New Milton Advertiser 11th Dec 2020

10 · Friday 11th December 2020

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News

Poems published in Bob’s memory for food charity

Forest crossroads blackspot revamp goes before NPA

PLANS to reconfigure a dan- gerous New Forest junction are set to be decided by the nation- al park authority. Hampshire County Council has applied for planning per- mission to realign a section of highway at Ipley crossroads near Beaulieu, which has been the scene of two fatal accidents in recent years. Under the plans, a new sec- tion of carriageway on the ap- proach of the C97 from the west would join the Beaulieu Road at an angle of 90 degrees 50 metres south of the current crossroads. HCC aims to complete the £450,000 project before the ground-nesting bird season be- gins in March. The meeting point of the C63 Beaulieu Road and the C97 at Ipley crossroads has become a major New Forest accident hot- spot with two fatalities and 11 serious-injury accidents report- ed between January 2011 and August 2019. The proposed new layout, in- volving a T-junction for traffic

travelling east or west on the C97, would force traffic to slow down and give way in order to join Beaulieu Road. Once completed the effec- tiveness of the project will be monitored for five years. So far seven members of the public have commented in sup- port of the scheme, describing the current road layout as ex- tremely dangerous to cyclists. One wrote: “It’s always a nervous experience for me when approaching this junction while cycling to/from Beaulieu as many drivers appear only to take a cursory view of the traffic when crossing the junction. “A friend of mine sadly died at the junction. A needless loss of a life.” As part of the scheme, an area of grassland will also be returned to grazing at Wilverley Cross in a land swap deal nego- tiated with Forestry England and supported by the verderers. The public have until 16th December to comment on the plans.

THE family of a former food bank volunteer who died from the coronavirus are set to pub- lish a book of his poetry to raise money for charity. Barton resident Bob Salt- er, who was also president of Highcliffe Rotary Club, died of Covid-19 in October, just weeks after penning verses inspired by the NHS’s efforts fighting the pandemic. ‘Kind and generous’ volunteer died after contracting Covid-19 BY ROZ WATERS

es who are working so hard, day in day out, battling this terrible illness.” Bob and Carol, who met at school, moved to Barton 14 years ago after he retired from a successful career as a market- ing manager. Bob had always been a keen writer, and last year put togeth- er a book of his poetry and sto- ries as a gift to his five grand- children. Featuring poems inspired by his childhood, the First World War, family life and wife Car- ol, the book, Touched by Life, was also gifted to several close friends. This year Bob penned four more verses inspired by the NHS, the way communities had come together during the pan- demic, and the fragility of life. Carol said: “Bob was always incredibly thankful for all that he had. He understood how quickly things can change. Do- ing deliveries for the Basics Bank always affected him as he was very moved by the difficult circumstances so many people found themselves in – and he just wanted to help.” As his family continue com- ing to terms with their loss, they have decided to reprint Touched by Life with the addi- tion of the four new poems, in-

cluding an untitled verse that he was working on when he was taken ill. Featuring 40 poems alongside family tributes and a collection of Bob’s recollections and sto- ries, the book will be on sale for £3 with all proceeds donated to Christians Against Poverty. Bob’s granddaughter Emma said: “Grandad spent his whole life looking after others and giv- ing to charity, so we decided to publish this book as a way of continuing his legacy and re- membering how many lives he touched.” The family also plan to print extra copies as gifts to some of the NHS staff who cared for Bob. To purchase a copy of Bob’s book email bobsalts poetry@hotmail.com Bob’s poem For Your Tomor- row, comparing wartime with the struggles of the pandemic, is one of his latest that will fea- ture in the collection. The final lines read: One day when you’re older, I’ll talk more about the war, Not about the bad things, but all the wonders that I saw. Now go to sleep beside me for tonight there is no sorrow, And I’ll remember those who fought and won to bring you your tomorrow.

His family are now preparing to publish a collection of his work to raise money for Chris- tians Against Poverty. Bob and his wife Carol were popular members of New Milton’s New Life Church and longstanding helpers with the New Forest Basics Bank. Daughter Georgina said: “My father’s death had left an enor-

From left: Bob’s wife Carol, granddaughter Emma and daughter Georgina, and (inset) Bob

The family said staff at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital were incredible in their care of Bob who despite having CLL, a type of blood cancer, was de- scribed as one of their fittest patients. Georgina said: “It is a horren- dous disease. It must be so dif- ficult for the doctors and nurs-

mous hole in all of our lives. He was such a kind and generous man who would do anything for anyone. “He was fit and well – he was out mowing the lawn just weeks before he died, and then he started to develop a cough and temperature.” Appeal over plan for four-bed home rejected AN appeal to replace a Hordle outbuilding with a four-bed- room house has been dismissed by a planning inspector. Proposals for the two-storey dwelling on land adjacent to Dene Lodge in Vaggs Lane were thrown out by the national park authority on the grounds they would harm the character of the area. An appeals inspector agreed its “considerable bulk” would be at odds with its rural setting.

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Nurses make waves in hospice swim fundraiser

TWO nurses braved freez- ing cold seas to complete a month-long swimming chal- lenge to raise over £6,000 for the Christchurch hospice where they work. Rachel Easton, a clinical nurse specialist, and staff nurse Holly Warren support people with life-limiting illnesses at the Macmillan day centre which is currently closed due to the pan- demic. Many of their patients are shielding and often have very little outside contact, so Ra- chel and Holly decided to raise funds to help keep them in touch online. Each day before or after work since the end of October, they have swum off beaches between Boscombe Pier and Mudeford, covering a kilometre between them, with the goal of swimming a total of 34km – the shortest distance to France across the English Channel. All the money they raised will go to the charity Macmillan Caring Locally which supports the day centre and the Macmil- lan unit hospice. Both Holly and Rachel have experienced the care the centre offers personally as well as pro- fessionally. Rachel’s dad and Holly’s stepdad were both sup-

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Holly Warren and Rachel Easton (right) swam the distance of the Eng- lish Channel between Mudeford and Boscombe Pier

ported there during their termi- nal illnesses. Rachel said: “It hasn’t always been enjoyable getting changed on a beach, with numb fingers, sometimes in the rain. “But there have been so many laughs and we once even saw a shooting star. “I know we’ve both been completely bowled over by the all the support shown to us and people have been so generous. We’ll never forget it.” Holly added: “It’s been a fan- tastic experience – cold, but fantastic! We are over the moon to have raised so much money.

“We have provided online sessions such as yoga and quiz/ chat sessions and we have also bought materials so people can take part in online practical sessions at home.” The women’s efforts were praised by day centre patient Paul James, who said: “If we vul- nerable ones are to get through this pandemic it is events like this that will make sure we are not a bunch of depressed folk at the end.” The nurses can still be spon- sored at www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/rachel-holly-pallia tive-nurses

If you are interested in your child attending Burley Primary School

children.

New parking charges to fight lengthy campervan stays

The deadline for applying for Year R places for September 2021 is 15th January 2021. Spaces also available in some other year groups – please contact the school office. Burley Open Day

Sopley Open Day Thursday 7th January - 9.30am Please contact the school; 01425 672343 or email adminoffice@sopley.hants.sch.uk to book a virtual session

Please contact the school; 01425 403375 or email adminoffice@burley.hants.sch.uk to book a virtual session

NEW Forest District Council will introduce new car parking charges at Keyhaven in a bid to prevent campervans staying for weeks at a time. The new charges will be ap- plied to between 25 and 35 spaces alongside a no-through road which crosses the Avon Water, near the yacht club. The area, officially known as the Keyhaven short-stay car

park, will now have a maximum waiting time of three hours with charges ranging from £1 for an hour to £4 for up to three hours. The new policy was officially signed off this week by Cllr Ed- ward Heron, the council’s cab- inet member for planning and infrastructure. As landowner, NFDC claimed the previous arrangements for free parking in two gravel areas

beside the road have led to reg- ular complaints about camp- ervans using the area for long periods. A public consultation into the proposed charges was launched in September which led to 27 responses from the public, local businesses and Milford Parish Council. Of these, 17 people were opposed and 10 in favour. According to an NFDC re- port, many of the objectors felt more prominent display of the “currently unenforceable” four-hour waiting limit signage would address the issue. Concerns were also expressed by volunteers who work at Hurst Castle and the manage- ment of Hurst Castle Ferries, who said the area was used for free parking by staff of the com- pany. However, the NFDC report pointed out that staff and vol- unteers of Hurst Castle could purchase year-round long-stay passes allowing them to park for 20 hours, for less than 50p a day. Milford Parish Council raised concerns that charges would further exacerbate problems with campervans remaining in unrestricted spaces at nearby Salt Grass Lane. Members also objected to additional signage and payment machines being installed. However, NFDC said it would install only one solar-powered ticket machine. It also said sig- nage will be kept to a minimum with only four additional signs planned. NFDC concluded that with- out the charges its only option to remove vehicles from the land would be through a pro- tracted court process.

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