Lyme Regis, Charmouth, Chideock, Symondsbury, Bridport, Burton Bradstock, Shipton Gorge, Chilcombe, Puncknowle and Swyre, Litton Cheney, Long Bredy, Kingston Russell and Little Bredy.
At the first Community Conversation, held on Tuesday 15 September at Bridport United Church, participants from the voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations, town and parish councils, health partners, Dorset Council and elected members discussed a range of issues and opportunities for the local area.
Several themes and insights emerged from these discussions, helping to shape a second, more focused conversation about priorities and future actions, which will take place on Friday 30 October at Woodmead Halls, Lyme Regis.
Create clearer opportunities for communities to influence decisions earlier, supported by transparent feedback on actions taken. Provide a visible local route into Dorset Council through a recognisable locality-based contact or team that understands local needs, connects people to the right services and maintains strong relationships with town, parish and community networks.
Increase affordable and social-rent housing across Bridport, Lyme Regis and rural west Dorset, enabling local people, families and key workers to remain in the area. Hidden poverty remains a significant challenge, with low wages and increasing housing and living costs.
Strengthen local employment, apprenticeships, vocational and creative training, and initiatives such as Cradle to Career, reducing reliance on difficult or expensive travel to Weymouth, Yeovil and Exeter for education and progression.
Improve access to GPs, NHS dentistry, mental health, learning disability and community support, particularly where people in Lyme Regis and rural communities currently depend on travelling to Bridport, Dorchester, Weymouth or further afield.
Build on west Dorset's strong community assets and voluntary sector by supporting sustainable funding, stronger partnerships and community-led initiatives, while addressing volunteer fatigue, succession planning and reliance on a small number of active individuals.
Improve reliable, affordable connections between Bridport, Lyme Regis, the Bride Valley, Dorchester, Weymouth, Yeovil and Axminster/Exeter, particularly evening and Sunday services, bus-to-rail connections, hospital journeys and accessible transport.
Transfer suitable local assets or responsibilities only where long-term funding, skills, governance and capacity accompany them, avoiding the transfer of unsupported liabilities to town and parish councils or voluntary organisations.
