Planet Shaftesbury Meeting - Minutes - 27/11/2025

Meeting Minutes

Present:  Ed Bersey, Jocelyn Elson-Riggins, Karen Wimhurst, Richard Thomas, Robin Walter, Emma Smith, John Nelson, Christina Strickland, Rachel Bodle, Rachel Tappin, Lucy Young,

John Wilkinson, Diana Harris.

Apologies:  Adrian Walker

1. Rachel gave a short account of how the new look Planet Shaftesbury has developed out of the old style meeting. We welcomed Rachel Tappin and John Wilkinson.

2.  Actions from last meeting,  talking to Chris Smaje -actioned by Rachel and Robin, all other actions completed.

3.  Website funding.  Discussed various options, agreement to park this issue at the moment but the two Rachels to work together to complete form from Swans Trust who may cover the cost of the website.   Lucy and Rachel Bodle to explore options regarding joining Sustainable Dorset.

Thank you to Ed Bersey for funding the website for the past few years.  Payment switched to monthly which is helpful.   Due to data limitations, Ed plans to delete everyone from the newsletter, and people will have to sign up afresh. Website costs are variable,  Rolls Royce system is £408.00 per annum.

4. Debrief on the newsletter. People are asked to  contribute reports on their projects with photos and so far the new system seems to work well.  Deadline published on Whatsapp would be helpful.  Next newsletter content by 14^th December, to Ed.

5.  Monitoring the website email.  Robin happy to deal with this for a short while. Traffic does not currently seem to be too high to manage – but new system not fully working yet (Ed, Robin & Rachel to sort). This is something that could be shared on a rota basis in the future.

6.   89 percent. List sent to Keri to be interviewed for Alfred. (people not normally associated with climate change). Series going to be aired soon. This is a way of spreading the news about PS and to enable people to contact us, resulting in more people getting involved in the climate emergency. Karen to suggest that Keri promotes ways of taking things further, ie. talk to neighbours, contact planet shafesbury etc.

7.  Shaftesbury town council.  Given us quite a lot of support for last few years, which was dented slightly when they refused to give us funding for our website.  This is thought to be at the behest of one or two individuals, and not worth making a drama out of it.

8. Local Nature Recovery Strategy – including the green wheel.  Been adopted enthusiastically by many people.  LNRS about to be adopted by Dorset council.  We hope it will be a driver of action locally.

9.   Films.  Raving on the Avon.  A film about water quality and recommended by John Wilkinson. Pursue a screening with the Art Centre?  Get together a film working group?  And involve

Liz Foster from the art centre. 

10. Venue.  Town hall is now much busier, not so easy to book.  Rachel has discussed with the Grosvenor, who gives community groups access to accommodation for free as long as its booked. People asked to give recommendations with the hope of identifying locations across the town.

12.  Waddon Cross, oil drilling facility in West Dorset.  Request for people to comment.

Date of next meeting. Thursday 22^nd at the Grosvenor. 6.00 pm.