Projects & Information
SEPTEMBER 2011 | SHAPING STALBRIDGE | the next steps
EXTENDING the Trailway and saving the library came up as big issues for Stalbridge residents during a recent feedback meeting from the Shaping Stalbridge consultation day in March. Affordable housing, public transport and facilities for young people were also areas of concern.
The Shaping Stalbridge working group, made up of town councillors and independent volunteers, has now sifted through all of the comments made during the consultation day and is preparing a rolling list of tasks.
These have been sorted into jobs that can be achieved by the town council, others that can happen with the help of volunteers, or issues that need to be addressed by other organisations.
The working group has already been busy passing on comments to local committees, traders and schools to see if they can help with various requests (for example, transport for those attending after school clubs at Sturminster High School, or asking the county or district council to clarify the position on broadband provision or recycling), and has also grouped ideas and suggestions into short medium and long term actions.
The day in March was organised by the town council in order to discover people's priorities for the future of Stalbridge, and as a way of reviewing and refreshing the 2008 Town Plan. Many of the actions in the original Town Plan have already been carried out.
Town council chairman Graham Carr-Jones said: "We can't rely on the town council to be able to make all of these ideas happen – we are delighted that so many people came to give their input, and we are very grateful to those that came forward to volunteer on the day, but now we need to match people's expertise to the jobs that need doing.
"For example, Stalbridge desperately needs a community website. Maybe there is someone else who could help set up a garden share scheme. Other people could put in some time on a single issue, such as co-ordinating a campaign for better broadband, or lobbying for more frequent buses. We also need volunteer representatives from the other villages in our ward to liaise and feed back information."
One of the ideas that attracted the most support on the day was the proposal to extend the library building next to the car park in Station road, in order to create a community hub, encompassing the library and council offices. This would secure the future of Stalbridge library. A working group for this project has already been formed and they will soon be putting out an update to all residents in Stalbridge.
Other issues that will be considered shortly include: improving community information (for example, on jobs, public transport and services); investigating the possibility of more allotments; the re-establishment of a town litter picking group; providing some facilities for older children; and looking at ways of assisting the Trailway group to move the project forward.
There was also positive support for setting up a community partnership for Stalbridge and the surrounding area, which could co-ordinate and facilitate many of the suggested improvements – some of which have already been carried out, such as new road markings and bollards in Ring Street near Dike's and the installation of additional dog waste bins.
The Shaping Stalbridge working group will be contacting people who volunteered on the day to see how they might be able to help in certain areas. Anyone else wanting to offer their skills or services should contact the town clerk Tracey Watson (email: clerk@stalbridgetowncouncil.gov.uk, or drop a note into the community office) who will pass on contact details to the Shaping Stalbridge working group.
SHAPING STALBRIDGE: KEY POINTS
| Suggestions: More affordable housing Save Stalbridge library Broadband needs to be improved New locations for grit bins Setting up a community partnership More allotments needed Regular list of jobs be advertised in the community office Stalbridge website needed Better public transport Hall: more activities needed eg film club, classes Improve facilities for older children eg skate park, café Extend the Trailway Turn off streetlights from midnight till dawn Start cardboard recycling collections Introduce farmer's market or local produce market Open Stalbridge School pool for the public, weekends/holidays Loyalty card scheme for Stalbridge shops Look at Duck Lane parking and access problem Pedestrian crossing Problem of HGVs More cycle routes Litter and dog fouling an issue Renewable energy ideas for the town |
Positive comments: Great range of local shops Good doctors' surgery and dentist Car parking initiative excellent, well done to the traders Praise for primary school and pre-school Support for Community Hub idea |
SEPTEMBER 2011 | PROPOSED COMMUNITY HUB FOR STALBRIDGE
Following Dorset County Council's decision to withdraw funding from Stalbridge Library, a proposed solution to retain this important facility is for the library building, adjacent to the car park, to be extended and adapted to provide a Hub for the town, run by a Community Partnership.
A Hub is a central place where a variety of services and information can be accessed. The following facilities would be provided under the one roof:
- Community Library (run by local people with some County Council support)
- Town Council office/meeting room
- Community Information Office
In addition the following could also be provided:
- Flexible space to provide areas for Surgeries by the Police, District Council (planning, council tax etc) Spectrum Housing, CAB, local Churches, local groups e.g. Lights Group, Partnership for Older People.
- Space for community groups to hold small meetings and possibly provide secure filing facilities for them.
- IT facilities, WiFi access etc.
It is envisaged that the construction costs will be met from the legacy left for the benefit of the Town by the late Mr Tim Stone. The present office building, 8 Ring Street, would be sold to enable the Town Council to combine the running costs of the Hub through its existing revenue budget.
With careful planning and on-going management, the provision of this new facility should not result in any increase in the amount of council tax at present paid by residents. Initial work shows this project is viable, but there is much more work to do.
A more detailed proposal for the project will be put up for consideration by residents by the end of the year and the proposal will then be discussed at an open meeting of the Town Council.
If you wish to comment on these proposals or make suggestions for additional uses of the proposed building please leave them in writing at the Community Office or email: clerk@stalbridgetowncouncil.gov.uk by the 31st October 2011.
Project Working Group
Graham Carr-Jones, Chairman, Stalbridge Town Council.
Tim Lee, Chairman, Friends of Stalbridge Library
Tony Wood, Chairman, Stalbridge Lights Group
Peter Hill, Chairman, Stalbridge Community Office
David Beardsmore, Independent Advisor.
Diana Hine Stalbridge Town Councillor