New Milton Advertiser 15th Jan 2021

Friday 15th January 2021 · 5 News

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Road salt review over animal deaths rejected

Hopes for jobs post-Brexit with freeport plans

PLANS are being discussed to create a freeport at Marchwood in an attempt to generate jobs and boost the local economy following Brexit. Freeports are points of en- try to a country that incentiv- ise companies to use them by streamlining the import pro- cess and reducing taxes. The government wants to es- tablish up to seven sites around the UK and has invited areas to submit a case to win the special status. BCP Council is also con- sidering a bid, as reported in the A&T. The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership wants to make an application and has earmarked ABP sites, Marchwood Indus- trial Estate and Exxon at Faw- ley where taxes would be eased. The Southampton port would have relaxed customs regula- tions. It has invited New Forest Dis- trict Council to comment and yesterday (Thursday) the envi- ronment and overview scrutiny panel was due to debate the idea and make a recommenda- tion to cabinet. It is intended councils within freeport sites will be allowed to retain local business rates for 25 years, a report to the panel said. But freeport status bidders

have to show how those rates will be used to offset the effects of dis- placement from deprived areas and reinvested to provide infra- structure and generate growth. The report said considera- tion needed to be given to how any “negative impacts can be resolved, mitigated or compen- sated”, changes to the process for considering future develop- ment and the way that work is funded. Butts Ash & Dibden Purlieu councillor Malcolm Wade cau- tiously welcomed the idea – but said he needed to see guaran- tees “that it really does deliver”. He added: “I hope this is not the equivalent of a good sound- bite, which looks good, sounds good but in reality has little ac- tual substance. “Our economy needs all the help it can get and if it can ben- efit our area let us hope the bid is successful but it must deliver for local business and local peo- ple.” However, critics note they have been tried before in the UK without huge success and can bring extra costs because HGV traffic can cause sur - rounding routes to be busier and more congested.

mals to stay away from the road salt. “However, animals may well still be drawn to the road as somewhere dry to lay – especial- ly when the Forest floor is very wet – and for any heat retention benefit from the tarmac during cold weather. New Forest ani- mals can wander on to the road as they wish. “As such I would remind those who do need to make es- sential journeys at this time to drive carefully through the New Forest, adhere to the speed limits at all times, check the weather forecast before setting out and drive according to the conditions.” He stressed that HCC “worked closely” with Forest agencies to “make sure our frontline highway activities re- spect and preserve the charac- ter of the New Forest”. Cllr Humby said during the winter period HCC will primar- ily focus on keeping safe main Priority 1 roads – such as A and B routes and routes to hospitals and Covid-19 testing centres. They will also treat Priority 2 routes that include B roads and village accesses. Cllr Humby added: “The clear advice from government at the moment is to stay at home and only go out if absolutely nec- essary. With less traffic on our roads de-icing salt may be less effective so the risk of icy sur- faces remains.” THE Third Ringwood Scout Group was gifted £1,000 by an insurance company. Ecclesiastical, which is char- itably owned, invited nomina- tions for organisations to get an equal share of £120,000 over Christmas, with 129 in total be- ing named by 9,812 Hampshire residents. Of those 120 were picked at random. Mark Hews, Ecclesiasti- cal group CEO, said it would “change lives for the better”, adding: “We hope these dona- tions can bring a positive end to a difficult year and a promising start to 2021.”

New Forest animals attracted to the roads after ice treatment

By JON WALLER

CIVIC chiefs have rejected a call to review how it treats icy highways amid concerns that New Forest animals are drawn onto the roads to lick the salt. Cllr David Harrison said Hampshire County Council should look again at treating local roads with salt following a series of fatal accidents after Christmas. He said: “I have written to bosses at Hampshire County Council asking them to review the wisdom of salting the roads because we know that animals are drawn to them. Perhaps there is a ‘grit only’ alternative.” Writing on his website, Cllr Harrison called animal deaths “one of the most highly charged, emotive subjects” but added solutions were not easy. Practical problems stopped speed humps and more light- ing, while roadside fencing would ruin the open nature and character of the local area. Speed limits could be reduced to 30mph, but the difficulty was enforcing those rules, Cllr Har- rison added. As reported in the A&T, 10 THE next stage in a £220,000 project to restore Hythe Pier will focus on its revamping buildings which date as far back as 1894. As reported in the A&T, the Hythe Pier Heritage Associa- tion (HPHA) recently set out a plan of works to safeguard the future of the historical struc- ture. Architects and surveyors are looking at the preservation op- tions for the pier head build- ings as although the one on the north side, which houses the waiting room, is in reasonable shape structurally, the other is giving cause for concern. An HPHA spokesperson said: “The Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns have severely limited HPHA’s fund- raising opportunities but its determination to restore Hythe pier and its railway has not wa- vered.” Blue Funnel Ferries, which owns the site, is in the process of clearing the building on the south side, which for the past quarter of a century has been

(Photo: Russell Sach)

Ponies are attracted to salt put on the roads. Insets, councillors David Harrison (top) and Rob Humby

“I fully recognise the unique- ness of the New Forest envi- ronment, and particularly with free roaming animals, but at the same time it is important to appreciate the county council has a duty of care – and in fact a statutory duty – to take rea- sonable steps to keep the roads clear of snow and ice, and to en-

sure road users remain safe,” he said. Cllr Humby, also deputy leader, said he was “sorry” to hear of those incidents, add- ing: “During the winter months I am aware that some New Forest commoners put out an increased number of salt-lick blocks to encourage the ani-

animals have been killed on the district’s roads since Christmas Day, including five ponies, four sheep and a cow. However, HCC’s cabinet member for economy, transport and the environment, Cllr Rob Humby, said salting would con- tinue as the authority needed to protect motorists first.

Scout group is awarded £1,000 Revamp for 130-year-old buildings

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used as a storeroom. An asbestos survey commis- sioned by HPHA revealed the presence of a small amount of the hazardous material, which will be removed shortly. The building on the south side was built in 1894 and ex- tended in 1896 when the one on the north side was erected. At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 Hythe Sailing Club, which was the tenant of the south side building, hand- ed their clubhouse over to the authorities for use in the war effort. Later, the premises were let to the YMCA. During 1921 the Royal Motor Yacht Club took up residence and undertook an extensive modernisation. Work was com- pleted in March 1922 and in- cluded the addition of a large dining room, galley, bar and four-berth sleeping cabins. During the years following the Second World War, the south side building was used in a variety of ways and was a res- taurant until 1976. During the 1980s it was planned to install

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an aquarium, but the project failed. Since then, it has been a meeting room, an exhibition room and for two years White Horse Ferries used it as an of- fice. The HPHA charity plans to undertake temporary protec- tion measures while seeking funding for permanent repairs and restoration. To donate, vis- it www.hythepierha.org.uk The Hythe Pier buildings are set for repair work

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