loders, Powerstock and Symondsbury.

The Puncknowle, Swyre and West Bexington History Group hold monthly meetings to discuss the local history of our area, and during the spring and summer months also organise history walks. Recently there was a presentation by our own historian-in-residence Paul Kingston on Litton. If you would like to know more about the group, and learn more about your local surroundings please contact Paul Bullen 07527141560 paul.bullen@icloud.com

Litton Cheney Parish Council The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Tuesday 12th May. Beginning at 7.00pm with the Parish Assembly, it is a time for local residents to catch up with their parish council, listen to the annual review, and seek answers to pressing local issues. The Assembly will be followed by the Annual Meeting of the Parish Council. Please make the effort to attend – better still, get involved and become a parish councillor! Parish Plan Slowly but surely the required elements need to be in place, before the Parish Plan steering group begins its work, are coming together. More steering group members are required, but we hope to be in a position for the group to hold its inaugural meeting in April/May. If you would like to be part of deciding Litton’s future direction, then we would like to hear from you. Contact our Parish Clerk or Parish Councillors – contact details on the village website littoncheney.org.uk There will shortly be a leaflet drop – please respond positively. What’s In a Name…. The name Litton means 'farmstead or settlement on the stream called Hlyde', 'the noisy one' (meaning loud stream, torrent) from Old English, the Cheney part of the village name came in the 14th century when the Cheney family became part owners of the manor. So, it should not be a surprise that when there is a sustained spell of rainfall that this will then emerge through the many springs that are dotted around the village. Water under pressure will find the path of least resistance and sometimes that means it may be on the carriageway, most notably on Main Street over Christmas and New Year and more recently between the entrance to Baglake and Hine’s Mead Lane. The blockage that caused the water to spill out on to the road on Main Street was an accumulation of debris in the underground water course, this debris is now just further down “stream” and needs removing. As for the water coming down from the spring at Baglake, that is an excess of surface water overloading the culvert, and unfortunately this is causing damage to the road surface. Dorset Council have looked at the issue a few times and the conclusion is that, until the water levels drop, they are unable to carry out repairs to the road surface. In the meantime, the council has placed “Road Closed” signs to avoid damage to vehicles from the raised manhole. So, please be aware, that if you chose to drive through the road closure and do damage your vehicle, then you do so at your own risk. Typically, the rainfall on the hillside takes around 3 months to drain away so repairs are going to be a while coming. Freddie & Diana Spicer On Sunday 1st March, the many local friends of Freddie & Diana Spicer came together at a bring and share lunch at LATCH. After thirty-five years of being an integral part of life in Litton Cheney, the Spicers are shortly due to depart to be near family in Wiltshire. It was a joyous occasion, albeit tinged with sadness, in celebration of their incredible contributions over the years that has benefitted the Parish Council, St Mary’s church, LATCH, BV Car Service, Litton Cheney Trust, Premier Crew, Bridport CAB, BVN distribution et al. Farewell gifts included Bride Valley Wines, two albums of memories, artwork from local artists, and a mystery gift yet to be determined. Thank you, Freddie & Diana, – you will be greatly missed! For those who missed the occasion, the three speeches that were given can be found on the village website – littoncheney.org.uk What’s on at Litton and Thorner’s Community Hall (LATCH) in April REGULAR EVENTS Tuesdays 4.45 – 5.45pm Short Mat Bowls (Ron Davidson 482661) Wednesdays 4.45 – 5.45pm Table Tennis (Paul Kingston 482162) 7.00pm Yoga with Jane (Jane Hutchins 07882 527697) Thursdays 9.15 – 11.15am First Steps Toddlers (fortnightly, term time only) OTHER EVENTS Thursday 9th 6.45 - 9.00pm BV W.I. Craft evening in Meeting Room Sunday 26th 10.00am Yoga with Nadiya Sunday 26th 4.00pm Community Church Thursday 30th Film Night “The Choral” Doors open 7.00, Film starts 7.30pm 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. Hall Bookings/viewings: Wendy Firrell 01308 482532 wtlitton@gmail.com The Great Litton Cheney Annual Duck Race – Sunday 5 th April 12 Noon in aid of Julia’s House Hi Everyone, Just to let you all know that the Annual Easter Sunday Charity Duck Race will take place on Sunday April 5th. We will be selling ducks from 10.30am at the start line opposite Fry’s Yard, ready for the off at 12.00noon. If you would like to be super organised, Andy and Liz at the White Horse will be selling ducks during the week before the big day, Saturday 28th March - Thursday 2nd April. There will be a BBQ at the pub with live music for post-race refreshments, weather dependent, 11.30am-2.00pm. Really hope to see you all there! Ralph, Sam, Liz and Andy Bride Valley Films at Litton Cheney Village Hall. Due to a delay in the release date for the DVD, the date for The Choral screening has been delayed. It will now be shown on... THURSDAY 30th APRIL: THE CHORAL ‘poignant and funny with excellent music’ As WW1 rages on, the Choral Society in a small English town has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral’s committee is determined to press ahead with new recruits. They engage a driven new chorus master, Dr. Henry Guthrie – recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the community discovers that the best response to the war is to make music together. Starring Ralph Fiennes and Roger Allam. Written by Alan Bennett. 1hr. 40” Cert.TBA. Doors Open: 7.00pm. Film start 7.30pm. TICKETS: £6.00 (to include a glass of wine) Tickets in advance from: Sally Dyke 482752, Elizabeth Kingston 482162, Bella Spurrier 482367 or on the door. (All nos. 01308) The White Horse With the appearance of lovely crocuses and daffodils in the tubs and the odd sunny day here and there, the White Horse is gearing up for Spring and welcoming customers to the garden! Our regular Sunday afternoon music is well underway and will continue every week at 4.00pm, so what better way to chill out for a couple of hours after a busy weekend? We have some great music coming up! Easter is quite early this year and the Duck Race is going ahead as usual on Sunday, 5th April at 12.00noon. ‘Ducks’ will be on sale in the pub from Saturday, 28th March until Thursday, 2nd April then from Fry’s Yard on the day. There will be a BBQ (indoor or out weather depending) and, on that day only, a band at 1.00pm! Open Easter Monday 12.00noon-7.00pm with a simple menu from 12-30pm and live music at 4.00pm. Don’t forget St George’s Day on 23rd April with evening Full English Breakfasts and English Rock with the very talented Mark Davis (booking would be appreciated). Normal service continues as we go along with fortnightly Snowball Quizzes alternate Tuesdays until the end of June and Friday Night Fish ‘n Chips, Happy Hour and Meat Draw. We hope to see you at some or all of the above. Our continued thanks for your valued custom. Andy and Liz Artsreach Shows For the time being at least, Artsreach are restricting their productions in the village to children’s events, the next one being in September. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Patricia Charlton, ably assisted by Sue Overton, husband David and a valiant band of helpers who have over the years brought some wonderful acts to the hall, finishing with a flourish with Canadian pianist Sarah Hagen in March. At that event Patricia was presented with not one, but two floral gifts in recognition of her enormous efforts to bring culture to Litton and the Bride Valley. Be Aware! Changes to the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act are being put in place from Wednesday 18th March 2026. These changes will include: • An introduction of unlimited fines for owners whose dogs attack or "worry" (chase, panic, or injure) sheep and other livestock. • Police will gain stronger powers to seize dogs, take DNA samples, and enter premises. • The law now includes alpacas, llamas, along with incidents that take place on roads and paths. We hope this new update will prevent attacks on livestock in the future, Remember when walking around livestock, always keep your dog on a lead.