Well, I know from my web stats that people are reading these, but very few are leaving comments.  I would love to hear from you, whether you agree with me or not.

Hopefully you saw my letter in the Stour and Avon Magazine this week?  Very exciting - I hope to revonate the four milestones in Wimborne and Ringwood Road with support from the town council and from grant funding.  A nice piece of local heritage that we should celebrate.  Ferndown is a great place to live.

The awareness and handing out of leaflets appears to be going well.  I did some labouring with tables etc this morning.  Really good to see townspeople interested and getting involved.  We need to build a solid and credible evidence base to support future improvements in the town centre, and across the town.  Well done this morning Cathy and Jean!

I was pleased that despite the holidays, nine people attended our coffee morning.  Whilst the £50 profit is useful to our very small bank account, the fellowship and passion about Ferndown were most evident.  Lovely to see, and with two past Town Mayors in attendance.  Guests and visitors are welcome to our events.  Thanks to Barbara for hosting this event.

FCA Coffee morning tomorrow from 10.30 at 57 Pinewood Road.  Come and join us.

Grants of up to £50k are available from SPort England, and 70% of the cahs is earmarked for aprish and town councils.  Inspired Facilities is focused on making it easier for local community and volunteer groups to improve and refurbish sports clubs or
transform non-sporting venues into modern grassroots sport facilities.Part of Places People Play, Sport England’s programme to deliver a London 2012 legacy of increased mass participation in sport, it is investing £50 million of National Lottery funding in up to 1000 community sports projects between 2011 and 2014.  get Bidding.

As with any consultation exercise the town plan throws up some difficult issues.  There is no doubt that the town council does not enjoy the best of reputations, based on past problems.  It also has not been very good at community engagement.  Whilst communications such as the regular Community Matters are definitely improving things along with successful projects -  the inappropriate location of the town council office, poor staffing structure and development support, a lack of strategic planning, and some individual councillors simply not engaging within their wards has led to a build-up of frustration on the part of residents.  The town plan group needs to understand that if you give people a conduit to complain they will, and ensure that they stay relentlessly cheerful, and that comments are directed into the right piles for action.  They must be working together with the town council if the plan is to be a success.  External consultant support, as I've continually said, is required, both to build the questionaire, and to advise and support the team through what will continue to be a difficult community engagement process.  The Plan is important as it will inform future improvements including the town centre enhancements desperately needed.  I believe the team will get there, as there is much willingness to succeed.

Good KGV management committee meeting this evening with lots of tough issues discussed.  Looks like we have some good new councillors [acting as trustees at this meeting].  Hoping we get the tennis court floodlights and the increased parking?  Will both benefit residents.

HAVE YOUR SAY and WIN £50

Residents, businesses and visitors to East Dorset are being given the opportunity to express their views on car parking in the   area.  East Dorset District Council is undertaking a survey to  review the needs of motorists who use the Council’s car parks.

The survey will assist the council in making future decisions about the car parking service. This will help ensure that best value 
is provided for car park users and to council tax payers in general.

To have your say, and to claim your chance of winning £50 in our entrants' free prize draw, please take a few minutes to complete the online survey by visiting www.dorsetforyou.com/carparksurvey/east


Alternatively you can fill in a copy of the survey by visiting the reception area at the Council Offices, Furzehill, Wimborne, Dorset 
BH21 4HN.  Please submit your completed questionnaire by 31 August  2011.
 

Get onto Hannah's facebook page and start a local debate, she wants you to!  What is the council doing that is good, bad or indifferent.  What isn't it doing?  What do you think about the town plan?  What do you think about Ferndown becoming a Fairtrade town?  Get informed, get involved!