“Downright insulting”: Greens slam Portland Port’s ‘keeping community at heart’ newsletter with incinerator set to be built there 18 April 2025 / 12 June 2025 by chrishenderson Green Councillor Clare Sutton was quoted by the Dorset Echo: "For Portland Port to claim in its newsletter that it has our ‘community at heart’ is not just insensitive and ill-judged; it is downright insulting. Would that be the community which has come out in force to oppose the waste incinerator at every step of the way for over five years?" Read more » Portland Incinerator
Belinda Bawden calls for better joined-up working across the county 11 April 2025 / 24 April 2025 by chrishenderson Bridport & Lyme Regis News reported on Green Councillor Belinda Bawden's question to the full Dorset Council meeting on 10th April: "[...] Could we please design a process whereby Dorset Council promptly develops project proposals for the requested repairs, maintenance and improvements in our wards, with suggested requests for co-funding if appropriate, so that town and parish councils can decide whether they are prepared to contribute financially to get things done?" Read more »
“No evidence” of Dorset Council’s permeable surfaces policy being put into effect, says Cllr Belinda Bawden as tarmac car park extension agreed 10 April 2025 / 24 April 2025 by chrishenderson The Dorset Echo covered an intervention by Green Councillor Belinda Bawden in support of a Labour councillor's complaint that an approved car park extension to a Dorset Council-owned site in Chickerell is set to be tarmac, rather than a semi-permeable surface. Read more »
Cllr Kelvin Clayton calls for affordable housing in Bridport, as unaffordable retirement homes proposal rejected 4 April 2025 / 4 April 2025 by chrishenderson Green Bridport Town Councillor Kelvin Clayton told Bridport & Lyme Regis News he welcomed Dorset Council's decision to refuse planning permission for 70 new retirement homes in Bridport with no affordable housing element - but that he "very much hopes" a new developer will take on the site to provide much needed affordable housing. Read more »
Dorchester Town Council agrees Green’s proposal for more plant-based catering options 3 April 2025 / 3 April 2025 by chrishenderson Dorchester Town Council has approved a proposal by Green Councillor Poppy Farmer to increase the proportion of plant-based food provided at its receptions and civic events. Read more »
Cllr Belinda Bawden: “Quite a lot of complaints” about newer, brighter streetlights 18 March 2025 / 24 April 2025 by chrishenderson BBC Dorset covered Councillor Belinda Bawden's contribution to a Dorset Council debate where resident dissatisfaction at the brightness of newer streetlights in the county was noted: "Councillor Bawden told the committee that she received quite a lot of complaints about the new, brighter lights where they had been fitted already." Read more »
Green Group Leader gives Budget speech at Dorset Council 11 March 2025 / 24 April 2025 by rich.ed123 Councillor Clare Sutton’s Budget speech at a meeting of the full Dorset Council on 11th February: "Those of us who were councillors prior to 2024 know that this is always challenging, largely because successive Conservative governments have decimated funding to local government, and because Dorset has fared particularly poorly, despite having a full suite of Conservative MPs until last year..." Read more »
Ferrybridge coastal path: New plan in place 11 March 2025 / 31 March 2025 by chrishenderson It’s good to have an update on the Ferrybridge coastal path after such a long period with a diversion. Councillor Clare Sutton met with Dorset Council’s Greenspace Manager yesterday and there’s now a plan in place. Subject to the agreement of Natural England (because it’s an SSSI) and the landowner, whose existing ‘structure’ will be […] Read more »
Belinda Bawden demands homes for everyone 24 February 2025 / 24 April 2025 by rich.ed123 Green Party Dorset Councillor Belinda Bawden says: "The affordable homes crisis concerns us all, and elected members are urging Dorset Council to be more ambitious. We need more suitable social and genuinely affordable housing, not only for our young working people and families but also for those looking to downsize.” Read more »
Cllr Belinda Bawden secures extra bus stop in Lyme Regis 17 February 2025 / 31 March 2025 by rich.ed123 Lyme Regis and Charmouth Dorset Councillor Belinda Bawden says: “It was a blow to Lyme Regis when the town bus service finished when the school bus contract was changed. Many residents have told me that it was a lifeline for them to get to the shops and other local services. “I requested and secured an […] Read more »
