East Dorset News is currently being delivered across Ferndown.  It details what EDDC are doing, and all residents should be aware.  If you live in Central Ferndown and are not receiving this publication, please do let me know.

Enjoyed working with fellow town councillors outside Sainsbury's yesterday handing out publicity fliers for the meeting at the Barrington Centre form 7pm on 31st January.  We're clear that Ferndown District Councillors will attend the meeting to listen to Ferndown residents on their views of the Uddens and Pompey's Lane propsoed sites.  I have been contacted by residnets concerned that the COunty Council Committee has already decided on the Uddens site.  To do this within the consultation period is nothing less than disrespectful to residents, frankly.  I shall start work to support residents by contact Fendown County Cllrs, and the Chairman of that Committee.  Do come along to the meetign at the end of the month.

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. 

So I had a street corner surgery on Wednesday from 5.30-6.30 at the Redwood Drive entrance to Slop Bog.  Over the hour I had some nine interesting discussions, with the longest lasting 15 minutes.  What is clear is that there is a high level of satisfaction with Ferndown as somewhere to live.  The things that people were less happy about were:

- Anti-social behaviour in Leisure centre car park, and broken glass around that area, despite the KGV groundsmen regularly picking it up.  I have been asking for action in this matter from the the town council, for some time. 
- the lack of a balanced shopping centre.  I explained the plans for town centre enhancement, to hopefully include an improved retail offer but explained the reasons behind the fading retail offer.
- Planning issues.  We all have hopes thta the Localism Bill planning chnages will allow planning authorities to focus on the needs and future plans agreed by residents in place-shaping.  Get involved in the Town Plan!
Street corner surgeries are now an integral part of my community engagement work within my ward, and I'm grateful to my residnets for being so open and willing to talk to me - on the edge of the woods!

You can find it  at http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/localismplainenglishguide.  The town council should be communicating its contents to residents.  The town plan group might be important in this work, if involved?

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.

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!

152 hits in July.  Given I have been on holiday for much of it, and posted little new information, pleased with this.  It represents significant engagement with my electorate, which is not happening consistently with others.  Do get in touch with anything you want to discuss.

Hope to persuade the town council that PB is a great way to engage the public and give it a trial for budget FY 2012/13.

Since 25th May, and this Website & Blog going live I've had 292 hits, which may seem a little or a lot to you?  I'm very pleased with it, because every contact means Councillors are getting to grips with reaching out to their community.  It's just a start.  I will be confirming surgery dates at the town council offices shortly.  I will be linking to more local websites as time goes on, and I hope we can all work together in achieving a critical mass of electronic news, views and exchanges of information in Ferndown.