New Milton Advertiser 23rd Oct 2020

Friday 23rd October 2020 · 15

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News

Councillor given new BCP role for town

Probe after drug raid on home A MAN is being investigated by police after a drug raid on a Ringwood home uncovered a haul of suspected illicit substances. Officers executed a war - rant at the property last Thursday and seized a small amount of white powder and a green herbal substance. A post by local police on Face- book said a 20-year-old local man was under investigation in connection with the raid. Hunt for shoe box volunteers FORDINGBRIDGE Rotary Club is seeking local people to prepare packages for its annual Shoe Box Project for disadvantaged children in eastern Europe. The shoeboxes are filled with gifts and dispatched for distribution. The club can visit people’s homes to pick up the boxes, which need to have the suitable age/gender of the con- tents marked, without any battery-powered items, war-related items or food. The boxes need to be ready for 6th November. Contact Dennis Wilson on 01425 652491. A SHOPLIFTER admitted stealing hundreds of pounds of goods from a string of stores. Paul Munday (41), of Harwood Close, Totton, pleaded guilty to six charges relating to thefts carried out at four shops between 29th June and 22nd September in Hythe, Blackfield and Romsey. Ordering a pre-sentence report, the city Bench re- manded Munday in custody to reappear on Tuesday 27th October. Man admits shops thefts Forest among worst for vision THE New Forest is among the top 10 worst districts for vision in the UK, with 9,250 people suffering from sight loss. figures show. A total of 5.09% of resi- dents are hampered, placing the district fourth highest in the national table. The worst was North Norfolk (5.45%), NHS data revealed. The statistics were highlighted by the Book an Eye Test website, which promotes eye health and independent opticians.

Independent will work on Christchurch regeneration projects

BY JOSH WRIGHT

AN Independent Christchurch councillor has been given a jun- ior leadership position at BCP Council to oversee regeneration efforts in the town. On Friday, the authority’s new Tory leader announced Cllr Nigel Brooks among the final three of his “lead member” roles tasked to focus on the conurba- tion’s trio of towns, on top of specific priorities to oversee, writes Josh Wright of the Local Democracy Reporting Service . Cllr Brooks, who represents Highcliffe and Walkford, be- comes the only Christchurch member to hold a position in the administration, but outside the main ruling cabinet. He said he still supported the former Unity Alliance coa- lition, but added: “After careful consideration I have concluded that it is vitally important to stand up for Christchurch and, setting aside any party lines, to work with the new Conservative administration. “Whilst Bournemouth and Poole have seen significant in - vestment, and there is further investment in the ‘pipeline’, I will ensure that Christchurch does not miss out on oppor- tunities for improvements for businesses and residents alike.”

Judge to decide on village games area noise row The complaint concerns the muga facility in Brockenhurst

Cllr Nigel Brooks

Cllr Beverly Dunlop

Cllr Steve Baron

He added: “As a ward and parish councillor for Highcliffe and Walkford I am passionate about making a difference for residents, businesses and visi- tors alike by leading the prepa- ration of a Neighbourhood Plan which will help to shape the future of planning in the par- ish area, a Revitalise the High Street, Highcliffe project as well as having recently established a Community Speed Watch scheme in Highcliffe.” He was joined by Conserva- tive Cllr Beverley Dunlop and Poole People’s Cllr Steve Baron in taking on the roles. The junior jobs were intro- duced by Cllr Drew Mellor following his election as BCP Council leader at the beginning of the month in order to have specific issues prioritised be -

neath the cabinet’s wider focus. Three were filled by Conserv - atives when he announced his central cabinet last week but the remainder stayed empty to allow final negotiations with other political groups to take them up. Cllr Mellor said both the Christchurch Independents and Liberal Democrats, part of the Unity Alliance, had reject- ed his offers to work with his group. He had pledged to “work across political divides” follow- ing criticism of the previous ad- ministration in this area. His new “lead member” roles were inspired by a similar ap- proach recently adopted by Dorset Council. Cllr Brooks has been asked to create a conur- bation-wide retail strategy and

head up work in Christchurch. Cllr Baron will head up eco- logical work while overseeing regeneration work in Poole, and Cllr Dunlop will be tasked with focusing on the council’s event’s programme and regen- eration in Bournemouth. Cllr Mellor said the appoint- ments “made the most of the excellent talent” councillors had. “Having made commitments to work across political di- vides, I was disappointed that the Liberal Democrats and Christchurch Independent groups rejected working to- gether,” he said. “However, others have agreed to work with the new adminis- tration which will really help us to utilise all of the skills on offer.” Riding school given cycling event warning RIDING stables in Bashley have been warned about a major cy- cling event due to pass through the village this weekend. The New Forest Rattler En- durance Weekend will run to- morrow (Saturday) and Sun- day, with entrants completing routes of 47, 84 or 102 miles. A recent virtual meeting of New Milton Town Council’s planning committee heard the event, which starts at Moyles Court School in Ringwood, would take in the B3055 Bash- ley Cross Road and the B3058 Bashley Common Road. Planning clerk Theresa El- liott said she had advised the Burley Villa School of Riding, which is based in Bashley Com- mon Road. The event’s website states it will be “fully Covid-secure and track and trace-compliant”. Visit www.thenewforestrattler. co.uk/event

A DISTRICT judge is set to decide a row about noise from youngsters using a Brocken- hurst games area. The verdict due in December will settle a court hearing held earlier this month between Ma- rie and Martin Sampson, who live near the Highwood Road facility, and the organisation which oversees it, Brocken- hurst Village Trust. The Sampsons are seeking an abatement order as they claim they are disturbed by noise at the multi-usegamesarea–knownasa muga. They have made a complaint under section 82 of the Environ- mental Protection Act 1990. Mrs Sampson, who has young children, said she wants an acoustic fence put up along the entire boundary of the muga

and the facility locked at night. The trust said it offered to install the barrier on the Samp- sons’ boundary provided they fund half the cost, but that had not been taken up. Opened around two years ago, the muga is next to the village hall, Scout hall and play- ground and used by children’s groups, sports teams and for charity events. It got off the ground after the community raised £63,000. Depending on the season, it closes at either 8pm or 5pm and there is a code of conduct ban- ning swearing. Southampton Magistrates’ Court confirmed to the A&T that the case was next listed for 1st December when District Judge Anthony Calloway will likely deliver judgement.

Rooting out the winners in town allotments contest

Pensioner hurt woman avoiding ambulance

A GREEN-fingered couple were blooming with pride after tak- ing the top prize in a Ringwood allotments competition. This year’s winners, judged by Ringwood Garden Club, were announced by recreation, leisure and open spaces com- mittee chair Cllr Andy Briers during a recent virtual town council meeting. Overall winners Mr and Mrs Shields also won first prize in the Upper Kingston category for their allotment at Plot 10. Second prize was taken by Sa- rah Shatwell for Plot 22A. The other results were South- ampton Road: First prize, Plot SR09, Anne Taylor; second prize, Plot SR08, Colin Joy. Hightown Road: first prize, Plot HR17, Peter Malloy; sec-

AN 84-year-old Marchwood driver was given a suspended prison sentence for injuring an elderly woman while manoeu- vring out of the way of an am- bulance on an emergency call. Sheila Ward, of Kingfisher Way, pleaded guilty to causing injuries to Alison Coombes by dangerous driving in South- ampton in September last year. Southampton magistrates gave her four months’ jail for the incident but opted to suspend the term for a year. Ward was

also told to pay £207 court costs. The Bench said during sen- tencing that the incident hap- pened as a result of Ward’s “response to circumstances on the road” while driving a Toyo- ta Yaris, and noted the victim subsequently died but “not as a direct result of the injuries”. While Ward’s driving was not deliberate, the sentence had been imposed as a “punishment and to send a message to others who put themselves in a similar position when they should not be driving”.

Mr and Mrs Shields (left) claimed the overall prize, as well as the top spot in the Upper Kingston category, while Southampton Road’s first and second prize winners were Anne Taylor and Colin Joy

ond prize, Plot HR18, Mr M. Gubbins. Mini Plots: first prize, Plot

HRM12, Josephine Burkin; sec- ond prize, Plot HRM13, also Jo- sephine Burkin.

APPLICATION FOR GRANT AID 2020

Lymington & Pennington Town Council is pleased to announce that applications for Grant Aid may be submitted between 07 September 2020 and 07 November 2020 Grant awards will be made in December 2020.

If your Organisation’s objectives are to benefit the residents of Lymington and Pennington, you are encouraged to apply for a Grant.

Please visit our website www.LymingtonandPennington-tc.gov.uk to obtain a Grant Application.

Town Council Office • Town Hall • Avenue Road • Lymington • Hampshire • SO41 9ZG www.LymingtonandPennington-tc.gov.uk t: 01590 630830 e: info@lymandpentc.org.uk