New Milton Advertiser 13th Nov 2020

10 · Friday 13th November 2020

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Village set for new £7k wild play area

Medication overdose led to woman’s death

Woman admits shop thefts A SHOPLIFTER who tar- geted three stores within two months was handed an 18-month conditional dis- charge by magistrates. Jodie Fitzgerald (35), of Harwood Close, Totton, ad- mitted stealing alcohol from Sainsbury’s in Blackfield on 29th June, meat from Aldi in Romsey on 10th August, and meat and clothing from Hythe’s Lidl on 26th August. The Southampton Bench also told Fitzgerald to pay a total of £85 in compensation to Sainsbury’s and Aldi, and £40 in court costs. Festive charity lights cancelled A POPULAR Christmas lights display in Dibden which raised over £1,700 for charity last year will not go ahead due to coronavirus restrictions. Gavin Rogers, who or- ganises the Ocknell Grove display in aid of the Water- side Cancer Unit, wrote on Facebook it was “with sad regret” that the event due to start on 28th November had to be cancelled. He added he hoped the event would return in 2021. Appeal won over home extension PLANS to extend a Hordle home have been allowed by an appeals inspector. An application to build onto the side of Wild Wood in Ashley Lane was rejected by New Forest District Council on the grounds it was inap- propriate development in the green belt. A government inspector agreed with the council, but said any harm was limited by the context of the appeal site which sits within a “linear form of residential development”. PHONE 01425 612594 to place a display advertisement

A HEAVY smoker who suffered long-term lung disease died at her Lymington home after tak- ing too much prescribed medi- cation, a coroner ruled. Diane Callaghan (55) had been unwell for many years and lived what was described at Winchester Coroners’ Court as an “unhealthy lifestyle”. A mother of five, she was di- agnosed with chronic obstruc- tive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2011 and had not worked for some time. She was discovered dead in a chair at her home by daughter Camille Davis on 10th Novem- ber last year. Coroner Jason Pegg said Ms Callaghan had also been diag- nosed with depression in 2001, suffered heart problems and was on a range of daily medica- tions. She smoked 20-30 cigarettes a day, he said, and spent much of her time watching television at her Knight Gardens home. Daughter Jessica Mutter said her mother was a “car- ing and kind person” but after her COPD diagnosis was often “sleepy and confused”, which the inquest heard was made worse by the daily medication. Because of her sleeping pat- terns, there were times when CHRISTCHURCH’S Argos store has been named among hundreds to close around the UK, with uncertainty over an- other branch in Totton. Sainsbury’s, which bought the catalogue shop chain in 2016, announced last week that it was shutting 420 stand- alone Argos outlets across the UK. It said all Argos stores that were closed at the start of lockdown would remain shut – including the one in Saxon Square, Christchurch. Sainsbury’s is set to carry out a review to decide which other standalone Argos stores stay open, including the one at Tot- ton Retail Park in Commercial Road. A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “Any standalone Argos

Plan has divided local opinion, with fears of antisocial behaviour

BY ROZ WATERS

WORK on a £7,000 project to create a wild play area in Brans- gore is set to begin in the new year. The scheme to install five small, wooden play structures at Clare Lodge copse has divid- ed local opinion, however, with some residents expressing con- cerns about antisocial behav- iour and wildlife disturbance. Aimed at children aged up to eight, the new play equipment will include climbing logs, bal- ancing activities and a wooden sculpture. An interpretation board with information about local wildlife is also set to be in- stalled. Recently retired parish clerk Edwin Macknamara explained: “We were approached by the national park authority about creating a wild play area some time ago because there was a pot of money available from the 106 developers’ contributions fund that was earmarked for use in Bransgore. “We looked at several sites in the village and identified Clare Lodge as the most suitable be- cause it is largely surrounded by housing.” ESSENTIAL council services will continue throughout the second lockdown, civic chiefs have promised. New Forest District Council will maintain waste and recy- cling collections, while its car parks will stay open. Its hous- ing, homelessness, planning and business support depart- ments are also unaffected. The authority pledged to honour the health, care and vol- unteer workers parking pass, but its five leisure centres will stay closed for the lockdown, slated to end on 2nd December.

Winchester Coroners’ Court

Ms Callaghan missed taking her medication and as a result it was suspected she may have “doubled” up to make up for that. A post-mortem examination discovered she had a “severe” infection in her lungs and high levels of three separate ther- apeutic medications, includ- ing painkiller co-codamol. It suggested those levels and the COPD proved fatal. Mr Pegg concluded her death was most likely due to her mis- using the medication and said he believed the co-codamol was a main contributory factor. store which has not reopened since March will remain closed permanently. We have not con- firmed any other closures at this stage.” Argos branches within Sains- bury’s stores are unaffected, such as the one at Lyndhurst Road, Christchurch, and in the Furlong Centre in Ringwood. The decisions will reduce its UK Argos standalone stores to 100 by 2024 but it will be adding 150 Argos stores to Sainsbury’s outlets during that period. Sainsbury’s half-year report revealed a £172m loss and it will axe 3,500 jobs and all of its fish, meat and deli counters. Company boss Simon Rob- erts said Sainsbury’s was re- sponding to changing consum- er habits and the growth of online shopping.

The wild play area at Clare Lodge copse (inset) will be similar to the facility in Sway, above

Around 50 nearby households were contacted by the parish council and invited to give feed- back on the proposal. Mr Macknamara continued: “Opinions were fairly evenly di- vided between younger families who welcomed the plan and some older residents who were concerned about disturbance of wildlife and antisocial behaviour. “The parish council con- sidered all of the comments received at their meeting in October, when a decision was made by a six to one majority NFDC leader Cllr Barry Rick- man said: “I ask that you con- tinue to help keep your family, friends and neighbours safe at this time by staying at home as much as possible and following the rules in place across the  The Hampshire Coronavirus Support and Helpline is available on 0333 370 4000. For the latest information provided by HCC visit www.hants.gov.uk/corona virus and for NFDC go to www. newforest.gov.uk/coronavirus #h20  BCP Council support is available via the Together We

to proceed with the scheme.” He added: “There was a sig- nificant number of residents who supported the scheme al- though a number of residents did raise concerns and a peti- tion was also received.” Mr Macknarama said parish councillors hoped that by cre- ating the wild play area, young- er generations would have an opportunity to engage with wildlife and develop a sense of responsibility and ownership of the area. He added: “The national park country.” Hampshire County Coun- cil will continue to operate its household waste recycling cen- tres and its Meals on Wheels service, as well as core register office functions. with BCP Council’s partner, Community Action Network, by visiting www.can100.org/ volunteering-opportunities, emailing togetherwecan@can100. org or calling 01202 466130. Can pandemic helpline 0300 123 7052 or online at togetherwecan. bcpcouncil.gov.uk  Volunteer helpers can register

authority have plenty of expe- rience with creating these sort of facilities for young people. It will be made entirely of natural materials and will be in keeping with the woodland setting.” Following concerns raised during the consultation, the parish council has agreed to step up its maintenance work at Clare Lodge copse and keep records of any problems with antisocial behaviour. Similar NPA-backed wild play areas have been created in Sway and Ashurst. The eligibility for meals has been broadened temporari- ly because of Covid-19 to in- clude those aged under 55 and classed as highly vulnerable to the virus, or unable either to leave the house or reheat a pre-prepared meal. BCP said it would continue to “deliver the most essential services to those most in need and keep vulnerable residents as safe as possible” and its ser- vices continued to be provided online through the respective websites for the areas it covers, including Christchurch.

Town Argos among 420 to close around country

Councils promise essential services in lockdown

Draft Waste Strategy It is important that we develop a final strategy that meets the needs of our residents and helps us to protect the environment. You can find out more about the draft waste strategy and be part of the engagement process from 12 November - 10 December 2020 Residents engagement packs are available from: newforest.gov.uk/wastestrategy Local information offices Customer Services (023 8028 5000) We are reviewing our waste and recycling services