Cllr Caroline Payne is backing the campaign to safeguard the future of the local post office network

Last month campaigners from across Britain handed in the largest ever UK petition to 10 Downing Street. Over four million people are calling on the Government to safeguard our vital post office network.

Local post offices are under threat like never before because the Government keeps moving away business from them while not allowing new services to be offered, or encouraging any new investment. At the present time many small post offices are losing money. These often provide a vital, or even the only, local service in many villages. Their importance has been recognised in recent years by a small subsidy from the Government but they have so far refused to say whether this subsidy will continue beyond the end of this year.

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Poundbury office development under construction

“It is extremely good news that we are attracting new jobs to West Dorset,” says Dorchester Councillor Andy Canning. “The Duchy deserves praise for what it has achieved but West Dorset District Council needs to do more to make sure that the whole district attracts new employers - not just Poundbury.”

Local Lib Dems want to see the Council take a far more active role in promoting the unique attractions of re-locating to West Dorset such as the quality of life, the Heritage Coast, our beautiful environment and our rich history and culture.

We also need to do more to support existing local businesses with advice, good quality premises and low rents where necessary. We want to see particular support provided to sustainable industry such as local & organic food producers and rural crafts.

Eco award winning Bridport Primary School has had its recycling bank taken away by Conservative-run West Dorset District Council.

“This has come as a huge shock to a school that was the highest achieving eco school in Dorset last year,” says Bridport Councillor Martin Ray. “It shows yet again that the Conservatives commitment to green issues is only skin deep.”

The school has pioneered education for sustainable living as one of its core values. Children are encouraged to get involved in a whole range of environmental activities including a wide range of recycling.

“What message are we sending our children?” asked Cllr Ros Kayes. “At a time when we need to be doing more to tackle environmental problems our local Tory Council removes the main way for local school children to help learn about and deal with the problems of waste.”

It is particularly ironic that the Conservative Leaders of the Council used the school to launch a green campaign earlier this year - but now the school itself can’t recycle!

Your newest Town Councillor, Ros Kayes has been busy both in the Council Chamber and the community. Ros was selected as a member of the Plans Committee and says “I was amazed to discover how often Bridport town councillors’ recommendations on local planning applications are overridden by West Dorset district councillors who appear to care nothing for Bridport and West Bay’s wishes and priorities.”

At her second Full Town Council meeting Ros put forward a motion asking councillors to help “nip in the bud” anti-social behaviour by some young people. Councillors agreed to discuss this issue at the new Environment and Social Wellbeing Committee and to take a more active part in a working group which combines police, youth workers and others at the Bridport Youth Centre. Cllr Maggie Ray added that “various parents have raised concerns about young people overstepping the boundaries. For their own safety as well as ours we need to take action at all levels of the community to keep Bridport a safe and special place for both young and old”.

This summer’s pilot MARKET DAY park and ride from West Bay succeeded in reducing visitor car journeys into town, freeing up town car-parks for locals. Highways Chairman Cllr Martin Ray said “People want the scheme to be extended next year”. He also welcomed support from other parties to advertise the Football Club car-park (50p for all day). Lib-Dem surveys show there were still spaces there even on the busiest summer Saturdays, although it is nearer to the market than Morrisons, which was always full.

Cllrs Ros Kayes and Martin Ray collecting signatures on a petition to keep Dorset GM free

Bridport Councillors thank everyone who came to Bridport to support a local campaign to keep Dorset free from genetically-modified (GM) crops. Cllr Ros Kayes said “People came from as far away as Weymouth and Dorchester to sign. They said that it’s great that a small town like Bridport is leading the way in taking environmental issues seriously”. Cllr Martin Ray said “People queued up to send a message to the government that we want to keep our farms and fields pure and uncontaminated. Bridport’s Food Festival, Farmers’ Market and Street Market depend on the purity of our food”.

Lib Dems on the Town Council will ask the new Environment Committee to investigate “Greening Town Council Buildings” Cllr Karl Wallace said “We should consider using grey water, solar power wind energy and biomass fuels.”

Your ideas from the Focus suggestions box:

• From St Katherine’s Avenue: bins at supermarkets for spent batteries as in Germany and France. Focus member Jayne Bryant has written to supermarkets to ask if they will do this. Sainsbury’s have replied already saying they will soon provide freepost envelopes for battery recycling.
• From St Michael’s Lane: “How can I get my (paper) office trade waste recycled rather than go into landfill?” The Council told Cllr Martin Ray that a pilot project has started in Sherborne and if successful will be introduced throughout the district.