A big thank you: our General Meeting, and what comes next
Updated: 1 hour ago
On Wednesday 7 October, Damers Hall was full of neighbours, volunteers, councillors, police and local organisations, all in one room to talk about the place we share. Thank you to everyone who came, asked a question or simply listened. It made for a lively, warm and productive evening.
We were delighted to welcome new Dorchester Town Clerk Charmaine Denny, Mayor Les Fry and the Mayoress Julie Fry, who shared their thoughts afterwards: "It was good to see this well attended residents' association growing, with all the participants fully engaged in their community... An interesting evening all round." Thank you, Mayor!
Our Chair, Zoe Bell, later put the evening in context: "In an increasingly uncertain world, strong communities are one of the best defences we have. When neighbours know each other, and when residents, workers, businesses, councils, police and landowners sit in the same room and talk openly, problems are spotted sooner, solved faster and shared more fairly. No single organisation has all the answers, but together we have a great many more of them. Resilience isn't built in a crisis. It's built beforehand, in everyday things: a chat at a neighbours' social, an hour of volunteering, a question asked face to face. That's what this association is for, and it's why every one of you matters."
The evening opened with a keynote from Dorchester Town Clerk Charmaine Denny, who reminded us that what makes a community isn't how old it is but whether people feel it is theirs. We heard how far the association has come in 18 months, including more than 900 members, around 30 active volunteers, over 1,450 newsletter subscribers, a brand-new logo, and 19 local business partners offering member benefits. We shared our first-year accounts, welcomed our new Treasurer, Melanie-Kate Fowler, and said thank you to Adele Brothwell for her many years of service. And we gave a first look at our draft plan for 2027, which is all about growing what works.
Then came the Stakeholder Q&A, always a highlight. Our panel, from Dorset Council, Dorchester Town Council, Dorset Police, and the MANCOs took residents' questions on parking and speeding, the 20mph proposal, the new Dorset Local Plan and safe cycling, the Number 6 bus, anti-social behaviour and dogs in squares. Jason Bowerman of the Duchy of Cornwall couldn't be with us because of a long-standing prior commitment, but sent written responses, which were read out on the night. There wasn't time for everything, so we will work on more questions separately, on litter bins, drains and weeds, streetlights, charging cables, vacant shops and the Poundbury Stipulations.
Over the next few weeks we will publish the full Q&A articles, one topic at a time, with who to contact and what you can do. Keep an eye out, and if you have a question of your own, email info@lovepoundbury.org. It could feature at our next General Meeting.
Missed the meeting? You can read the minutes and see the slides here
Want to be part of what comes next? We would love your help, even an hour a week. Email volunteering@lovepoundbury.org.
Our next AGM is at 6-8pm Thursday 20 May 2027, with a daytime accessible summary session to follow shortly afterwards.
Thank you for being part of Poundbury's future.