New Milton Advertiser 1st Jan 2021

Friday 1st January 2021 · 11 News

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Protection drive for peaceful lanes

Driver admits phone o ence A MOTORIST has been fined £800 for using a mobile phone while driving, and possessing cannabis. Stuart Baker (42), of Ed- ward Road in Christchurch, was caught when pulled over by police in the town. He pleaded guilty to both offences at Poole Magis- trates’ Court, and as well as the fine was given six penal- ty points and ordered to pay £165 costs. Cash grant plea for youngsters A CHARITABLE body es- tablished in the 18th century is urging young people to apply for education support grants. The Clingan’s Trust uses money generated from a large house in Christchurch, bequeathed by John Clingan in 1714, to give awards every four months to people from the town aged up to 25, such as for purchasing laptops, travel expenses or uniform costs. Each funding round can total up to £20,000. New ap- plications must be submit- ted before the next trustees’ meeting on 13th January. Visit www.clinganstrust. co.uk Teen arrested and drugs seized A MOTORIST was arrested after drugs were seized from a vehicle smelling strongly of cannabis when police responded to reports of dan- gerous driving in Lymington. The alarm was raised shortly before 7pm on Sat- urday 19th December, but the vehicles said to have been involved had gone by the time officers arrived in Ampress Lane. They searched another vehicle at the scene and de- tained a 17-year-old Bourne- mouth man on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs. He was later released under investigation.

Meadow and trail revamp takes root for patients Volunteers helping with the planting scheme at Tatchbury Mount in Calmore

Roads near site for new homes would be given ‘quiet’ status

BY JON WALLER

IT is hoped the healing power of nature will boost mental health patients at a Calmore hospital after the national park authori- ty teamed up with 30 volunteers to restore a meadow and trail. The project in the grounds of Tachbury Mount also involved staff planting hawthorn, black- thorn, holly and hazel and en- hancing the site for wildlife. The meadow and surround- ing woodland feature ponds and a beehive, and are now be- ing enjoyed by patients and vis- itors to the hospital. Dominic Lodge, community development lead at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, said the oasis will bring “hope” to those struggling with their mental health. “This will be a place of heal- ing and good health,” he said. The project was undertaken as part of the Our Past, Our Future landscape partner- ship scheme, a National Lot- tery-funded initiative being led by the NPA. Project officer Angela Peters said the meadow supports wild- flowers such as tormentil, bird’s foot trefoil and marsh thistle. “These in turn support but-

terflies, bees and many other insects,” she said. “Through our work with the staff at the hospi- tal we have tweaked the cutting regime to allow the meadow to flower all summer so the wild- life can flourish. “And we have planted a na- tive hedge which will provide year-round food and shelter for a range of wildlife.” A wooden bench carved from a tree trunk, oak waymarkers and an interpretation panel with information about the dif- ferent habitats, flora and fauna are also planned. Further proposed work in- cludes enhancing the ponds for wildlife and planting more wildflowers to increase biodi- versity. “This has been a rewarding experience,” added Angela. “With ongoing management, the meadow will provide wider benefits to the New Forest’s bi- odiversity by providing a step- pingstone for nature.” Gareth Owen, the NPA’s in- terpretation and outreach of- ficer, said it is also hoped the nature area will inspire artwork and poetry by the patients and staff.

A COMMUNITY group has for- mally applied for special status to protect the character of a se- ries of narrow roads near a con- troversial development site. Pennington and Lymington Lanes Society (Palls) wants Hampshire County Council to make the network of routes in and around Woodside park in Lymington “quiet lanes”. The routes include Norman- dy Lane, which is currently derestricted, as well as Lower Pennington Lane and Ridgeway Lane. The status could secure new signage authorised by HCC and a new lower speed limit – likely to be 20mph. Palls member George Trev- elyan said: “The area is a bril- liant one in terms of the local environment of Lymington and Pennington, lying between the town and the sea, covered with a network of narrow lanes with a history as old as the New For- est, characterised by ancient banks, verges, ditches and open spaces.” The routes are close to land earmarked for development with up to 100 homes in New Forest MILFORD Parish Council is set to increase its share of next year’s council tax by 7.9% part- ly to help pay for rising staffing costs and supporting the village youth club. The increase is equivalent to an additional £3.12 a year for a Band D property – taking its total to £45.16 for 2021/2022, as a minority part of the overall bill. The parish council will raise an annual £128,897 and will receive around £20,000 from

The lanes are close to a site set aside for up to 100 homes under local planning policy

District Council’s Local Plan. Palls vociferously opposed that and has also hit out at re- cent plans to fell 17 trees there, as reported in the A&T. Palls is pursuing the quiet lanes idea after it said a sur- vey of the neighbourhood, not just its members, found local residents and businesses “over- whelmingly in favour” of a bid. It also claimed the New For- rental of its facilities and other sources. Parish clerk Graham Wells explained the extra money would cover incremental wage increases for staff. The council also heard that rent on its High Street office was increasing and it would face extra costs for an election to fill two vacant coun- cillor posts. Mr Wells added that the par- ish was also planning to up- grade its website and IT sys- tems to enable parishioners to

est National Park Authority, Lymington Society, Oakhaven Hospice and local councillors were supportive. “We are prepared to seek ex- ternal funding to help with pro- ject costs, and also have a large volunteering base which could be deployed to count traffic or assist in local community en- gagement,” Palls added in a statement. access physical parish meetings remotely when they resume in the village hall. The authority will also con- tinue to contribute £4,000 a year towards a youth club at Milford Community Centre, and a loan repayment of £6,972 which was taken out by the authority at the time the centre was built. Other costs include an ex- pected outlay for tree surveyors and felling, and the installation of new floral planters because hanging baskets are no longer

“We would like to work closely with Hampshire County Coun- cil to gain real benefit for the Pennington and Lymington communities in terms of road safety, health and wellbeing and the conservation of the distinc- tive character of these historic lanes.” HCC did not respond to the A&T’s request for com- ment. allowed on SSE lampposts. The parish council’s remit in- cludes maintaining community facilities such as Milford Pleas- ure Grounds and Studland Common, and play equipment at the two parks in Carrington Lane and Milford seafront. The current combined council tax bill for 2020/21 for the aver- age Band D household in the New Forest is just over £1,836, made up of demands from par- ish, district and county councils, plus the police and fire services.

Sta costs and youth club lead to tax rise

Couple set for court in fight to retain holiday let

A COUPLE are set for a court showdown with the New Forest National Park Authority over their bid to retain a holiday let. William and Christine Howe are being prosecuted over their alleged failure to comply with an enforcement notice relating to a property known as Kench- ingtons, on land the pair own

at Gorley Lynch in Hyde, near Fordingbridge. The NPA notice was issued on 9th April 2019, according to the charge which is denied by both William (71) and Christine (70). Southampton magistrates adjourned the case, granting them unconditional bail to re- appear on 15th January for the trial.

Drop off points Christmas tree Sign-posted drop off points will be set up around the district to recycle your real Christmas tr es . All decorations must be removed from your tree before taking to a drop off point . Leave trees in designated fenced bays only. Be considerate of others; take your tree to the back of the bay, do not block the entrance. SITES WILL BE OPEN SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 17 JANUARY 2021 Blackfield Gang Warily community centre car park Burley Coach park BH24 4HW Fordingbridge A338 slip road car park SP6 1AN Hythe New Road car park SO45 6XP Lymington Bath Road car park SO41 3SE Lyndhurst Village centre car park SO43 7BE Milford Hurst Road East overflow car park (by Sturt Pond) SO41 0PY New Milton Crossmead Avenue car park BH25 6NF Ringwood The Furlong long stay car park - follow signs to designated area BH24 1AY Totton Rumbridge Street car park SO40 9EA Collected trees will be chipped and used as mulch.

Any trees left in car parks not on this list, or left by litter bins, blocking disabled parking bays, access to recycling banks and footpaths will be treated as fly-tipping.