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Community

Monthly updates from the various North Dorset Police Teams. This month’s news is from Sturminster Newton’s PCSO 5352 Mandy Robinson

Stur’s not for cars

The pedestrianised section of Sturminster Newton’s Station Road comes under attention after reports of an increased amount of traffic

Station Road in Sturminster Newton, the top section, has been pedestrianised for a significant number of years. Recently we have received reports of an increased amount of traffic, with suggestions that some drivers are not permitted to use this section of road. We will be showing an increased presence on this section of road and any driver caught contravening the traffic order will be subject of a fixed penalty notice, resulting in a non- endorsable fine of £50.

Anti-social behaviour

Making Communities Safer is a nationally-run campaign with the aim of bringing communities and organisations together take a stand against anti-social behaviour (ASB), in order to make communities safer. During ASB awareness week, and due to recent ASB in Sturminster Newton, the neighbourhood Policing Team PCSO Mandy Robinson and PC Phil Sugrue invited district councillor Carole Jones and town councillor Debbie Mantock to join them in ASB preventative foot patrols in Sturminster Newton. This was an opportunity for working with our partners and to engage, jointly, with the young people who meet up in the town. We patrolled the Railway Gardens, the town area, Butts Pond, Rixon Rec and Ricketts Lane Rec (also known as the Town Rec). Only two groups were seen and spoken to during the evening.

Banking scam

Recently a local residence was contacted by phone by a male purporting to be from Barclays Bank. The caller stated that there had been fraudulent activity on the bank account and that it was necessary to move the money to a ‘safe’ account. The caller then shared bank details for this safe transfer account. The intended victim was told to attend the bank and to phone the caller – the scammer – when they arrived, and to keep the phone line open. Fortunately, the bank realised this was a scam and no monies were lost. DO NOT ENGAGE WITH FRAUDSTERS AND HANG UP! Please be on your guard and report suspicious activity to the police either by calling 101 or via the police website www.dorset. police.uk/

If a crime is occurring or a life is in danger, always call 999.

“Station Road is pedestrianised; following recent complaints about misuse and unnecessary usage there will be an increased presence from the local team.”

“Local NPT officers have been patrolling areas near to the Steam Fair, a visible deterence to criminals that may be in the area, providing a reassuring presence to locals who feel vulnerable.” “Make sure you remember to drive to the conditions. Heavy rain and standing water can take the driver by surprise - often with dramatic consequences. This driver got caught out & tipped over just outside Shaftesbury, fortunately was uninjured.”

The BV magazine, September ‘22

COMMUNITY

This month’s news from the unofficial capital of the Blackmore Vale ...

Late summer and early autumn activities in Stur

Pauline Batstone rounds up a busy month in Sturminster Newton

1855

Work is continuing on the 1855 project (the former NatWest building) which is expected to be open for business in the late autumn. The project offers people-facing sales space to artisan entrepreneurs who may have outgrown working solely from home. For more information email Cheryl Basten and Jacqui Wragg at 1855stur@gmail.com

New friends

The Emporium and The Boutique are both looking for more volunteers to work on the shop floor or behind the scenes or both. The volunteers are a friendly bunch and working with them offers a good way to get out of the house, meet new people and at the same time use your spare hours to benefit the community. The team also enjoys social events together from time to time. If you are interested, pop into either shop and leave your details for Cheryl to contact you, or email comcheststur1@gmail. com

Art browsing

The Art Gallery is open on the

Pure Hair – joint second in the SturBuzz window competition The John Carrick Financial Services window won the community vote during SturBuzz week

floor above The Emporium, and it has a fascinating mix of interesting paintings, cartoons and prints at knock-down prices.

... and furniture too

People often don’t realise The Emporium has a wide range of furniture for sale – the larger pieces are stored elsewhere but we can show you photos and take you to look. We can also deliver your purchases – and collect whatever it is you are replacing.

How many shopping days?

An early warning about Christmas - Jacqui Wragg is already working with a small team to plan the Christmas events for this year. The Christmas Tree lighting will be on the 26th November, and it is hoped to have an ice-rink in the town that weekend. Father Christmas will of course be on duty. There will also be late night shopping on the Friday evening

before. If you want to be involved in the planning, or have time to help on the day, please let Jacqui know - SturBiz18@gmail.com

Library sessions

The Friends of the Library are getting back in action after COVID, and have been running craft events for children during the summer holidays. Volunteers are needed to continue the Saturday craft sessions and also the planned after-school club for younger children. If you would like to be involved, please contact Michaela on friendsofsturlibrary@ hotmail.co.uk

The Queen’s Green Canopy

During October there will be further contributions to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Green Canopy, with tree planting around the town. A new leaflet has been produced, introducing walkers to the remarkable specimen trees we have in the town. It is available from the Town Council and The Emporium – for information contact Taprisha Seifert – sturqgc@gmail.com

Car meet

The car enthusiasts will be back in the recreation ground between 9am and noon on Saturday 3rd September, and again on the 1st October. From November to March inclusive they will be meeting either outside the Medical Centre or Hansons and Streeters. Numbers have increased over the summer and quite a collection now gathers every month. It’s definitely worth a wander round, and always good to chat to the owners. If you’d like to bring your car, it’s a relaxed meet and no booking or qualifications are necessary – just an interesting car (with the relevant insurance)!

Next year’s wedding fair

A second wedding festival is being planned for 5th and 6th May 2023, with a wedding fair at The Exchange and support from shops in the town, a display of dresses and culminating in a wedding ball at The Exchange. To help with the planning or get involved in the event, please contact Debbie at Stur’s bridal shop Forever Bridal - deborah@ forever-bridal.co.uk.

Successful Family Fest

The Riverside Meadow Family Fest was a great success, and plans are already underway for a bigger, better event next year – but the plan is to move it to the start of the school holiday rather than have it at the end of the summer. For information contact Ruth Caldwell riversidefamilyfest@outlook.com

Thank you

And finally, thank you to all those who supported the Community Fete on Saturday 27th Aug and especially the shops who supported SturBuzz week by decorating their windows. The business voted the best by the public at the Community Fete on Saturday was John Carrick Financial Services with a joint second of The Boutique and Pure Hair. SturBuzz will definitely be back next year!

The Friends of Sturminster Library need more volunteers to help the Saturday craft sessions

The BV magazine, September ‘22

COMMUNITY Employ My Ability offers vocational training for students with learning disabilities and special educational needs and disabilities. One of their students, Maddie Walters, has spent the last term working on her journalism skills with the aim of writing a column for us. - Ed

My top five places to visit

Hi, and how are you doing? This month I am doing a ‘top 5’ list based on my favourite places to visit across North Dorset and surrounding areas, so you can be inspired to go and explore beautiful area. Here are my top 5 places in North Dorset:

1. Stourhead

Stourhead is one of my favourite places to visit, because it has beautiful nature and fantastic scenery. It is accessible for wheelchair users and it’s disabled-friendly.

During the summer holidays lots of people visit forthe nice walks in the sunshine.

2. Hauser and Wirth

Hauser and Wirth is an art gallery in Bruton where you can look in the gallery and see the artwork, and then eat in the café next to a big firepit. This gallery also does workshops so you can experience different art styles, learn

about art in Dorset and also have a shop.

3. Gold Hill

Gold Hill in Shaftesbury has some lovely views, and is famous for an advert that’s filmed there. Everyone local knows it, but when was the last time you actually went there to enjoy it?

Sculture by the Lakes

At Pallngton Lakes near Dorchester, Sculpture by the Lakes is an amazing place to go during the spring and summer months. The nature and beauty of this place is fantastic and it is very disabled-friendly.

4. Hambledon Hill

Hambledon Hill is a beautiful hill situated in the Blackmore Vale. It’s tough to get to the top, but the scenery is stunningly pleasing. These are my top five places to visit in North Dorset – I hope you enjoyed them! Maddie Walters

Taking on a Mighty Challenge!

The 26 mile Jurassic Coast Mighty Hike takes place on the 10th September in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. Joining in this year is a local team from Rose Engineering, a family-run engineering and construction company: ‘We wanted to raise money but also to raise awareness of the wonderful work Macmillan do. It’s a bonus that it’s getting us all a bit more active as well!’, said Tom Rose, Managing Director. The facts are sobering; three million people are living with cancer in the UK, and it is increasing each year. MacMillan Cancer Support aims to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can, providing physical, financial and emotional support. The Rose Engineering team have been training across the hills of Dorset over the past few months, committed to being fully prepared for the hiking challenge. ‘It’s going to be a tough challenge but we’re all training hard in the lead up to it. The amazing coastal views will push the team on.’ said Rupert Hayes, Operations Manager. The Mighty Hike will take hundreds of walkers on the marathon-length route (see it here) from the starting point at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth, along the South West Coast Path and through the Dorset countryside to finish near Corfe Castle. As any local walker knowns, the terrain along the coastal route contains plenty of steep hill climbs – and despite expectations, going down again is never much more fun than climbing up for tired legs. ‘We’ve received some great support from local businesses and individuals who have sponsored our team, but we still have a way to go to reach our target. If you can support us, and MacMillan, please do visit our JustGiving page to make a donation. We’d be so grateful.’ said Anita Beaumont, Marketing Officer.

Iconic phone box in Sherborne becomes life-saving community defibrillator

A new defibrillator on Cheap Street continues the trend for repurposing the UK’s iconic but unused phone boxesinto community-funded local resources

A new community public access defibrillator (cPAD) has been officially opened by the Sherborne businesses and organisations who have supported the £3,000 project. Following a cardiac arrest the chances of survival drop dramatically every minute. The UK Resuscitation Council recommends that a defibrillator should be available when medical treatment is more than five minutes away, which includes most rural locations in the UK. The defibrillator is located in Cheap Street outside Sherborne Post Office, in an iconic K6 telephone kiosk. It is designed specifically to give confidence to those attending a casualty and it provides real-time voice instruction, helping even inexperienced rescuers deliver effective CPR. Inside the phone box, where the telephone once was, the defibrillator is housed in a heated cabinet to protect it from the elements. The unit is registered with South Western Ambulance Service so that when someone calls 999, they will be directed to the box (if it is the closest defibrillator to the casualty). No code will be required to access the device.

A community effort

A year ago, following a Sherborne Chamber of Trade appeal, local business Girlings Complete Hearing kickstarted the campaign with a £500 funding pledge along with a commitment to manage the project. Midwest the Stationers raised a further £360 through a charity raffle. Nicola Girling said: ‘As hearing healthcare providers, Sherborne Defibrillator Launch L-R Jane Wood, Andrew Maddock, Nicola Girling, Juliet Pentolfe, David Hayes

we didn’t think twice about supporting a new health resource for the town. Naturally, we hope the defibrillator isn’t needed, but it’s reassuring to know it’s available round the clock for a cardiac emergency’. Following months of negotiation with BT and Royal Mail, the telephone box was formally adopted by Sherborne Town Council through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme. Town Clerk Steve Shield said: ‘The installation of more potentially life-saving equipment, in such a prominent location in the town, is invaluable for residents, local businesses and visitors alike.’

A significant contribution

However this new defibrillator would not have been possible without the support of The Friends of the Yeatman Hospital (FoYH), which committed £1,740 to the project as part of its community outreach. David Hayes CBE, chairman of the FoYH, said: ‘At the forefront of our priorities is emergency and long-term care for the Sherborne community. The defibrillator project is an excellent example of our contributions, and we are delighted to collaborate to ensure the equipment’s introduction and sustainability’. BT continues to support the cost of electricity to the box, so the equipment will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. BT’s Mark Johnson said: “We launched the Adopt a Kiosk scheme because the red telephone box is a significant part of our national heritage. We’re pleased to support a project which not only helps continue the legacy of the red kiosk, but crucially provides communities with such a beneficial and lifesaving function.’

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