Services

Blandford Forum Town Council is the parish authority for the town of Blandford Forum. It has an estimated population of 11,013 (2017 census), is 409 hectares in area and has approximately 5,058 dwellings (2011 census). It is the third tier of government after parliament,  and Dorset Council (formed in April 2019). Its legal powers are granted to it and regulated by various government acts. The Town Council supplements the provision of local government services in Blandford Forum. It provides a range of social and recreational facilities, such as:

Woodhouse Gardens, Allotments, Grit bins, Churchyard, The Skate Park, Cemetery, Grants, Sports Pitches, Outdoor fitness equipment, Markets, Play Areas, and CCTV while promoting and representing the town with other national and statutory bodies. For example, the Town Council acts as a consultee and lobbying force with the Dorset Council and regional and national government putting forward the wishes and needs of the local community.

The Dorset Council (formed in April 2019) covers the whole of the county except Bournemouth and Poole. It’s main responsibilities include education, social services, highways, strategic planning, libraries, development control, environmental health, refuse collection, economic development, tourism and major recreational facilities such as the Blandford Leisure Centre. The Dorset Council consults with the Town Council on such subjects as the County Structure Plan, the Local Transport Plan, the Mineral and Waste Local Plan, the Local Plan, planning applications within Blandford Forum and the economic development strategy.

Play Areas

The Town Council owns and maintains four play areas out of the eight play areas in Blandford Forum. The equipment in our play areas is aimed to teach and challenge young children. Listed below are the four Town Council owned play areas.

Langton Road Play Area

Langton Road Play Area was refurbished in March 2013 and due to the size of the site has equipment suitable for children up to 12 years old. There is also equipment suitable for disabled children.

Park Road Play Area

Park Road Play Area  was refurbished in March 2013, and was partly funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Awards for All. The site has equipment that is suitable for children up to 6 years old. There is also equipment suitable for disabled children.

Larksmead Play Area

Larksmead Play Area was refurbished in 2008 and is suitable for children aged up to 6 years old. The Town Council’s Recreation & Amenities Committee has recently agreed to install a swing for disabled users at Larksmead play area and was installed in February 2013.

Persimmon Homes Development – Badbury Heights Play Areas

The Town Council has received the transfer of Phase 2 of Badbury Heights, which includes a play area known as a Local Equipped Area of Play (LEAP) on Balmer Road. This play area has now been installed at the beginning of June 2018.

Once Phases 3a and 3b are transferred, there will be another LEAP, two Local Area of Play, and a Neighbourhood Equipped Area of Play (NEAP)

Other Play Areas

There are five other play areas in Blandford Forum. The Milldown Play Area, owned and maintained by the Dorset Council and Hunt Road Play Area, owned and maintained by Signpost Housing Association, two play areas in Westbury Way owned and maintained by Persimmon Homes, and one play area in Diamond Way owned and maintained by a private management company.

The Skate Park

Stour Park, Blandford St Mary, DT11 9LQ

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Owned and maintained by the Town Council the Skate Park is situated behind Tesco’s next to the free Stour Meadows car park. There is a cycle rack available on site. Its equipment includes a Half Pipe, Jump Boxes, a Pyramid, a Fun Box and a Driveway.

Outdoor Fitness Equipment

New exercise equipment that is free to use for people living in and around Blandford Forum is provided at Larksmead Playing Field. The equipment has been funded by Blandford Forum Town Council and NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group North Dorset locality. Instructions on how to use the equipment is displayed on a notice board at the site and on each piece of equipment.

The Cemetery

Blandford Cemetery, Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum DT11 7LS

The boundary walls, gates and buildings were listed by Historic England in 2016.

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Blandford Forum Cemetery Records, Maps, Grave Locations and Memorial Photos Are Now Available To View Online at Deceased Online.

Please see the relevant forms below and contact us if you are unsure about which forms to use:
2020-21 Cemetery Fees
Cemetery Regulations Old Part
Cemetery Regulations Top Field
Application to Purchase a Grave Space
Notice of Interment or Burial
Notice of Scattering of Ashes – Existing grave space
Application to Erect a Memorial
Rose Bush Memorial Plaque Application
Application Notes for Transfer of Exclusive Right of Burial
Application for Transfer of Exclusive Right of Burial
Assent of Executor or Administrator
Statutory Declaration
Assignment of Right of Burial

Information Boards

There are information boards at the two entrances to the cemetery.

Please click on the Cemetery notice boards to view them. 

Water points are marked on the maps within the information boards but are also clearly signed within the cemetery.

Cemetery Chapel

The chapel is available for hire and is open to visitors each year as part of the Dorset Architectural Heritage Week in September.

It has a fascinating history, which can be read by clicking on: Chapel History.

Following an arson attack, the chapel was rededicated in 2014 with a service (pictured) that included the firefighters who had helped to save the building from further damage.

Military Graves Information Display Board

A display board was installed (and unveiled in 2014 by the Mayor Bob Brannigan) near the Commonwealth War Graves. This board was part funded by the Military Community Covenant Fund. It is located between the two large War Graves sections (see below) so that visitors can learn information about the burials, which are listed on the board along with a location point so that visitors can locate specific graves with ease. Please click on the Casualty Report Information Board to view the details on the board.

Gone, but not forgotten.

You may also be interested in viewing the War Memorial Rocks page. 

Commonwealth War Graves

Blandford Forum cemetery has a Commonwealth War Graves Section containing 69 graves dating from 1915 to present day. The graves are Royal Navy, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force, Army, Canadian Air Force and German Air force. There are 50 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-18 war, one of which is an unidentified seaman. There are a further 20 burials of the 1939-45 war. In addition, there are 9 German burials and 6 non world war service burials.

These graves are beautifully maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Two silent soldiers were added to the areas in 2020 (pictured).

War Memorial – Cross of Sacrifice

The WWI memorial is located in the central area within the entrance to the cemetery. The inscription is as follows:

To the glory of God
And in the memory of the
117 Blandford men
who laid down their lives
for their country
in the great war of
1914 – 1918

Cemetery Extension

Work was carried out in 2012 to extend the cemetery, as it neared capacity. A competition was held to produce a suitable centrepiece, which was won by local designer Jo Burchell (pictured below in 2017 unveiling the sculpture with the Mayor at the time, Cllr Jackie Stayt).

Memorial Testing at Blandford Cemetery

Blandford Forum Town Council has a responsibility for public safety at Blandford Cemetery.

Unsafe memorials have been the cause of severe injury in some cemeteries. The Town Council’s ground staff have undergone memorial condition training with the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management. Our trained members of staff carry out an annual inspection programme checking the condition of memorials. This may result in unsafe memorials being either laid flat or staked to prevent damage or injury. The grave owners will be notified by way of a notice being placed on the effected grave.

• Memorial notice for graves – Potential Unstable Memorial

The registered owner of the memorial is requested to arrange for repairs to be carried out within twelve months. If the memorial is not repaired within this time, Blandford Forum Town Council will consider taking appropriate action. The Town Council therefore asks that memorials are not leant on or used for support. Visitors are to keep to the footpaths as much as possible in order to avoid shortcuts between memorials. The Town Council staff working at the cemetery understand the importance and significance of the graves and memorials to remaining friends and family.

Please be assured that all memorials will be treated with the utmost care and respect.

Please contact the Operations Manager for further information about the cemetery on 01258 454500 or admin@blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk.

Grit Bins

The Town Council have installed a number of grit bins throughout the town. Please see the link below for locations of grit bins in Blandford Forum.

Dorset County Council has announced that if a grit bin is Strategic then they will be refilled free of charge, however if a grit bin is a Community grit bin the Town Council will be charged £45 to have it filled.

• Grit Bin Locations

Local Winter Maintenance Plan

• Winter Maintenance Plan

Please see the interactive map for more information. Click on the snowflakes to find out whether the grit bin is a community one or a strategic one.

Grass Cutting

The Town Council has taken on the maintenance of several amenity areas in Blandford Forum from the former North Dorset District Council (subject to contract). The areas are on the Damory Down Estate (within the vicinity of Jubilee Way and Holland Way) and are shown shaded/striped in the map below. Highway verges are still being maintained by the Dorset Council.

Blandford Forum Town Council owns, maintains and leases a number of locations in Blandford Forum. Grass cutting is carried out fortnightly throughout April to October, and adjusted where necessary. Currently the Town Council carries out grass cutting at the locations listed below.

• The Cemetery including Cemetery Field
• Closed Churchyard of St Peter and St Paul
• Damory Down Amenity Areas
• Dr David’s Memorial Plot
• Langton Play Area
• Langton Car Park/back of Somerfields
• Larksmead Recreation Ground
• Larksmead Play Area
• Marsh and Ham
• Park Road Recreation Ground
• Park Road Play Area
• Woodhouse Gardens

CCTV/ANPR

The Town Council has been working with the Police since 2004 in providing CCTV coverage in the most needed locations. Since then the Town Council has installed CCTV cameras. These have proved to be valuable to the police on various occasions.

Currently, CCTV is in operation in the following locations:

• At the bottom of Sheepmarket Hill
• At the junction of The Market Place, West Street and Salisbury Street
• Salisbury Street
• The junction of Wimborne Road, Damory Street and East Street

These cameras are viewed by Dorset Police and one of their volunteers, who describes a bit about his role here: https://www.dorset.police.uk/news-information/news-archive/volunteers-week-profile-alan-cctv-volunteer/

• Larksmead Recreation Ground (this is a mobile CCTV camera, which is relocated subject to incidents in the town and vandalism)
• Glenmore Depot (Town Council unit)
• Town Clerk’s Office

These cameras are viewed by the Town Council staff on an ‘as and when’ basis. For example, they will be viewed if there has been an incident and this data will then be shared with the Police.

Please click the following link for the Self-Assessment Tool for the CCTV monitored by the Town Council:

Self assessment tool for the CCTV

In addition, the Town Council agreed in November 2017 to install 4 x Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras in the following locations:

• Milldown Road
• Salisbury Road
• West Street
• Wimborne Road

In March 2019 a fifth ANPR camera was installed in Shaftesbury Lane.

Self Assessment Tool for ANPR

For further information about the use of ANPR cameras please follow the link to Dorset Police website:

https://www.dorset.police.uk/news-information/about-dorset-police/departments-sections/specialist-operations/automatic-number-plate-recognition/

The Town Council owns the systems, however they are managed by Blandford Police (CCTV) and Dorset Police (ANPR).

Allotments

Blandford Forum has two allotment sites.

The Allotment Management Committee runs the management and provision of these sites under the terms of an agreement with the Town Council. If you are interested in having an allotment please use the contact details below to make a request:

• Blandford Allotments Website

Grants

Charitable and voluntary organisations can apply to the Town Council for a grant subject to meeting criteria. The next deadline to receive an application is Monday 1st March 2021.

As of the 1st April 2020 Blandford Forum Town Council will consider free venue hire requests separately from any grant applications.

As part of the Town Council’s pledge to support environmentally friendly and supportive actions the Green Grant has been launched, which offers two match funding grants of £500 per year to community groups wishing to start up an environmentally friendly initiative.

The set of criteria and application forms for a grant or free venue hire are available from our offices or you can download them below

• Grants Criteria Application Form

Grants awarded in the 2020/21 financial year:

In Jolly Good Company – £320 free hall hire and a grant of £1,150.

The Town Council currently has Service Level Agreements in place with local groups/organisations, until 31st March 2022, as follows:

Blandford Youth & Community Centre
£15,000 a year

TREADS
£4,000 a year

Citizen’s Advice Bureau
£2,500 a year

Town Museum
£2,000 a year

Fashion Museum
£2,000 a year

Blandford Information Centre
£2,000 a year

Blandford Stour Valley Band
£1,500 a year (service provision agreement)

In addition, the Town Council supported the Leisure Centre at £50,000 a year, for the financial years 2010/2011, 2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2014/2015, 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020.

The Town Clerk, Responsible Finance Officer and Finance & Staffing Committee at Blandford Forum Town Council, Town Clerk’s Office, Church Lane, Blandford Forum, DT11 7AD, who can be contacted on 01258 454500, will be in control of the data you provide. The information which you provide in this application form and any other information obtained or provided during the course of the application is a contractual requirement to assess your grant application and failure to provide all of the information requested will impact on the likelihood of your organisation being offered a grant. Your information will be used solely for the purpose of assessing the application. A redacted version of grant application will be published in the public domain as part of the Finance & Staffing Committee agenda. If your application is successful or unsuccessful, the information will be retained as part of Town Council administrative and financial records, until there is no longer an administrative requirement, after which time it will be archived at the Dorset History Centre or destroyed after review. You have the right to data portability, request access to, rectification or erasure of your data collected as part of this process.  If your application is successful, the information will form part of our grants payments process and we will be entitled to process it as part of the successful grants process. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner.

Grounds and Maintenance Services

The Town Council has a limited number of staff to carry out its range of functions. However, the Grounds and Maintenance team may be able to assist your organisation or Parish Council with grass cutting should you wish to enter into an agreement with the Town Council to do so. For example, the Grounds team cuts the grass at the Blandford Scout Hut and it also carries out health and safety checks on behalf of Blandford St Mary Parish Council on the outdoor equipment at Stour Meadows. The Dorset Council pay the Town Council to cut the grass verges around the Langton Long car park, long stay. In addition, the Dorset Council contracts the Town Council’s Grounds team to weed kill its car parks in the town and to cut the Marsh & Ham area.

Items for hire

The Town Council offers several items for hire. The list below outlines items that are currently available, to use on site, together with prices:

2020/2021 Charges

(All prices quoted above are for a period of 3 days and excluding VAT)

(All prices quoted above are per event/booking and excluding VAT)

PHOTOCOPYING CHARGES 2020/2021

(All prices quoted above are including VAT)

Prices above are for Blandford Residents/Charities/Organisations. Double for Non Blandford Residents/Organisations

* Please note that the waiver of these charges is at the discretion of the Town Clerk.

Venues for Hire

There are several venues for hire which may be suitable for a range of meetings and activities. To view any of the Town Council’s venues or to make a booking please contact the Bookings Receptionist at the Town Council on 01258 454500 during office hours Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Email: bookings@blandfordforum-tc.gov.uk

To find out more about each venue please see the information below:

The Corn Exchange

Market Place, Blandford Forum, DT11 7AF

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The Corn Exchange is the largest of the Town Council’s venues available for hire by members of the Public.

It has a large stage making it suitable for public performances with rear dressing rooms and toilet facilities. The main hall is large enough to hold “table-top” sales, markets, private functions and receptions. The floor is ideal for dancing. A kitchen is available for use and is equipped with refrigerator, urn, cooker and cups and saucers for 200. Pay and Display car parking is available within easy walking distance. There is disabled access at the main entrance where there are also toilet facilities including disabled. Wifi availability.

The Corn Exchange will hold 200 close seated, standing and dancing. The venue measures 21m x 10m. Tables, chairs and dancing area – maximum numbers 120 Tables and chairs with room for dancing etc., Session times for the hire of the Corn Exchange are as follows:

Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm

Fees and Charges 2020/2021

THURSDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY AND BANK HOLIDAYS (Market Days)

Hire of the Corn Exchange Kitchen Free of Charge

ALL OTHER DAYS

An additional charge of £25.55 per hour or part thereof for bookings before 8 am and after 10.00 pm (applicable to all Town Council venues).

Please note an additional fee of £50.00 applies for Funeral Services.

All prices are exclusive of VAT. Proof of hirers Public Liability Insurance of £1,000,000 minimum is required. Otherwise the Town Council will arrange liability cover at a cost of 11.0% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT

COMMERCIAL HIRE RATES

The Corn Exchange is available to hire for commercial use. Charges and session times are available on request. Terms and conditions apply.

Discounts

The following discounts apply to the above session rates, only one discount is permitted per booking:

1. Blandford based registered charities and a Blandford, non-profit making, community based organisation – 50% discount. Please note that this discount is only applicable if the hire charge is over £50.00.

2. National registered charities – 25% discount.

Discounts 1 and 2 are not applicable to any event where individuals benefit from the sale of any item.

3. Regular users (minimum of 10 pre-booked sessions) – 20% discount

History

The buildings, colloquially known as “The Corn Exchange”, are centrally situated in the Market Place, the main shopping area. They carry a Grade I statutory listing and are located at the heart of a conservation area described as “the most complete and cohesive surviving example of a Georgian country town in England” in the 1970 Donald W. Insall report commissioned by the County Council to assess the area.

The facade of the Town Hall, built in 1734, is a uniquely important and pivotal feature in the centre of the Market Place in Blandford. Its size, design and use of Portland stone facade set it apart from its mostly red-brick Georgian neighbours and afford it a unique position in the 18th century townscape.

This complex of buildings comprise the “Shambles”, the Town Hall room, and Council Chamber, all housed in the original Town Hall building. They are linked by a single storey extension to the Corn Exchange, built in 1858, which has a opening cut through its northern wall to form a proscenium arch into another single storey building which forms the stage. This stage building is in turn is joined to the modern Council Offices built at the back of the complex in 1990. The entire site is wholly owned, run and maintained by Blandford Forum Town Council. The ‘Corn Exchange’ has been the centre of civic functions since 1734 and over its 271 year lifespan has periodically seen injections of local public money to adapt it for uses contemporary to the times.

The Community Room

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Housed within the Town Clerks Office building the Community Room provides a comfortable venue for group meetings and courses. Fully carpeted, this room will accommodate 20 close seated or 9-11 maximum boardroom style. Wifi availability.

A ramp gives good disabled access and a disabled toilet is situated next to the main room. A Pay and Display car park is adjacent to the Town Clerks Office (maximum stay 2 hours).

Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm

Fees and Charges 2020/2021

Refreshments (tea or coffee) can be ordered at a cost of 80p + VAT per head.

An additional charge of £25.55 per hour or part thereof for bookings before 8 am and after 10.00 pm (applicable to all Town Council venues).

All prices are exclusive of VAT. Proof of hirers Public Liability Insurance of £1,000,000 minimum is required. Otherwise the Town Council will arrange liability cover at a cost of 11.0% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT

Discounts

Discount for Regular users (minimum of 10 pre-booked sessions) – 20%.

The Cemetery Chapel

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Set within the grounds of Blandford Cemetery, the recently refurbished Cemetery Chapel provides a perfect venue for small funeral services, talks or meetings.

The Cemetery Chapel can hold up to 48 people seated on centre facing pews.  Please note that this venue currently does not have any toilet facilities.

Fees and Charges 2020/2021

An additional charge of £25.55 per hour or part thereof for bookings before 8am and after 10.00pm (applicable to all Town Council venues).

All prices are exclusive of VAT. Proof of hirers Public Liability Insurance of £1,000,000 minimum is required. Otherwise the Town Council will arrange liability cover at a cost of 11.0% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT.

Please click here to read the history of the chapel. 

The Shambles

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The area inside the gates at the front of the Corn Exchange.

Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm

Fees and Charges 2020/2021

THURSDAY/SATURDAY/SUNDAY AND BANK HOLIDAYS (Market Traders)

The above prices include VAT at 20%.

MONDAY/TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY (Charities/Blandford non-profit making, community based organisations – For the sale of items the following charges apply.)

The above prices do not include VAT at 20%.

Discounts

Charities/Blandford non-profit making, community based organisations – Free of charge (including one trestle table) for the promotion of their charity/organisation or licensed charity collections.

The Town Hall

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Situated on the first floor (no disabled access) at the front of the Corn Exchange. The Town Hall is suitable for group meetings and courses and can accommodate 50 people maximum. Pay and display car parking is available within easy walking distance. Wifi availability.

Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm

Fees and Charges 2020/2021

An additional charge of £25.55 per hour or part thereof for bookings before 8am and after 10.00pm (applicable to all Town Council venues).

All prices are exclusive of VAT. Proof of hirers Public Liability Insurance of £1,000,000 minimum is required. Otherwise the Town Council will arrange liability cover at a cost of 11% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT

Discounts

Discount for Regular users (minimum of 10 pre-booked sessions) – 20%.

The Council Chamber

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Next to the Town Hall the Council Chamber (no disabled access) offers a traditional setting for formal meetings or smaller groups and can accommodate up to 15 seated around the large meeting table. Wifi availability.

Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm

Fees and Charges 2020/2021

An additional charge of £25.55 per hour or part thereof for bookings before 8 am and after 10.00 pm (applicable to all Town Council venues).

All prices are exclusive of VAT. Proof of hirers Public Liability Insurance of £1,000,000 minimum is required. Otherwise the Town Council will arrange liability cover at a cost of 11% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT

Discounts

Discount for Regular users (minimum of 10 pre-booked sessions) – 20%.

Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion

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Situated within Woodhouse Public Gardens next to the main Post Office in the centre of the town, Woodhouse Gardens Pavilion has been extended to introduce two accessible toilets, a storage cupboard for hirers and a larger kitchen.

The approved design for the extension was not what the Town Council originally applied for, which was an extension flush to the existing building with a matching roof. The Planning Authority required some form of distinction ‘to define the existing from the proposed and avoid exacerbating the already long narrow linear building form’, hence why the extension is set back from the existing building and a sinusoidal corrugated metal roofing sheet has been employed instead of tiles. The internal design was drawn up based on responses to a consultation carried out with regular hirers on how the building could be improved.

The Town Council has funded the majority of improvements but would especially like to thank the National Lottery’s Awards for All Fund for the grant of £10,000, helping to make this project possible.

Thanks to Greendale Construction Ltd and Simon Morgan MCIAT of Forum-based Morgan Design Studio LTD for their work throughout the project. Greendale Construction Ltd is based in Poole and have used local contractors for the project, which included:
Jason Ive Building and Carpentry
DC Electrical
Sam Christopher Building
Gary Manson Heating & Plumbing Engineers

The redundant windows have been claimed by a resident for inclusion in a learning resource centre/library being built in Zambia, as part of the charity ‘Future Pillars Zambia’, which is fantastic to see them being reused instead of disposing them.

The pavilion has been popular with community groups, local clubs and individuals over the years and is used for everything from poetry, painting and crafts to formal training, coffee mornings, birthday parties and christenings.  Set on one level a ramp is provided for disabled access, the Pavilion will accommodate 60 close seated. There is Pay and Display parking within easy walking distance. Wifi availability.

Morning Session 8.00am to 1.00pm
Afternoon Session 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Evening Session 6.00pm to 10.00pm

Fees and Charges 2020/2021

An additional charge of £25.55 per hour or part thereof for bookings before 8am and after 10.00pm (applicable to all Town Council venues).

All prices are exclusive of VAT. Proof of hirers Public Liability Insurance of £1,000,000 minimum is required. Otherwise the Town Council will arrange liability cover at a cost of 11.0% of the hire charges + Insurance Premium Tax + VAT

Discounts

Discount for Regular users (minimum of 10 pre-booked sessions) – 20%.

Other venues for hire

Blandford Scout HQ

Eagle House Gardens, Blandford Forum, DT11 7BT.

Website: www.blandfordscoutgroup.org

Blandford Evangelical Church

Albert Street, Blandford Forum. For further info contact: Administrator on 01258 450689 or 01258 459756.

Website: www.becbygrace.com

Blandford United Reformed Church

Salisbury Street, Blandford Forum.

Website: www.blandfordurc.com

Pimperne Village Hall

Pimperne, Dorset. For further info contact: Robina Pierrepont on 01258 459034 (Evenings).

Website: www.pimperne.org.uk

Archbishop Wake Primary School

Black Lane, Blandford Forum, DT11 8SW.

Website: http://www.archbishopwake.dorset.sch.uk/useful-links/

The Blandford School

Milldown Road, Blandford Forum

Website: https://www.blandfordschool.org.uk/

Durweston Village Hall

Website: http://www.durweston.org.uk/village-hall/

Charlton Marshall Village Hall

Bookings/Enquiries  01258 456572 / 01258 488431
email: info@charltonmarshallvillagehall.co.uk

Other Services

Notice Boards

The Town Council has notice boards in the following locations, which display Town Council agendas, news and events:

Balmer Road Play Area
Heddington Drive
Hunt Road
Town Clerk’s office
Holland Way
Langton Road Play Area
Salisbury Road
Corn Exchange

Should you wish to display a notice, the Town Council also has two community notice boards on the Tabernacle public convenience building, next to the Post Office and Woodhouse Gardens. Please print your poster and bring it into the office so we can arrange to display it for you.

Council Tax

The Dorset Council is the local authority responsible for collecting Council Tax. If you have any enquiries about your Council Tax please call 0345 0344 569.

The council tax charge for North Dorset residents is made up of charges for the Dorset Council, Dorset Police Authority, Dorset Fire Authority and the parish or town council.

Housing

Housing advice in North Dorset is available at:

North Dorset District Council, Nordon, Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7LL – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays will be appointments only, Thursdays drop in between 10am-3pm.

Email: housingoptionsteamb@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Phone: 01305 838400

OR

at Gillingham Direct Tuesday 9am-1pm Appointments only (cancelled until November 2012) Friday 9am-1pm Appointments only

Anybody facing immediate homelessness outside these hours can contact the out of hours service on 01202 733255

Highway issues and Street Lighting

The Dorset Council is the authority that is in charge of the above services, however will not accept requests from individuals and look toward the Town Council to assess at a lower level whether the suggested amendment would be acceptable to the local community. Therefore if you have a request in relation to these matters then please Contact Us

Town Twinning

Blandford Forum is twinned with Mortain, Normandy, France.

The Blandford & Mortain Twinning Association promotes the interests of individuals, groups, clubs and associations between the two towns of Blandford Forum, Dorset and Mortain, Normandy. New members are always welcome – please contact the Secretary for details.

Mr Steve Thornewill, Secretary, 16 Orchard Street, Blandford Forum DT11 7QZ

Email: steventhornewill@gmail.com

Blandford Forum is also twinned with Preetz, North Germany.

Blandford & Preetz Twinning Association is an Anglo/German exchange group for student and adult exchange visits between the two towns of Blandford Forum and Preetz in North Germany. The student exchange has been running for almost 50 years and the adult exchange has just celebrated its 30th anniversary. During the year we hold various social events for all members and friends, in the form of Dining in Nights, Beetle Drives and a Summer Social.

Mrs Carole Brannigan, Secretary (Tel: 01258 459452)

Email: blandfordpreetzsociety@aol.co.uk