Keep up with the real council news in Ferndown and across the District, by following Leader Cllr Spencer Flower's Blog at http://spencerflower.wordpress.com/

What is for sure is EDDC has a statutory duty to provide authorised sites for travellers.  Until we do, our communities are more vulnerable to unauthorised intrusions.  We need to balance the rights of our settled communities, and of those whom choose to live a semi-nomadic lifestyle.  I believe though, that once any citizen steps outside of the law, then our responsibilities to support those individuals should cease.  There should be a balance of respect, rights and responsibiliites.

The public will be going to the Polls in November 2012 to elect a Police Commissioner.  Is this good or not - I have mixed views, but every election adds cost.  I'm not sure if the cost benefits add up? 

Had a very strange experience at the Chamber of Commerce meeting last night, introducing the idea of working together on Fairtrade.  Although I have been to Fairtrade demonstrations, and have been a long-term active campaigner, was cast in the role of a hypocrite.  All life's experiences are useful though, and I will continue to support the brilliant businesses we have here in the town.  Probably won't go to another Chamber meeting for a while though!  Do the Chamber and the town council have some sort of history that I'm unaware of?

The relavent part is taken from the report for those interested in the potential Purple Haze extraction site near Verwood:

 "10.10 A significant number of responses were received regarding this site, with concerns including (but not limited to):
 potential impacts on the Ebblake Bog Site of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI) and especially the Dorset Heathlands SPA; 
the potential impacts on the amenity of both local residents and visitors to Moors Valley Country Park; potential health, safety, pollution and amenity impacts of potential landfill operations; additional traffic on the B3081; the water main through the site;
and cumulative impact on the locality with other operations.

 Comment - 
The site would contribute by 2030 about 0.75mt of sharp sand and gravel and 4mt of soft sand from west Hampshire. The site
would be progressively restored to forestry and heathland habitat with public access. The site would be a reserve site for non-hazardous landfill and in the event it is not required for this purpose, restoration would require inert fill. Development of the site would need to address: hydro-geological issues relating to the nearby Ebblake Bog SSSI that would include not extracting mineral from the northern portion of the site.
NB. This would effectively move extraction further away from Verwood; visual impact on the users of the B3081 and the Moors Valley Country Park by screening; protection or re-routeing of utilities; amenity of the Moors Valley Country Park; maintenance of local recreational access; protection measures for the nearby Dorset Heathlands SPA; and traffic and congestion on the B3081 to ensure there is safe access, provision made for more vulnerable highway users and impacts on peak flows managed."

Key priority areas and aims are Reducing violent crime, Address anit-social behaviour, To help our communities feel safer, Protecting people at risk of demestic violence, Maintain low levels of crime in Dorset, Work with those at risk of offending, Tackling road safety, including speeding.  More can be found at www.dorsetforyou.com/communitysafety or ring Martha Perry at EDDC.

See more on the Ferndown Central ward page of this site.

Have your say on the changes top boundaries.  More information can be found at http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/.  What do I think?  Losing West Parley, Stapehill and Longham to the new Blandford/Wimborne constituency is ridiculous.  They are part of the greater Ferndown urban area, and there are no gaps between these communities.  Communities should not be split between MPs as it causes confusion, reduces transparency and potentially reduces accessibility.  An absolute nonsense.  Wake up Boundary Commission.

Enjoed the Civic Service today.  Always an opportunity to talk to residents.  What was a disgrace was that only nine members of the town council attended.  We need to look at a policy on Civic Responsibility.  It could be included in Standing Orders, or allowances not paid unless attendance at three of four main Civic events attended being Civic Service, Civic Reception, Remembrance Sunday, and Annual Town Meeting.  Councillors have a civic responsibility.  Lets make all of them take that responsibility?

Many thanks for taking an interest.  I have had more than 100 hits since Wednesday, and the average is rising slowly by surely all the time.