ASHMORE PARISH COUNCIL
Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting
held at Ashmore Village Hall
on Thursday May 15th 2025 at 7.15pm
Present:-
Chairman – Richard Coplan (RC)
Councillors – Philippa Kelway-Bamber (PKB), Angie Newnham (AN),
Colin Elford (CE), James Grazebrook (JG) Vivian Hitchmough (Clerk)
There were 4 members of the public
2025.25 Apologies:- Gilly Forge (GF) John Ball (JB) Dorset Councillor Jane Somper
2025.26 Minutes of the meeting of Thursday January 30th 2025 were agreed as a true record and duly signed with an alteration to Airfield report “CAA, not CIA”
2025.27 Declarations of interest. The Chairman reminded Councillors they should declare an interest whether personal, via a trust or a company in any item on the agenda and take no part in any discussion or decision regarding that interest.
2025.28 Matters arising.
• Potential 20mph speed limit
A speed survey has been conducted by Dorset Council and we are awaiting the results. The Chairman explained if the results show an average speed of 24mph the 20mph speed limit would be allowed. It would be difficult to enforce if there were a higher speed. If 20mph is allowed then we would need to conduct a survey in the village regarding changing the 30mph signage to 20mph, introducing flashing signs etc.
• Road sign restoration
A working group was recently established, initially to restore the 1950’s road sign near the corner of the pond. Many thanks to Barnaby Hunter who was the driving force behind this initiative. Michael Moody has done a fantastic job of painting this sign and it is now awaiting new posts and fixings. Thanks goes to Steve Green who has been helping with a supporting structure.
Another initiative from Barnaby was to restore the fingerpost sign on the corner of Woodley Lane. As many of you will know we, as a Parish Council, have been fundraising for this work and I’m delighted to report that current funds, from all sources amount to £1,110. We have been offered a grant from CPRE of £200 so we are getting close with our target fundraising to cover the costs. Tim Beer, a specialist in Dorset Fingerpost restoration will be carrying out the work.
• Drainage Issues
RC has been in contact with Patrick Carpenter about several drainage problems we have in Ashmore and he has been most helpful with getting the road swept by Woodley Lane and subsequently clearing the two drains either side of the turning from North Road to Woodley Lane. In addition, he arranged a dig outside 2 Noade Street to investigate the blocked drain. It turned out that this drain had no pipe ! Hopefully having three more working drains in Ashmore will alleviate potential flooding problems.
RC had a meeting with the landowner where there is significant run-off from their field by the corner of North Road and the airfield road. They agreed to speak to their farmer to see what could be done to alleviate the situation. It was agreed that leaving a wide margin in the field will stop the run-off.
2025.29 Updates from officers
Planning None
DAPTC Nothing to report
Trees In her absence GF reported a tree preservation order TPO/22021/0057
Footpaths CE reported that he had been approached by two residents asking about route N56/9 To Hookley Copse. CE investigated and found the path fenced off. He spoke to Graham Stanley,the Rights of Way
Officer who advised this was an old shepherds track and N56/8 runs parallel to N56/9 so there is an alternative.
Pond In the absence of JB, RC thanked Constantine for his work on the pond.
Playground The annual ROSPA inspection takes place during May and the report will then be available.
Airfield In the absence of JB, RC reported that he had attended a consultative meeting held twice yearly. He said there would be no air show this August and it would probably be held bi-annually in future. Spitfire weekends will be prominent this year, flying for two weekends and then a break. Other events will be vintage car and motorbikes. The footpath will now skirt the airfield. The restaurant is doing well and there have been several changes to the buildings.
Telephone Box RC reported there have been several problems with power and lighting. The fluorescent tube lighting has been replaced with LED in the hope that they will last longer. At the same time the RCD kept tripping. This was a coincident as the RCD had become faulty and was nuisance tripping. This has now been replaced.
Defibrillator The defibrillator has been working satisfactorily however due to the RDC issues mentioned above, the heating panel was not working. Again, this has also been resolved by the replacement RCD.
2025.30
Finance
Invoices were handed to the Chair for on-line payment.
There has been a considerable increase in the insurance policy from Gallagher this year and other options are being investigated.
2025.31
Update Mast Working group
JG reported no news since last meeting. He monitors the Wiltshire Planning applications web site, searching under “cabinets” and nothing has appeared although if an application is made there is only 28 days to respond. Michelle Hilborne is producing a draft letter of objection in case the matter suddenly flares up. Cornerstones have invested significant sums in legal action with Rushmore Estate and soil tests etc.
It is helpful that the Shared Rural Network funding may have expired and that Vodafone may have reached the coverage target set by the previous government. It is also helpful that legislative changes make an application in an AONB (now National Landscape are) much more onerous.
JG said that the enemy is complacency and there is a need to be prepared. We’d like to think this has gone away but we have no facts to support this.
2025.32
Dorset Councillor’s report
Cllr Jane Somper’s report has been published on the web site in full. ashmoreparishcouncil.org.uk
2025.33 Any Other Business
None
2025.34 Items for next agenda
Progress on the speeding survey
Drainage
2025.35 Questions from the public
None
2025.36 Date of next meeting
Thursday September 4th 2025 at 7pm
Apologies JG
The Chairman closed the meeting at 8pm