HALSTOCK ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – Draft Minutes 15.5.26

HALSTOCK ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Draft Minutes
Date: Friday15th of May 2026
Venue: Halstock Village Hall
Time: 7.30pm – 9.00pm

Chair: Cllr James
Present: 15 members of the public and 1 parish councillors

1. INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME
2. APOLOGIES

Mary Clegg

3. APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE 2025 MEETING
   Proposed Christopher Milton, seconded Cllr. Grant Prior approved 4/4
4. MATTERS ARISING
   There were no matters arising
5. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL
   The Chair presented the Parish Council’s Annual Report.
   Community Infrastructure and Local Improvements
   • Restoration of historic fingerposts has continued, with thanks to Nigel Clarke and Roger Whittingham for their work at Halstock Triangle, the Fox Inn junction and Grexy Cross.
   • A new parish noticeboard has been installed near the Fox Inn in Corscombe.
   • A replacement salt bin has been provided for West Chelborough.
   • The Parish Council attended the Corscombe Village Fête, providing an opportunity for residents to meet councillors and discuss local issues.
   • A donation was made to the church towards the servicing and repair of the organ under the Council’s General Power of Competence.

Transport, Highways and Road Safety
• The Council worked with PlusBus to establish a weekly bus service for residents.
• Highways issues continue to be a major priority, including:

o Potholes
o Road signage
o The timing and volume of roadworks and road closures

• Consultation on speed limits with Dorset Council and residents will continue during 2026/27.
• The Speed Indicator Device in Halstock continues to operate successfully thanks to Tony Hill and local SpeedWatch volunteers.

Community Safety and Emergency Preparedness
• First Aid training sessions were organised for residents.
• WhatsApp First Aid Community Support Groups were established in both Halstock and Corscombe.
• Councillors promoted awareness of Asian Hornets and supported the Great Big Hedge Survey and other environmental initiatives.
• Parish organisations have begun receiving information regarding Martyn’s Law and its implications for public events.
Communications and Digital Improvements
• A bi-monthly parish newsletter has been introduced.
• The Parish Council now has a dedicated Clerk’s email address: clerk@chd-pc.gov.uk.
• Planning applications are routinely shared via Facebook, WhatsApp and the Parish Council website.
• The Parish Council website has been upgraded to improve accessibility and usability.

Partnership Working
• The Council continues to work closely with the Halstock Village Trust on matters including road safety, potholes and mobile phone signal concerns.
• Regular liaison has continued with Dorset Council officers and other agencies.

Playgrounds and Local Facilities
• Routine maintenance of the Corscombe playground and outdoor gym has continued.
• Efforts to identify a suitable site for a Halstock playground remain ongoing.
• The Wessex Water sewage facility upgrade is nearing completion.

Governance
• The Parish Council successfully completed both internal and external audits.
• Members remembered Diana Stains and acknowledged her contribution to the parish community.

Looking Ahead
Priorities for 2026/27 include:

• Highways improvements
• Speed limit consultations
• Community safety initiatives
• Environmental projects
• Continued efforts to find a playground site in Halstock
• Strengthening communication and engagement with residents

6. 20 MPH SPEED LIMIT
   There was not much enthusiasm for pursuing a 20mph speed zone/limit in the village as it was felt that it would create problems for larger vehicles such as tractors and would be unenforceable. However, there was support for extending the 30 and 40mph limits into and out of the village. Speeding still remains an issue, but it was felt by all that the SID has definitely made an impact on the number of speeding vehicles observed going though the village.
7. FIRST AID COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP HALSTOCK UPDATE
   The First Aid session held in 2025 was well attended. The meeting thanked St John Ambulance for delivering training sessions.
   The Clerk will explore opportunities to arrange further training sessions later in 2026.
   The WhatsApp-based First Aid Support Group in Halstock has been well supported.
8. REPAIR Cafe
   Louise Parker has approached the Parish Council regarding the possible establishment of a Repair Café. We thank her for attending the meeting and giving a back ground to the idea as well as discussing how we can move this forward. They would be looking at visiting villages individually and would set up in a convenient location such as the Village Hall or Community room. They would look to source from the parish individuals willing to lend their time and expertise to mend items brought in by residents. Watch out for a call for Volunteers in the Chimes, Facebook, WhatsApp and on Noticeboards. Repairs will cover areas such as bicycles, electrical items, sewing etc
   As the proposal is still at an early stage, full details are not yet available. However, the idea was received enthusiastically by those present.
   The concept of establishing a “Library of Things” was also suggested and received positively.
9. REPORTS FROM HALSTOCK ORGANISATIONS
   See appendix 1
   Both Peter Brink and Mary Clegg were thanked for all their hard work.
10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
    Charles Gaskell – Bell ringers are looking for Halstock residents interested in Bell ringing.

The Halstock Village Fete will be held on Saturday the 29th of August 2026.

The Clark and Cross salt bin has been looked at and holes drilled and lid replaced (please don’t remove block as it holds down lid) to prevent further ingress of water so salt remains spreadable.

Halstock Cabinets are aware of speed issues and are aware of the impact this has on road traffic and their responsibility to ensure road safety. Environmental impact studies would form part of any future planning applications.

Communication – post regularly on Facebook and Halstock website and newsletters.

Meeting Closed at 9pm

Appendix 1 – Reports from Halstock Organisations

Corscombe, Halstock and District Parish Council Annual Report 2025/26

Summary
This year has seen steady progress across a wide range of community priorities, practical improvements and partnership work. Much of what has been achieved reflects the commitment of parish councillors, volunteers, and local organisations working together to support our villages.
Community Infrastructure and Local Improvements
We have continued the restoration of our historic fingerposts, with thanks to Nigel Clarke and Roger Whittingham for their work on the Halstock Triangle, the Fox Inn junction and Grexy Cross. A new Parish Noticeboard has been installed near the Fox Inn in Corscombe, and a replacement salt bin has been provided for West Chelborough. The Parish Council also maintained a presence at the Corscombe Village Fête, helping residents meet councillors, raise issues and learn more about the work of the Council. Under our General Power of Competence, the Parish Council also made a donation to the Church to assist with the servicing and repair of the organ.

Transport, Highways and Road Safety
We have worked closely with PlusBus to help establish a weekly bus service, improving access for residents without transport. Highways issues remain a major area of focus. We continue to press Dorset Council on:
• potholes
• road signage
• the volume and timing of roadworks and road closures
Consultation with Dorset Council Highways and parish residents on speed limits will continue into 2026–27. The Speed Indicator Device in Halstock continues to operate successfully thanks to Tony Hill and the SpeedWatch volunteers.
Community Safety, First Aid and Emergency Preparedness
This year we arranged First Aid Training for residents and established WhatsApp First Aid Community Support Groups in both Halstock and Corscombe to improve local resilience. Councillors have also raised awareness of Asian Hornets, supported the Great Big Hedge Survey, and contributed to wider climate and ecology initiatives. We have begun updating parish organisations on Martyn’s Law, the new national security legislation for public events. While our local fetes fall below the threshold, it remains important that organisers are aware of the requirements.
Communication and Digital Improvements
The Clerk has introduced bimonthly Parish Council newsletters, improving the flow of information to residents. We now have a dedicated Parish Council email address for the Clerk: clerk@chd-pc.gov.uk . Planning applications are now routinely shared on Facebook, WhatsApp, and the Parish Council website (chdpc.org.uk), increasing visibility and engagement. The Parish Council website has also undergone an upgrade to improve usability and access to information.
Partnership Working
We continue to strengthen our relationship with the Halstock Village Trust, collaborating on issues including road safety, potholes, and mobile phone signal concerns. We have also maintained regular contact with Dorset Council officers and other agencies on highways, planning and community matters.
Playgrounds, Recreation and Local Facilities
Routine maintenance of the Corscombe playground and outdoor gym has continued. Despite considerable effort, we have not yet identified a suitable location for a Halstock playground but work on this will continue. The long running Wessex Water sewage facility upgrade is now nearing completion.
Governance and Council Business
The Parish Council successfully met both its internal and external audit requirements this year. We were saddened by the loss of Diana Stains, whose contribution to the parish community is warmly remembered.
Looking Ahead
The coming year will see continued work on highways issues, speed limit consultations, community safety, environmental initiatives, and the ongoing search for a viable playground site in Halstock. We will also continue to strengthen communication with residents and ensure the Parish Council remains accessible, responsive and transparent.

Halstock
Churchwarden’s Report for Parish Council year 2025/6

After Storm Clauda in November 2025 we suffered severe damage to our south slope roof and the estimated repairs will take all that we have and more, to reinstate. We also have Quinquennial repairs to carry out which are now urgent. We know from experience in other areas of the diocese that large contingency must be allowed for. So, we estimate both pieces of work to cost in the region of £160,000.
We have Faculty in place for the roof repairs and the restoration works which are substantial.
Our fundraising activities are very ambitious this year to take account of the amount of money needed to repair the roof and the restoration. We are having an open garden event on 13th June and St Juthware Festival 10-12th July, will be 3 days of classical and rock music to cater for all tastes in the Church and Village Hall. With money already raised and pledged we are at the 50% mark which is a substantial achievement in such a short time. We will in due course be approaching the Parish Council to not only support our endevours but contribute financially.
Churchyard:
David Ryan continues to care for the churchyard. Several areas are being rewilded and we have a Faculty in place for the tree works on the boundary to Juthware Hall. These works will be completed this year.
The churchyard is regularly checked for overhanging branches and unstable tombstones.
Worship and Activities:
This has been a busy year for our Church, with all services covered. We have an average of 16 people attending each Sunday there a service is held.
The PCC have been active in implementing refreshments after most services, and all special ones. The congregation has slightly increased because of a more welcoming approach.
Each year our band of volunteers, many of whom do not come to church, are warmly thanked with a social evening. Around 50 people are actively involved in the care and maintenance of our Church and most attend these evenings. Because these are social, we can build on that support to maintain the Church as a pivotal part of the community well into the future.
We have a lively and committed Parochial Church Council, Fundraising and Building Project committees, who have a strong sense of the church’s role and its place in our rural community. We have ably demonstrated that community involvement by piloting several extra and special services which have been well attended.
We are extremely lucky to have our very own Saint, St Juthware who was martyred in the circa 7th Century and her remains lie in Sherborne Abbey. Her Feast Day is celebrated in July. Every year we celebrate this with a festival with events and a special service in Church.
We had a Harvest Supper in the village hall in September.
In 2025 we piloted several extra worship meetings to test community engagement. They have proved successful and popular and we wish to repeat and add to our events calendar for 2026 and beyond, to further God’s mission locally. These were
Pancakes – Shrove Tuesday
Mothering Sunday gathering
Easter egg hunt
Pumpkin carving
Hallowmas
Christingle
Carols
It is planned to have
Remembrance in the Churchyard
Special Epiphany service
We regularly canvass the Parishioners for their views and we act on those suggestions. The provision of a more accessible children’s area has proved worthwhile.
Safeguarding report:
St Juthware endeavours to keep everyone, children and adults, safe and to comply with all relevant laws. The safeguarding team supports the PCC and all the people of St Juthware in trying to do this. The Melbury Team are supported by the diocesan safeguarding team and the national teams. They provide the opportunity for training and advice on policies. Some policies, processes and training courses are mandatory. It is important that everyone in our Church community understands their responsibility and is appropriately trained. Training varies according to role; not only must people be trained, but we must keep a record of this training. The Parish Safeguarding Officer, Liz Rendall, is now using the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard to record volunteer roles, training records and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates. The Church of England updated their training requirements last year in response to new guidance. All our safeguarding information, including important contacts, is available in the Church Porch.
I now have my DBS and have completed all the required Safeguarding training. All members of the PCC have completed the 1st part of Safeguarding. We are now required to have DBS documents in place and we will have a roll out programme for all PCC members.
Flowers in the Church:
The use of fresh flowers in church is known to enhance the spiritual experience of worship and remind us of the beauty of God’s creation. We are fortunate in having a wonderful team of people who give of their time and talents to provide arrangements in church, but, sadly, our numbers are decreasing, and we would love to welcome more members. Liz Dowding is the organiser for this, and we would like to thank her for her work in making the Church look so welcoming, especially at Festivals.
Vision for the Future:
As our Church is already open 365 days a year, we gather information from our visitor’s book and prayer diary. As a result, we would actively seek to partner with organisations and other charities to provide rural out-reach support for vulnerable people in our community. Having a warm welcoming environment where people feel safe, is a vital part of any recovery journey, be that from bereavement or loss or struggling with life. We would aim to provide a hub for information and signposting which is open daily. Making use of this unique environment for just a “cuppa” in a peaceful and private space, is part of living meaningfully in a rural area.
After the repair works are completed we hope to, install a toilet, small kitchenette and upgrade the heating. This will make the building warm and welcoming. Then we will:

1. Use the building more effectively.
2. Improve accessibility and be compliant with basic regulations by the provision of simple toilet and kitchenette facilities.
3. Broaden the range of activities taking place.
4. Improve the quality of life for our community by providing support in a tangible way.
   Longer Term – Make the building a hub of regular activity that provides support and comfort to those in emotional need and make the Church a truly beautiful, peaceful place to visit.
   We feel our historic building has a radically different use to/from those facilities already provided (village hall and community room). We want to be able to use the building in a more permanent way, so that the community is aware of the rich heritage of the site, hitherto unpublicised. Halstock is a regular route for walkers, cyclists and tourists being on the Medieval Harrow Way and has been a place of worship and welcome for over 900 years.
   SUMMARY:
   As you can see, we are committed to providing a Church fit for purpose and have an ambitious vision and mission for the future. Without these repairs and reordering none of it will be possible.
   I would like to sincerely thank the tireless efforts of members of the PCC and the St Juthware Committee

HALSTOCK COMMUNITY HALL
CHAIRMANS REPORT AGM 2026

The hall management committee continues to meet on six Monday evenings during the year.
A range of activities continue to take place in the Village Hall. Last year we had several younger people join the badminton group on a Tuesday evening, however for various reasons they have not joined us as often this year. The art classes continue but they are now held in the afternoon on Wednesdays. I am glad to say that we now have Yoga classes that take place in the evening on Wednesdays and they are proving very popular. Short mat bowls, which is played on Friday afternoons, continues but again we could do with a few new members. If you would like to join us, don’t worry if you do not have the equipment, we do have spares
Film Nights continue to be popular and has the support of regulars who enjoy not only the film but also meeting friends for a natter over a drink or an ice cream at the interval. I think one of the most popular films of this season was ‘The Choral’. The broad band that we had installed last year is proving very popular and we have now purchased a card reader which can be used for film night payments
One of the permanent items on the agenda for our meetings of the hall committee is the future of the hall, especially the position of chairperson. I am extremely happy to say that Richard Buckland offered to take over the role of chairperson and at our January meeting I stepped down and Richard was appointed the new chairperson, many thanks Richard.
The other item under ‘future of the hall’ was a review of what could be done to make improvements to the hall. To that end we had a village meeting at which villagers were encouraged to make suggestions, and many ideas and some plane resulted from this meeting and as you approach the hall you will see evidence of this.
I have very much enjoyed my time as chairperson, and I would like to thank all committee members past and present for their help over the years and I wish Richard well in his new role. I would also like to thank the people who are not on the committee but continue to help in so many ways.
Peter Brinck
Chairman, Halstock Community Hall Management Committee

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
HALSTOCK AREA
REPORT TO PARISH MEETING 15th MAY 2026

It has been over two years since our branch closed and the few remaining members transferred to the Beaminster branch, and we have joined them at various functions they have organised. We may no longer have a branch but I am still the Poppy Appeal Officer for the district which covers an area from Closworth in the north to Froome St Quentin in the south and Mosterton in the west. Within this area there are schools, pubs, shops, and many other outlets all of which agree to have collecting boxes. Many of the villages also have people who do house-to-house collecting. With my increasing years I find it more difficult to cover the whole area and would like to find somebody who would help me this year with a view to becoming the Poppy Appeal Officer next year. You do not have to be a member of the Royal British Legion to take up this post. In Halstock I have many people who help me and I would like to give a special thank you to them all.
I will soon start getting stock in for this year’s Poppy Appeal in November, if anybody would like me to order anything for them, such as a wreath, please let me know. One final piece of information, this year we raised £2,777.42 so far, the financial year ends on 30th of September.
Peter Brinck, Poppy Appeal Organiser, Halstock area.

Halstock Village Shop Limited
Report to Halstock Annual Parish Meeting – 15 May 2026

The accounts for the year ended 31 May 2025 are available on the village web-site.

Shop sales in that year totalled £435,513, 4.3% up on the previous year, and the company made a pre-tax profit of £7,127 from which a donation of £5,000 was made to Halstock Village Trust. Interest of £2,975 on the Trust’s loan was also paid during the year.

Sales in the current year to 31 May 2026 are expected to be about the same as last year, although sales for 5 of the last 7 months have been below last year’s levels. To ensure the shop’s long-term survival, it is important that we all continue to use it.

Solar panels have recently been installed on the south-facing roof of the shop building and it is hoped that these will significantly reduce the shop’s future electricity bills.

As always, huge thanks are due to our employed staff, our many volunteers and our loyal customers.

REPORT FROM CORSCOMBE & HALSTOCK COMMUNITY SPEED WATCH

Community Speed Watch monitoring has been carried out in Halstock since 2017 and is provided entirely by volunteers in association with Dorset Police.

A traffic count in the village was carried out by Dorset Council Highways last autumn, over a period of seven days and 24/7. Evidence of speeding was collected, sufficient to merit the acquisition of a Speed Indicator Device (a ‘SID’) and funding for such a purchase was kindly approved by your Parish Council, with valuable match funding from Halstock Village Trust. Our own SID now alternates between the two approved sites, at the northern and southern ends of the village, being moved by us approximately every six to eight weeks

As Community Speed Watch we will continue our work, monitoring speed from time to time at approved locations, to further reinforce the deterrent effect of the SID. But we are a very small group of volunteers and, to do that, we shall need a few more willing people to step forward and join us.

Finally, your SID is known to be particularly effective in slowing down those drivers who are speeding unthinkingly but, as we have stated many times in the past, only speed cameras or traffic calming measures will be truly effective in deterring the determined speeder.

Tony Hill
Co-ordinator, Corscombe and Halstock CSW
May 2026

HALSTOCK VILLAGE CINEMA
Halstock Village Cinema is run by volunteers, offering regular gatherings at the village hall. We’re here once a month for anyone who enjoys watching good quality, recently released films in a friendly social situation. We have a 4-metre-wide screen, Blu-ray equipment and high-quality sound.
Thanks to a grant from the British Film Institute for the acquisition of the latest equipment, our admission charge is kept low at just £7 a ticket and wine and beer are available for £2.50 a glass. But despite our low charges we’re able to make regular worthwhile contributions to the upkeep of the village hall.
The UK film industry went through a period of lowered output after Covid but has recently recovered really well and we have been able to introduce friends from Halstock, Corscombe and several other surrounding villages to the wealth of high-quality films being produced here in Britain – and our audience number have grown very pleasingly.
The friendly social welcome which Halstock Village Cinema offers to everyone is simply this, ‘If you’d enjoy meeting a few friends once a month for a chat, with a glass of wine or a beer at £2.50 and then watch a top-class movie on the big screen, you know where to find us. Better still join our email list (at the email address given below) to get a regular update on the films coming along next.
Tony Hill
Halstock Village Cinema
tonyhill45@btinternet.com

Halstock Village Fete
Halstock Village Fete – Report for 2025 “A very different fete – and a very special one” Halstock Village Fete 2025 will be remembered as the year that, for the first time in living memory, the fete could not go ahead in its traditional outdoor format – and the year the village turned that disappointment into something rather wonderful instead. What unfolded on the August Bank Holiday weekend was an event quite unlike any in our recent history, and one that brought the community together in the warmest possible way. Months of Preparation Planning had been underway since the beginning of the year, with every indication that 2025 might just be the best fete yet. A full complement of craft stallholders had been booked, two show arenas were planned rather than the usual one, and new attractions – including the splendidly named Dwyle Flonking – were lined up. Directional signs were in place around the village, and as the committee gathered to review the final details, everything pointed to a wonderful day ahead. Enter Storm Clara by the Tuesday of fete week, the forecasters were speaking of Storm Clara, with gusts of 70 to 80 mph predicted. Quick calls were made, marquee resilience was researched, and the committee drew up two contingency plans: one for surviving a gale, and one for moving the fete indoors if that proved the only safe option. By Wednesday it was clear which plan would be needed, and the difficult but unavoidable decision was taken to cancel the outdoor fete. A Friendly Solution – Indoors with the Gardening Club. The Fete Committee met with Halstock Gardening Club, whose Flower Show was already booked for the village hall that weekend, and a wonderfully practical plan was agreed: share the hall and bring the fete indoors for the first time in its history. The Raffle, Silent Auction, Bottle Tombola and the all-important teas and homemade cakes were all relocated, while publicity and social media worked hard to let stallholders and visitors know where to find us. Saturday – A Day to Remember Saturday dawned in glorious August sunshine – just long enough to tease us – before the clouds gathered and the wind rose exactly as predicted. Inside the village hall, however, the welcome was warm in every sense. Together with our Gardening Club partners we welcomed more than 200 friends old and new. Visitors came for the Flower Show exhibits and stayed to chat, to laugh, and to catch up over tea and cake, as Halstock folk so love to do. The atmosphere was genuinely special, and the feeling that ran through the hall all afternoon was simple: we really should do something like this more often. A Remarkable Result Most pleasing of all, the day produced a declared profit of £1,309.03 – a quite remarkable result given the circumstances, and a vivid demonstration of what this village achieves when we adapt and work together. Distributions have now been made to the various village causes the fete supports, ensuring that the proceeds go straight back into the community life of Halstock just as they always do. With Warmest Thanks Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who came along, for their understanding, their flexibility and their wonderful good humour throughout. A particular thank you is owed to Helen McNab and the Gardening Club Committee for their generosity in sharing the day with us – the partnership was the making of it. Looking Ahead to 2026 Planning is already underway for the 2026 Village Fete, which will take place on Saturday 29th August. We very much hope that gales, like lightning, won’t strike twice in the same place – but if 2025 taught us anything, it is that Halstock has a community spirit that no storm can blow away. We look forward to welcoming you all again next August. Chris Milton Chair, Halstock Village Fete

Halstock Village Trust
Halstock Village Trust – Report for 2025 Registered Charity No. 1031807 I am pleased to present, on behalf of the Trustees, a summary of the Halstock Village Trust’s activities during 2025. The Trust held its Annual General Meeting on 9th April 2026 at Locke Farm, where the accounts and the year’s work were reviewed in full. Trustees and Governance The Trustees during the year were Chris Milton (Chair), Tom Powell (Treasurer), Dave Wright, Mandie Holloway and Claire Leech. At the AGM, Chris Milton was unanimously re-elected as Chair. Dave Wright will step down in June 2026 after many years of dedicated service, and the Trustees record their thanks for his consistent and valuable contribution. A successor is being sought, with the Trustees keen to bring a younger member onto the board to support the Trust’s long-term future. Signatory arrangements with CCLA and Jupiter are being updated, with Tom Powell and Chris Milton acting jointly and severally as signatories. Financial Overview The accounts for the year ending 31st December 2025 were completed and tabled at the AGM, comprising the full accounts, cash accounts, Barclays account statement and CCLA statement. Overall, the Trust’s net assets increased by £3,921 over the year. The investment fund showed a small decrease in value, offset by a modest increase in the deposit account. The principal items of expenditure were the development of the new village website and the replacement of tables for the Village Hall. Halstock Village Shop paid loan interest of £2,990 at year end. With Dave Wright stepping down from the trustee body in June 2026, he has kindly agreed to act as independent examiner for the next set of accounts. Halstock Village Shop – The Village Shop has completed its refurbishment during the year, and accordingly no contribution was made to the Trust in 2025. The Trust’s usual annual payment from the Shop will be offset in recognition of the Trust’s contribution towards the shop’s solar panel installation. A further contribution from the Shop is anticipated in 2026 should funds permit. The Chair continues to liaise directly with David Warner over the Trust’s holding of HVS shares and debentures to ensure full reconciliation of the records. Support for Community Assets – Trust remains keen to support the Village Hall Committee with its planned refurbishment and has indicated a willingness to match-fund alongside grant applications made by the Committee. The Trustees also had a full discussion of the Church roof repairs and are encouraging the PCC to explore and demonstrate that all available grant avenues have been pursued, in line with the Trust’s role as funder of last resort for the village. This in line with the 10 year plan we are developing for the Trust. Planning, Roads and Wider Village Matters The Chair has corresponded throughout the year on a range of planning, traffic, road closure and pothole issues affecting the village. The Trustees are pleased to record the increasing involvement and support of the Parish Council in this work and look forward to continuing close collaboration in the year ahead. Looking Ahead The Trust enters 2026 in sound financial health and with active programmes of community support underway. The Trustees thank the residents of Halstock, the Parish Council and our partner organisations for their continued support. Chris Milton Chair, Halstock Village Trust

                           Halstock Community Arts Report for 2025/26

• HCA promote and host live arts events in Halstock Village Hall, primarily in association with Artsreach, Dorset’s rural arts touring scheme.
• We always provide refreshments at our events. These include bar, tea, coffee, homemade cakes and where appropriate hot meals with the profits going towards our annual Arts Award project.
• Winners of 2025 Arts awards were as follows:

1. U25 Award – awarded jointly to Nadia Chapman (HOWDY magazine) and Matilda Leat (Bridport youth Dance) – each receiving £300
2. Open Award – £500 awarded to Richard Vine’s Colfox/Beaminster school project in collaboration with local sculptor Ben Russell.
3. Additional Award – £300 awarded to Anna Golding (No Limits Bridport).
   • Over the past 12 months we have hosted five performances including a comedy, 2 dramas and 2 bands and during the summer holiday held a children’s workshop (Drawing and Movement). We also hosted Sam Brown’s ukulele band in August.
   • I would like to take this opportunity to thank our audiences for their continued support and HCA committee members and helpers who together work hard to make sure these shows are a success.
   Deborah Childs

Rights of Way Report for 2025/26
• We are a small group continuing to meet occasionally to discuss experiences on the paths. The group have been in touch with Diana’s old contacts on the green spaces team and hope to continue that relationship.
• There are self-closing gates available, and we need to identify best locations to use these. Some landowners have refused the offer.
• Trees in Common Lane felled by a storm were promptly removed by volunteers (Rachel and Jez Hamlin)
• Following a report that Common Lane was in a poor state councillors Childs and Arnold carried out an inspection. They concluded that though the surface of the lane was damaged in places it is still adequate for general use but agreed that there needed to be some clearing of overgrown brambles. This has now been done by members of the ROW group.
• We continue to report broken bridges and stiles online through Dorset Council’s rights of way department. We are aware that there are outstanding issues and would appreciate any feedback especially from the routes presented in the walks guide.
• A few walk guides remain, and a poster requests that any unwanted guides be returned to Halstock shop.
Deborah Childs