New Milton Advertiser 22nd Jan 2021

18 · Friday 22nd January 2021

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think differently if one of his close family or friends was in one of the intensive care units. One must assume he is aware that Lymington hospital, in his constituency, has now had to open another Covid ward (A&T, 15th January). It is extremely irresponsible of our MP to make demoral- ising comments, clearly not shared with the vast majority of other MPs and the Chief Medical Officer. Sir Desmond previously claimed that the wearing of masks was a “monstrous imposition” despite the clear evidence that this can help in reducing the risk of transmis- sion. Yet more examples of his being out of step with advice based on evidence and of him letting down a large majority of his constituents. Glenys Fox, Paul Fox, Sue Sutherland, Peter Mitchell, Elaine Mitchell, Pam Bennett, Gill Quick, Andrew Foster and Shirley Foste, Lymington and New Milton SIR – Whatever the pluses and minuses of lockdowns, it has certainly been good for breed- ing new potential dictators. Two incidents illustrate this during the week. First, while sitting on a display bench in a very large covered atrium at a local garden centre, at least 20ft from any other person except my wife, 10ft away on another bench, I adjusted my mask to expose my nose so as to breathe more easily for a few minutes. Two other people walked through the area, again at least 12ft away from us and as they turned a corner the man (in dark glasses) looked back at me and told me, quite rude- ly, that I was not wearing my mask properly. There was no one else there at all. Yesterday, my wife walked into Milford village and had just put on her mask so as to visit a local shop and a woman (without a mask) told her very The rudeness of lockdown

sharply that she should not be wearing a mask outdoors. Both times, my wife and I did not reply. But such rudeness is inexcusable and could lead to trouble if they had chosen the wrong victims. As it happens I am not a lockdown supporter on scien- tific grounds, but because of the concerns of others I always obey the regulations to the letter as does my wife. What is the country coming to? Name and address supplied Wheelie bins will become normal SIR – The argument that wheel- ie bins are an eyesore should not be at the top of the environ- mental list of importance. Infection risk is posed to us all, including the animals and birds, from open plastic sacks. Manual handling by the refuse collectors is appalling, they should not have to do this. Sacks piled on pavements, grass verges and roadsides is a hazard to cars, pedestrians and cyclists. Years ago Sky dishes popped up on houses everywhere. They were ugly. It became the norm because it pleased us. We have caravans, boats, camper vans, trailers and vans all around us in people’s front gardens. It becomes the norm, so why not wheelie bins? Fortunately we are a free society, but that doesn’t ab- solve us from taking responsi- bility for our refuse. We all live different lives, have different requirements in respect of this, but “plastic sack problems are real” (Letters, 8th January). 2020 gave me plenty of time to observe the seagulls and magpies tearing open sacks in our road. This might not happen elsewhere in the New Forest, but it is rampant in streets around New Milton and Barton, so much so that many of us resort to using a dustbin to put sacks in. These may re- main in front gardens all week and are far more difficult to handle than a wheelie bin.

My husband and I grew up in New Milton and moved away 40 years ago. Our parents here were using plastic sacks and four years ago we moved back – and still we have plastic sacks! Times have changed. I have used wheelie bins for 25 years in East Sussex very success- fully. No more rubbish in the streets. “No need for food waste col- lection” (Letters, 8th January) is an admirable one but there are many people without gar- dens who cannot compost, so those that don’t need one just say no thank you, but the rest of us can’t wait. One size does not fit all and the council has a difficult mission with regards to recycling. Hopefully this will be a start to make us all think hard before we buy things and how we dispose of it correctly and maybe not buy it at all. Shirley Macey, New Milton Yes to food bin, no to wheelies SIR – Being elderly and living alone, I am not in favour of the proposed wheelie bins. But I am in favour of a week- ly collection of smaller bins for all food waste, having had experience of such in Woking. It seems to me that if we could be provided with these, no food waste need be put into our black bags, and the birds and beasts who tear these open would find nothing to interest them. Pauline Dover, Sway I’d give my jab to a youngster SIR – Bravo, Mrs Inglis! My sentiments entirely (Letters, 15th January). I am also an ‘oldie’ waiting for the vaccine but would willingly give mine to a younger person with a family to feed and still with a life to live. Pauline Ruffhead, Highcliffe And really that’s what God is trying to get us to see in his Word, the Bible: that with God on our side, we can’t lose and that he will never give up on us. We might be scared out of our wits by events that threaten our safety. We might be disappointed in ourselves or the way that the church is going while we fight Covid-19. We might grow weary, tired, disheartened and exhausted. We might be tempted to even give up. But if you believe, then we have a God who never gets tired of caring. “Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk and will not faint.” (Isaiah 40, verse 31)

Displeased by developer’s attempt SIR – I write on behalf of the Bottom of Town Campaign, Lymington, to express our utmost displeasure at the The bridge is thus a rea- sonable and necessary facility which Redrow is obliged to deliver. Until it is delivered,

Development worst I’ve seen SIR – Apropos Redrow’s footbridge obligations (A&T, 15th January), their Lyming- ton Shores development is the worst large-scale private hous- ing development I have ever seen in my 40-year career. How on earth did New Forest district councillors approve it? Brian Loudon RIBA (architect), Boldre Aldi: more noise and pollution SIR – Enough is enough! So now, due to our council rolling over to another commercial giant, residents in this area will have to put up with even more noise and pollution from those shoppers driving from the east of New Milton and beyond who will use Caird Avenue as a race track to get to Aldi and Tesco. To stop this extra disruption to the peace and enjoyment of this residential area, may I suggest making the north side of Caird Avenue a no-through- road as it always used to be. Hilary Keene, New Milton Area too busy for new store SIR – In my view, approv- ing plans for an Aldi store in New Milton is ill-advised. The energy would be better spent within the main Station Road and not Caird Avenue. It is already too busy, or is this to be widened to aid the huge 44-ton lorries? As if we don’t have enough through the whole of this New Forest zone. The whole of the new surface water will be directed in to the stream. Nearby, downstream, will suffer the consequences of any downpours at Caird Avenue. The monolithic development proposed – is this above a price worth paying? R.H. Stones, Highcliffe bridge is to allow easy pedes- trian access to town for the 300-plus residents in the new development, and to facili- tate access to the riverside walk, gallery, shop/restaurant and rowing club for folk walk- ing from town. attempt by the Redrow com- pany to delete the amenity aspects of its development at Lymington Shores/Almansa Way by seeking to overturn the existing planning conditions (A&T, 15th Jan- uary). Planning consent was given nearly 10 years ago by New Forest District Council for the development, on certain conditions – most notably the construction of a footbridge over the railway beside Lym- ington Town Station. The purpose of the foot-

Child benefit measures SIR – I would like to know what these mothers are doing with the child benefit which is £21.05 for the first child, with £13.95 for each further child Can I suggest that the mobile phone and internet connections be done away with as well with some smoking at about £20 for a packet of 20? permit such a damaging and duplicitous move on the part of a large, national con- struction company! We are watching! Jon Ellis, Chair – Bottom of Town Campaign, Lymington SIR – I fear that Glad Brown (Letters, 15th January), and others of us who express relief that Brexit has finally come to fruition are going to have to put up with a few more months of “I told you so”. Any glitch or gremlin in the system, and there will be many along the way, will be seized upon by those wishing to fulfil their dream of the UK being a component part of a European empire. If a BBC report of a Scottish fisherman having his catch turned back by continental customs, because he had writ- ten UK instead of GB on some document or other, is remotely true (and it must be because it came from the BBC!), then it shows the European Union in its true colours. It was inevitable that the Union would do all it could to throw spanners in the works, because the UK leaving has seriously undermined its insidi- ous project. The government must re- main resolute as I suspect that very soon the people of Europe will speak up and, God willing, the empire will collapse like a pack of cards. Ironically, I write as a staunch Europhile who voted in 1975 to stay in the EEC – against, I add, the better judgement of Tony Benn! NFDC is insisting that a number of the flats in the development cannot be occu- pied – a reasonable condition. It is to be hoped and expected that all political views on NFDC, and local MPs, will unite in rejecting Redrow’s scheme (applica- tion 20/11163) to renege on its previous obligation to build the bridge. One cannot imagine why on earth any elected council- lor, or indeed the government if it goes to appeal, would George Page, Brockenhurst Bumps in the Brexit road

John Selman captured dawn over the Beaulieu River. Please send your photos to news@adt.press

Read up on the EU treaties SIR – Instead of agonising about what she calls a state, Glad Brown (Letters, 15th January) could read the EU treaties. If she imagines the European Human Rights Convention is among them, it’s something else she should read. UN Resolution 217 antedates the European Convention and explicitly states that no one should be arbitrarily deprived of his or her nationality. Hence, fly-tipping undesirables is not a judicial option. She doesn’t protest about the £170bn value of “Made in England” vehicles exported to the EU27 annually by an industry the EU restored and which depended on a deal. In 2016 charlatans argued that 27 sovereign nations would come running on the say-so of BMW. Pandering to ill-informed prejudice created chaos for which the Tories are disowning responsibility; calling so-called Brexit “the instruction of the British people”. The only winners are fish; “better and happier” rotting on quaysides. H. Fletcher, Address supplied Are verderers against cycling? SIR – I was saddened by further news of the verderers taking action against cycling in the area (A&T, 8th January). Since I moved to the Forest 25 years ago, the cycling network has been cut back and important linking routes removed. I, along with many

others, have gained the im- pression that the verderers are anti-cycling, and tend to block local cycling initiatives. Instead of wasting taxpayers’ money on policing cyclists in the Forest, what about getting round to repairing the two bridges on the main Brocken- hurst to Wootton cycle route which have been closed for years? It is not bicycles that endan- ger wildlife in the Forest, but motor vehicles (Ten animals dead in fatal fortnight – A&T, 8th January). Many motorists seem to regard the 40mph speed limit as a minimum. Cycling and horse riding are currently the only sustainable forms of transport, whereas even e-vehicles have a signif- icant environment impact. In which case, cycling should be strongly supported and treated with consideration (as is the case on the Continent), rather than being persecuted. Name and address supplied Swayne is out of step on advice SIR – We write to endorse the comments made by one of our local GPs, Dr Sally Johnston, attacking Desmond Swayne MP for his criticism of the lockdown policy (A&T, 15th January). We know that our hospitals are under intense pressure just now and that many staff are struggling with the physical and emotional demands made on them. The lockdown is so impor- tant in reducing the spread of the virus and patient numbers until the impact of vaccination takes effect. Perhaps he would

Christian Comment POLICE training in the USA included a demonstration of the value of the bullet-proof vests with which they had been issued. The vests were placed on another to actually act on that faith. And of course there are many things in this world that can threaten our feeling of safety and our security, and our friendships, and it’s possi- ble that we can be threatened by powers beyond our own strength.

mannequins and then officers would fire round after round into the vests. They were then asked to check to see if any of the rounds had penetrated the vests. Invariably the vests would pass the test with flying colours and then the officers in training were asked: “So who wants to wear a vest and let us test how it works on you?” How many of you would put on the vests and allow marksmen to take a shot? You could cover my entire body with that armour and I would still hesitate to put it on and let them shoot at me. Why? Because it’s one thing to “say” I have faith, it’s quite

We might lose our jobs, our financial security, our friend- ships, our loved ones, our sense of wellbeing because of health problems, our feeling of peace and calm because of outside pressures and threats beyond our control. At times like these it’s easy to panic. It’s easy to take our eyes off God’s faith- fulness and begin to look around at other forms of power and security. But throughout Scripture God’s message has always been to his people: “Trust me”, “Put your faith in my promises”, “Rely on me.”

Internal Position 200H x 343W (7 columns)

Philip Fawkes, Bank, Lyndhurst

The Rev Barry Kent – Anglican priest (retired)

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