Less than 24 hours after voting to introduce evening and overnight car parking charges, Dorset Council has announced it will pause the decision, pending a review.
Local councillors, business owners and residents across rural Dorset had been vocal in their opposition to the move. Cllr Jane Somper of Beacon Ward said ‘Businesses, – especially hospitality – volunteers who give their time to cultural events, and care workers and residents who live in towns (and in nearby villages) in the north will all be affected by this decision.’
North Dorset MP Simon Hoare had been particularly open about his opposition to the charges, saying in his recent column in The BV: ‘I fail to see how financially this will stack up given the costs needed to impose and enforce it. ‘Night-time charges will hit local hospitality and leisure businesses across all of our North Dorset towns, as well as impacting negatively on local residents – for example, in Blandford and Shaftesbury, where people use car parks in the evenings, when there is pressure on on-street capacity. These cars are off to work etc before the next business day starts.’
He added today: ‘Our arts and cultural sector together with pubs and restaurants depend upon evening trade, and volunteer and community/sporting groups meet in the evening too. All of these will be hit adversely as a result [of the 24 hour charges].’
The opposition to the move has lead to a U-turn on the vote just a day later, as Dorset Council announced this afternoon that: ‘Plans to introduce an evening and overnight parking charge in Dorset Council car parks have been paused.’
The statement goes on to say that ‘Having listened to initial concerns from councillors and the public, it is clear the introduction of such charges should not be decided until a thorough review of all parking services has taken place.’
The Council warns this review may take up to nine months to complete, but will involve local residents and business owners, saying: ‘This will give us a better understanding of changing trends in car park usage, how the location of our car parks affects parking behaviour, and the impact of all parking charges on residents, visitors and local businesses. ‘Therefore, we will not be progressing the introduction of evening and overnight parking charges at this time.’
Following the profile of Blackmore Vale Motorcycle Club last month (Revving through history, The BV Jan 25), Francis Custard has kindly given The BV permission to share just a small sample of his archive of images taken at some of the club’s historical events: ‘I have put together a selection of photos from the late 1950’s through to 1970. The photographers are my late father, Ron Custard, and Terry Heath, who now lives in Yeovil. I scanned my Dad’s negatives, slides and cines after I retired in 2008. ‘Just before Christmas I linked up with Terry, who had a case of negatives in his garage, and I have now undertaken a project to scan and share his work. The quality of the images is not comparable with the modern images by Michael Berkeley in your interesting article featuring Dean Whitty. Do bear in mind these were taken 60-odd years ago: the camera equipment was basic, and the negatives are now not always in the best condition! ‘There is a selection of Trials, Scrambles, Grass Track and Road Racing. The Blackmore Vale Club ran many events back then: I remember taking part in Scrambles – I broke my collar bone after a big tumble at Whitesheet Hill in 1970! ‘Along with photos, I also have many programmes from Blackmore Vale events, the earliest is for Road Races at Blandford Camp on 1st August 1949!’
Francis has labelled all the images for us according to the slide annotations:
26th May 1958 – Pauline DaleNo.22 is well-known local rider Lew Coffin (unkown date). Lew also raced Speedway and Long Track. He competed all over the country – and continent – in his long career, with the Blackmore Vale Club badge on his helmetFebruary 1959 – Benny Crew trying not to drown the Norman6th June 1960 – Helmut Fath and Alfred Wohlgemuth on a BMW Sidecar
A worrying societal shift in attitudes sees Simon Hoare MP fighting to protect rural communities and defend democracy when it matters most
Simon Hoare MP
In this edition I want to try to cover three topics. The first one was going to concern the recent announcement by Lloyds Bank of the impending closure later this year of its branch in Blandford. This story is covered elsewhere in this edition. While it is true that we are going through a period of transition when it comes to how we do our banking, the creation of ‘banking deserts’ is in nobody’s interest. But it leads to a disproportionately harder hit on my older constituents, as well as having a greater impact on the vitality and viability of a rural market town than would be felt in a large city. I am meeting representatives of Lloyds to learn more about their plans for community banking support, and will be working alongside our local councillors to explore the provision of a ‘banking hub’ to meet the needs of Blandford and the villages it serves – more as it is known.
Overnight stays On the subject of fragility, I recognise the oftentimes marginal nature of our market towns as they face pressure from online sales. Car parking charges are too often used as a cash cow to be milked by councils. You may be aware that Lib Dem controlled Dorset Council is pursuing a policy of introducing night-time car parking charges. I am opposed to these and have made my views known to the council leader and in the House of Commons during a recent Business Question. Night-time charges will hit local hospitality and leisure businesses across all of our North Dorset towns, as well as impacting negatively on local residents – for example, in Blandford and Shaftesbury, where people use car parks in the evenings, when there is pressure on on-street capacity. These cars are off to work etc before the next business day starts. This is not a good policy coming from County Hall, and I would urge you to make your views known to the council. From my inbox, I know that many local residents and pubs are opposed to this plan. Let us hope that Lib Dem councillors listen.
Up with dictatorship? My final fragility point is our basic functioning of democracy. A recent poll of GenZ (those born 1997 to 2012) found that more than half are in favour of turning the UK into a dictatorship! This follows polling by the Electoral Commission, which found that younger people are more likely to find the abuse and intimidation of political candidates and their supporters acceptable. I listened with interest to two GenZ men discuss why many of their cohort would support a British dictatorship. I have some sympathy with their call for politicians to be bold and visionary, to take brave decisions. While I see their point, they neglect, I fear, to comprehend the massively negative effect social media and the rise of populism has on achieving these policymaking umbrellas. A Parliamentary friend and colleague of mine, Alec Shelbrooke, has also commented in the media that people are likely to support a dictatorship only on the presumption that the dictator’s views align with their own. Pity them when they do not. The reason given for GenZ’s opinion is that there is a lack of knowledge, in the historical context, of what a dictatorship is. Indeed, one interviewee did not believe that Putin is a dictator. I find this hard to believe, with the attention given in schools to the rise of Nazism. It also suggests a certain lack of intellectual curiosity, of researching the historical examples of what one is calling for before actually calling for it. But there is a serious point which we cannot duck: we need to remind this and future generations of why democracy is the best option and why participation in it makes sense. Just because we know it to be true does not mean that our successors will. The dictators of Europe, South America and Africa create an all-too-clear picture. Everyone needs to see it, understand it and learn from it. We are doomed if they do not.
Bryanston School has been recognised by the Dorset County Football Association for its commitment to promoting girls’ football, receiving an award as part of the prestigious Equal Access Schools initiative. The school’s football programme encourages girls of all ages and abilities to train, compete and develop their passion for the game. Mark Foster, Head of Football, said: ‘Football’s appeal lies in its inclusivity, bridging divides across gender, ethnicity, age and ability. This recognition from the Dorset County FA is a testament to the enthusiasm and dedication of our pupils, whether they play competitively or socially.’ During the spring term, Bryanston offers three training sessions a week for girls, with its 1st and 2nd XI teams competing in the South-West Girls Independent Schools (SWGIS) league, alongside house tournaments and extra-curricular matches. As part of its wider efforts to promote girls’ sport, Bryanston will be hosting the 2025 Sports Conference on Friday 14th March, in partnership with The Powerhouse Project. Open to Year 8 and above, the event will welcome girls from across Dorset to meet industry-leading women in sports media, coaching, business and wellbeing. The Powerhouse Project, which has worked with Nike, The FA and Right to Dream, aims to empower women and girls through sport.
Swanage Railway volunteers are once again opening the doors to one of Dorset’s most cherished heritage attractions with a two-day Community Weekend on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February 2025, from 10am to 4pm. Visitors can explore behind the scenes of the award-winning heritage railway at Swanage, Herston, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle, and Norden stations. For Dorset residents, half-price tickets are available in advance at swanagerailway.co.uk or on the day at Norden, Corfe Castle, and Swanage stations (proof of residence required).
Behind-the-Scenes Access Visitors can drive a 1950s diesel shunter at Swanage for £20, shadow a train guard or ticket inspector for £7.50, or take a guided tour of the historic signal boxes at Harman’s Cross and Corfe Castle (£7.50). For the first time, pre-booked tours will be available at Swanage Railway’s steam locomotive engineering works, with a heritage bus service transporting visitors from Swanage and Norden stations. Alongside the ticketed experiences, a range of free activities (donations welcome) will run across the weekend: Explore 1960s heritage telephone exchanges at Harman’s Cross and Corfe Castle stations (subject to volunteer availability). Try your hand at signalling at the Corfe Castle signalling museum. Meet carriage restorers and sit inside a historic 1940s railway crane at Corfe Castle. See narrow-gauge diesel train demonstrations at the Purbeck Mining Museum (next to Norden station). At Herston Halt, visitors can also chat with volunteers about the development of the station, which only started welcoming trains in 1984.
It’s all about the volunteers Swanage Railway Trust chairman Frank Roberts has been a dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer for more than 40 years: ‘It takes more people to operate, maintain and develop the Swanage Railway than many people realise. We are delighted to give people across the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset and beyond the chance to enjoy a behind the scenes view of a very special heritage railway that has been rebuilt since 1976.’
Lendology are providers of low-cost council-funded loans to help you with those much-needed home improvements
Emma Lower, CEO of Lendology
“When people come to us, they’re often at the end of the road with traditional finance,” says Emma Lower, CEO of Lendology. “They’ve been told ‘no’ elsewhere, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way forward.” Lendology isn’t your typical lender. Working on behalf of councils – including Dorset Council – this unique Community Interest Company (CIC) provides affordable, responsible finance to homeowners who need it most. Their mission? Simple: to make lending decisions with people, for people, and to focus on impact rather than profit. Emma Lower spent many years working in a range of organisations as diverse as hotels, finance and pharmaceuticals. In 2015, she stumbled upon a job opportunity at Lendology that was just a six-minute drive from her child’s primary school: ‘It just fitted,’ she says. Within four months, she was a manager. In 18 months, she had taken the reins as CEO. Since then, she has led Lendology through major growth, making a tangible difference in thousands of lives.
Some of the biggest loans are for roof repairs – especially for older or thatched properties
A different approach Government grants to help people heat their homes are available but there are many people struggling with essential home improvements. That’s where Lendology comes in. ‘We saw an opportunity to do things differently,’ says Emma. Working solely through councils, the only challenge is ‘If people don’t know we exist, how can they access the support they need? Working on behalf of the councils Lendology started managing the funds, making independent lending decisions, and measuring their social impact. The result? A fund that has lent £25,943,210, with councils actively supporting their work. Lendology have worked in partnership with Dorset Council since 2005, funding home repairs and improvements and home energy efficiency measures. The current challenge for councils is finding access to capital, but Emma remains determined: ‘The need is there. We just have to find a way to meet it.’
Who they help – and how Lendology’s lending model is refreshingly different from high street banks. Instead of focusing on credit scores and rigid lending criteria, they offer fair, fixed rate loans to those often left out – pensioners, self-employed workers, people on benefits, and those with poor credit histories. ‘We don’t believe in penalising people because of their circumstances,’ Emma explains. ‘Everyone gets the same rate. What matters to us is: does this loan make their home warmer, safer, or more energy-efficient and can they afford to pay? ‘The current interest rate for homeowners in Dorset is 4%, so eligible homeowners living in Dorset receive the same interest rate, regardless of loan amount, loan term or personal circumstances”.
Lendology are keen to support eco-friendly home improvements like heat pumps, triple glazing and solar panels
Green upgrades Sustainability is a big part of Dorset Council’s mission. With private homes accounting for more than 20% of the UK’s emissions, they are keen to support eco-friendly home improvements: ‘We lend for heat pumps, triple glazing, solar panels’ says Emma. ‘If it helps reduce emissions, we want to support it.’ There’s a major obstacle currently – the supply chain. ‘We know there’s demand, but there are issues with fitters and the supply chain, so progress is slow,’ says Emma. ‘But if we can continue to prove demand by working from the top down, the supply chain will improve. Then these home changes become more affordable for everyone. ‘Making everyone’s homes more energy-efficient is the same kind of transition as the nation’s move to gas in the 70s, or to central heating in the 80s. But back then there was a real government emphasis on guidance and public information. ‘Lendology is working with the Green Finance Institute and DESNZ to influence government policy to provide sustainable funding models in England.’ More than just loans Lendology isn’t just about providing money – it’s about making a real impact. ‘Some of the biggest loans we provide are for essential repairs, like fixing roofs – especially for older or thatched properties,’ Emma explains. Often, homeowners are turned away elsewhere and Lendology is frequently able to step in. Flexibility is key – loans can be spread up to 15 years and it’s about finding solutions that actually work for people. ‘Unlike traditional banks that rely on algorithms, our lending decisions are made by real people who listen and understand individual circumstances. We work in partnership with local councils to lend to eligible homeowners, and each local council has its own policy for eligible works.’
Real impact, real change Lendology isn’t just changing lives county by county – they’re shifting the bigger picture too. With 20 years of experience, and partnerships with more than a quarter of UK councils, they have real lobbying power. ‘We can prove this works,’ Emma says. ‘For every £1 invested in Lendology, we deliver £2.38 in social impact. That’s a powerful argument for responsible lending. We just need the funding source to start up again.’ This year marks two decades of lending in the Southwest, and their influence is growing. ‘In 2024 we started working with Suffolk, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Cornwall. Our model is being recognised nationally. ‘Ethical lending isn’t just possible – it’s essential.’ Despite their success, however, Lendology find that awareness remains a challenge. ‘If people don’t know about us, they can’t access our support.’ Walking the talk As the UK’s first fully certified carbon-neutral personal lender, Lendology isn’t just talking the talk – they’re leading by example. Their B Corp status, earned for the third year running, is proof of their commitment to doing finance differently. For homeowners in Dorset and Somerset struggling to afford essential repairs, facing high interest loans, or wanting to make their homes greener, Lendology is a game-changer. ‘Finance should be fair and responsible,’ says Emma. ‘And that’s exactly what we’re here to do.’
Representative Example (4% fixed interest rate, Representative 4.2% APR). Loans are subject to status and are typically protected by a Title Restriction. Borrow £5,000 over 60 months, £92.08 monthly repayments. Total amount repayable = £5,544.96, including £20 fee for registering the Title Restriction against your property at the Land Registry. The £20.00 fee is only payable if a loan is agreed by Lendology and you decide to proceed with a loan. Lendology do not charge interest on the fee. A Title Restriction means that you may not be able to sell your home without our permission unless the loan is fully repaid. This is a financial promotion approved by Lendology CIC. Missing payments could affect your credit rating and ability to obtain credit in the future.
From an old leaking conservatory to comfortable warm space
Mrs W contacted Lendology as she needed a new conservatory roof as hers had collapsed, and she was having to use towels to constantly soak up water from the damp. She also needed a new kitchen as her old one was not fit for purpose. After speaking about her experience with Lendology and the Home Improvement Loan scheme she said ‘its like a tonne off my shoulders’. Mr L approached Lendology for a Home Improvement Loan to rethatch his roof. Typically, thatch roofs are more expensive than traditional tiled roofs: ‘We found the team, headed up by Shannon in our case, very easy to deal with, sympathetic and friendly. Communication was prompt and professional and we were dealt with in a thoroughly human way, unlike the robotic box-ticking automatons that one usually faces from other loan providers.
‘We are very grateful for the service the team provided, particularly for the quality of communication. Many thanks to Shannon, Philippa and the rest of the team.’ Mrs W has a final piece of advice: ‘Get in touch as fast as you can – don’t wait two minutes, do it one minute earlier! Just get in touch, even if you’re worried. Don’t be scared of that phone call. ‘I was petrified when I rang, I was shaking like a sieve!’
George Hosford on beavers, bureaucracy … and Ronnie, the short sheep who’s now a ram with a reputation
The Stour valley flood plain working as it should, just east of Durweston, with Manor France farm left of centre, and Blandford in the distance. The leaning oak in the field bottom right was finally blown down by Storm Darragh
The Stour valley has been busy accommodating excessive rainfall this winter. We had a lovely dry period mid November – a welcome respite from the relentless downfalls of the previous two months. The drier period allowed us to return our animals to the meadows, there still being plenty of grass left to eat before winter. The 91-year-old early warning system lit up one Saturday morning, so Fred and Rosie moved the cattle up onto higher ground behind Knighton House, and Jayne and I rounded up our lambs: they had been free ranging the meadows for many weeks. We then sat and watched with Father as the water rose before our eyes. Over the next two hours the land across which we had just walked the lambs became completely submerged. A bit close for comfort – the animals can’t be trusted not to get themselves marooned on the last bit of dry land, and sheep in particular will not voluntarily put a foot in the water. Sheep floating downstream into Blandford is not a good outcome.
Beaver workmanship near Hinton St Mary
Dorset beavers Our cluster group was treated to a ‘Beaver special’ a few weeks ago, when Neve Bray from Dorset FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) took us through the history of beaver persecution, followed by extinction in the UK some 400 years ago, and then moved on to explain what beavers can bring to a river catchment. Beaver fans claim they will slow down the passage of water through a catchment by creating leaky dams and wetland areas, whereas those less convinced fear they will destroy valuable trees and cause unpredictable flooding of settlements and productive land. Both are correct: the skilled bit is in deciding where their work could be beneficial, and then steering the beavers towards it, while possessing the (legal and practical) ability to prevent them doing the wrong thing in the wrong place. The Dorset Stour enters the sea at Christchurch harbour, having meandered through many miles of built-up area. It has a huge catchment, from Stourhead and Wincanton in the north, and close to Sherborne in the west. With such a huge catchment it doesn’t need very many hours of heavy rain to build a flood risk. On a river like the Dorset Stour, where the principal passage of the river was deepened and widened by dredging in the past, and many mills and weirs were built, the main body is so far removed from a naturally functioning river habitat that no amount of beaver work is likely to be of much use. Whereas some of the Stour’s tributaries, which still retain their naturally-formed dimensions, might be usefully modified by beaver work to slow down the movement of water during extreme rainfall events: holding it up behind their dams and only slowly releasing it into the river over a period of time, lessening the risk of flooding further downstream. This is immediately a worry for those farmers of the land alongside these tributaries – they naturally fear their land will spend more time under water, damaging pasture or crops, or permanently reducing the productivity of the soil. However, it should not be too difficult for government to devise a scheme that would reward land owners for allowing this – likely to be considerably cheaper than building massive flood barriers in the built-up areas. But how do you prevent the beavers working where they are not wanted? They must be controlled if they wander off and threaten areas where they may do significant damage. Legislation that accompanied their re-introduction, surprisingly rapidly, made them a protected species, so they cannot currently be touched, and their dams cannot be removed without official approval. What is making life complicated in some areas is where beavers are being introduced without licence, or (surprise surprise), they migrate to areas beyond their original release. This very quickly causes conflict between the believers who enabled the release and those who see them simply as vermin. Not helpful, and very unlikely to help with flood control or wetland development (which in the right areas is good for birds and other species), it will cause conflict and prolong the pain suffered by people who endure the consequences of flooding, with little hope for improvement.
Freda, at 16, is the oldest cow on the farm: she has borne 14 calves, and is the last of the original suckler beef herd
Look upstream Sitting in on a meeting of the Stour Delivery Group a few weeks ago, we were given a detailed, polished presentation on the issues of flooding in the lower Stour, from Wimborne towards Christchurch. A great deal of effort has been expended by the Environment Agency in creating a detailed report on flood risk, focussing on a strategy for reducing risk of flooding to households and other property. But frankly it’s a load of bureaucratic waffle. It fails to address the real problem. The reason for reporting on this is to point out that nowhere in the report is serious attention given to the quantity of water entering the lower section of the river from higher up in the catchment following periods of heavy rain. When I asked “Where does most of the flooding risk come from – the excessive amount of built-up area on the floodplain, or water arriving from higher in the catchment?” the answer was clear: it was the latter. Yet the report continues to discuss at great length how to reduce flood risk with the construction of earth banks, concrete walls etc, perhaps moving some of the mobile homes. It doesn’t begin to address the issue from a ‘whole-catchment’ perspective at all. The sense of frustration was acute, the sound of cans being kicked down the road was deafening. Some of the answers are there for the taking, but no-one seems to want to try.
Freda Our oldest cow, Freda – also known as 2244, her tag number – is 16 years old, a fine age for a cow. She has borne us 14 calves in that time, worth many thousands in sales, and food put on the table. She is the last of the original calves bought from our cousin Will when Dougal started up the suckler beef herd. We have three of her daughters and two granddaughters in the herd today, and this year’s calf (being a heifer and a pretty colour) will also be kept for breeding, continuing her line. A couple of weeks ago our vet came to examine our cows to see how many are in calf and to give us a rough idea in what order they will produce. Sheep are easy to scan for the presence of lambs: thanks to a handy wool-free zone just in front of the udder, an experienced vet with a hand-held scanner connected to a screen can tell you how many lambs are present within 10 to 15 seconds. Cows are an altogether different task, involving a long glove, a considerable amount of effort, a great deal of manure and a small hand-held scanner connected to a tiny screen embedded in a pair of special glasses. The approximate date of birth can be obtained by matching the size of the embryo to a scale on the screen. The sad news is that Freda is not in calf.
Diminutive new ram Ronnie, standing in front of Little Bear, is still getting the job done
Ron and his ladder Our sheep have been grazing a newly-established herbal ley (grass and herbs) that was undersown last spring, into a crop of spring barley. The barley was cleared at harvest, and bingo, there is the ley growing among the stubble! The cows grazed it briefly back in October, and now the sheep are nibbling it down to remove the annual weeds and encourage thickening up. This should mean it will be ready for the cows earlier in the spring than if we had sown it after harvest, in August. Observant walkers on the farm will have noticed clues pointing to fertile behaviour in the sheep field. The yellow raddle mark on the rear of the ewes was the age old method of telling us that young Ronnie, our new ram, has been at work. Ronnie can be seen in the picture above, standing next to our rather tall wether, Little Bear. Laughter erupted among the farm team when they first spotted Ronnie, and jokes about step ladders and telephone directories proliferated. Father was even heard to ask why one of the ewes had been left behind with its lamb in the farm paddock, when the rest had been moved to better grass. Well, the doubters can rest assured that Ronnie, in spite of his Corbett-like stature, has performed as well as we could have hoped. All the ewes have been covered, and none have returned for a second service since the first complete 17 day cycle. With luck, lambing will begin around 1st of May. See all George’s farm diaries on viewfromthehill.org.uk
On Tuesday, 25 February, Kingston Maurward will host an evening in conversation with one of Britain’s most successful event riders, William Fox-Pitt. The renowned equestrian will reflect on his illustrious career, which has spanned over 30 years, discuss his decision to retire from 5* Eventing, announced last year, and share his plans for the future.
Fox-Pitt was the first British rider to achieve Eventing’s World No. 1 ranking and has held the title of British No. 1 an impressive eleven times. He has represented Great Britain at multiple Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, and European Championships and remains the only rider to have won five of the six 5* three-day events worldwide.
This exclusive event will take place in Kingston Maurward’s stunning Grade I listed Georgian house and promises to be an insightful and entertaining evening for equestrian enthusiasts. The event will run from 19:00 to 21:00.
Tickets are available for £21 online via Equo Events or by phone at 01305 215016. A limited number of tickets will also be available on the door for £25 each.
CHILD OKEFORD BLANDFORD FORUM DORSET DT11 8HN www.hanfordschool.co.uk Come and join our staff body at our vibrant and happy prep school for girls (aged 7-13) set in the beautiful Dorset countryside:
We are seeking a caring and empathetic Senior Resident Matron with strong inter-personal skills and a can-do attitude, who will be an excellent role model for our pupils. The successful candidate will make a significant contribution to the pastoral welfare of the pupils and will have the capacity to support and understand young people in all aspects of their development, especially their emotional, academic and pastoral needs. They will expect and embody high standards of behaviour, courtesy and care.
The successful applicant will be required to work weekends and evenings as required and have significant overnight responsibility. Accommodation will be provided. To start September 2025.
To learn more about this opportunity please call the School Office on 01258 860219 or visit our website: www.hanfordschool.co.uk
Application deadline: Thursday 6 March 2025 Note : Please apply using our own application form and send direct to head@hanfordschool.co.uk and not through third parties. Interviews from 10 March 2025
Hanford is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. These posts are all subject to enhanced DBS checks. Hanford School is part of Sherborne Schools Group. Charity Number 1081228 & Company Number 04002575