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 October 2026
Bridport Local Area Bulletin 13
th
October 2026
The Bridport Local Area Partnership (BLAP) is here for the community. Current members of the partnership include Bridport
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 to be included in the bulletin please contact Claire Peters-Way by email at:
Claire.Peters-Way@bridport-tc.gov.uk
BLAP Members' Meeting - Members' Slot
The next BLAP Members' meeting will be held at 2.15pm on Thursday 3rd December 2026 at Mountfield and online. We are
inviting a group/organisation to take up the BLAP members' slot on the agenda at this meeting. This is an opportunity for
members to speak for around 10 minutes about your organisation and or/a current project, followed by questions from
members. If you are interested in taking up the slot, please contact Claire Peters-Way.
Dorset Council Local Plan Scoping consultation
Dorset Council is preparing a new local plan. The first stage seeks views about the plan's scope, its proposed vision & priorities,
how Dorset should grow and how people should be involved in the plan-making process. The consultation ends on Monday
26th October 2026. Please note that the consultation is not seeking views about specific policies or development sites at this
stage. For further information and to submit a comment please click here.
Bridport Womble Walk
Parish of Bridport and Bridport Town Council will be holding the next Womble Walk on Tuesday 13th October from the
Mountfield grounds (Rax Lane, Bridport) at 10.30am. Come and join volunteers for a short friendly walk around Bridport
collecting litter as they go. All equipment is supplied.
Bridport Arts Centre - Flax Uncovered Exhibition
The exhibition showcases the community led project exploring the role of flax in the history of Bridport and exploring its potential
for a sustainable future. Working alongside local farmers, historians and makers, the project follows the plant from seed to stalk,
looking at the harvesting and processing.
Flax Forward is a partnership project with Wessex Community Assets, Bridport Museum, Bridport Arts Centre and Bridport
School of Regenerative Fashion. The exhibition is open from tomorrow Wednesday 14th October until Saturday 24th October
from 10am - 4pm at Bridport Arts Centre, 9 South Street, Bridport.
Friends of Bridport Millennium Green
n support of Bridport Millennium Green, a talk on 'The Hidden Ancestry of Jim Rowe' will be held on Thursday 15th October
at 2.30pm, at the WI Hall, North Street, Bridport. Tickets cost £6 (£5 for members) and please pay cash at the door.
Dorset Climate Action Network - Dorset Greener Homes Week
This year's Green Homes week will be held from Saturday 17th - Sunday 25th October. A number of proprieties in Charmouth,
Broadwindsor, Bridport and Bothenhampton will be open to visit. To book a slot and to view details of each property please
click here.
Bridport Library - Get Online Week
Get Online Week (Monday 19th - Sunday 25th October) is a national campaign that aims to boost the number of people who
can use computers, smart phones, tablets and the internet. Book a free one-to-one session with their Digital Champions for
support with everyday online tasks, and enjoy free access to computers and Wi-Fi at all Dorset libraries.
Dorset Libraries - Green Week and Customer Survey
Green Libraries Week will be held from Wednesday 21st October to Wednesday 28th October. Libraries across Dorset will be
running a range of free activities for all ages. Activities include nature-themed story time and family crafts to seed swaps, and
fun interactive activities.
uring the week Dorset Council will also be running a customer survey and are encouraging residents to complete a short form
when visiting the library to help demonstrate the real difference libraries make to people's lives.
West Bay Discovery Centre
West Bay Discovery Centre will be hosting free Halloween children's activities from Saturday 24th October to Sunday 1st
November between 11am - 4pm. Children and family can drop-in to take part in this free event with no booking required.
Donations are welcome. From November the centre will only be open on weekends.
West Bay Car Boot Sale
The last West Bay Car Boot Sale for this year will be held at West Bay Road Car Park on Sunday 25th October 2026. The car
park opens at 6.30am for traders to set up with the car boot opening to the public from 7.30am until 11.30am. All traders must
be clear of the car park by mid-day. All vehicles are charged at £7.00, except for commercial catering, for which the charge is
£15.00.
Wessex Water – drop in event
Wessex Water’s community outreach team will be at Bridport Library on Wednesday 28 October from 10am – 2pm. For anyone
who needs support with their water bill or has a question about supply or wastewater (or anything else water related).
Dorset Council - Bridport Town Council elections
A vacancy has become available for the Bridport Town Council (Bradpole Ward). Nominations to stand for election close on
Friday 16 October at 4pm. If the elections are contested, the statement of persons nominated will be published by 4pm on
Monday 19 October. Further information about the elections and standing as a candidate can be found on the Dorset Council
forthcoming elections webpage.
Dorset Council - Renters Rights Act survey
Dorset Council are asking tenants who rent from private landlords to respond to a survey to help them understand what people
know about the Renters' Rights Act. The survey takes between 2 to 3 minutes to complete and asks for information about the
type of housing people are renting and gauges understanding of the rights provided by the Act, which is set to provide more
stability and security for tenants. All responses are kept anonymous. For more information and to take part in the survey please
click here.
The Eggardon & Colmers View
The October edition of the Eggardon and Colmers View magazine is now available and includes updates and events from
Askerswell, Broadoak, Dottery, Eype, Loders, Powerstock and Symondsbury.
Volunteer Centre Dorset
The October edition of the Volunteer Centre Dorset newsletter features information on health & wellbeing, housing, food &
utilities, help at home, activities and support services.
Want to contribute to the well-being of Litton? Why not join the Premier Crew, a group of well-intentioned citizens of our
village who clean and tidy up areas when they need a little bit of care and attention. Your ability to help will undoubtedly
depend on your availability and you are not expected to turn up everytime there is a call to arms. Gender equality is alive
and well, as is the bonhomie or bonfemme on offer whenever we meet. With enough volunteers we could even become the
Grand Crew! If you would like to join us, please contact John Firrell on 01308 482313.
Premier Crew – Come & Join Us
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
Local History Group
Litton Cheney Parish Council – Next Meeting: Tuesday 10
th
November 2026 7pm
Interested in local democracy? Come along to our meeting and immerse yourself in the cut and thrust of local politics.
Want even more? Be co-opted as a parish councillor and really get involved. Your village needs you!
Weight Limit signs – Once upon a time, fed up with the number of heavy vehicles transiting Whiteway, a road deemed
totally unsuitable for such vehicles, it was decided to campaign for a weight limit restriction. Heading up this cause was
Andrew Price – we all looked forward to a speedy conclusion. Despite gargantuan efforts by Andrew, Dorset Highways,
MP’s and eventually National Highways, it has taken until now for the weight limit to be put in place and signs erected.
That it has happened at all is due in the main to the utter perserverence of Andrew who kept up the pressure on the
authorities who held the purse strings and made the final decision. Our considerable thanks to Andrew for staying the
course, even after stepping down from the parish council in 2025.
In addition to the signs, Sat Nav companies will now be required to amend their platforms indicating that Whiteway is a no-
go area for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes. Vehicle drivers who ignore the signs leave themselves and their company liable to
prosecution.
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
Litton and Thorner’s Community Hall is, as the name suggests, a community facility shared by the village and school.
Since its inception in 2009, the two entities have worked in concert to such an extent that it could perhaps now be termed, “A
marriage made in heaven”. This is your hall, and should you have constructive thoughts on how it may be even better, the
LATCH trustees would like to hear from you. See village website for contact details.
REGULAR EVENTS
Tuesdays
9.45 -11.00
Morning Yoga with Jane (07882 527697)
janehutchinsyoga@outlook.com
4.45 – 5.45
Short Mat Bowls (Ron Davidson 482661)
Wednesdays
4.45 – 5.45
7.00
Table Tennis (Paul Kingston 482162)Yoga with Jane
(contact as above)
Fridays
10.00 – 12.00
Art Group in meeting room Fortnightly: 9
th
and 23rd
OTHER EVENTS
Thursday 1
st
From 7.00
Film Night returns! “Mothers Pride” starts 7.30
Monday 5
th
6.00
BV Car Service AGM
Thursday 8
th
6.45
W.I. Craft evening in meeting room
Sunday 11
th
12.30 for 1.00
Harvest Lunch in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UKTickets:
AKing44634@aol.com
Monday 19
th
7.00
Garden Club meeting (LAST ONE)
Thursday 22
nd
7.00
NEW: Benefice ALPHA COURSE starts (also 29
th
)
Friday 23
rd
Time tbc
NCI AGM
Sunday 25
th
10.00
Restorative Yoga with Nadiya
Tuesday 27
th
From 9.30
Portesham Surgery Flu Clinic (book in advance)
