New Milton Advertiser 25th December 2020

14 · Friday 25th December 2020

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Letters

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I wasn’t sure what was meant by individual prayer! Is it just a quick shout-out to God or one person allowed to pray in the building at a time? I realise that 2020 and the global pandemic has been devastating for many people. Some have lost loved-ones; many more have lost their businesses or livelihoods. But Covid-19 has also had a devastating effect on our sacred spaces. Not only has public worship been forbid- den for most of the year but our finances have also been decimated. I am aware that many churches will face clo- sure or the loss of paid clergy and ministers as a result of the crisis. My main concern, however, is not about my future sti- pend but about the seeming Substantial contributions should be required from the developers towards not only our local schools but also our health infrastructure (Lyming- ton hospital, surgeries, doctors etc), the councils being entitled to do so through Section 106 agreements. The developers shouldn’t be the only ones to benefit from such huge contacts. It is neither fair nor reasonable to leave the local community overstretched on health services and local schools. Mrs D Ryley, Lymington Survey’s waffle and platitudes SIR – I have just read the strategy etc from New Forest District Council about waste in the Forest. It is full of waffle and platitudes. The survey seems designed to elicit the response required rather than people’s true opin- ions. Why have pre-populated answers, unless you are angling for a certain response? Reginald Chester-Sterne, Blackfield Small minority for wheelie bins SIR – Mr Trevor Milchard says he is delighted with the New Forest District Council’s plan to introduce wheelie bins (Letters, 4th December). But he is in a small minority, according to a previous corre- spondent who claimed that 90% of online comments to the A&T were against the proposal. He also claimed that wheelie bins have worked well elsewhere but this is not the experience of others who have lived in towns with wheelie bins. A recent opinion survey carried out in our group of 30 houses and bungalows showed that only four householders were in favour of the NFDC’s planned change. Those against pointed out that they did not have the stor- age space for two wheelie bins and a food caddy, that it would be too difficult for elderly resi- dents, particularly those living

lack of concern or importance the past year has placed on our nation’s sacred spaces. Do they matter to us? Would we miss them if they ceased to exist? I was fortunate to have served my curacy many years ago at Romsey Abbey. At the time, I recall receiving a letter from the Bishop of Winchester re- minding me that “the stones are steeped in centuries of prayer”. Our sacred spaces might not be as old as the Abbey Church in Romsey but if you ask me, at the present moment, we need them now more than ever. With my prayers and good wishes for the New Year. The Rev. Andrew Bailey AKC, Rector of Milton alone, to move the bins around, and that when the bins were wheeled to our relatively small central car park to be emptied into the collection vehicle they would obstruct residents’ cars. Four of our residents who had previously lived in towns with a wheelie bin system were strong- ly against its introduction here owing to their practical expe- rience of it, with one, who pre- viously lived in Southampton, describing it as “a nightmare” They said the bins were hardly ever returned to the right house but just left around anywhere getting in everyone’s way. If the lid of a bin was even fractionally open, owing to the pressure of the rubbish inside or the wind blowing it open it was not emptied, the lids were often left open after emptying, so if it rained the bin filled with water, and if the wind strengthened the bins would often be blown over obstructing residents and their cars. A simple compromise solu- tion would surely be to retain the black plastic sack system which has worked very well but add to it a waste food caddy which could be put out and emptied on the same day. As for the alleged problem of plastic sacks being torn open during the night by birds or animals, the simple answer, as most residents have found, is to put out the sacks in the morn- ing before collection time. Noel Baptiste, Milford Watch out for gang of vandals SIR – In the last two or three weeks two youths, probably teens, have been around Brans- gore breaking car windows and mirrors and stealing Christmas decorations. The police are, of course, aware. Mentioning this in the paper may alert more people. I don’t know if the police have time to try and track down these vandals, but the more people who know about them the better! One wonders what motivates them. Probably from poor homes and not very intelligent. Name and address supplied

Lockdown will live long in all our memories SIR – Lockdown: a word

your paper to give the front- page to a flaky story by a local councillor about taxpayers’ money being used for a drug abusers’ lounge countermand- ed the good news of the arrest and conviction of the drug dealer. The allegation by the council- lor that Lymington is a hotbed of open drug dealing is quite extraordinary and bizarre. Who does he mix with? This mistak- en suggestion that there should be accommodation set aside for illegal drug consumption lends legitimacy to the activity. The consumption of non-pre- scription drugs is not legal in this country and the police are doing an excellent job in catch- ing dealers. It is unhelpful and mislead- ing to suggest that taxpayers’ money should be used for the provision of accommodation for those who wish to abuse them- selves in this way. It would be better if this money was spent on resources for the police to be able to ap- prehend and bring to trial drug dealers. Name and address supplied Sledgehammer to crack a nut SIR – The decision to impose parking charges at Keyhaven to deter campervans (A&T, 11th December) is barmy, and a clas- sic example of using a sledge- hammer to crack a nut, as well as a great illustration of how to respond to canvassing public opinion (10 for it, 17 against). There are now over 350,000 campervans registered in the UK, many of which are owned by retirees (like myself) who have money to spend in the local community, and wish nothing more than a quiet spot in which to park overnight, while spending our money in local hostelries and business- es – particularly important in the ‘staycation’ culture we are living in. Our continental friends in France, Germany, Spain and Italy have a huge network of sites (‘aires’ in France) where campervan owners can park, sleep, replenish their water We, in this country, should practice a bit more self-con- trol, patience and thought for others, judging by the crowd- ed beaches earlier in the year, and also the numbers who appeared when the pubs were allowed to open. since Covid-19 reared its ugly head, and are having to deal with the unknown. The graphic films shown on television are a warning as to what can happen to us if we become gravely ill. I wonder who has instigated the forthcoming enquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic (although there has been no recent mention of this). No doubt someone/ something will be made a scapegoat of this whole sorry mess. The present govern- ment has its faults but one does wonder if any other party could have done any better?

supplies and dispose of waste for a small fee, and often free of charge. They then benefit the local economy by patronising restaurants and cafes, and shopping locally. Campervan owners are overwhelmingly a considerate bunch. We have our own toilets and washing facilities, we do not need to set up tables or awnings (we are not campers!) and we like, if possible, to leave a site in a cleaner condition than that in which we found it. If we had sites where we could top up with fresh water and empty our toilet waste, we would be more than happy to pay £5-£10 per night for the privilege of staying there, and supporting the local economy. Would it not be a better approach if New Forest District Council applied charges with a facility for overnight stops for an extra fee? Upgrading the water and waste facilities to an ‘aire’ standard would be a cost-effec- tive way of ensuring extra in- come in the future. This would deter the travellers and the nuisance campers, and could even increase local security with the overnight presence of responsible people. Surely a win-win situation? David Woodgates, Pilley Minority spoil it for rest of us SIR – Jon Bray believes Lord Montagu is wrong to stand against the use of a thin strip of estate coastline for the coastal path (Letters, 18th December) over concern it would result in environmental carnage. Lord Montagu is correct in his assumptions, as the general public are not good at looking after environmentally sensi- tive areas. Take the Forest, for example, with piles of litter left for other people to clear up, dogs left off-lead to create havoc amongst nesting birds and so on. This carnage would not be caused by everyone, rather it would be the few who spoil it for the majority, as is very sadly always the way. The virus is still very much with us, and will be so for much longer than we realise. Having been in touch with the local police I was told they were dreading the easing of lockdown. It is splendid news that a number of vaccines are now ready and that certain people have begun to receive the one available to us in the U.K. Last, but definitely not least, our very grateful thanks must go to those in our local community who have come forward to assist with shop- ping etc, risking their own health by doing so. Our local shops have done a magnif- icent job in keeping open when so many others have had to remain closed. Here’s to a safe, pleasant and peaceful Christmas, and a better, brighter 2021. Kara Hawks, Cadnam

Mental health key to drug use SIR – Cllr Jack Davies suggests that Lymington town sets up drug rooms for addicts (A&T, 18th December). Surely, the best way to address the problem is to analyse why people take these debilitating and life-destroying substances and then to call for resources to meet those needs. Might it have something to do with mental health? Mental health services are so under- funded that they cannot meet the vastly increasing need for their services. We need a mas- sive investment in this part of the NHS. Might it have something to do with unemployment? We need a massive investment in kickstarting a green industrial programme, which would not only make our world a better place to live in but would also provide hundreds of thousands of jobs. This could also help people’s mental and physical health needs. Might it have something to do with boredom? We used to have youth services that helped to organise after-school and weekend activities for young people. Youth services along with a range of other facilities would help to reduce the drug culture and the victims of the dreadful austerity measures taken by this and the previous coalition government. Do we need Marcus Rashford to help here, or can enlightened and committed members of our locality encourage our govern- ment to meet the urgent and desperate needs of our commu- nity? Shirley Franklin, Brockenhurst Invest in more enforcement SIR – The news that a drug dealer in New Milton had been sentenced for two-and-a-half years as a result of a first-class operation by our local police is very welcome (A&T, 18th December). The extraordinary choice of I have every sympathy for our scientists and govern- ment who from the start have been working in the dark ever which will stay in the mem- ory for a long time after the coronavirus had faded into the background, even though, like the Bubonic plague of 1665, it will never disappear completely. (The last reported case of bubonic plague was in July this year!) My heart goes out to all those who have lost family and friends, and also to NHS nurses and medical staff, not forgetting all those other vital workers such as porters, postmen, police and refuse collectors. So many people have not even been able to support or visit those in care homes, in hospital – especially pregnant mums, or properly mourn those who have died.

David Taylor spotted this festive post box at Everton post office. Please send your photos to news@adt.press

vember on the day when the second lockdown in England was announced. I needed to know whether places of worship would be closed again. I waited until the end of the broadcast and there was absolutely no men- tion of cathedrals, churches or chapels. Special attention was given to non-essential shops, gyms and tattoo parlours but sacred spaces were totally ignored. The next day, I looked at the official government website containing the latest Covid-19 information and on one of the latter pages, the document informed me that all places of worship are to be closed except for funerals and individual prayer. Bravo HCC for funding stance SIR – Hampshire County Council should be applauded for requesting that a developer planning to build 300 houses in Calmore provides £1.3m to ex- pand local schools (A&T, 11th November). HCC and New Forest District Council should be as demand- ing towards the present and future planning applications for hundreds houses in and around Lymington, the first one having been put in by Bargate Homes.

There are simply too many of us to allow free footfall every- where, and some areas need to be kept off limits. Consider the case of rare birds being forced to abandon their nests on an island in the Beaulieu River by people landing from a boat at the time of the original lockdown in the spring of this year. Name and address supplied Bad track record for path opening SIR – Your writer John Bray, I’m afraid, is very naive about the landholding of Lord Mon- tagu and several others in the area (Letters, 18th December). The simple fact is that they are the custodians of precious habitat for wild life and once, heaven forbid, the great British public were allowed on these places they would be immedi- ately be trashed and the wildlife would be gone, forever! The evidence is clear when the damage done to Hengist- bury Head and vast tracts of the Forest are there to be seen. On an organised bird watch- ing trip to the Sowley shore in recent years, with Graham Giddens, a number of spoon- bills were feeding on the inshore pond, and Eider ducks were on the shore, when two trespassers approached along the beach from Lymington direction, and instantly the birds were gone. What is the point of allow- ing access just to appease sad prejudice? Roger Akhurst, Lymington

Christian Comment I REMEMBER watching the evening news early in No-

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