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November 2012
Four candidates in poll to lead Dorset police Left to right: Lyle Adlem, Steve Poulton, chairman Derek Gardiner, Wendy Gredley, Peter Partridge and Margo Ashurst of the Stourpaine Parish Plan committee at their consultation day, with plans for their new village hall.
Stourpaine takes a look into the future VILLAGERS in Stourpaine attended a consultation day in their village hall to launch a consultation on the review of their Parish Plan. Chairman of the parish plan committee Derek Gardner said: "In the past five years the village of Stourpaine has changed for the better and plans are underway to ensure it continues to improve. "It seems to be an ideal time to stop and reflect on what projects and improvements have been accomplished and what work needs to be progressed since the village adopted its first Parish Plan." Visitors were able to see work in progress on the village's new website at www.stourpaine.info and comment on recent developments, as well as what might be achieved in the future. The village has successfully
maintained its shop and post office thanks to the enterprise of local landlord Chris Sargent at the White Horse pub. It has drawn up plans for a replacement village hall, as well as opening a new children's playground and welcoming the North Dorset Trailway which is now fully accessible from Sturminster Newton. But it faces a number of issues, including demands on its environment as well as of its residents in combating climate change and escalating energy costs, and the flooding experienced in July. One property was badly affected and others in Havelins had a narrow escape, resulting in a representative of the Environment Agency being invited to a parish council meeting in September to suggest what might be done to prevent future occurrences.
PEOPLE across Dorset will be going to the polls on Thursday 15th November to elect their new Police and Crime Commissioner. But the question is not so much who will be chosen, but how many people will vote, or even know about the election taking place and what it is about. PCCs will replace the police authorities currently in charge of 41 forces in England and Wales, and will be responsible for setting priorities for their police force, overseeing its budget and hiring the chief constable. Four candidates are seeking election in Dorset, where the contest follows closely on the retirement of Chief Constable Martin Baker, who had been in post since 2005. He was replaced on 1st October by Acting Chief Constable Debbie Simpson, who joined the Force from Devon & Cornwall in 2011 and has jointly chaired the board overseeing preparations for the transition. The four candidates are Andy Canning, Nick King, Rachel Rogers and Martyn Underhill. Andy Canning (Liberal Democrat) is a West Dorset town and district councillor and Mayor of Dorchester who believes his experience as a trained economist working at a senior level in banking could help Dorset Police manage cutbacks. He wants to be a "strong voice" for residents, ensure the police achieve value for money and
Trail blazers FIVE women from Tarrant Monkton were among those who braved a fire walk at the Dorset Health & Racquets Club in Poole in support of two charities, About Face and the Poole Radiotherapy Department, to raise an estimated ÂŁ10,000. The sponsored fundraising event was organised by villager Fiona MacEwen to say thank you for both the excellent treatment she received at Poole Hospital's Radiotherapy Department, and the support offered by About Face, the head and neck cancer support charity. She was joined by Sue Brown, Sue Wizards, Geraldine Stone and Vicky Gumm, and has thanked all those who supported them in the venture.
stop young people from getting into crime. Nick King (Conservative) is a serving councillor on Bournemouth Borough Council and a member of the Dorset Police Authority for five years, who, like generations of his family before him, ran his own business. He is campaigning for police visibility on the streets, links between the force and Neighbourhood Watch schemes and focusing on restorative justice. Rachel Rogers (Labour) is a member of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, and a teacher with a background in the public service and prison services, currently working in the field of children's rights. She believes in crime prevention and is committed to criminal justice and community safety services reflecting local needs and remaining a public service. Martyn Underhill (Independent) is a former police chief who was second in charge of the Sarah Payne murder investigation during his time with Sussex Police. He retired to Dorset in 2009 and rejects party politics. He believes in Dorset solutions for Dorset people and his priorities are to tackle antisocial behaviour, reduce marine and rural crime and put the victim first. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 15th November, and the election will use the supplementary vote system, with voters marking the ballot paper with their first and second choice of candidate. If no candidate gets an initial majority, second preference votes are taken into account. The deadline for applying for registration to vote and for a postal vote was 31st October.