New Milton Advertiser 18th December 2020

Friday 18th December 2020 · 7 News

news@adt.press · advertising@adt.press · 01425 613384

Drug dealer jailed after police raid finds stash

Town council faces £7k bill for new plan

RINGWOOD Town Council could have to pay nearly £7,000 to draw up a Neighbourhood Plan of local development pol- icies. The forecast sum is consid- erably less than previous esti- mates that it could amount to six figures, and owes much to members deciding to limit the plan’s scope. A steering group determined a plan could have a “narrow fo- cus” and concentrate on influ- encing the town centre, design, climate change, connectivity and possibly housing. The consultants estimate a total cost of £16,500 plus a £5,000 contingency. Of that £14,550 can be funded by

grants and the council will use £3,000 reserves – if it votes for the plan at a crunch meeting in January. Neighbourhood Plans can be drawn up by locals to lay out how best to develop their areas in accordance with local planning policies. They are not binding but must be taken into account by the district council when making decisions on planning applica- tions. Ringwood Town Council has noted doing one could net it more than £100,000 in contri- butions from developers in the coming years and give it a greater say in the number and type of homes developed.

Milton is a hostile environment for drug dealers to operate. We are wholeheartedly committed to preventing and reducing the harm committed as a result of drug-related activity and crim- inality. “This protracted investi- gation involved a number of specialist resources and in- vestigators – culminating in a significant custodial sentence – something which we are pleased about. He added: “We will contin- ue to keep up the pressure on those known locally to us as being involved in drug-related activity. “Anyone who suspects that drug-related activity may be taking place in their local neigh- bourhood is asked to contact us by using our online reporting portal or calling 101. “Every call you make helps us to build a strong intelligence picture and enables us to take positive action and bring of- fenders to justice.” ward to helping the local party win seats in the Hampshire County Council elections next May.” Mr Stephens was chair for a year until standing down at the local party’s AGM in December last year and being replaced by the election of Cllr Ben Thomp- son, a member of Totton and Eling Town Council. Mr Stephens ran unsuccess- fully for the Lib Dems in the New Forest District Council ward of Fawley, Blackfield and Langley in the 2019 local elec- tions. Cllr Kitcher, who earlier this year tweeted that he was even considering quitting to become an Independent councillor, did not respond to the A&T’s re- quest for comment. He represents the Langdown ward on Hythe and Dibden Par- ish Council and was elected in 2019.

Cocaine, cannabis and drug items discovered at home of 22-year-old

BY BEN CRAIG

A NEW Milton drug dealer has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after officers raided his home and uncovered a stash of cocaine, cannabis and cash. Jack Fry (22), of Gore Road, was sentenced at Southamp- ton Crown Court after pleading guilty to two charges of posses- sion with intent to supply class A and B drugs. Fry was arrested on 22nd May last year after specialist officers from the New Milton neigh- bourhood team executed a war- rant at his address. The court heard how quan- tities of cocaine and cannabis were discovered by police in an upstairs bedroom which was occupied by Fry at the time.

Christmas & New Year advertising deadlines

Friday 18 th December edition  Display: 5pm Monday 14 th December

 Classified: 10.30amWednesday 16 th December  Family Announcements: 12noon Wednesday 16 th December  Death notices : 5pmWednesday 16 th December Friday 24th December edition  Display: 5pm Friday 18 th December  Classified: 3pm Monday 21 st December  Family Announcements: 3pm Tuesday 22 nd December  Death notices: 5pm Tuesday 22 nd December Friday 31st December edition

Jack Fry (inset) was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court

Items related to drug dealing as well as cash were also seized during the raid. Insp. Mike Minnock said:

“This is a fantastic result fol- lowing a prolonged operation, which was built around infor- mation provided to us by the lo-

cal community and intelligence gathered from specialist teams. “The local neighbourhood team continue to ensure New

Ex-chair of Lib Dems cleared of bullying

 Display: 10am Tuesday 29 th December  Classified: 3pm Tuesday 29 th December

 Family Announcements: 3pm Tuesday 29 th December  Death notices: 9.45amWednesday 30 th December

THE former chair of the New Forest Liberal Democrats has been cleared of an allegation of bullying. Roger Stephens denied the claim made by Cllr Matt Kitch- er, a Lib Dem member of Hythe and Dibden Parish Council, who resigned in August as vice- chair of the local party. An official report from the Lib Dems’ headquarters in London said Cllr Kitcher’s allegation had been dismissed because he failed to produce any evidence. Mr Stephens has been an ac- tive member of the party for 46 years and is a former East Sus- sex county councillor. He told the A&T: “I am very pleased that this unfounded al- legation, which has been hang- ing over my head for months, has been dismissed. “I will continue to support the Liberal Democrats both na- tionally and locally and look for-

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Oar-some charity e ort by rowing Santas team The rowers raised nearly £600 for Oakhaven Hospice (Photo: Holly Ward/Kirsten Melin)

A BID to turn a renovated Sway farmhouse into a base for visit- ing horse riders has been thrown out at appeal by a government inspector. R.M. Pettett Ltd challenged the national park authority’s re- fusal to allow the use of an out- building at South Sway Farm, South Sway Lane, as two one- bed holiday apartments. It argued the plan would make efficient use of the land that would complement the character and appearance of the local area. The building had TEAMS of rowing Santas have made a festive splash to raise £580 for Oakhaven Hospice. Following the announce- ment that Lymington’s annual fundraising Santa Dash could not take place this year, three groups of rowers joined forces to arrange their own alternative water-bound events. Led by Rowing Adven-

been part of a livery stable en- terprise, and still has planning permission as such. The applicant claimed: “The proposal comprises the re-use of an existing building for the purposes of supporting rural tourism. It is envisaged that the two holiday apartments would be used by visitors travelling to Sway to go horse riding.” But the NPA had concerns it would introduce a tourism busi- ness outside any of the defined New Forest villages and result in new residential uses in the open tures Ltd, the teams from Christchurch and Lymington amateur rowing clubs em- barked on a festive trip along Lymington River and the So- lent. Rowing Adventures of- fered free seats to all rowers to join them for a festive 3k solo adventure in return for dona- tions to Oakhaven Hospice via a Justgiving page.

countryside “to which no justifi- cation has been provided”. Siding with the NPA at the appeal, the planning inspector ruled it would “conflict” with requirements in its policies re- garding sustainable new visitor accommodation. The nearest bus stops were along a main road and there was “no footway facilities, no street lighting and little opportunity for pedestrians to take refuge from passing traffic” between there and the site, the inspector said. Spokesperson Kirsty Melin said: “Both sunrise and sunset adventuring Santas filled the Solent with festive cheer and Christmas lights, much to the bemusement of the passing Wightlink ferry.” So far the teams have raised £580 for Oakhaven Hospice. To donate visit bit. ly/389DQnY

Driver crashed car into fence

A NEW Milton motorist who crashed his car into fencing outside a property had eight points slapped on his driving licence. James Woodford (31), of Drake Close, admitted he was at the wheel of a Nissan Almera

when an accident occurred in July which caused damage in Vaggs Lane, Hordle, and a sec- ond charge that he left the vehi- cle in the road dangerously. Southampton magistrates fined him £360 and ordered he pay £121 court costs.

Holiday let plan for farmhouse rejected

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