in no particular order: Terry Cordery, The Mayor Cllr Mrs Pauline Reynolds holding the town plan, Jean Turner (with flowers), Lynn Ovens, Cathy Lugg, Christine Coleman, George Berger, Ron Tomlin, David Parkinson and Kevin Moore
Following three years of hard work, Ferndown Town Plan was officially handed over to the Mayor of Ferndown, Cllr Pauline Reynolds, by the Town Plan Steering Committee on 7 March at the Barrington Centre.
During the celebratory evening there was an exhibition, and copies of the final document were available for residents to take away.
Some, including the mayor, were confused about the event, thinking that during the evening they would hear about the Town Plan. Instead they enjoyed a buffet and entertainment from the Voice of Ferndown winners Harmony Twist, runner-up Katharine Levi and West End performer Richard Sidaway (manager of the Stone Lounge).
Some of those who attended were under the misapprehension that the event was funded by the Town Council, but this was dismissed by the Mayor who said,
“The whole evening was arranged by the Town Plan Steering Committee. It was not a Town Council event.
“As the Town Mayor I was an invited guest to their evening of entertainment to accept on behalf of the Town Council the Town Plan document.
“Although the evening was not as I expected it to be, nothing must be taken from the group for their outstanding work in producing the plan for Ferndown.”
The Town Plan Steering Committee (not to be confused with the Town Planning Committee) is a group of residents who volunteered along with two councilors to produce the Town Plan. Funding came from grants from Dorset Community Action, Dorset Strategic Partnership and Ferndown Town Council. Chairman Kevin Moore said, “We kept well within budget. That’s why we were able to run the celebratory evening to heighten awareness of the plan.”
For a full report of the event see the next issue of 4Dorset.
If you are going to complain about a free buffet and free entertainment that was laid on for you by the Town Plan Steering Committee who is a group of residents and who have volunteered along with two councillor’s again who produced the Town Plan on your behalf as a way of saying thank you to the residents of Ferndown, well you really are an ungrateful member of our community, Get a grip and stop moaning.