Lost: Bike from outside co-op

My old, red Raleigh women’s bike, with basket on the front and kids seat on the back, went missing from outside the Coop this evening (Thursday 30th March) at 6.45pm. Did anybody take it by mistake? There was a box of stuff outside the Coop saying “free to a good home”… so it is a possibility. Please let me know if you have any information about its whereabouts. thanks, Louise Aukland. 07900 516562.

Neighbourhood Development Plan – Request for input

Dorchester Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Development Steering Group are
pleased to announce the release of the Final Draft of the plan for a six week consultation
period starting from Monday 27th March until Monday 9th May. This is your chance to
make comments on the current plan before it is presented to SODC for their official
assessment, comments and amendments so please use this opportunity to let us know what
you think of its contents over the next six weeks.

The plan has been closely reviewed by Planning officers in SODC on a continuous basis
over the years to ensure it follows best practise and conforms with the necessary local and
national planning directives. This began with the NDP workshop held in February 2012 to
gain the views of all residents and organisation who attended on what needed to be done.
It was conducted under the guidance of Anton Nath of the Oxfordshire Rural Community
Council and since then the plan has evolved to incorporate all the needs identified from
that original research.

After we finalise the plan it will then be formally presented to SODC as a Final draft and
they will conduct a statutory sic week consultation and after due publicity will make their
own amendments. They will then forward it to a Planning Inspector. If the Inspector is
satisfied that the plan conforms with all statutory requirements and is passed it will then be
presented to the village at a referendum. Everyone eligible can vote to accept the plan inits
entirety at an election that will only be open to parish residents. If a simple majority of
those voting are in favour then the plan becomes adopted and SODC Planning use it when
determining any future developments in Dorchester.

Previous plans have been displayed on the Dorchester on Thames village website and this
plan replaces all previous versions. A link to the new plan is: https://www.dorchester-on-thames.co.uk/information/neighbourhood-planning/

Make sure you click on Current Plan Downloads. A paper plan can be obtained on request.
Please forward your comments preferably via email marked as NDP consultation to
parishclerk@dorchesteronthames.co.uk or to Geoff Russell, Clerk to the Parish Council
c/o 5/7 The Pigeons High Street Dorchester on Thames – Next to the Fleur de Lys.

Looking for an old school friend

We were recently contacted by Michelle Elford who is looking for an “old friend from School who last lived in Dorchester in the mid 1980’s just around from The Chequers pub which was at the crossroads, her name was Michelle Ann Soden and she had a brother and a sister who I think was called Erika or Philippa? Long shot, but I hope to find out what became of her”.

If anyone is able to help please get in touch with her via this message on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dorchesteronthames. Or contact her directly via https://www.facebook.com/michelle.swains

Dorchester Abbey Museum: Opening Times 2017

The Abbey Museum will be welcoming visitors for the 2017 season from Easter Saturday until the end of September. Please note that the Opening Times have changed and are as follows:

Monday and Tuesday CLOSED

Wednesday and Thursday OPEN 11am – 5 pm

Friday, Saturday and Sunday OPEN 2pm – 5pm

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAYS OPEN 2pm – 5pm

(Group visits will be by appointment only)

Anne-Marie Joffrin and the Museum volunteers look forward to seeing you during the season. If you would like to become a volunteer do come into the Museum when it is open and find out more about what we do.