Beer Parish council say they are ‘delighted’ to announce Cowersley Way, the long awaited off-road track from Long Hill to Beer Hill in the village, is now open. Read this and more.

FOOTPATH: Beer Parish council say they are ‘delighted’ to announce Cowersley Way, the long awaited off-road track from Long Hill to Beer Hill in the village, is now open. A final surface dressing will be applied when the warmer weather arrives in the spring, along with planting along the boundary fence, and a formal opening will take place. The council said: “The track will benefit all users, motorists, cyclists, equestrians and pedestrians. It will also benefit the communities of Beer and Seaton, along with the many visitors to the area.”

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SERVICES FOR ALL: St Winfred’s Church is introducing a new type of church service, suitable for all ages. There will be four services a year, taking place on the fifth Sunday of the month at the Branscombe church. Organisers say although the church has toy bags available at its regular weekly services, the content of the services is directed at an adult audience, and wanted to create something more inclusive. The first of the new-type of service will be held on Sunday, January 29 at 11.15am to celebrate the Feast of Candlemass. The rector, the Reverend Nigel Freathy, said it was important to realise it was not a children’s service, but a service for all ages, and will last around 40 minutes.

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TALK: The first of the ‘Winter Talks’ in 2012 organised by The Branscombe Project is by a Cambridge professor on prehistoric rock art in the Italian Alps. Chris Chippindale will give a lecture on Monday, January 30, at 7.30pm in the village hall. The other upcoming talks will be on February 27, when Phil Planel will talk on the ‘In the footsteps of Orlando Hutchinson project’, while on March 26, Andrew Burton talks on ‘Cow Pats, Untouchables and Installation Art in India’. There will also be a drama-documentary by Barbara Farquharson, Elsie Mayo and John Torrance about Literary Visitors to Branscombe on April 30.

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FILM: The first screening in the Beer Film Society’s Winter Programme is an Italian comedy about secrets and lies in a family business. Loose Cannons, starring Riccardo Scamarcio, will be shown on Monday, January 23, 7.30pm at Steamers restaurant. The membership list is now full, but non-members may buy tickets on the evening for �5 if there is room.

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BOOK: The Beer Arts Group is holding the first of its ‘bookclub’ events on Tuesday, January 17 in the meeting room at the Anchor Inn on Fores Street at 7pm to discuss ‘The Tent, the Bucket and Me’ by comedian Emma Kennedy. For more information contact Martin Cox at mcoxbeer@gmail.com.

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STUDY: The Christian Study Group with St Winifred’s Church, Branscombe, returns in 2012 on January 27 at 2.30pm, meeting at 5 Mill Lane in the village. The group will continue its study of Matthew’s Gospel.

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SIGN: To help prevent further car parking issues in Bucknall Close in Branscombe, the district council could install a new sign. The Housing Review Board meeting on January 12 will decide on a report into car parking at council houses, with recommendations for a number of proposals for new signs, including providing one at the bottom of the residential estate in Branscombe, clearly stating car parking is for residents only.