Ferndown matters summer 2013 by Dorset View

Issue 19

Summer 2013

Visit our website www.ferndown.gov.uk

Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council

NEW MAYOR

OF FERNDOWN On Tuesday 7th May 2013 a new Mayor of Ferndown, Councillor John Lewis was elected to succeed Councillor Terry Cordery who was Mayor in 2012/13.

Through my work in banking I have always had an interest in planning matters and the impact that decisions have on the community and peoples’ lives. I am also very interested in sport and in turn this has given me a particular interest in the King George’s Field Charity, the Town Green and protection of the green belt. Financial matters and obtaining value for money for residents comes naturally to me. As I am retired I am available to help as best I can so if you, as a resident, have a problem please feel free to approach me and I will do my utmost to assist.

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I am honoured to have been selected as Ferndown’s Mayor in May 2013 and I have chosen Langside School, in Poole as my charity. Langside is an independent, nonmaintained, day special school which does wonderful work for children with learning and physical difficulties.

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or a number of years my wife Barbara and I enjoyed a static caravan holiday home, just outside Ferndown and over the years became well acquainted with the town. We moved permanently to Ferndown, from Bromley, South London, when I retired in early 2006. We have three children, now all in their thirties, and two grandchildren. I worked for over forty years in banking and was a branch manager and in later years an inspector of branches. Barbara has been a commercial trainer with a first aid organization for some thirty years. I transferred to Ferndown Rotary Club when we moved here and through the Club I become particularly interested and involved in local and surrounding area community matters. Until late 2011, when time constraints became difficult, we were also voluntary members of a local animal charity. Through my involvement with the animal charity I became interested in a particular community matter and this in turn lead to the suggestion that I should stand for council and my election as a councillor last year.

Civic Service held at St Mary’s Church Ferndown on 7th July 2013

Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council

Meetings of the Town Council

etails of the next five months meetings of the Town Council are given below. All meetings (except some Personnel Committee meetings) are open to members of the public. Most meetings start at 1930hrs (7.30pm) and normally finish at 2130hrs (9.30pm) at the latest.

2013

JULY.

29th

7.30pm

KGV Management*

KGV Pavilion

AUG.

15th

7.30pm

Planning Committee

KGV Pavilion

SEPT.

2nd

7.30pm

KGV Management

KGV Pavilion

5th

7.30pm

Planning Committee

KGV Pavilion

9th

4.00pm

Personnel Committee

KGV Pavilion

9th

7.30pm

Finance & GP Committee

KGV Pavilion

16th

7.30pm

TOWN COUNCIL

KGV Pavilion

23rd

7.30pm

Environment Committee

KGV Pavilion

26th

7.30pm

Planning Committee

KGV Pavilion

OCT.

7th

7.30pm

KGV Management

KGV Pavilion

17th

7.30pm

Planning Committee

KGV Pavilion

21st

4.00pm

Personnel Committee

KGV Pavilion

21st

7.30pm

Finance & GP Committee*

KGV Pavilion

28th

7.30pm

KGV Management*

KGV Pavilion

NOV.

4th

7.30pm

KGV Sole Trustee Meeting

KGV Pavilion

7th

7.30pm

Planning Committee

KGV Pavilion

* Review of income and expenditure profile to date

Meetings, other than those of the Personnel Committee, are normally open to the public.

Visit to Segré Ferndown Twinning Association is making a visit to the French town of Segré from Friday 23rd to Tuesday 27th August 2013. This will be a rather special visit because the new Mayor of Ferndown, Councillor John C Lewis, will be formally opening “Ferndown Promenade” which is a walk along the banks of the river Oudon which flows through Segré. In addition the Twinning Association will be taking a number of English books to the Junior School within the town to help with their understanding / knowledge of the English Language. These books have been kindly purchased by Councillors John and Joyce Little through donations received from Ferndown NeighbourCare (NeighbourCars) which they operate within Ferndown. This initiative has been warmly welcomed by the Twinning Association in helping to improve the contact between the twinned towns.

Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council

Why Our Place Matters:

How You Can Help?

ith the continued government squeeze on local government funding, local services will continue to be under pressure, with inevitable complaints following from residents who pay a lot of tax in many ways. In Ferndown, after the need for town centre redevelopment and to rid ourselves of HGV coming through the town centre, the next priority is to maintain our local environment. Residents are concerned with potholes in roads, verge cutting and overhanging vegetation, unnecessary signage and uneven pavements, litter and other anti-social behaviour. This makes the Ferndown Town Plan doubly important. It is probably the biggest ‘voice’ residents have ever had, in the future of our town. Whereas a statutory Neighbourhood Plan concerns the granular detail of the Local Plan in built development, a Town Plan is a holistic Action Plan for the future development of community. Whilst it is not statutory, it is simply time for politicians to stop ignoring what the community wants – it is time for Ferndown to be listened to. Due to the restrictions on building land in Ferndown, a Neighbourhood Plan is probably less

useful at this point in time. The emerging Town Plan however, chimes perfectly with Localism, because it is effectively a list of what residents want, and produced and written by the same, with over 3,000 responses feeding into the Plan being written. So I look forward to its publication. Residents can contact the committee through Councillor Kevin Moore, the Chairman, at the town council offices, and they meet usually on a three week cycle as they work towards publishing. So why does this matter? Because Our Place Matters. Ferndown continues to attract inward migration due to the high quality of the environment, and availability of employment opportunity, along with good transport links. But in order to make it fit for the future we all need to take coordinated action, all of us, together. And the three councils [and other stakeholders such as the Chamber of Commerce] that deliver services, facilities and support to Ferndown need to draw in our residents, in enabling effective future delivery. Local people know ‘how a place ticks’. Those who live, work, study and play in Ferndown, those who run businesses or organise local activities and services, the local partnerships and networks all know their place. With the introduction of the 2012 Social Value Act following on from the 2011 Localism Act, working with local communities is now more embedded in council policy than ever. Councils simply need to act on this policy, and good, honest, respectful two-way communications will be key for us all. So this really is a loud call for renewed action in talking and working together, as we move towards making our traffic routes more acceptable, improving our retail town centre, and fight to keep our town looking smart, tidy and clean. And most of all, it is a call to you the public, to get involved again and help Ferndown flourish.

Cllr SM Lugg

Deputy Mayor, Ferndown Town Council “A “Love wher e you live” even t on the Heath Estate started erlands with a Commun ity Litter Pick around 60 child with ren, 15 adults, Mayor of Ferndo along with seve wn ral Town coun cillors and a lar from Ferndown ge team ’s Mcdonald’s Re staurant who ca along to help. me

Heatherlands Manager John Hanrahan said “It was a great day and a big thank you goes to the following people who made it all happen: PC Julian Humphries and his team of PCSOs, Ferndown Town Council, Synergy Housing, Heatherlands PACT, NHW, EDDC and Mcdonald’s Restaurant who also provided a free lunch and to all that took part in keeping our Community clean and tidy”

Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council

130 years of family service to their communities

comes to an end mother, Pam also worked as an admin clerk at the fire station completing 18 years service retiring shortly after Kevan’s father. Kevan’s uncle, Ken also worked at Ferndown fire station. He joined aged 16 as a runner and completed 38 years services, retiring shortly after Kevan joined in June 1978. Kevan’s Grandfather served at Ferndown when it was the Auxiliary National Fire Service.

Over 130 years combined service has been recorded by the Gilbert family as Kevan’s father, Ray worked at Ferndown fire station from 1964 until 1989. Kevan’s

Kevan is looking forward to spending more time with his family and doing some more cruises which he has enjoyed over the past few years!

Cooking Outdoors is a Hazard

In 2012, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service attended 241 cooking related fires; these could have been easily avoided if more people were aware of basic cooking safety. Being aware of the dangers of fire and taking preventative measures could help save the lives of you and your family.

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Kate Huelin, Home Safety Manager said: “We would just like to remind the public, especially looking forward to the warmer weather, that disposable barbecues can be a fire hazard. These barbecues should be dealt with and disposed of in the proper manner; they should also be fully extinguished before they are thrown away. Barbecues should not be used near or on public benches or any other potential fuel for a fire.”

Cooking outdoors is a hazard at this time of year, please remember: •

When using a gas barbecue with a gas bottle, always check your gas connections with a leak detecting solution after hooking up a new bottle.

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Pay attention to the proximity of flammable materials to your barbecue. We advise you do not cook too closely to combustibles.

• When using charcoal, always check to see that there is an ash catcher in place before lighting your barbecue. Hot embers have dropped down underneath a barbecue and start a fire on the shelf or other combustible surface below.

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Kevan said: I am really pleased to have been able to serve my community, but after 36 years I am looking forward to retirement. The Gilbert family has been associated with the station for a long time and I remember my grandfather recalling incidents he attended as far away as Exeter during the Second World War bombings.

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Do not attempt to barbecue or use an open fire when it is windy. Hot embers blown from a cooking fire can start a heath, woodland or house fire.

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Educate your children so they know that they cannot play near a barbecue. Running or playing within close proximity to a hot barbecue is an invitation for a serious injury.

•

Please make sure that the barbecue is completely out before you leave it unattended.

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Kate added: “As we approach the summer months, we see a rise in fires where people have left disposable barbecues or even camp fires unattended. These then spread to gorse and heath and can be extremely difficult to fight. If you are using disposable barbecues, please make sure you extinguish them fully and dispose of them properly.”

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Firefighter Gilbert joined Dorset Fire Brigade on 28th June 1977 and exactly 36 years to the day (28th June 2013) retired from Dorset Fire and Rescue Service. Over that time Kevan has attended many incidents; memorable ones include the British Drug Houses fire in Poole in 1987, the Ebn Magid boat fire in 1986 and large heathland fires in and around the Ferndown area.

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t the end of June, Firefighter Kevan Gilbert hung up his boots and helmet after 36 years serving the community of Ferndown as an on-call firefighter. This remarkable achievement marks the end of the Gilbert family’s over 100 year association with Ferndown Fire Station.

Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council

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Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council

NGS Garden

Open for Charity

yn Ovens and her husband Malcolm who live at 357, Ringwood Road will be opening their garden to the public on the following dates as part of the National Gardens Scheme. The front garden has a wonderful exuberant planting in a “Cottage Garden” Style at the front and a complete contrast of “Exotic” at the back. Large and Health plants will also be for sale together with homemade cakes and teas available too. This is the 13th year the garden has been open to the public for charitable purposes. Lyn and Malcolm will be available in the garden to answer visitors’ horticultural questions and to provide advice.

Judging is now well under way for •

Best front garden

•

Best park home, sheltered accommodation garden, patio or balcony

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Best business, retail, commercial or public House

But you still have a month to enter three competitions and perhaps win £50 of Haskins gift vouchers for each one: • • •

The Tallest Sunflower

The Best New Allotment The Best Photographs

The closing date for these competitions is 31st August

The gardens are open:Sunday July 14th from 1100 to 1700hrs (11am to 5pm) Wednesday 31st July from 1400 to 1700hrs (2 to 5 pm) Sunday 18th August from 1100 to 1700hrs (11am to 5pm)

Entry is £3 with children free.

For further details please telephone 01202 896071.

UPDATE Entry forms and further details are available from • •

Xerocad, 527 Ringwood Road in the Town Centre Ferndown Town Council Offices, KGV Fields, near the tennis Courts

NEW:

DIGITAL IMAGES for the Photography Competition

You can now send digital images directly to committeeclerk@ferndown. gov.uk together with details of your name, address, postcode, tele and email AND the address or post code of where the photo was taken.

• www.ferndown. gov. uk/news/ ferndownnews. asp?id=60 •

Haskins Garden Centre at Longham

• www.haskins.co.uk/ haskinsferndown. html

Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council

Ferndown

Common

nce part of a much larger swathe of heathland, Ferndown Common was eventually cut off from surrounding open habitats by the inevitable housing and infrastructure development as the local conurbation grew. Far from losing its value however, the Common remains a very important place for both the local population as well as wildlife. The site has a number of designations that reflect this importance – amongst these probably the two most well - known are its Town Green status and it’s designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is also part of a Special Protection Area (SPA - for it’s bird species) and of the Dorset Heaths Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) lease and manage the site for the benefit of wildlife while also recognising the fact that it has a huge local amenity value. Amongst the notable wildlife are all six species of native reptile, two of which, the smooth snake and sand lizard, are listed as European Protected Species. These enigmatic and beautiful animals are rarely seen yet both have good populations on Ferndown. Sand lizards should be visible on spring mornings, favouring south facing sunny banks as basking spots. During the April/May breeding season the males in particular are stunning with their bright green flanks. Part of our management work involves creating bare sand for this species to use for its egg-laying, areas which can also be effective fire-breaks in the unfortunate case

of heath fire. It isn’t just reptiles that we consider when planning our management works; many heathland specialist species such as Dartford warblers, nightjars, heath tiger beetles and silverstudded blue butterflies are found here. All of these species have slightly different habitat needs which must be taken into account when planning activities on the heath.

Over the last six years or so the sight of groups of ARC volunteers on Ferndown has become a common one. This small but dedicated group, some of them Ferndown residents, have put in many hours of valuable work on our behalf helping to control birch scrub regrowth,

Heatherlands Community Association The following events have been organised by the Association over the next few months:Quiz Night Heatherlands Centre Saturday 20th July. Children’s Fun Days Thursday 1st and 29th August Skittles Evening Saturday 19th October Quiz Night Saturday 23rd November

For further details and prices / times of events please telephone Chrissie Coleman 01202 895641

remove pine saplings and occasionally to clear out the mess that sometimes dominates the various ponds around the site – near Pompeys Lane as well as behind the Great Barrow. This mess is sometimes natural, in the form of invasive weeds and plants, but often is the result of rubbish being thrown into the ponds. There is always room for more people on these tasks – please do get in touch if you would like to be involved. Fires in particular a worry and long term residents in the area will remember some of the big ones in the past. Please contact us or one of the regular Urban Heath Partnership wardens if you see anything suspicious. Finally, please look out for our advertised guided walks across the site. We would love to take the opportunity to show you some of the wonderful wildlife of Ferndown Common.

Gary Powell

Senior Reserves Manager Amphibian and Reptile Conservation t: 01202 391319 e: enquireies@arc-trust.org

Ferndown Town Plan Update Following the return and processing of approximately 3500 surveys, the Committee is currently meeting fortnightly to analyse the results and create a summary report. We are hoping to have the remaining sections completed shortly and to then finalise the report for all to see. There will be a form of consultation to be arranged do that the final part of producing the Town Plan can commence. If you would like to become part of the Committee or have any comments or questions please telephone the Town Council offices on 01202 892249 or visit the Town Plan website at www.ferndowntownplan.org.uk

Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council

New free guide to A GLORIOUS GARDEN A new, free guide to the many specialist nurseries and hidden gardens across East Dorset is now available.

‘Specialist Nurseries and Hidden Gardens’ has been created to help you find out where to enjoy walled gardens, delicious local ice creams amid the flowers, historic garden buildings and, of course, the best places to buy quality plants from local growers. “It can be easy to overlook what is on your patch,” said East Dorset Tourism Manager, Rachel Limb. “East Dorset has an incredible horticultural heritage and we are hoping to encourage more people to explore the glorious garden attractions on our own doorstep. The new guide also showcases

successful local growers of roses, camellias, fuchsias, blueberries, azaleas, acers and heathers, all featured alongside the multiple award-winning ornamental grasses of Knoll Gardens”.

With Wimborne currently holding the title of ‘Best Small Town in Britain in Bloom’ there has never been a better time to discover the ‘Specialist Nurseries and Hidden Gardens’ in East Dorset, visit some glorious gardens and buy with confidence from local hands-on horticultural pioneers. You can pick up a free copy of the leaflet from Wimborne Tourist Information Centre or call 01202 886116 for more details.

Love Parks Week from 27th July to 4th August 2013 We are told that over 30 million people in England make good use of our parks with a tenth of use vising one on a daily basis and more than half of us visiting one every week. Here in Ferndown we have the King George’s Field which is available for recreational purposes whether that is participating in sports (tennis, bowls, skateboarding, soccer or cricket ) or just walking over the grounds and sitting on some of the seats to appreciate nature etc. and “let the world go by.”

This year Winton Cricket Club have been using the facilities at the field for their weekend cricket fixtures so please come along and watch a match in the afternoon / early evening.

Details of fixtures can be found on the main field noticeboard. At Ford Lane the work on improving the soccer pitch following a grant from Sport England is coming to an end and there will be matches taking place from September on the new pitch. The Town Council intends to replace the current changing facilities at the ground and has begun to set aside some money for this purpose in their yearly precept. The pathway around the grounds has helped improve the area and help from the Urban Heaths project and Synergy Housing Association with the new BMX track etc. is appreciated.

One of the activities associated with Love Parks Week is the fact that a daily walk in the park has been found to be good for your health. Not only does exercise improve your fitness but it has also been found that walking in green spaces can help reduce stress.

Week This year’s Love Parks and the ks par our ate ebr cel l wil people. r offe can y enjoyment the what events For further details of the area will be taking place in eek.org. tsw par go to www.love

Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council

The Town Council has entered this year’s completion and the judges will be visiting and making their assessment on Tuesday 16th July 2013.

he Town Council has recently re-bedded the various planters within Victoria Road in preparation for the Summer season and as a contribution to the town’s entry into this year’s South and South East in Bloom Competition. King George V Groundstaff and the Town Lengthman spent several days removing the winter bedding and preparing the boxes before planting with all this work completed by 3rd June. By 14th June, four of the boxes

had become completely devoid of any plants, with some 175 plants in total being stolen. The Clerk to Ferndown Town Council, Ian Jones, who had helped members of the groundstaff in preparing and planting the beds, said that he was disappointed that people had removed so many plants for their own purposes and asked that members of the public to assist him in helping identify the culprits. In the past there had been a few plants removed but this year matters seem to have escalated. He added that it was sad that the displays have been decimated in this way and that there appeared to be a lack of personal appreciation by a few people for what had been done by the Town Council to make the shopping area attractive to visitors.

The Town Council have now renewed the displays at a cost of £180. The Town Council has also installed a new “Flower Tower” within Penny’s Walk which we hope will also be appreciated. Some members of the Chamber of Trade have also helped by putting hanging baskets outside their premises and the Town Council is grateful for businesses, the Ferndown in Bloom Committee and the Chamber of Commerce for their help in making improvements to the flower displays this year.

The Town Council hope that the comments made by the Judges will enable the town to make further improvements over the next few years.

Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council

Your Town Council Town Clerk - Mr Ian Jones King George V Pavilion, Peter Grant Way, Ferndown, BH22 9EN Tel: 01202 892249 Fax: 01202 877442 Email: enquiries@ferndown.gov.uk

Your Ferndown Town Councillors Links Ward: Cllr. B Barnett Cllr. Ms P M Cooper Cllr. J A Muggleton Cllr. Ms M T Phillips Cllr. Mrs J Read Cllr. Mrs J Robinson Central Ward: Cllr. Mrs Q Comfort Cllr. J C Lewis Cllr. Mrs J Little Cllr. S Lugg Cllr. M R Parkes Vacancy

82 Carroll Avenue, FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 8BP Tel: 01202 855175 12 Corbin Avenue, FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 8AZ Tel: 01202 892249 (FTC Office) 292 Ringwood Road FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 9AS Tel: 01202 872975 12 Pickard Road, FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 8AX Tel: 01202 870063 288 Ringwood Road FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 9AS Tel: 01202 875926 18 Medway Road, FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 8UX Tel: 07874 082435 6 Pringles Drive FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 8BN Tel: 01202 873221 40 Martins Drive, FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 9SQ Tel: 01202 891659 17 Cherrett Court, 557 Ringwood Road, FERNDOWN BH22 9FE Tel: 01202 980839 34 Kingsway FERNDOWN Dorset BH22 9QW Tel: 01202 872066 330 Ringwood Road, FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 9AT Tel: 01202 861858

Longham Ward: Cllr Mrs L Ovens Cllr. P Lucas Cllr. T M Brown

357 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9AE Tel: 01202 896071 14 Landford Gardens, Throop, BOURNEMOUTH BH8 0PH Tel: 01202 533765 53 Casterbridge Road, FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 8LJ Tel: 01202 871618

Longham East Ward: Cllr. K Moore

470 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9AY

Stapehill Ward: Cllr. N J Wellstead Cllr. Mrs S Bird Cllr. P R Timberlake

36 Wimborne Road West, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 2DP Tel: 01202 880705 292 Ringwood Road, FERNDOWN Dorset BH22 9AS Tel: 01202 872975 8 Brierley Avenue, West Parley, FERNDOWN Dorset BH22 8PE Tel: 01202 573213

Ameysford Ward: Cllr. J L Baxter Cllr. Mrs C A Lugg Cllr. Mrs P Reynolds

Greenacres, Angel Lane, Longham, FERNDOWN, Dorset BH22 9DZ Tel: 01202 897884 34 Kingsway FERNDOWN Dorset BH22 9QW Tel: 01202 872066 3 Clayford Avenue FERNDOWN Dorset BH22 9PQ Tel: 01202 892033

Links South Ward: Cllr. T Cordery

79 Dorset Avenue FERNDOWN BH22 8HL

Tel: 01202 871220

Tel: 01202 876293

We are keen to hear your comments Please feel free to contact us - we are listening!

Visit our website www.ferndown.gov.uk Ferndown Town Council does not accept responsibilty for the content of advertisements, promises made, or the quality or reliability of the services offered in the advetisements in this publication. All purchases made through this publication are done so entirely at your own risk. Information about a service does not imply recommendation.

Ferndown Matters - The Magazine of Ferndown Town Council