Welcome to the Chetnole & Stockwood Parish Plan
In February 2024, we published a new Parish Plan to reflect the views of new residents and wider societal changes, and which built on the earlier Plan of 2010. The survey results and recommended actions can be found here:
The survey helped us to understand what is important to our residents, and what isn’t. It also served as a useful tool to help us prioritise future projects and initiatives in the village.
The 2024 plan resulted in a list of short, medium and long term recommended actions. Some of these fall within the remit of existing local organisations and volunteer groups, while others have yet to find someone to take them on. Here is an update on progress against those actions:
We are lucky in our Parish to have a wealth of friendly faces and experience to draw upon. As one of our younger residents put simply, Chetnole & Stockwood Parish is a “Nice Place with Nice People”.
If you want to be a part of bringing some of the actions into reality, please get in touch with us at chetnolevillage@gmail.com
Thank you
The Steering Team
Cllr Naomi Hewitt & Cllr Geoff de Metz
Further reading & information:
• The 2010 Parish Plan can be found here:
• We also recommend that you explore the 2021 ONS Census results: https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/areas/area/?code=E04003523
The Latest!
Parish Plan 2024 – Update on Recommended Actions 18th June 2025
In order to help support the delivery of the actions, Cllrs have volunteered to take on the role of Sponsor which entails:
- Acting as a champion and enabler for these. E.g. should a project require a donation for funding / or an introduction to someone at Dorset Council / encouraging residents to take part / help recruit working teams within the village
- Being the liaison between those in the village actioning and the PC, updating them with progress.
- In a few cases, the Councillor may be actively involved in delivering the project/resolving the issue.
| Transport Sponsor – Cllr Troup | |||
| Action | Timescale | Who | UPDATE 18.6.25 |
| Road Safety: Establish Speed Management team to reduce speed of traffic through village and address danger points with mirrors and traffic barriers at Deep Ford Lane during flooding | Medium term | Cllr Troup | A Speed Watch monitored traffic through the village – one vehicle exceeded the limit at 31mph A Speed Indicator Device is being sourced to be shared with Leigh due to cost. Mirrors due to be erected Although Dorset Highways have verbally hinted that traffic barriers across the ford are a good idea, no written commitment from them yet… we continue to make the case. |
| Chetnole Halt: Secure step-free access and parking at the Halt | Long Term | FoCH – Cllr Hewitt | A proposal was submitted by FoCH in May 2023 which was supported by GWR and the CRP (Community Rail Partnership) were due to carry out a feasibility study. In the middle of 2024 GWR withdrew their support and made clear they did not approve of the CRP progressing further. That remains their position. We can speculate on the reasons, but as a low passenger station, reduced funding and issues around their franchise GWR have de-prioritised Chetnole Halt. FoCH are disappointed but exploring alternatives. |
| Environment Sponsor – Cllr Hume | |||
| Action | Timescale | Who | UPDATE 18.6.25 |
| Sustainability: Research & secure a community scheme with providers of renewables & home energy efficiency measures to enable residents to reduce their carbon footprints. | Long term | Needs Volunteers | NO PROGRESS |
| Biodiversity: Identify & action methods to improve biodiversity i.e. hedgerow mgmt. & tree planting | Medium Term | Cllr Hume | There is a proposal to create “flat pack” owl & bat boxes which residents can build together and erect in Jan 2026Jubilee Garden been made ready for tree planting in Autumn 25. Stockwood Common awaiting confirmation.Hedgerows are only cut after September due to nesting birds. Some may be given a “grade 1” this autumn to reintroduce the verges and for road safety. |
| Village Environment: Litter Picking Team to engage more members of the community in periodic litter picks | Short Term | David Russell | A successful annual litter pick took place mid-March over half-term allowing participation from our younger residents. |
| Village Environment 2: Footpath clearance & signposting, and reporting of issues to DC | Short Term | Footpath Warden – Cllr Clark | Footpaths are regularly walked by our Footpath warden and issues are notified to the council via the Dorset Council website. We urge residents to use this to report issues. Some new/replacement signs & signposts erected. |
| River Management: Implement methods to: reduce river and surface water flooding in the Parishmonitor & improve water quality of the River Wriggle | Long Term | Cllr Troup and WRIG – Owen Pope | WRIG & YVCT have successfully installed a variety of natural flood mgmt. features in Hilfield which should have some beneficial impact on the Wriggle in Chetnole. More info: https://www.yrct.org.uk/ Owen carries out regular readings of the water quality which is fed back to the environment agency. There are concerns over the levels of phosphates. |
Services Sponsors – Cllrs De Metz & Sturgess | |||
| Action | Timescale | Who | UPDATE 18.6.25 |
| Road Maintenance: Establish team to monitor & escalate road maintenance and ditch management issues to PC & DC | Short term | Cllr Sturgess | Gary created & sent a map showing all the missing/broken road signs & blocked road drains to WDDC. As a result some signs have been replaced/mended and the drains have been cleared but will need monitoring. Ned Kozowyk has repaired the broken fingerpost sign. |
| Broadband Connectivity: Research & propose alternative broadband providers to improve local connectivity & performance. | Long Term | Cllr de Metz | Geoff will be sending information to residents about registering with Wessex Internet to improve our broadband. We need as many people as possible to register.Research is going into the appetite for a possible computer literacy course (to include internet security) for residents. |
| Playing Field Facilities: Create a plan of phased, funded Improvements to the play equipment reflecting requests in the Parish Plan | Medium Term | Playing Field Committee – Cllr Sturgess | Quotes are being gathered from professional playground providers for the following proposed improvements: Replace/supplement the safety mattingFence the areaModify and provide some new equipment for younger children Fundraising has kicked off with £1000 raised by the Duck Race. |
| Security: Deliver an enhanced Neighbourhood Watch Scheme to address communication and local policing involvement | Short Term | Steve Crumpler (NHW Coordinator) | No update Crime figures sent by local policing team seem positive with few crimes reported. |
| Community Sponsor – Cllr Hewitt | |||
| Action | Timescale | Who | UPDATE 18.6.25 |
| Events: Establish & deliver 2-3 new events around arts / youth / sports with potential for a regular Summer Club for younger generation | Medium term | Cllr Hewitt with various village bodies | Residents have brilliantly hosted a couple of events specifically for children e.g. Xmas Party We have reached out to organisations with appropriately vetted adults to ask if they are willing to run a Summer camp on the playing field. Needs some volunteers |
| Communication: Build on principle communication channels: PC website & E-Diary with up to date information about PC meetings & minutes; clubs, committees and local information | Short Term | Cllrs Hewitt and PC Clerk Sue Woodford | Updates have been made with some new information around: How to find out what’s going on; transport info and more to follow shortly. |
| Small Businesses: Team to assess feasibility & practicality of a shop or alternative small business operating in the Parish. Feasibility plan | Long Term | Needs Volunteers | Since the original feasibility plan for a small shop in Chetnole was conducted in Chetnole (2011/12) there have been no volunteers to run with this. Additionally, a shop in Chetnole would impact on shops in Yetminster and Leigh. However, there may be opportunity for alternative small businesses. NO PROGRESS |
| Neighbourhood Plan: A group to undertake a Neighbourhood Plan addressing what the Parish wants in terms of preservation & future development i.e. affordable housing, style of development & green spaces | Long Term | Needs Volunteers | Needs Volunteers Cllr Troup will be attending the Dorset Town & Parish Council Planning Meeting on the 14th July 2025 to assess what action, if any, can be taken. |
If you want to be a part of bringing some of the actions into reality, please get in touch with us at chetnolevillage@gmail.com
Thank you
Now archived – for reference only please see the 2010 Parish Plan