Yetminster

REP: Michaela and Graham Plaice: gplaice@gmail.com 872921

I start this month’s article with a huge thank you to our family of distributors, volunteers all, who brave every weather to deliver the magazine to your door. My apologies to the residents of Linda Manaton and Valerie Rowsell’s round – I have undertaken Linda’s round for the last couple of months and totally mixed up her round with Valerie’s, which meant double accounting and, for some residents, no magazine; this has brought home to me how valuable the distributors are. A level of competence has been reintroduced with the welcome return of Jenny Hoppe and Linda. Once again, thank you.

May I ask all Yetminster residents to pay particular attention to the details in the Dorset Local Plan and the information laid out for proposed further housing for Yetminster. I recommend reading David Torrance’s article regarding the YRIPC Neighbourhood Plan (p38); although it allays many of my fears regarding the number of new houses being quoted (150), I still have my placard used during the Gladman application. There was an excellent article and radio presentation on Abbey 104 regarding this issue, from a councillor from Sherborne who championed the need to consider building new houses in select developments within our villages and not just stick large developments on the fringes. Examples of this can be seen in Yetminster, Thornford, Sherborne and Yeovil.

It seems the condition of the finger post on Ryme Road is generating some discussion. I drove past Ray Drewett carrying out maintenance of the finger post, well done Ray and, in the short term, a crowd funding appeal to carry out repairs is being considered; count me in. In the longer term, I know that this issue is firmly on the Yetminster and Ryme Parish Council’s agenda.

On your behalf, I welcomed the new residents of Upbury Grange. It is now the turn of the centre of the village, especially a lot of the properties surrounding the triangle. We stand by to welcome the new residents of Gable Court, Cross Farmhouse, the old Oakhouse Stores and the School House in Church Street. A belated welcome to the new residents of Church Street and Queen Street and to any other residents who have arrived.

We bid au revoir, not goodbye, to Judy and Boney Pyke (Gable Court), as they have taken up temporary rented accommodation in Somerset. Although not a betting man, I would not be surprised to see Judy and Boney back in Yetminster when the appropriate property becomes available. We send them our best wishes for the future.

Carole and Jim at the White Hart have already done much to get the pub shipshape and are now concentrating on the outside area, given it will be an important part of any relaxation of lockdown. We hope for nice sunny weather and warmer evenings which will hopefully attract customers to the outside space.

They now have a prospective tenant who is keen and enthusiastic, with the challenges ahead, to make the pub a thriving and successful venue for the community. Details are being finalised and they hope to announce when the pub will be re-opening.

It was lovely to see the posies left in the St. Andrew’s Church porch for Mothering Sunday. These flowers were not only for mothers but also for all those stuck at home during lockdown. Thank you so much to the Mothers Union for organising this and to the many people who made the posies and donated flowers.

White Hart pub

I hope the Covid-19 data backs up the Government decisions regarding lockdown. We are seeing more dates being forwarded for the 2021 calendar of events, church services re-starting at Easter, plans for the White Hart Pub to re-open, Yetminster Fair Plans for 2021 and a whole lot more. Fingers crossed that this is just the start.

Michaela and Graham Plaice

St. Andrew’s Church

April … our joyful Eastertide. Easter Day on Sunday 4 April brings the church’s most joyful day ... not to mention a few Easter eggs.

We will have a Family Service of Holy Communion in church at 10.00am with Easter eggs for all! It will be our first service in the church for many months so a special celebration.

Our church is now open again daily for personal prayer from 8.00am to midday, and we very much hope to extend the opening hours soon. Social distancing must still be maintained in the church, and masks worn.

The pattern of worship is still being decided as I write, but the clergy hope to have one service in church every Sunday in each part of the Benefice in April, which means there will be a church service not far away from you. Online worship will continue as well, and please see the schedules in the church porch and online at www.threevalleysteam.org Our APCM (AGM) is coming up on Sunday 18 April; we hope to use the church or have a Zoom meeting. All details will be in the weekly round robin. If you don’t yet get the robin, or are new to the village, please let me know and I will add you to the distribution list.

We will be saying a fond farewell to both David Price and David Gould who have served this church faithfully for many years, as Treasurer and as Church Warden. Our thanks go with them and we wish them a peaceful retirement.

We will be welcoming three new PCC members this April, as Graham Simpson takes up the reins as Treasurer, and we welcome back Graham Plaice, together with Amy Whittlesea.

Looking ahead .... our annual Tower Tea party will return in the summer with the new and exciting churchyard mapping plans, come along and find your ancestors. In September we hope to have another car boot sale, by popular request.

With my best wishes

Churchwarden Clare

Churchwarden.yet@gmail.com

Yetminster & Ryme Intrinseca Neighbourhood Plan

Some have queried whether the draft Neighbourhood Plan was ‘thrown out’ by Dorset Council when they were asked to comment on it as part of the Community Consultation. This is simply not the case, particularly as we have already had a ‘Health Check’ done prior to the Community Consultation and it was generally found to be satisfactory.

Dorset Council is one of the statutory consultees in the consultation. As usual and as expected, they have made several suggestions (as have some other consultees) which should ensure our Plan is successful at the independent examination later in the year.

Their comments included a requirement made by their Conservation Officer for us to undertake further evaluation of the effects of our identified development sites on the nearby heritage properties – it appears that the officer with whom we originally consulted has left, and it is a new Conservation Officer who is now requiring this.

We have been fortunate in obtaining further technical advice from AECOM and have now met their Conservation Consultant who has been able to undertake the necessary site visits and his report and recommendations are expected shortly.

Natural England asked in their response, for us to undertake a

Habitats Regulations Assessment. This is a recent requirement for all new developments and is to evaluate the potential pollution from phosphates from any new development draining to the Somerset Levels. With technical help from AECOM, this work has been completed and a draft sent to Natural England for their comment prior to inclusion in our draft Neighbourhood Plan.

As you are hopefully aware, Dorset Council are consulting on the draft of their new Local Plan which it has been necessary to produce following the organisational change to Unitary Authority. This draft Local Plan identifies that, during the period of the plan, the parish will need approximately 150 houses based on “completions” after April 2021 – we have clarified that Folly Farm numbers can be included in this figure meaning that the amount of new housing, with an allowance for windfalls, would therefore equate to 76. This would be spread over the life of the Local Plan, but we could deduct 11 off this number as our Neighbourhood Plan only runs until 2036!

We do have some concerns as to how the deemed housing need has been calculated and are endeavouring to clarify this with Dorset Council’s planners. Once this is done, we will able to comment accordingly based on our own figures.

YRIPC Neighbourhood Plan Working Group

Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council

Chairman’s Notes – March Meeting

It has been reported that the future of the Millennium Woods is seriously threatened by a severe case of ash dieback disease, that is affecting a significant number of trees. The Parish Council will work with the Woodland Trust over the next few years to establish a long-term replanting scheme that will preserve the woodland as a valuable community asset.

Quotes received for the replacement of the safety matting at the children’s play area were much less than anticipated which means that the work can be actioned in this financial year. There should also be enough in the budget to provide a picnic bench and a small grant will enable the damaged swing seat to be replaced.

A positive report from the Scouts was received in which plans to replace the existing building with a new single storey premises, with a slightly extended footprint to the rear (east) of the property, were detailed. This would allow the Group to have two additional rooms, thus encouraging more activities. The Scouts would like to consult with local residents before committing to this project but were looking for approval from the Parish Council before initiating their plan. It was unanimously voted to agree in principle to this development, subject to planning permission, to agree to a larger footprint for the building and to extend the length of the lease on the land to match the requirements of any grant application.

A couple of local residents have, for several years, been producing a welcome pack for new residents but it was felt that, given the number of properties involved, the Parish Council should take on this role for the new Folly Farm development. When approached, Burrington Estates indicated that they would produce and distribute the welcome letter for us. A copy of the letter, which includes brief details of the Parish Council, local businesses and clubs, will be added to the parish website.

The recent bad weather has resulted in sewage leaking from drains in Brister End and Brierley Hay during periods of excessive rain. This has been an on-going problem for several years but appears to have been occurring more regularly of late. Wessex Water does have a permit to discharge liquid effluent into the River Wriggle during periods when the levels in the sewers are overloaded and have undertaken water checks to confirm that levels of ammonia are well within permitted levels. It is possible that pipework running across the fields may have shifted, causing an airlock and the Parish Council will be communicating with Wessex Water and the Environment Agency to press for remedial action.

Finally, we are happy to report that the Meadens open space now has some new trees to replace the three damaged ones which reluctantly had to be felled. The open space now has some ornamental flowering cherries and plum trees which should provide wonderful blossom in spring and a spectacular colour display in autumn. We hope all the residents in Clovermead will enjoy them.

Andy Perlejewski

Chairman of Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council

Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council

Yetminster Play Area

The Parish Council Working Group has, for several months, been reviewing and discussing the improvement of the play area next to the Scout Hut near to Brierly Hay and Sussex Farm Way. It is extremely popular with families and their children throughout the year and has needed some TLC for a while.

The equipment is periodically inspected by members of the Council and professionally inspected annually and, although it is old, it is in exceptionally good condition for its age; once it is rubbed down, prepared and painted, it will look amazing once again. Some work has already been carried out and the larger swings and chains have been replaced with new. Once the weather improves and current restrictions have been relaxed then planned work to repaint the equipment will be going ahead.

Work to replace the old rubber safety matting with new rubber grass matting will be carried out this spring to improve the safety of the play area and make it easier to maintain. It is planned to replace the existing rocking-type play equipment with a new similar piece. A new wooden picnic bench is going to be purchased and installed at the site to provide a seated area for families to meet and sit, have a picnic or just relax whilst watching the children play.

The working Group would like to hear from any members of the Community who would like to join the Group, they would become actively involved in discussions regarding the play area’s development, ideally it would be beneficial that interested parties have young families of their own and use the area. The Working Group would also like to hear from members of the local Community who would be willing to assist the Group with any voluntary work that is carried out.

If you would like to become involved with the Working Group, then please contact Councillor Paul Hollick by email at paulhollickparish@btinternet.com

Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council Play Area Working Group: Councillor Sarah Cox; Councillor Michaela Plaice; Councillor Paul Hollick.

50/50 Club Result of the March 2021 Draw

1st Prize £100 No. 16 Mr. A. Rolls 2nd Prize £50 No. 37 Mr. G. Goater 3rd Prize £30 No. 60 Mr. G. Orton 4th Prize £20 No. 12 Mr. R. Drewett

Want to join? – forms available at http://yetminsterparishes.gov. uk/a-z/yetminster-fair-association

The Association raises money for local organisations and is nonprofit making and run entirely with voluntary support yetminsterfair@aol.com

1st Yetminster Scout Group

The Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have been involved in a variety of activities throughout the past month, via Zoom. Just before the half-term break, all sections took part in a pancake bake off and there were some remarkably interesting fillings. I have never seen so many pancakes successfully flipped, it was enjoyed by all. The Cubs had great fun preparing their own cheese swirls and cooking them to celebrate National bread week, and they looked very tasty. The Scouts have been investigating geocaching and have started, whilst out exercising, to hunt for the caches and record them once found. Over the coming weeks they will be designing their own caches and planning to place these in suitable locations; they will be recorded on the National site and then published for people to find. We are aware that our neighbouring village of Leigh has an active Village Geocache walk which some of the Group have already explored and found it fun to complete. We would like to plan and organise a similar thing in and around the Yetminster area and add details of this to the Parish Website.

The whole Group is looking forward to returning to face-to-face meetings after the Easter break, it will be good to see everyone again and get back to all the fun activities and challenges we have, until now, taken for granted.

There are two adult volunteer roles with the Executive Committee becoming vacant in July this year as our current Chair and Treasurer will be stepping down, after several years with the Group. The roles are essential for the running of the Group and, as a Committee, normally meet four times a year together with the Group Scout Leader. More information can be found at the following link or contact me at gsl.1styetminster@gmail. com or at https://www.dorsetscouts.org.uk/ get-involved/adult-volunteers-18/1styetminster-scout-group-volunteervacancies

We continue to open the doors of the Scout Hut on a Monday evening between 5.00-6.00pm to act as a drop off point for food donations that we forward to Sherborne Food Bank. We would like to thank everyone who has donated so far for this very worthy charity. The

Group is also now a registered Terracycle collection point for used clean crisp packets, which can also be dropped off at the hut on Monday evenings.

The Group is still collecting used postage stamps for the RNIB and collection boxes are located at Thornford Post Office, Yetminster Spar shop and the Boyle café in the Old School Gallery. We have already sent off two large envelopes full of stamps for RNIB, so thank you all for your donations. Please contact me to find out more gsl.1styetminster@gmail. com or 07815 135602.

Paul Hollick

Groups Scout Leader Gsl.1styetminster@gmail.com 07815 135602

YETMINSTER HISTORY SOCIETY

Wessex’s forgotten hero

At the mention of Wessex, the first name that usually comes to mind is Thomas Hardy or, possibly, Alfred the Great. However, there is a person who, during the 19th century, almost alone transformed the built environment of Dorset and Somerset and whose legacy is still available to us today. He built, or rebuilt, over 390 churches, around 200 country houses, as well as schools, cemeteries, hospitals, railway stations and even railway tunnels.

His name was Benjamin Ferrey. His life and many of his more outstanding works were eminently described to us by Dr Francis Burroughes. Of course, it was a virtual meeting again and Francis was beamed into our individual living rooms by the wonders of Zoom – all the way from Yeovil. Benjamin was born in 1810 in Christchurch, the youngest son of a draper. At the age of 16 he was apprenticed to Augustus Pugin, famous for his design of the interior of the Houses of Parliament, from whom Ferrey possibly developed his love of the Gothic Revival style of architecture.

In 1832 on the death of Pugin, he transferred to William Wilkins, architect of the National Gallery and Nelson’s Column. Perhaps because Wilkins much preferred the Classical style, Benjamin left two years later to set up his own practice with Thomas Walker. In 1835 he was commissioned to design a seaside resort in the place of some coastal scrub land and a few old cottages.

We now know it as Bournemouth. Central Bournemouth, Westover estate and the Forest and (now Royal) Bath Hotels are all Ferrey’s work.

By 1842 he had become better known as a church architect, his hallmark being steeply pitched roofs with elaborate beams and trusses.

He went on to become the diocesan architect for the see of Bath and Wells and completed a range of restoration works on Wells Cathedral, notably the statuary on the West Front.

More locally he built the church of Holy Trinity in Yeovil and, in Dorchester, the original Dorset County Hospital (now converted to flats) and All Saints Church on High West Street (now a store for the museum). In fact, he built so much in Dorchester that for a while it was known as Ferreytown.

There was even more on his other buildings in our area and across the county. Fortunately, the meeting was recorded. Elizabeth Jubb has sent out an email if you would like to see the presentation and find out about them.

Next Meeting: 8 September 2021 – AGM followed by Robin Miller on the Battle of Jutland. Hopefully we will meet in the Jubilee Hall at 2.30 but if restrictions are still in force, then via Zoom.

The summer visits planned for April and May will not be possible but if we are out of lockdown, then there will be visits in June and July – look out for emails.

Ferrey Roof All Saints Dorchester