Cutt Mill campaign closes on a picnic

By lmale

A CAMPAIGN to save an old Dorset water mill from falling into disrepair is to end – with a party.

Margaret Marsh's Tom and Diana Barrett, the couple at the forefront of plans to preserve Cutt Mill near Hinton St Mary, are hosting a thank you picnic on Sunday 19th July at Sturminster Mill for those who supported their efforts to save the 18th century mill on the Pitt-River's estate, even though its future is still uncertain.

An exhibition about Cutt Mill starts on Saturday 18th July and runs until Monday 20th July at Sturminster Museum.

Anyone with old photographs, footage or historical information about Cutt Mill is encouraged to bring it along on the day of the picnic.

Mrs Barrett said: "The picnic will give us the opportunity to thank those who tried to save the mill as well as inform them of what's probably not going to happen with it now and why. A tremendous amount of people tried to help save it. At the moment, it doesn't seem as though our plans have been successful, but everyone's efforts have resulted in a wonderful photographic archive, hence the exhibition," she said.

There will be the opportunity to walk to Cutt Mill from Sturminster during the afternoon. The mill forms part of a trio on the Stour with Fiddleford Mill and Sturminster Mill.

North Dorset District Council supported plans to preserve it during 2007 after listening to public demand.

Richard Miller, agent for the Pitt-River's estate, said that this process was moving extremely slowly.

"It's frustrating for everyone involved. We went through the process of trying to find a long lease throughout 2007 and 2008, which was the result of a lot of publicity about the site. Three tenders came forward to take on the mill and we chose the one whom we thought was best-placed to start the re-building process. But sadly he withdrew and we were back to square one."

Mr Miller said investigations into Cutt Mill's future were still ongoing.

Laura Male

lmale@bvmedia.co.uk