Planet Shaftesbury Meeting - Minutes - 22/01/2026
- Ed Bersey
- 15 hours ago
- 5 min read
Meeting Minutes
Present: Robin Walter, John Nelson, Christina Strickland, Rachel Tappin, Richard Thomas, Fiona Cullen, Anna Baker, Lucy Young, Rachel Bodle, Douglas Holt(?), Sandra ?, Jocelyn Riggins, Karen Wimhurst, Emma Smith
Apologies: Ed Bersey, Diana Harris, Ben White
This was a lively meeting chaired by Robin Walter who opened by inviting a round of introductions. Those new to a Planet Shaftesbury meeting were Fiona (formerly regular visitor from Gillingham, now busy as a town councillor and current mayor), Anna (& Ben who sent apologies, both associated with new Gill & Shaftes Green Party branch), Douglas & Sandra (visiting from Sturminster Newton).
Robin accepted agenda items from those present as well as some brought forward from the last meeting. Discussion of each topic as below, actions are indented.
1. Chris Smaje talk & discussion arranged by Rachel B & Robin, due to take place 2nd Feb, is now almost fully booked.
2. Website funding is being covered from our own (legacy) funds this year.
a. The attempt to get financial support elsewhere has been abandoned for now – issues raised will be separately considered by a small working group (Lucy, Christina, Rachel T & Rachel B) who may bring recommendations to a future PS meeting.
3. Emailed newsletters Robin reported that following the axing of the old list, around 45 people have already registered on the new, clean, distribution list. Ed sent thanks for contributions and the meeting appreciated his compilation and distribution of the newsletter.
a. Deadline for contributions for the next newsletter was set at Monday 9th Feb.
b. It was suggested that groups associated with Planet Shaftesbury could remind their members of the need to re-register (at the website) to receive the PS newsletter.
4. 89% Project Karen reported that Keri Jones (Alfred Radio) has carried out interviews about climate change with a number (4?) of locals (not died-in-the-wool environmentalists). Two have been broadcast already and Karen will find out how interested people can link to these – possibly via QR codes? The 89% project highlights that a substantial majority of the wider public share concerns, even though this isn’t generally recognised – postcards publicising this have been distributed around the town.
a. We were invited to suggest additional interviewees, willing to talk and with an interesting perspective, eg. Insurance, doctors.
5. Films: at the last meeting a small group formed around the idea of putting together a season of film shows. Proposals and the group are still taking shape and a possible link to Shaftesbury School will be explored.
a. Those involved include Karen, Rachel T. Contact them with suggestions or to join in. Films that are candidates so far -
i. Rave on for the Avon – documents campaigning re water quality
ii. Power – deals with solar power on a Walthamstow street, involve Jenny Morisetti (and through her, Howard Johns who was at Dorset COP)
iii. National Emergency Briefing – 45 min documentary film is in preparation and could be available early summer. Lucy has a colleague who is contributing.
iv. The Line We Crossed- deals with activism
v. Ocean – involve Jocelyn
6. Reading the Land: we’ve been approached for donations/sponsorship for the biannual book festival. Karen suggested, and it was agreed, that £100 be taken from our funds, to be supplemented by donations elicited through the Whatsapp group – hopefully sufficient to secure an advertisement for PS in the brochure. (Update - target amount now achieved)
7. Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show 2026 August 19/20. Richard has received a request that PS & SuSAC again share a stall with Dorset CAN, seeking a better location than we had in 2025 and possibly with DWT & NT nearby – with more potential for productive community engagement.
a. Richard reported that the town council is reviewing how it does things and that SuSAC (the Sustainable Shaftesbury Advisory Committee) may be recast as a working group. This is on the agenda of full council meeting for 27th January.
b. Payment for a pitch could be made by SuSAC if it still exists in a form that provides a budget.
c. Richard will act as point of contact for people wanting to contribute materials or time to the stall.
8. PS community engagement activities Richard passed on a suggestion from acting town clerk, Billy Maddock, that we could have a regular stall on the market. This led to wider discussion. Occasional market stall would be more effective. Special markets. Special days (like already happens during Hedgehog Week). Perhaps indoors – by arrangement with the Country Market organisers. Leafletting could be more flexible than a stall. An aspiration is a town centre presence or shop front.
a. Those at the meeting would like someone to become our point of contact for outreach/community engagement development, investigating the options, assembling materials, collecting ideas etc. Noone came forward tonight - we have a vacancy!
9. ‘Eat Well’, Rachel B reported that stocks of the leaflet promoting local food have all gone and that the information compiled in 2023/24 needs to be updated prior to re-issue. It has been suggested that a paper leaflet could be complemented by an online facility (linked to a Google map).
a. Rachel B will be point of contact for people willing to assemble current information. Additional contributors may be found at the Chris Smaje event on 2/2.
b. Richard suggested that an updated leaflet may be eligible for funding from SuSAC during this financial year. Rachel couldn’t remember numbers & prices for the original leaflet – now confirmed that 2 batches were printed; 500@£180 then 750@£230
10. Earth Hour, Saturday 28th March Emma described the event planned by St Peters, 7.30-9.30pm.
a. First hour for refreshments and for participants to find out more about local activities. There’ll be information from PS – contributions invited. Rachel B will be there on the night.
b. Second hour for quiet contemplation including poems, Bob Foster providing music, … Emma is the point of contact for further offers.
c. Donations will go to twin a toilet
d. There was reference to the newsletter from the Living Churchyard Foundation and a link between St Peters and Orchard Town.
11. Active Travel, John explained this covers cycling, walking & wheeling. A cycle route between Gillingham & Shaftesbury via Motcombe is seen as high priority. Fiona reported that Gillingham is being pro-active. Drainage improvements on the bridleway between Gill and Motcombe are a positive. John reported that government grants totalling £26mil. are being distributed for cycleways but neither Dorset nor Wiltshire are seen to have projects that are sufficiently advanced to receive early funding.
12. The Green Party has been dormant in this area but now that membership is increasing a new branch is being established to cover the combined wards of Gillingham & Shaftesbury within North Dorset. They are hosting a social event at the Slade Centre on 31st Jan – open to all. Keep in touch with their news via Facebook. It was emphasised that Planet Shaftesbury is politically independent.
13. The National Emergency Briefing is being rolled out across the country and may take place in Dorset – supported by Dorset Council leader Nick Ireland, D CAN & Sustainable Dorset. Fiona will keep us informed of plans.
14. Warm Homes Recently introduced subsidies etc. may give us opportunities to ramp up local activity.
a. Discussion was deferred to another meeting when we’ll aim to involve Jenny Morisetti and establish a working group.
15. Places for People Robbie Martin of this organisation has reached out to Planet Shaftesbury and to Shaftesbury School looking for community links. They are a social enterprise and housing developer.
a. This was left with Rachel Tappin or Richard Thomas.
16. Wild Sherbourne is a new local group that has sought our support. Robin will provide a talk about our origins and the establishment of SuSAC, and Joe Hashman will describe the Orchard Town project.
Date of next meeting. Thursday 19th February at the Grosvenor. 6.00 pm.
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