Saturday Big Breakfast
Get ready for the famous Sherborne Club Big Breakfast in aid of Kate’s Home Nursing, Bourton on the Water.
SATURDAY APRIL 18TH, 10AM-12PM at Sherborne Club.
£10 per person.
Dirty Business
/in News /by Website AdminA compelling three part expose which is well worth watching.
Wikipedia: The series portrays a decade-long investigation into sewage contaminated water by Water Companies in Oxfordshire carried out by two neighbours, Ashley Smith, a former police detective, and Peter Hammond, a Professor of Computational Biology, who notice fish in the local Windrush river are dying, and receive help from a sewage plant whistle blower. The series also follows a family who lost an eight-year old daughter due to E-coli poisoning.
Channel 4: In an idyllic Oxfordshire hamlet, the fish in the river keep dying. Why? David Thewlis and Jason Watkins lead this shocking real-life drama of victims, whistleblowers and England’s water companies.
Link to the series: Watch Dirty Business | Stream free on Channel 4
Electrifying News
/in News /by Website AdminOn behalf on the National Trust’s Renewable Energy Programme based in York, Ellie Howie has kindly extended an invitation to the upcoming consultation event due to be held on 31st March. In her own words:
I want to inform Sherborne Parish Council of an upcoming public consultation event we are hosting for the Windrush Solar PV proposal.
Date: Tuesday 31st March 2026. Time: 1pm – 6pm. Venue: Windrush Village Hall, Windrush, OX18 4TT
It is a ‘drop in’ event, where people can call in to find out more about the Solar PV proposal – we will be there to answer any questions and take any feedback.
Please may you share details of the event with your fellow Parish Councillors and local community? That would be much appreciated.
Kind regards, Ellie.
It’s really great that the National Trust is including the community early. Thank you Ellie.
Just one more sleep night to go!
/in News /by Website AdminWishing you a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and all the best for 2026.
2025 has been a busy year and thank you for your ongoing support.
All best wishes.
Yvonne, Tom, Hannah, Andrew, Ed, Cecelia, and Stephen.
National Trust Planning Application in the news
/in News /by Website AdminThe Times – National Trust backs down after outcry over parkland’s ‘managed decline’.
Update: National Trust Planning Application
/in News /by Website AdminHello all
Earlier today, the Parish Council received the following update from the National Trust.
“Just a short note to let you know that we have decided to withdraw the Brook Planning application based on advice from the planning department. I have been in touch with Joanne Reeves this morning.”
(Joanne Reeves is the District Council’s case officer responsible for this particular application.)
We will of course seek a meeting with the Trust as soon as possible to understand potential next steps and will keep you updated on progress.
In the meantime, thank you for your continued interest in all things Sherborne.
Reminder: National Trust ‘Drop-in’ session
/in News /by Website AdminAsk anything you like – the next community drop-in session will be held on Tuesday 2nd December between 5:00pm
and 6.30pm at the National Trust estate office.
National Trust Planning Application
/in News /by Website AdminThe Parish Council’s (PC) objection document is complete, along with five supporting Appendices, and has been published by Cotswold District Council (CDC) (District Council Consultation).
A big thank you to everyone who contributed with their ideas, written content, historical images, and financial contributions towards the Hydrological Review. We now wait to see what the National Trust and CDC decide to do next.
As of yesterday evening (21st) there were 51 objections in addition to the PC’s submission. Included within the PC’s main objection document, there is a summary of all 51 objections which makes interesting reading. It is repeated here – Update: National Trust Sherborne Brook Restoration – Sherborne Parish Council
Do please take a few minutes (actually, lots of minutes as there is a lot of material to digest) to look through each of the documents and please feel free to forward to others who may be interested.
In the meantime, best wishes and do keep in touch.
Update: National Trust Planning Application
/in News /by Website Admin27 October update
Cotswold District Council (CDC) consultation
According to the CDC’s website (25/02583/FUL Documents & comments) the consultation period has been extended to 24 November. If you weren’t able to submit your comments first time around, there is now a further opportunity to do so at 25/02583/FUL | Add your comments.
As of today, over 50 comments have been added including those representing planning consultees (Environment Agency, Gardens Trust, CDC Biodiversity, etc.). Do take a moment to have a look through.
Community questionnaire
Thank you to everyone who took time to complete an online or paper questionnaire. We received nearly 50 replies, and they are being analysed this week. The summary report will be included within the PC’s response to CDC.
Technical appraisal of the Application
In addition to representing the Community’s voice via the questionnaire and ongoing face to face discussions, the PC has commissioned an independent technical assessment of the Application to help shed light on the intricacies of the proposed scheme (some 250 pages across more that 20 comments) and to provide a view on how the scheme is likely to perform against its stated objectives.
The commission is possible thanks to many generous donations received from 17 members of the community. The PC is very grateful indeed. Thank you.
The full report will be included within the PC’s response to CDC.
In the news
As many of you will have read, several media outlets have featured the planning application. Links to the various articles are provided below. If you have seen other articles or features, please let the PC know via clerk@sherborneparish.org.
26 September
Punchline Gloucester National Trust shares plans for Sherborne wetlands
“The National Trust has submitted a planning application to Cotswold District Council for Sherborne wetlands, a project to increase nature-rich environments for wildlife to thrive and help conserve open water on the Sherborne Brook”
11 October
Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard Sherborne wetlands planning application from National Trust
“The National Trust has put forward a planning application to Cotswold District Council for Sherborne wetlands, near Bourton.”
25 October
The Times National Trust accused of ‘killing’ cherished Cotswolds landscape
“The charity’s plans to rewild part of the Sherborne estate have provoked fury, as villagers say decades of neglect have left the lakes in ruin”
Restore Trust National Trust accused of ‘killing’ cherished Cotswolds landscape
“The charity’s plans to rewild part of the Sherborne estate have provoked fury, as villagers say decades of neglect have left the lakes in ruin”
26 October
GB News National Trust blasted for ‘destroying’ beautiful English countryside
“A parish council has warned of ‘major concerns’ over a ‘potential adverse heritage impact upon the historic parkland’”
In the meantime
Do please get in touch if you would like to discuss the Application.
Reminder: National Trust Planning Application – Make your voice count
/in News /by Website Admin15 October 2025
Planning Application: 25/02583/FUL|Wetland enhancement works upstream of Sherborne Broadwater to reconnect river with floodplain, manage silt, preserve open water, improve biodiversity, and mitigate flood risk
Thank you to everyone who has already shared their views with the District Council and the Parish Council. Whatever your thoughts about the proposed scheme and it’s relative merits, please take a few minutes to respond to the District Council’s consultation.
You can:
- submit your comments (by 21 October) via the District Council’s Planning Portal – Link to District Council comments page,
- complete a Parish Council online questionnaire – Parish Council online questionnaire
- complete a Parish Council paper questionnaire – Parish Council paper questionnaire (Please return your completed questionnaire via the Village Shop, directly to a Parish Councillor, or simply take a picture of the completed pages and email them to clerk@sherborneparish.org.
- or write to Joanne Reeves, Case Officer, Planning Department, Cotswold District Council, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1PX (remember to quote reference 25/02583/FUL)
All the published documents, and responses received by the District Council so far, can be viewed here – 25/02583/FUL | Wetland enhancement works upstream of Sherborne Broadwater to reconnect river with floodplain, manage silt, preserve open water, improve biodiversity, and mitigate flood risk | Sherborne Brook Sherborne Gloucestershire