Comments made during the STAND Zoom public meeting

These are the “chat” bar comments made during the STAND Zoom public meeting held on Thursday evening (11th February 2021).
The 75 places available for the meeting were all taken within 3 hours. This is not only a measure of interest in the Local Plan, but a clear indication of people’s concerns about its proposals and particularly the proposed DOR 13 site.

STAND meeting chat 11 February 2021

19:20:21 From  spharoah  to  Everyone : The Draft appears to promote housing need at the expense of almost everything else. The National Planning Policy Framework tells us that strategic policies must be informed by a local housing need assessment “unless exceptional circumstances justify an alternative approach” – can Chris share his views on what valid exceptional circumstances may be.

19:20:36 From  Paul Wallis  to  Everyone : hi do we have contact details for absent councillor Walsh

19:22:15 From  Susie Hosford  to  Everyone : Cllr Walsh’s contact details will be on the Dorset Council Website. 

19:25:34 From  Gerald Duke  to  Everyone : Cllr.davidwalsh@outlook.com 07973228620 or 01747 840578 19:27:05 From  molly rennie  to  Everyone : Cllrdavid.walsh@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk 

19:25:52 From  Bernadette Searle  to  Everyone : Mike Joslin is dead right – genuine need not 2nd homes

19:27:20 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Surely though we need to look at the lack of employment available for these occupants of the houses.  There seems to be a lack of new employment available for the younger generation.  This would surely be reflected in those able to afford this new housing.

19:28:39 From  Perwina Whitmore  to  Everyone : Surely employment opportunities will be increasing as working from home becomes established as the new normal

19:29:43 From  Paul Wallis  to  Everyone : Home working is an ideal way of encouraging life back into the villages

19:30:26 From  Andrew Woodcock  to  Everyone : Why are we not considering redeveloping the real estate in the town centres, i.e. empty shops which will never re-open and could be re-developed?

19:30:28 From  Elise  to  Everyone : What industry is this though and will the younger generation be trained and available to work within this home employed

19:30:58 From  Paul Wallis  to  Everyone : Home working is a quantum leap change in society which has arisen since the plan was devised

19:31:14 From  Catherine  to  Everyone : What about housing for low paid people who can’t work from home? Nurses, bus drivers, shop workers, farmworkers, etc.

19:31:27 From  Perilla Kinchin  to  Everyone : I agree with Mike that ‘demand’ from retirees and second home owners and holiday lets is insatiable. The need is for affordable housing for the local working population. How do we tackle the second home problem which hollows out villages.

19:31:33 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Also the wages within this area show a massive gap between the cost of houses and the rent charged.

19:31:40 From  Perwina Whitmore  to  Everyone : Agree Paul hopefully we will become a more attractive place for young people to want to stay local.  And if there is a small amount of development across the area that would work well

19:32:09 From  Paul Wallis  to  Everyone : fire regulations for shops and flats are difficult to deal with having run several shop premises

19:32:58 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : There are 8 empty or only occasionally used houses in my immediate neighbourhood.

19:33:10 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : average salary in the area is 25k – so for a single person, an affordable home would cost between 80-120k

19:33:24 From  Andrew Woodcock  to  Everyone : Thank you Paul, but that is something that will need to be addressed in any case.

19:33:52 From  Rachel Worth  to  Everyone : Re Anrew Woodcock’s comment, we should absolutely be redeveloping the town ‘centre’ where there are empty shops and storage above: it is scandalous that these are empty and it is only going to get ‘worse’ with the changes in the high street that are on the cards…

19:34:11 From  Christopher Slade  to  Everyone : Dorset has over 250 parishes. If each parish averaged a few new houses/barn conversions a year we should meet the target without destroying the environment.

19:34:16 From  Elise  to  Everyone : But this 25k is not for the younger generation and tell me what area and what industry is this 25k as I have never seen a job paying that much

19:34:55 From  Rachel Worth  to  Everyone : The focus should be on rethinking the high street…with housing and independent businesses…

19:35:21 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : that’s a mean average – but you’re right Elise – realistically much lower

19:35:56 From  Mike Joslin  to  Everyone : One important factor is that the false demand for houses has pushed rents so high that taxpayers now pay renters some £22 billion a year by way of Housing benefit

19:35:59 From  Ellie  to  Everyone : There are approximately 600 empty homes in Dorset and some 2,600 second homes in West Dorset according to www.openingdoorsdorset.co.uk 

19:36:10 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Thanks Ellie I just needed it confirmed but even with the ‘average’ I doubt the cost of the houses would be affordable to wages available.

19:36:12 From  Perwina Whitmore  to  Everyone : Also Poundbury is not yet complete, Brewery Square is not yet compete, the high street has housing potential not sure what has happened to the prison site

19:36:19 From  Paul Wallis  to  Everyone : the town centre area has been awaiting development for almost 40 years. it was meant to be a shopping mall. that is dead in the water now because of ecommerce, this could be developed for residential/tourism/parking

19:37:04 From  Guy Dickinson  to  Everyone : Totally agree on the second homes issue. Not sustainable and almost immoral!

19:37:18 From  Rachel Worth  to  Everyone : And agree about Poundbury…. The number of new homes which include the provision of social housing is massive…

19:38:25 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : Elise – I 100% agree – local people have little hope of getting on property ladder

19:38:58 From  Kim Slowe  to  Everyone : Growth of the villages is the surest way of revitalising therm and of protecting village facilities.  A much better option than growth of Dorchester.

19:40:56 From  Perwina Whitmore  to  Everyone : Growth of the villages is essential to keep them viable.  There’s no advantage in allowing the villages to die

19:41:02 From  Elise  to  Everyone : OK I live in a village but have no infrastructure.  No shop and no public transport.  So we do need to re look at better transport links if we are to develop villages more

19:41:18 From  Paul Wallis  to  Everyone : the villages have been dormitory suburbs for almost 50 years now. With climate change building their infrastructure would be a great idea.

19:41:45 From  Sol  to  Everyone : Do the council have money

19:42:09 From  Guy Dickinson  to  Everyone : They say they can’t afford council houses!

19:42:25 From  molly rennie  to  Everyone : There are planning permissions given for 1158  with in Dorchester itself not build yet  but planned to be built e.g.  Poundbury   brewery square prison   350  waiting for permissions

19:42:31 From  Perwina Whitmore  to  Everyone : Improved public transport across Dorset is essential if we are to address the climate emergency

19:43:04 From  Sol  to  Everyone : The council do not have any money from the Government, relying on council tax and car parking charges

19:44:44 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : DC have also suggested that north Dorch would reduce traffic – but it’s too far away for many people to walk and households are highly likely to have people working in different towns.

19:44:47 From  Rachel Worth  to  Everyone : And in all of this, climate catastrophe should be at the top of the agenda in decision making. It is completely scandalous that this is not being discussed properly and effectively at the level of  local decision-making…

19:45:18 From  Gerald Duke  to  Everyone : The money for social housing is with the housing associations. One local association has £2billion available for building 10000 houses over the next 10 years

19:46:00 From  Rachel Worth  to  Everyone : I think we need to get out on the streets (as soon as we can!) and demonstrate…

19:46:14 From  Andrew Woodcock  to  Everyone : Climate Emergency? I’ve read the plan, what emergency?

19:46:25 From  Paul Wallis  to  Everyone : why are magna not allowed to build?

19:46:52 From  Elise  to  Everyone : OK Chris Loder is talking about green housing.  But we still need to look at employment.  Low wages means less money within the community.  Or are we just relying on the second home owners and older generation for their money within the community

19:46:54 From  Perwina Whitmore  to  Everyone : It’s obvious that North Dorchester wouldn’t  reduce traffic – it’s far too far for most people to walk from there into the town and back to do their shopping. They will definitely drive

19:48:08 From  Kim Slowe  to  Everyone : Whether we like not or not the Council are simply reacting to the housing numbers that are being imposed on them by Central Government.  Increasing the size of Dorchester is an easy option for them to achieve their rolling 5 year land supply.  It seems unlikely that we will be able to override the plan as proposed.  If that is indeed the case we should, in parallel to objecting to the allocation, also be developing a plan that helps to ensure that should the allocation go ahead the local community will have a meaningful part to play in the quality of what is built and the type of housing.

19:48:17 From  Jane Ashdown  to  Everyone : I put a question to the Council about the Glover proposal for a Dorset National Park and the response is posted in the Q & A section on the Council web site.

19:48:38 From  molly rennie  to  Everyone : Magna are allowed to build Paul but they have not had any large development applications recently  maybe not got the land such as persimmon have bought up

19:48:53 From  Lynne Hubbard’s iPhone  to  Everyone : The council representative not even here

19:51:15 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Can I ask what are we hoping to achieve by this meeting?  Will we be taking the outcome of this meeting to the Council.  Are the Council not even worrying about this meeting?  It seems so by not sending a representative.  Are we just talking to ourselves?

19:52:00 From  Sam.McKeown  to  Everyone : well no, there’s two reporters from the Dorset Echo in this meeting – it’s well worth doing

19:52:24 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Thank you Sam McKeown

19:52:30 From  Gerald Duke  to  Everyone : I wonder if Kim Slowe has a view on viability and providing social housing

19:53:26 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : Beat me to it Sam! we’re here to help bring these concerns to light

19:53:35 From  Paul Wallis  to  Everyone : I am using this meeting to help word my letter to the planning committee!

19:53:35 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Houses in Villages are not enough to bring villages back to life.  Infrastructure needs to be better

19:54:48 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Only if they already have a job.  My teenagers looking for work are not already working from home.

19:56:13 From  Stephen Brissenden  to  Everyone : economics of biodiversity conservation is ever more important as is clearly explained in the Government Prof’ Dasgupta review. It should be the number one priority over all planning policy before it is too late.

19:57:31 From  spharoah  to  Everyone : If sustainability really is so important to Dorset  – why is their Sustainability Appraisal so woefully inadequate?

19:59:34 From  Elise  to  Everyone : The local plan that was rolled out to local parish councils a few years ago asked to look at areas where new buildings could happen.  There was a massive backlash about change within these villages.  I cant see how people within the Villages would want new buildings changing “their village”

19:59:41 From  Kim Slowe  to  Everyone : In response to Gerald, the challenge for North Dorchester will be the cost of the infrastructure.  If this is met from central government funding then there is no reason why the development can’t deliver policy compliant affordable housing.  Without central  government infrastructure funding I am in no doubt that Persimmon/Ilchester Estates will argue that affordable percentages have to be reduced.  I would also add that the make up of the consortium is a real area of concern.  It is very hard to see how, with these players, a quality development will be delivered.  I agree with Chris that the Persimmon scheme in Sherborne is a disgrace and a warning sign.

20:03:04 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : Mark is right. This is absolutely in the centre of Far From the Madding Crowd country

20:04:51 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : housing benefit does not cover the full cost of rent – even for a cheap bedsit

20:04:55 From  Alexandra Zoppellini  to  Everyone : Mark Chutter speaks from the heart – with far reaching agreements from people worldwide and a little closer in Devon where so many new developments have already eaten uo so much of our beautiful areas for housing which has no more helped young people than COVID19 is! Well said Mark…..

20:05:32 From  Bernadette Searle  to  Everyone : I am a key worker at DCH earning max £16.000 a year before tax

20:05:47 From  spharoah  to  Everyone : On sustainability – DOR13 would effectively be permission in principle, but it establishes principles based on guesswork, generalisations, maybe’s, and hope.  There is no evidence at all that the 2020 Emergency Strategy has had any influenced upon the Draft Local Plan. 

20:06:39 From  Elise  to  Everyone : My whole point is the wages in this area need to earn more.  The average wage here for young people is bwtween £12 and £18K  Please get a real understanding of what actual people earn in this County

20:07:13 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : We have an affordability crisis not a housing crisis

20:07:38 From  Perwina Whitmore  to  Everyone : Isn’t there a benefit in pausing this whole thing so everyone can fully assess the major shifts in  lifestyle that Covid will inevitably bring and then reset

20:07:40 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : what Kate said!

20:07:43 From  Lynne Hubbard’s iPhone  to  Everyone : This is right- councils must take the his role and they will get the rent to build more decent house. Europe has a much bigger state sector housing

20:07:45 From  Bernadette Searle  to  Everyone : Kate – you are right

20:08:27 From  Rachel Worth  to  Everyone : Totally agree with Mark. Heritage and the legacy of Thomas Hardy, the literary landscape etc are of inestimable value, not just historically but actually as part of the economic viability of Dorchester and its environs….

20:09:54 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : Turning Dorchester into Basingstoke would deeply damage the Dorset ‘brand’ – which is small scale, rural, sustainable, high quality

20:10:22 From  Elise  to  Everyone : High Quality in what way Kate?

20:10:27 From  Sol  to  Everyone : Bronte Sister, Yorkshire..

20:10:27 From  Kim Slowe  to  Everyone : We seem to be skirting around the issue of how to STOP this development if at all possible.  Do we need to raise the funds to instruct a hard hitting Barrister to prepare a document that fights the proposal on  planning grounds that can actually have an impact on the process.

20:11:20 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : Donate via www.stand-dorchester.net !

20:11:36 From  Sol  to  Everyone : Totally agree with you, Kim

20:12:04 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : Kim – this is what campaigners did in Weymouth to try and stop betterment properties developing green land. unfortunately it went to the high court and the developer won, think council had to pay costs. but I still think this is a good idea for STAND

20:12:40 From  Alexandra Zoppellini  to  Everyone : Why do we want to destroy Dorchester for young people, the tourism and Hardy,Barnes interest will keep sustainable work going for young people who Im sure will be keen to live in the town ………… not show people where this all happened but now it’s just a mass of houses!?!

20:13:07 From  Perwina Whitmore  to  Everyone : agree we could do with professional help to tackle this

20:13:40 From  Alexandra Zoppellini  to  Everyone : Has the destruction of wildlife habitat been considered yet? 

20:13:57 From  Jane Ashdown  to  Everyone : Bioabundance in South Oxfordshire is a group that is launching a law suit against the government. STAND has info on their web site. Personally I think we will need to mount a legal defense type fund.

20:14:54 From  spharoah  to  Everyone : Fiona is right – the Council’s own Cultural Landscape and Heritage Impact Assessment warns us DOR13 would result in “harmful interaction” with the setting of important heritage assets and archaeological remains (including many of national significance).  But … the Assessment superciliously concludes these crucial landscape associations with Hardy to be “fiction”.

20:14:56 From  Elise  to  Everyone : What is main reasons for not wanting this development.  For me it’s what’s the point when there is no future plan for further industries and employment for the younger generation.  All that this does is build houses.  I want to look at who will be living there and how they will afford to live there

20:16:48 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : absolutely

20:17:05 From  Rachel Worth  to  Everyone : It would also be good to get those who are at the centre of the local heritage industry on board to add support…Dorset County Museum, Thomas Hardy Society…

20:17:11 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Then the arguments of how this is not good for environment and history

20:18:23 From  Alexandra Zoppellini  to  Everyone : The Thomas Hardy Society have written and opposed this development – Tony Fincham Chairman of Society

20:21:20 From  Lynne Hubbard’s iPhone  to  Everyone : As soon as possible we need a street protest. it can be socially distanced

20:21:21 From  Alexandra Zoppellini  to  Everyone : Well done Rodney lets not make North Dorchester site be the next disaster – lets get it turned round!

20:22:26 From  spharoah  to  Everyone : Does anyone know if there is access to the previously adopted  local plan inspectors report online and where I might find it?  

20:22:27 From  Rachel Worth  to  Everyone : We need a plan of action…Yes, protest as we CANNOT allow this to go ahead….

20:23:00 From  Sarah Pattison  to  Kate Hebditch(Direct Message) : I feel that is the debate we need to have – What is Dorchester for. A real vision for the town rather than the bland generic vision in the plan. I do not think that the Basingstoke model is what people will opt for.

20:23:13 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : full respect to Mr Loder

20:23:19 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Oh watch out Im pretty sure the Government don’t want any large scale protests.

20:23:32 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : Hear, hear, Sarah

20:25:07 From  Bernadette Searle  to  Everyone : Well said, Molly Rennie

20:25:14 From  Elise  to  Everyone : People seem to be really apathetic towards protesting and have no idea how to go about protesting further.

20:26:03 From  Rachel Worth  to  Everyone : So, why can’t we get together with all the expertise here and offer an alternative as per what Mollie says…but we also need to PROTEST.

20:26:34 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : But that was years ago, Molly. Surely can start again?

20:26:39 From  Sol  to  Everyone : We have to participate the consultation however our fights are going to continue from today till we win the case. Lets come together by joining STAND actively

20:26:57 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Surely this meeting should be the start of this Rachel. How should we do this any ideas?

20:27:39 From  Sol  to  Everyone : joining STAND  and being active

20:27:46 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : I’d also encourage people to write in to the Echo’s letter’s page www.dorsetecho.co.uk/letters/submitaletter/ 

20:28:44 From  Sam.McKeown  to  Everyone : seconded – if you have a view on the matter email myself and ellie on: sam.mckeown@newsquest.co.uk ellie.maslin@newsquest.co.uk 

20:29:48 From  Rachel Worth  to  Everyone : Apologies but I need to leave the meeting…Please can we get together again like this very soon with an actual action plan for us all to work together?

20:29:50 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Anyone got a link to STAND?

20:30:05 From  Sarah Pattison  to  Everyone : Much of the work from 2008 and earlier that comes out in  the plan is not available on the DC website and would need access to South Walks House to examine hard copy. This is a good reason why the consultation should not be taking place at this point in time.

20:30:22 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : https://stand-dorchester.net/ 

20:30:47 From  Elise  to  Everyone : There is a surprise Chris

20:30:47 From  Stephen Brissenden  to  Everyone : I do hope this year’s UN climate meeting goes well to make sure the natural world stays right at the top of the global agenda – but here in Dorset I fear it is not going to happen.

20:31:19 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : We are hoping to have an online protest rally

20:31:48 From  Jane Ashdown  to  Everyone : The Halcrow Report is linked in the document on the Dorchester Civic Society web site so it is available electronically

20:32:07 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : please keep Sam and I posted on that rally Kate

20:32:56 From  Elise  to  Everyone : The Piddle Valley is where I live the Echo obviously covers this area

20:33:13 From  Gerald Duke  to  Everyone : Chris. How do we get David Walsh out of his bunker?

20:33:20 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : Thank you Chris – we’re keen to work with you on this too

20:33:21 From  Paul Wallis  to  Everyone : No one has mentioned flooding  – the developement would cover a huge chalk soak for our local rainfall which would all run off into the water meadows and potentially into Dorchester itself making any possible walkways/paths aces to the water medows redundant at many times of the year

20:33:45 From  Lynne Hubbard’s iPhone  to  Everyone : Many people in Dorchester still don’t know about it.

20:33:59 From  Sol  to  Everyone : not enough time to do what you are suggesting, Chris

20:34:16 From  Sarah Pattison  to  Everyone : I agree Stephen but DC does not mention sustainability in its climate change strategy. Its about a economic growth poll  growth based on green technology. The only other authority I am aware of that failed in this project was N. Lincolnshire. 

20:35:53 From  molly rennie  to  Everyone : Chris is so right Dorset Councillors thought out the whole council area get ‘fed ‘ this news feed everyday  and is sent them every morning.  They  will pick it up even if do not get a paper copy   we All read this as a way of ‘keeping up’

20:36:05 From  Sol  to  Everyone : Hydrogeology of the North Dorchester Downs is necessary.. surface water flooding major issue.. our drinking water coming from this downs.. what about sewarage and how the River From il be polluted.. etc etc

20:36:12 From  molly rennie  to  Everyone : The Echo is a great way forward

20:36:24 From  Sarah Pattison  to  Everyone : Agree Chris. There is no data on connectivity between settlements. Thanks Chris

20:38:11 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Who has chosen this area??????

20:39:15 From  Sol  to  Everyone : the Previous LA, West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland Council in 2018 in their local plan review preffered Options

20:39:16 From  spharoah  to  Everyone :   Alistair is spot on about masterplanning. The Draft Plan offers a dull destructive vision for Dorchester.

20:39:17 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : Elise – consortium of landowners and Persimmon homes put it forward

20:39:19 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : our part of dorset has the highest allocation of all the 4 areas, by a long way

20:40:20 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Democracy working there Kate Hebditch obviously

20:40:53 From  Alan Rowley  to  Everyone : Look at Dorchester Civic Society’s FaceBook site for a summary of criticisms of the draft local plan

20:41:06 From  Kim Slowe  to  Everyone : Very good points Mr Chisholm!  There is a massive brownfield site at Winfrith for example…..

20:41:51 From  Gerald Duke  to  Everyone : Winfrith with ideal travel conections

20:41:52 From  Sarah Pattison  to  Everyone : The 4 areas are an example in point. There is no data why they are as they are. The reason is that they are based on the Regional Spatial Strategy in 2008. It is simply out of date and it is impossible to access why the boundaries were set as they were on 2008 because none of it is on the DC website. 

20:42:36 From  Sol  to  Everyone : they have to make these documents as evidence base in order to examined by residents

20:42:42 From  Sarah Pattison  to  Everyone : Yes Linda – good point

20:42:54 From  Elise  to  Everyone : I may be completely ignorant here.  But if this isnt opposed will it just go ahead.  If so then how do we oppose it in basic language so I can share this with friends

20:43:25 From  Kim Slowe  to  Everyone : Well said Linda.  Examination of the viability of the scheme might well be a route to stopping this development.

20:45:09 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : Keep in touch via www.stand-Dorchester.net 

20:46:34 From  Alexandra Zoppellini  to  Everyone : I’ll rewriting big time – Thank you Ellie

20:46:45 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Totally agree Mike Joslin

20:47:10 From  Sarah Pattison  to  Everyone : Its important that people raise their voices over the failings of the consultation. If not an inspector will most likely say at examination that we had our chance to raise issues earlier in the process.

20:47:14 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/letters/submitaletter/ 

20:48:29 From  Sol  to  Everyone : all of us should send letter to Dorset Echo as evidence that residents exprresed their virews but the council did ignore

20:48:31 From  Alexandra Zoppellini  to  Everyone : Who can we raise this with in Westminster?

20:48:34 From  Bernadette Searle  to  Everyone : Susie Hosford. How can I get a recording of this and all the comments? My email address is bundibund@hotmail.com 

20:48:37 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : feel there ought to be a dedicated STAND facebook group and twitter account

20:49:22 From  Kate Hebditch  to  Everyone : I will save the chat. if anyone wants me to edit out what they said, let me know

20:49:36 From  Gerald Duke  to  Everyone : I am waiting for an invitation from Keep 106.

20:49:45 From  Anita Casu  to  Everyone : Also Dorchester Civic Society Facebook Group 20:50:03 From  Anita Casu  to  Everyone : we have put up bones of our opposition on there

20:50:19 From  Sol  to  Everyone : Dorcester views and news

20:50:54 From  Paul Wallis  to  Everyone : Thanks Kate for getting the meeting together – shame C’ellor Walsh did not face up to it. Joy

20:51:26 From  Elise  to  Everyone : elisehenry1@outlook.com 

20:51:55 From  Sol  to  Everyone : thanks, Kate

20:52:03 From  Alexandra Zoppellini  to  Everyone : my email: stanleyblu@icloud.com  for chat please thanks

20:52:14 From  Sarah Pattison  to  Everyone : Sarahjanepattison@btinternet.com 

20:52:19 From  Stephen Brissenden  to  Everyone :  I can see to the north of Dorchester, the water meadows and Hardy Country. Over the years, I have enjoyed the changing scene of this countryside and pastureland. However, the weather pattern is wetter. I have witnessed dramatic change, the meadows now flood regularly. So much so that I look over large lakes of flooded fields, and the water remains high for much longer, even the Frome allotments now flood, and people lose their vegetables. The water table seems higher and the river embankments run close to breaching. 

20:52:19 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : ellie.maslin@dorsetecho.co.uk 

20:52:24 From  Kim Slowe  to  Everyone : kdjslowe@gmail.com 

20:52:55 From  Jane Ashdown  to  Everyone : Thank you to Susie for being a great Chair

20:53:05 From  Alexandra Zoppellini  to  Everyone : Thank you so much Susie, so glad to be included so professional – keep meetings going we at least must keep talking

20:53:14 From  Elise  to  Everyone : Good idea

20:53:16 From  Ellie Maslin  to  Everyone : thank you Susie

20:53:36 From  Catherine  to  Everyone : Sign up for Stand emails

20:53:48 From  Elise  to  Everyone : We need younger people too

20:54:25 From  Lynne Hubbard’s iPhone  to  Everyone : thanks everyone

20:54:45 From  Alexandra Zoppellini  to  Everyone : joined in by telephone lots more people could accesss this way