New Milton Advertiser 15th Jan 2021

Friday 15th January 2021 · 9 News

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Veteran hit hard bywar died after drink-driving

Town freezes council tax

DIFFICULTIES faced by New Milton residents during the pandemic prompted town councillors to freeze their share of the council tax. The levy from the authority on a band D household will remain at £107.48, as the total budget for 2021/22 will stay the same at £1.13m. The current total council tax bill for 2020/21 for an average New Forest band D household is just over £1,836, made up of demands from parish, district and county councils, plus the police and fire services. Presenting the town council figures for approval during an online full meeting, mayor Cllr Alvin Reid said: “We do recognise as a council the difficult situation people are in.” The proposal was widely welcomed by members, although amenities committee chair Cllr Geoffrey Blunden warned “not keeping pace with inflation on the budget is not sustainable”. Cllr John Ward said he could not support the precept freeze as it followed significant rises over recent years which he had also opposed. Responding, Cllr Reid argued the previous increases had been necessary due to insufficient funds set aside for facilities maintenance in the past. Major spending planned for 2021/22 includes £25,000 to

implement the Neighbourhood Plan of hyperlocal planning policies, plus £20,000 consultants’ fees; and £45,000 for youth management services, including additional part-time youth workers. The buildings budget remains at £120,000, with new floodlights set to be installed at Fawcetts Field, where the car park will also be resurfaced. Supporting the 2021/22 finances, Cllr Steve Clarke believed the council continued to offer “good value for money”. The proposal was passed by a majority vote with only Cllr Ward voting against. Cllr Reid told the A&T afterwards: “When developing the precept for 2021/22, we were mindful of the need to continue to serve our residents, the fact that many may have been furloughed or made redundant, inflation, the auditor’s recommendation to increase our reserves, our commitment to improving youth services, town centre development in support of our businesses – a need to continue to promote New Milton as a shopping destination. “Through hard work and analysis of every line item in the budget, I was pleased to present a precept to the town council that provided the above without increasing the burden on our residents.”

he had been two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit when the accident happened, and a small quantity of cannabis was found in his blood. He was also banned from the roads, having previously been convicted of driving under the influence of drugs. The hearing was told Gareth had received counselling from the army, but the inquest heard that at the time of his death it appeared Gareth had turned to drugs and drink to help him cope with stress. He had also struggled with the end of his marriage after two years, and the news last year that his father had terminal cancer. Gareth was from Wimborne but had been living and working in Fawley as a contractor. His mother told the inquest her son was a “private, proud man” who would have been ashamed of his driving ban. She said the family were unaware of it and that he had always been a slow, careful driver. Ruling his death an accident, coroner Rosamund Rhodes- Kemp said: “Gareth, like many people who came back from service in Afghanistan and Iraq, found that their lives hadn’t ever quite worked out the way they would have liked.” ducers than us who have been forced to do that.” He is now appealing for more people to buy the medium-sized eggs Fluffetts hens produce be- cause they last longer than the large ones sold in supermar- kets. He said: “I’d really appeal to people to support their inde- pendent egg producers by buy- ing medium eggs from them. It will really help keep their busi - ness going.” For sales email fluffetsfarm@ gmail.com

A VETERAN affected by losing friends on the battlefield was drink-driving when he was killed in a high-speed crash near Calshot, an inquest heard. Royal Engineers staff sergeant Gareth Carter (40) had completed tours of Iraq and Afghanistan after joining the British Army when he moved to the UK from his native South Africa in 2005. Winchester Coroners’ Court heard he had attended numerous funerals of other comrades killed in both war zones which had, according to his mother Myrna, a “lasting effect” on him. The inquest was told that on 26th April last year Gareth was driving a Vauxhall Astra south along the B3035 towards Calshot with friend Gavin Martin when he lost control. The vehicle veered across two lanes after clipping a verge, became airborne and rolled over. Both men, neither of Staff sergeant turned to alcohol and drugs to cope, inquest told By antonella lazzeri A POULTRY farmer whose trade with eateries and schools has been cut off by the lock- down is appealing to the pub - lic to buy his eggs amid fears he may have to cull some of his 13,000-strong flock. Ben Jackson, who runs Fluffetts Farm near Fording- bridge, saw his sales fall off a cliff after the pandemic led to the closure of restaurants, ho- tels and then schools. He told the A&T: “It has been very difficult for us. Nor - mally we would have had huge

Gareth Carter (40) lost control while driving on the B3035, Winchester Coroners’ Court (inset) heard

whom was wearing a seat belt, were thrown from the car. Gareth suffered a severe head injury and died at the scene. Mr Martin also had serious injuries and the inquest heard he could not remember anything about the crash.

Teenager Luke Elliot, an eyewitness, revealed in a statement that he had seen the Astra seconds before the accident being driven at high speed and swerving across the road. A friend who shared a house with Gareth said in written

evidence that he “clearly had a problem” with alcohol and had been drinking on the day he died. Smashed cider bottles were found among the wreckage of the car, the inquest was told. Tests after his death revealed

Shoplifter jailed for supermarket theft

Farmer may have to cull chickens as egg sales dry up

demand during the run-up to Christmas and after from the hospitality trade, including the Pig hotels and Limewood, but none of that happened. “We were hoping that the school trade would be enough to keep us going but then they got closed down. It was a huge blow. We literally had a van full of eggs ready to go to schools when the news came through.” In desperation, Ben’s wife Vey turned to social media explain - ing the farm’s problem and ask- ing if anyone would be willing to

buy trays of 60 eggs. Ben said: “The response was absolutely amazing. Word spread and we had orders com - ing in from people all over, along with calls from stores offering to stock our eggs. “We have around 13,000 free- range chickens laying about 12,000 eggs a day. If you are not selling their eggs one of your only options is to reduce your flock. “It was something we certain - ly did not want to do, but we know there are bigger egg pro -

A PERSISTENT shoplifter was handed a jail term after being caught stealing from a super- market while serving a sus - pended sentence. Emma McIndoe (30), of An- drew Lane, Ashley, admitted taking salmon fillets worth £47 from Lidl in New Milton on 4th January – less than a week after she was handed a three-month prison term suspended for 18 months for two previous thefts from shops. Reappearing before South-

ampton magistrates, McIndoe admitted the breach and the Bench slammed her “flagrant disregard of court orders”. The court heard the defend- ant had gone equipped with devices to steal and attempted to conceal the full extent of the theft when challenged. Activating the suspend- ed three-month jail term, magistrates added a fourth month behind bars and told McIndoe to pay £128 court costs.

Fluffetts has 13,000 chickens

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