This is a website for and about the Char Valley and its residents. On this page you'll find updates about the Coronavirus, what to do if you need help and links to local information and resources. Use the menu above to find other local information, including a section on and about the Char Valley Parish Council.

Next Parish Council Meeting: Online, Monday 8th Feb 2021 ~ All Welcome
Agenda and Reports for Jan 2021 Parish Council meeting ~
Minutes from Nov 2020 Council meeting

Please respond to Dorset Council's Climate Change Strategy:

Find out more about Dorset Council's Climate Change Plan and how to respond.
You must stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. 
  • stay at home - you must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary (such as to buy food, medical reasons, exercise, go to work if you can't work from home)
  • exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person should be limited to once per day. You should not travel outside your local area
  • do not meet others - you cannot leave your home to meet socially with anyone you do not live with or are not in a support bubble with
  • schools and colleges - will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until February half term. Early Years settings like pre-schools and nurseries remain open
  • travel - if you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local in the village, town, or part of the city where you live. You may leave your local area for a legally permitted reason, such as for work

​Local information, help and support ​

Update from Char Valley Parish Council for anyone needing help in relation to Coronavirus or because of other health or practical needs.

Coronavirus -
​Local information​

The latest briefing from Dorset Council is available here.

15th January update: Reported cases of Covid-19 in the Dorset Council area (excludes Bournemouth/Poole):
  • 1261 new cases | 8th - 15th Jan
  • 1171 new cases | 1st - 8th Jan
  • 744 new cases | 26th Dec - 1st Jan
  • 455 new cases | 18th - 25th Dec
  • 174 new cases | 10th - 17th Dec
  • 150 new cases | 2nd - 9th Dec
  • 167 new cases | 24th Nov - 1st Dec
  • 263 new cases | 16th - 23rd Nov
  • 420 new cases | 8th - 15th Nov
  • 365 new cases | 1st - 7th Nov
  • 390 new cases | 25th - 31st Oct
  • 414 new cases | 18th - 25th Oct
  • 245 new cases | 11th - 17th Oct
  • 182 new cases | 4th - 10th Oct
  • 93 new cases | 28th Sept - 4th Oct
  • 29 new cases | 22nd-28th Sept
  • 18 new cases | 16th-22nd Sept​
Case rates
Case rates per 100,000 of the population for the Dorset Council area, the South West region and England in the latest 7-day period. 
Date          Dorset Council |    South West |   England 
3 Jan - 10 Jan    333.2              390.1             622.3
27 Dec - 2 Jan  309.4              344.1             612.1
18-27 Dec          120.2              174.6             401.9
10-17 Dec           46.0                93.3             206.6
2-9 Dec             39.6                79.3              153.0
24 Nov - 1 Dec  44.1                91.2                167.2
16-23 Nov         69.5                139.7             209.1
9-16 Nov          111.0                  195.4             273.4
1-8 Nov             96.4                 166.0             246.9
25-31 Oct        103.0                 147.6             229.4
18-24 Oct        110.0                  127.9             225.9
11-17 Oct           65.1                   157.6             169.7
4-10 Oct           48.2                   134.6             147.1
28 Sep-4 Oct  24.7                    92.1              118.1
22-28 Sep.       7.7                     33.2              55.1
12-18 Sep         5.6                     20.4              38.1

Coronavirus -
Local information​

Coronavirus -
​Dorset Council information​

(Anyone vulnerable who has nobody to help get them food, medicine, etc. should call the Dorset Council helpline on 01305 221022, (lines open 8am - 8pm, 7 days a week).
Council services update
  • Household Recycling Centres (the tip) – open, but please only go if essential
  • Rubbish collections - running as normal
  • Car parks and public toilets – open
  • Country parks - open with COVID arrangements in place
  • Libraries – open for Order and Collect service only
  • Registration services - registering births and deaths as normal. Wedding and civil partnership ceremonies not permitted except in exceptional circumstances
  • Funerals - restricted to 30 people
  • Tourist Information Centres – face to face service closed, phone and email enquiries only
  • Harbours – closed to recreational or leisure boating including use of slipways, commercial operators remain unaffected at this time 
  • Leisure centres – closed
  • History centre and archives – closed

Other Local Information​

First Group Bus Information and Timetables X51 and X53

Transport Updates from WATAG: W. Dorset Western Area Transport Action Grp​
​
​Bridport Local Area Partnership
  • NHS Dorset Health Care - 0300 123 5440
  • Dorset Covid-19 Response Hub - 01305 221022
  • Harmony - 07597 379290
  • Dorset Community Action - 01202 847609
  • Age UK - 01305 269444
  • Dorset Digital Hotline - 01305 221000 (Mon-Fri 10am -12noon)

​Bridport Co-Housing
  • Rector of the Golden Cap Church Team, Chris Martin: 07546 214651
  • Charmouth Pharmacy: 01297 560261
  • Charmouth Surgery: 01297 560872

​Local Shops
  • Charmouth Stores: 01297 560304
  • Chideock Post Office and Shop: 01297 489584
  • Felicity’s Farm Shop: 01297 480930 
  • Mole Avon: 01297 32441
  • Moore’s Bakery: 01297 489821 
  • Morgan’s, Charmouth: 01297 560202
  • Spar, Newlands Holiday Park: 01297 560259
  • Bartlett’s Country Stores: 01308 422204
Citizens Advice  offer a full range of advice including help with:
  • Benefits entitlement and claims
  • Debt management and budgeting
  • Employment advice including Statutory Sick Pay and rights when laid off 
  • Advice for the self employed
Contact the Dorset Adviceline on 0344 411 1444 or email your local branch: Bridport: advice@bridport-cab.org.uk

  • Samaritans: 116123
  • Bridport Coronavirus Support Group: 01308 808900
  • See the help that the Bridport Group can offer, even outside Bridport, here.
  • Marshwood Vale Young Farmers Club: 07901 336382

Recycling message from Dorset Council:
​Please dispose of your batteries safely

Please don’t put your batteries in your rubbish bin or recycling bin. Batteries in collection vehicles have long been associated with vehicle fires. There has been a spate of 3 of them recently, in close succession, in the Dorset Council area - they caused considerable cost to the council and disruption to residents.

Please put batteries in your red bag for recycling and place on top of your glass box or recycling bin. Alternatively, many shops selling batteries provide a recycling point in store. Order a battery bag