Welcome
This website aims to become a source of information for both the local community and those planning to visit or actually visiting this fantastic part of Dorset. We really need the local community to become involved by sending us news of forthcoming events, reports on recent events and photographs. The website has been designed to be interactive by allowing you to use the Contact Us page to send us some news, feedback or to ask a question. The editor of the website will respond to the messages you leave or add your information. There is also an opportunity for you to join our e-mailing list through the contact us section. If you do so we will email you a copy of the Parish Council minutes together with any other information that we feel may be of interest. A very important section of this website is devoted to the development of the Neighbourhood Plan (Y&RINP) (NB: the Parish Plan has moved to the Parish Council pages) and is where information relating to this can be viewed. The Village Notice Board, gives information on notifications that the Parish Council has received and details of activities likely to affect the parish and there is also a link to the Village Facebook Page. Details of Road Closure Notices are also available on the Village Notice board.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
Click here to go to the dedicated advice and help page for fuller information on the summaries below
PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION OF SOCIAL DISTANCING
This short video shows the principles of social distancing
WARNING – Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitiser – Vehicle Fires
This is to alert residents to the potential fire risk in vehicles, caused by alcohol-based hand sanitiser. There have been a number of reports of hand sanitiser being the cause of fires when left in vehicles in the hot weather the UK is currently experiencing. The alcohol hand sanitiser is becoming heated resulting in flammable vapours being released. These vapours are reaching their ‘flashpoint’ and then ignite in normal air conditions, setting fire to flammable components within the car.
Please remove all alcohol-based hand sanitiser products from vehicles when they are not occupied, do not leave hand sanitiser in un-attended vehicles.
You should continue to use hand sanitiser as part of your hygiene routine where you cannot use soap & water. Remember: hand hygiene is one of the most effective methods to stop the spread of COVID-19 following indirect contact (picking up the virus up by touching contaminated surfaces and objects).
Coronavirus – What you can and can’t do (This guidance applies in England)
Update for people who are shielding
We know that many residents have been shielding throughout the pandemic and the government has announced plans to relax advice to those people. We know this may cause some anxiety and we want to reassure you that it’s still your choice whether to go out or not. Dorset Council will be issuing more guidance as soon as it comes through, but in the meantime, if you still need help and support to get food, medicines or even access to befriending services, you can call our community response helpline on 01305 221000.
From Wednesday 1 July, the operating hours will be 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, in line with the government helpline opening hours.
Changes from the 4 July
You can meet in groups of up to two households (your support bubblecounts as one household) in any location – public or private, indoors or outdoors. You do not always have to meet with the same household – you can meet with different households at different times. However, it remains the case – even inside someone’s home – that you should socially distance from anyone not in your household or bubble. This change also does not affect the support you receive from your carers
When you are outside you can continue to meet in groups of up to six people from different households, following social distancing guidelines
Additional businesses and venues, including restaurants, pubs, cinemas, visitor attractions, hotels, and campsites will be able to open – but we will continue to keep closed certain premises where the risks of transmission may be higher
Other public places, such as libraries, community centres, places of worship, outdoor playgrounds and outdoor gyms will be able to open
Stay overnight away from your home with your own household or support bubble, or with members of one other household
It will be against the law to gather in groups larger than 30 people, except for a limited set of circumstances to be set out in law
Moving forward, from 4 July, people will be trusted to continue acting responsibly by following this and related guidance, subject to an upper legal limit on gatherings (as described above). The overwhelming majority of the British public have complied with the regulations, and the wider guidance on how to keep them and their friends and family as safe as possible. Taking this into account, we trust people to continue acting responsibly, and to follow the guidance on what they should and should not do.
You should not:
- gather indoors in groups of more than two households (your support bubble counts as one household) – this includes when dining out or going to the pub
- gather outdoors in a group of more than six people from different households; gatherings larger than 6 should only take place if everyone is from just two households
- interact socially with anyone outside the group you are attending a place with, even if you see other people you know, for example, in a restaurant, community centre or place of worship
- hold or attend celebrations (such as parties) where it is difficult to maintain social distancing
- stay overnight away from your home with members of more than one other household (your support bubble counts as one household)
Gatherings of more than 30 people will be prohibited, apart from some limited circumstances to be set out in law.
Changes re staying at home, businesses are reopening, visiting people indoors, number of people you are allowed to meet with outdoors, ,visiting a clinically vulnerable person, restrictions on how far you can travel, use of public transport if seeing friends in a park or going to parents’ garden, sharing a private vehicle with someone from another household and day trips are available on the separate Coronavirus Help & Advice page here
Staying Alert
It is your responsibility to adopt these principles wherever possible. None of these principles can completely remove the risk of catching coronavirus on their own. You need to use them all wherever and whenever appropriate.
- Keep your distance from people outside your household
Whilst recognising this will not always be possible, it is important to be aware that the risk of infection increases the closer you are to another person with the virus, and the amount of time you spend in close contact with them. Therefore, you are unlikely to be infected if you walk past another person in the street.
The government recommends that you keep two metres away from people as a precaution or one metre when you can mitigate the risk by taking other precautions in this list.
- Avoid being face-to-face with people if they are outside your household or support bubble
You are at higher risk of being directly exposed to respiratory droplets (released by talking or coughing) when you are within two metres of someone and have face-to-face contact with them. You can lower the risk of infection if you stay side-to-side rather than facing someone. The key thing is not to be too close to people outside your household or support bubble. If you must, keep it as brief as possible.
- Keep your hands and face as clean as possible
Wash your hands often using soap and water, and dry them thoroughly.
Where available, use sanitiser outside your home, especially as you enter a building and after you have had contact with surfaces. Avoid touching your face.
- Keep indoor places well ventilated
Evidence suggests that the virus is less likely to be passed on outdoors and in well-ventilated buildings.
In good weather, try to leave windows and doors open in areas where people from different households come into contact, or move activity outdoors if you can.
Use external extractor fans to keep spaces well ventilated and make sure that ventilation systems are set to maximise the air flow rate.
Heating and cooling systems can be used at their normal temperature settings.
- Avoid crowded spaces
You can lower the risks of transmission by reducing the number of people you come into close contact with. For example, avoid peak travel times on public transport, where possible and avoid densely crowded areas. Small groups in small spaces pose a risk as well as large, close crowds.
Businesses should also take reasonable steps to avoid people being gathered together. For example, by reducing density in meeting rooms and social spaces, allowing the use of more entrances and exits, and staggering entrance and exit points and work shifts, where possible.
- Work from home if you can
If you can do your job from home you should continue to do so, but you and your employer should discuss and agree working arrangements to best suit the needs of the business.
- If you have to travel (for example, to work or school), think about how and when you travel
To reduce demand on the public transport network, you should walk or cycle wherever possible. If you have to use public transport, you should try to avoid peak times.
Employers should consider staggering working hours, expanding bicycle storage facilities, providing changing facilities and providing car parking.
- Face coverings
You must wear a face covering at all times on public transport or when attending a hospital as a visitor or outpatient. Hospitals will be able to provide a face covering in emergencies. If you can, you should also wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing isn’t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet. This is most relevant for short periods indoors in crowded areas. You should be prepared to remove your face covering if asked to do so by police officers and staff for the purposes of identification.
Evidence suggests that wearing a face covering does not protect you. However, if you are infected but have not yet developed symptoms, it may provide some protection for others you come into close contact with.
Face coverings do not replace social distancing. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, and/or high temperature, and/or loss of, or change in, your normal sense of smell or taste – anosmia), you and your household must isolate at home: wearing a face covering does not change this. You should arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19.
A face covering is not the same as the surgical masks or respirators used by healthcare and other workers as part of personal protective equipment. These should continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against risks in their workplace, such as health and care workers, and those in industrial settings, like those exposed to dust hazards.
Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of 3 or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly.
It is important to use face coverings properly and wash your hands before putting them on and taking them off.
You can make face-coverings at home. The key thing is it should cover the mouth and nose.
More detailed advice is also available on the separate dedicated Coronavirus page and by using the links below
SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY
HELP FOR THE VULNERABLE
If you are vulnerable and have no friends, family or neighbours to support you, or if you are worried about someone in this situation, there is a new contact number for the help line if you need assistance during the present restrictions. You are now asked to ring 01305 221000 which is the central number for support in Dorset although you can still leave requests and messages at yetvirushelp@gmail.com and these will be passed on.
Find out more about the support in Dorset by clicking here
GOOD NEIGHBOURS
Advice and guidance on how you can help and support your neighbours is available on the separate Coronavirus page.
Advice from the UK Government can be accessed by clicking here
Advice is available on the Yetminster Health Centre website which can be accessed by clicking here
Advice from Dorset Council (includes disposal of contaminated tissues) can be accessed by clicking here
BORED WITH BEING AT HOME?
DIGITAL LIBRARY SERVICE
With the ongoing requirement for social distancing take advantage of the free digital services Dorset Libraries offer! Access free Dorset library e-magazines, e-newspapers, e-books, e-audio, e-comics and e-reference from the comfort of your own kitchen table or sofa, or bed by clicking here
INTRODUCING THE VIRTUAL VILLAGE HALL
This is a new and exciting initiative, Virtual Village Hall, an online space filled with activities designed for people at home in lockdown, to combat feelings of isolation and boredom. Activities are led by expert tutors and some well-known faces, and the initiative is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Activities include gentle exercise, arts and crafts, cooking and baking, technology skills and quizzes with beatboxing, laughter yoga and Zumba Gold too. Sessions are available seven days a week with both live and pre-recorded activities to join in with. The programme will run as long as people are in lockdown in their homes.
Some of the wonderful up and coming sessions include:
• How to make a ruffle tote bag
• Seated Yoga
• Move It Or Lose It Chair Based Exercises
• Embroidery
• Poetry
• Laughter Yoga
• Qi Gong and Mindfulness
• Watercolours
• Salsa
You can access the Virtual Village Hall by clicking here and all sessions of the Village Hall are available by clicking here.
EMERGENCIES – contact phone numbers of emergency services and utilities can be accessed by clicking here or from the Village Notice Board page.
SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS – See Notifications on the Village Notice Board
NOTICES –
Virtual Parish Council public meetings
We will be recommencing meetings on Wednesday 8 July using Zoom. Members of the public who are interested in taking part as an observer can request the joining instructions. The Statutory Annual PC Meeting and the separate Annual Village Meeting have been cancelled for the 2020 PC cycle and rescheduled for the next Council year.
The proposed Yetminster Village Clean on the 18th April has been cancelled and will, hopefully be able to be rescheduled during national event planned for September.
Household recycling centres will re-open for waste that poses a risk of injury, health or harm
All household recycling centres (HRCs, or ‘the tip’) are now open, though visitors to the Sherborne centre should go to the car par at the Terrace where a queuing system will operate – click here to find out more
Be aware that householders should only take waste to a HRC if it cannot be stored safely at home and no alternative disposal options are available.
There will be restrictions on site, and additional security staff will help to enforce these, plus traffic management measures. All usual waste types will be accepted, although re-use areas will remain closed.
Visitors should also expect long queues to access HRCs due to social distancing measures limiting the amount of people we can have on site at any one time.
Garden Waste Service Resumes
Garden Waste collections will be resuming collections from Monday 27 April. Customers should put their bins out on their usual collection day. New subscriptions are still suspended.
Help Your Collection crew
With people staying at home, there has been an increase in rubbish and recycling at the kerbside. At a time when our workforce is stretched, this can be challenging.
Please note the following ways you can help our front-line waste workers: –
• Make sure your bins are out by 6am on your collection day
• Please continue to put the right stuff in the right bin
• Switch to products with less packaging, such as from glass bottles to cans
• Do not fill any recycling box or bin higher than the top of the box/bin itself
• If you have excess recycling (especially glass), please place it out for collection in a sturdy container that can be easily lifted by one person without the contents spilling or falling out. Do not use plastic bags
• Park considerately, allowing for our vehicles to access your street.
New kerbside bin collection arrangements
With the need to introduce new safety measures residents are asked to help by changing the way litter bins, litter and recycling are dealt with. You do not need to do anything differently on your collection day. Please put the appropriate bins out as you usually would, but note the following: –
• We will no longer return to empty any missed bins until your next regular collection day. If your bins are missed, please bring them back in. Store your waste safely and put it out on your next appropriate collection day
• We will pick up extra black bin rubbish only if your previous rubbish collection was missed. We will continue to pick up food waste weekly. You can also put out extra recycling provided it is separated correctly
• Do not try to report missed collections to us. Visit the service disruption pages online to check if you are in an affected area
• Remember to crush and flatten items (not glass) before throwing away, as this will help create space in your bins and our collection vehicles. Put your glass box out when it is full
• Please continue to observe public health guidance on handling your waste. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, please double bag your waste and store for 72 hours before placing in your bin or blue sack.
• Wash your hands both before putting your bins out and after taking them back in
• We recommend rinsing dirty rubbish and recycling items before placing in bins to reduce unpleasant odours.
As we have had to redeploy employees to higher-priority services, our street-cleansing, household recycling centres and recycling banks in car parks have also been suspended. Therefore: –
• If you go out to exercise, take your litter home with you, especially dog waste. Street and dog bins are not being emptied on a regular basis. NEVER place household waste in a street litter bin
• Do not travel to a household recycling centre (HRC, or ‘the tip’) or any recycling bank in a car park as these are all now closed and are no longer being serviced. Any items left at these sites will not be cleared away and will be considered as fly-tipping.
Reopening of the Sports Club
The Sports club will reopen at midday on Sunday 12 July for Picnic on the Pitch. You are welcome to bring a picnic or just come for a drink. To help maintain social distancing, we will putting tables and chairs outside the clubhouse and will only be offering table service. A one-way system will operate in the club house for those who need to use the toilets.
Go to the clubs and societies page for further details of forthcoming events . https://yetminsterparishes.gov.uk/community/sports-club/
Contact the new team at ycsc@btinternet.com
Allotments
A few plots have become vacant. Please visit the allotment page on this website for further details.
Parish Councillor Vacancies
Please contact the Clerk if you are interested in becoming a Councillor and to see if we have a vacancy. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month and Councillors also sit on at least one sub-committee.
Community Speed Watch
The Speed Watch team have been very effective in encouraging motorists to drive more considerately through the village. However, a lack of volunteers is limiting the number of patrols that can be made. Please use the contact form if you would be interested in joining the team.
Website
We endeavour to keep the website up to date and relevant to the community. Please use the contact us page to provide your feedback on any changes that you feel are needed and to update information on your clubs, activities and events in the Parish.
WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
Wednesday 8 July: Virtual Parish Council Meeting at 7.30 pm
Sunday 12 July: Picnic in the Park at Yetminster Sport Club, noon to 6.00 pm
You can click here to view all events on the Wriggle Valley Magazine’s Diary Pages
You can view a list of regular meetings and events by clicking here
SITE INDEX – click here to view index
RECENTLY UPDATED PAGES
3 July – Coronavirus Help Line no updated, info on PC “virtual ” mtgs added
2 July – Agenda page updated and details for 8 July added
29 June – Emergency Road Closure added, Coronavirus pages updated
28 June – Common Lane Road Closure added
24 June – Warning added re hand sanitiser and vehicle fires
16 June – allotment page updated
16 June – Coronavirus guidelines from the Croquet Association added to the croquet page
16 June – Coronavirus guidelines from the the LTA added to the tennis page
12 June – Coronavirus info, Help Line contact details and Neighbourhood Watch updated / added
26 May – Advice on footpath maintenance added
12 May – Coronavirus advice updated as per Government Guidelines
8 May – Virtual Village Hall info added to Coronavirus pages, info on re-cycling centres added
7 May – YRIPC Minute Pages updated
to Community
4 September – Update to Sports Club page