The Parish council would like to remind residents that The cutting back of highway hedges and trees is the responsibility of the landowner or occupier on whose land the hedges and trees are growing.
It is the responsibility of all landowners or occupiers to ensure that their hedges and trees do not interfere with the safe use of public footways and roadways or obscure street lights and road signs.
We are aware that some hedges are overhanging / encroaching the highway in several locations around the village making it dangerous for road users and pedestrians.
A detailed description of landowners responsibilities can be found here
The Office for National Statistics have produced a CENSUS guide for 2021. Using a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) format, it provides an insight into why data is collected and how it may be used. You can read the full document here
In January, Dorset Council published a draft ‘Local Plan’ regarding development across the county for the next 17 years (see: here ). In order to meet Parliament’s ‘Housing Requirement’ during this timescale, it is directed to build at least 30,481 houses (the requirement for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is in addition, and entirely separate to, this figure).
Dorset Council’s strategy is to concentrate most of this build on the Tier 1 and 2 towns eg Dorchester (Tier 1); Sherborne, Gillingham and Shaftsbury (the Tier 2 towns in the ‘North Dorset Functional Area’). In addition to these large-scale developments, the Tier 3 ‘larger villages’ (eg Yetminster, Thornford, Bradford Abbas) ‘typically with a population of 500 or more’, and associated facilities that allow ‘at least some day to day needs to be met locally….are considered appropriate locations for small scale infilling to meet their local needs’. Leigh, with a population of less than 500, is classed as a Tier 4 ‘smaller village’; as such, ‘it will not be the focus for growth’.
Notwithstanding this, in Appendix 2, Leigh has been designated a requirement of 19 new properties during the period. Leigh parish council feels this figure is much too high, on the basis that it does not accord with the policy laid out for Tier 4 villages in the body of the document, and would significantly transform the character of the village. It will therefore endeavour to have this requirement reduced during the consultation period; a small extension to 18 March has been negotiated, as the next parish council meeting is on 16 March. Residents are encouraged to ‘attend’ this meeting – no doubt it will have to be ‘virtual’ again, but you can participate by contacting the clerk Beverley Harrison a few days beforehand.
More information can be found in the draft plan; Chapter 2 and Appendix 2 are particularly pertinent. Comments should be sent direct to Dorset Council as detailed in the plan – but a copy to Leigh PC would also be appreciated.
Dorset Council has issued a newsletter detailing the latest Covid restrictions and info regarding council services. You can read it by clicking on the image below or click here
