Pump & Pound Issue 90 August/September 2026

Issue 90 August/September 2026 The summer so far has been somewhat warm and dry to say the least with three heatwaves already  experienced! Let’s hope the growing conditions improve for the Flower and Produce Show on Saturday 5th September and of course for the benefit of our farmers and gardens. The Editors 

Chedington Village Hall 

Our coffee mornings in Chedington Village Hall take place on the first Saturday of the month from 10:30am.  The next ones are on Saturday 1st August and Saturday 5th September. Tea, coffee and delicious  homemade cakes are served and all are welcome. Donations towards Village Hall funds are appreciated. 

South Perrott Village Hall 

The Village Hall hosts the SP Café on most Saturday mornings from 10am until midday. Everyone is  welcome to come along, enjoy a coffee/tea and a cake, have a chat with your friends, use the internet (free  of charge) and generally relax. Please note, however, that there will be no café on Saturday 5th September  and Saturday 19th September. 

On Saturday 19th September, we will be holding our own Oktoberfest. It is likely that beer and bratwurst  will feature with traditional music in the background. Ticket price £10. Doors open at 7.00 for 7.30pm start. To book a place, please contact Hilary at hilary.spvillage@gmail.com or 01935 891115. A future date for your diaries; on Saturday 17th October, we will be hosting another of our quizzes. More  information in the next edition. 

There has been a change to the management of the Village Hall. Hilary Footitt has taken over the Chair of  the Management Committee. 

SPLottery – 2026/27 

We’ve had six more SPLottery prizes, the lucky numbers being 69, 39 & 76 for June and 75, 80 & 2 for July.  If you would like to join the South Perrott Lottery for the remaining 8 months of this financial year, just let  me know. The next two draws will take place on Saturdays 29th August and 26th September at the Café as  usual. Hilary, hilary.spvillage@gmail.com or 01935 891115. 

South Perrott Flower and Produce Show 2026 

The show this year will take place on Saturday 5th September and all households  should have now received a copy of the schedule with details of all the classes.  Sections in the show this year will be vegetables, flowers, floral displays, fruit,  cookery, arts and crafts, and photography. There is also the section for children  under 15 years old. Staging of exhibits is between 9am and 12 noon after which  judging will take place. Doors open to everyone at 2.30 with viewing, raffle, teas,  auction and, finally, presentation of prizes. Enjoy the summer and we look forward  to seeing you all at the South Perrott village hall on 5th September. In the meantime,  you can follow the show on Facebook where we’ll post details of the classes for  the show. 

Winyard’s Gap 

Summer’s garden gigs bringing a series of standout bands – a mix of returning favourites and fresh new acts – continue through August into September. For more information, including set times and event details, check the website, winyardsgap.com, or contact Lucy/Bron on 01935 891244 

The Parrett Hotel 

A Charity Breakfast in aid of Woman V Cancer will be held on 6th September from 10am -12noon 

Chedington and South Perrott Gardening Club 

We have no meetings scheduled for August and September. Our next event is a visit to Knoll Gardens on  Tuesday 20th October. More information in the next edition. 

St. Mary’s Harvest Festival Tea is at 3pm on Sunday 27th September in South Perrott Village  Hall. Please come along and enjoy afternoon tea with your friends and neighbours. Contact Sue Coutanche Secretary, St Mary’s PCC, SP & Chedington. 

South Perrott Village Fête and Fun Dog Show 

We will be reporting on this in the next edition after we have been able to gather all the information.

Midsummer Festival Weekend 

A tremendous “thank you” to everyone who made this weekend such a success!  The entertainment in the church on Saturday evening was well received. I didn’t  realise that there was so much talent locally! As usual the “Flower Girls” did a  splendid job decorating the church and the aroma from the displays added to the  ambience. Sunday’s Cream Teas were as popular as ever. Our bakers always  maintain their high standards. Anthony & Dominie’s Garden provided the perfect  setting for the teas, as can be seen in the photo, and visitors enjoyed its beauty  and tranquillity. The weather was perfect on both days and luckily it was not too  hot. The Midsummer Weekend raised over £500 which has been donated to the  church. Sue Coutanche, Secretary St Mary’s PCC, SP & Chedington. 

Attention all Riparian Owners 

It’s that time of year now it’s the peak growing season when the river banks are covered in vegetation. Could  I please remind all householders whose property adjoins the river bank, i.e. riparian owners, of their  responsibility to keep the river banks clear of foliage, so as not to impede the river flows (when it eventually  starts raining again!) during the winter. For further information, please contact the River Warden, Martyn  Gillingham, on 01935 891931 or mcvgillingham@btinternet.com. 

Footpath Update – July 2026 

As a result of the recent heatwaves, many footpaths and bridleways have dried out and their firmer surfaces  make walking easier than during wetter periods. 

Langmoor Lane is still “work in progress”. At the end of March, Dorset Council (DC) managed to clear  some vegetation and this made the lane wider. However, the repairs required are outside DC’s budget and  their Senior Ranger, Stuart Semple, has not been successful in finding any other sources of funding. DC  have carried out repairs to the pedestrian (coffin) bridge, which is now in a reasonable condition although it  is on their list for replacement in the next couple of years. Steven Legg is planning to do more clearance  work on the South Perrott section of the lane later in the year. 

Bailey’s Lane – parts of the bridleway are now overgrown. In the section where the River Parrett crosses the Lane, the vegetation is meeting in the middle of the river and despite the river being extremely low the  foliage is impeding walkers and equestrians at this point. I have reported this to DC and a ‘job’ has been  raised. 

On the subject of prolific vegetation growth, a reminder to residents whose boundaries adjoin local ‘rights  of way’. Please cut back overhanging vegetation. 

Dorset Council’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) is going through the last stages for approval.  This is a strategic document that sets out Dorset Council’s plans/aspirations for the RoW network for the  next 10 years. It is hoped to be out for public consultation in August and feedback from the public is  encouraged. 

I have asked Stuart if he can arrange a site visit in his work schedule as it is a while since he has visited  South Perrott. 

Our dog owners/walkers are very good at removing their dog’s excrement but PLEASE don’t forget to take  your “poo” bags with you and dispose appropriately. They don’t make good decorations when hung on gate  posts and trees! 

Cllr. Sue Coutanche, Local Footpath Officer 

South Perrott Parish Council (SPPC) Meeting – 7th July 2026 

Below is an outline of the main topics covered in the meeting. Full details are available in the draft minutes  which are posted on the Parish Council noticeboard and on www.southperrottparishcouncil.gov.uk. In  attendance were three parish councillors, Clerk Mark Payne and Cllr. Craig Monks. Apologies were received  from Cllr. Robin Ketteridge and Cllr. Tom Scott-Malden. 

❖ Speed Survey: speed recorders were placed at each end of the village in the middle of April. Results  showed that the mean speeds ranged from 28 to 35 mph with a small deviation from 30mph. The  maximum speed recorded was 57mph. It was agreed that SPPC moves to the next stage of the process  and submit a 20mph request to Dorset Council.  

❖ Highways Issues: Following a meeting with Dorset Council’s Community Highways Officer the  following issues were referred to Dorset Council’s Road Safety Team; their response: ➢ Priority Signage at Swing Gate Cottage “pinch point”: Dorset Council’s Road Safety Team  

response was based upon the current available data (one recorded personal injury in the last 10  years). Therefore, they were unable to justify priority signs for this section of single carriageway on  A356. However, the Road Safety Officer will arrange with the Community Highways Officer for 

vegetation to be cleared where warning signs are obscured, including “Road Narrows Ahead” and  speed limit signs at either end of the village. 

Dorset Council’s Road Safety Team said it would be extremely helpful if ALL residents who  experience or witness vehicles meeting head-on at Swing Gate Cottage resulting in near misses or  damage-only collisions to submit a report on Tell us about small collisions or near misses to  help us target road improvements-Dorset Council. Each report is viewed and mapped to identify  locations where intervention is required. 

➢ Chevrons at Hill Farm Bend: These need repainting. SPPC Chair has reported this to Dorset  Council Highways and encourages others to do likewise. 

❖ Cllr. Craig Monks: Cllr. Monks update the meeting on the following: 

➢ 5G/mobile signal improvements for the Mosterton/South Perrott area; A site has been identified and  negotiations with the landowner are underway. It is hoped that a planning application will be  submitted imminently. 

➢ Beaminster Tunnel: Repair works to the Tunnel, where traffic lights have been in operation  following a landslip 6 months ago, are schedule to be carried out in July. Beaminster Town Council  are to survey residents to gather the communities’ views on installing permanent traffic lights at the  Tunnel. 

➢ Junction A3066/ Lecher Lane: In the past 10 years there have been a number of accidents as well  as near-misses, when vehicles are turning into and out of Lecher Lane. Cllr Monks has contacted  Dorset Highways and asked them to assess the feasibility of introducing a solid white line system at  the junction with Lecher Lane. He will provide a further update once their assessment has been  completed. 

N.B Please report all incidents on “Tell us about small collisions….” See above. ❖ Footpath Officer’s Report: See separate item 

❖ Plastic Free Community: This is now being advertised on Facebook (South Perrott Support Group).  Six residents took part in a Litter Pick in the village on Sunday 12th July. 

❖ Finance: SPPC’s balance at 7th July 2026 was £8,435.27. 

❖ Planning: There were no applications this period. 

Full details of all applications plus public comments can be viewed at: www.planning.dorset.gov.uk/online applications/ 

Date of next meeting: Tuesday 1st September 2026 at 7pm in SP Village Hall 

South Perrott Parish Councillors 

Clerk to the Parish Council 

Dorset Councillor for Beaminster Electoral Division 

Parish Champions 

Editors – Pump and Pound

What’s On in South Perrott and Chedington? 

Regular Events – Summer/Autumn 2026 

To keep up to date with village events view: 

Local Contacts: 

Chedington Village Hall: South Perrott Village Hall: 

Chair Sam Mackenzie-Green 07939106381 Chair Hilary Footitt 01935 891115 Bookings Rosemary Sanderson 07813983821 Secretary Angela Gillingham 01935 891931 Email chedingtonvh@gmail.com Bookings southperrottvh@gmail.com Heather Noon 07399886103 

Winyard’s Gap Lucy/Bron 01935 891244 Parrett Hotel James/Yvonne 01935 891355 St Mary’s Church: Social Prescribers: 

Church Warden Christine Howard 01460 76405 Beaminster GP Surgeries 01308 421896 Secretary Sue Coutanche sue.coutanche@btinternet.com Crewkerne GP Surgeries 01935 311085 

South Perrott Footpaths Officer 

Sue Coutanche 07971979155/01935 891019 CB3 Bus Service (Saturdays) 07716643087 Dorset Community Transport 01258 287987 

Issue 91 of The Pump & Pound, covering October and November 2026, will be published at the end of  September. Contributions should be sent to Sue or Dave by Wednesday 23rd September.