New Milton Advertiser 30th Oct 2020

14 · Friday 30th October 2020

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News

School set for £1m arts hub revamp

MAKING 19 unpleasant phone calls to the emergency services landed a man with 200 hours of community work. Lee Dimmer (32), of Stour Road in Christchurch, plead- ed guilty to calling the police and fire service repeatedly on the same day, and using grossly offensive language. Poole magistrates also ordered the defendant to pay £120 compensation and £175 costs. Offensive calls made to services A CYCLIST was hurt in a col- lision with a car which result- ed in the A35 Christchurch Cyclist injured The incident involving a Vauxhall took place on the Purewell Cross Roundabout shortly after 8am on Monday. Paramedics treated the cy- clist, a man in his 40s, at the scene before he was taken by ambulance to hospital. A Dorset Police spokesperson said his injuries were not be- lieved to have been serious. COMPANIES are being asked to donate money to- wards an artificial Christmas tree to be displayed in the centre of Totton. The Totton and Eling Christmas Lights Committee hope to raise enough to buy a large tree for the town centre roundabout which can be reused every year. In return, company names will be displayed on an adver- tising board. The committee can be contacted on Face- book by searching Totton and Eling Xmas Lights. Tree donations Car gutted by fire FIREFIGHTERS tackled flames which gutted a car off a New Forest road on Sunday night. The blaze broke out off Charles’s Lane in Crow, near Ringwood, around 10pm. A crew from Burley brought it under control within 20 minutes by which time the vehicle had been destroyed. bypass being partially blocked at rush-hour.

Building refurb to be welcomed by music and drama students

Young farmers seek membership boost

By JON WALLER

MORE than £1m of improve- ments are being made to a New Milton school to boost students with creative talents. The Arnewood School is transforming a former automo- tive engineering building that once hosted the canteen into a hub for the arts. The revamp will create a building that will boast two fully stocked music rooms, sep- arate practice rooms and two drama suites for performing arts students. The latter will especially ben- efit those in the sixth form who have an eye on studying drama at university and beyond. To be undertaken by builders Greendale Construction, the work is expected to be complet - ed by March next year. It will involve revamping both the inside and outside of the building. Nigel Pressnell, Arnewood head teacher, said: “This is the latest phase of our multi-mil- lion-pound building improve- ment strategy and will com- plement work completed last year on our three-storey maths, science and vocational teaching accommodation. “Students are fortunate to

young farmers about four years ago with my sister and abso- lutely loved it. “Since being a member I have gained a lot of confidence and have met friends who are for life. “Young farmers is a great or- ganisation for everyone. You do not need to be a farmer or come from a farming background, just need to want to have fun and meet new people.” The club is hoping to recruit members over the age of 18 who can step up and share some of the responsibility for organising events and activities. Samantha (18), who has been chair for the last two years, would love to hear from older teenagers who would be inter- ested in volunteering for the roles of vice-chair and club sec- retary. To find out more or to vol - unteer email brock.hantsy fc@gmail.com or visit www. hampshireyfc.org/brockenhurst them rather than let it pile up around the bin. “They have a responsibility of their own and they can’t expect the council to tidy up around them.” Cllr Michael White queried whether the size of the bins could be increased to address the problem. Members suggested asking NFDC to carry out more collections, but the clerk pointed out the cost of extra services would be passed onto the town council.

OLDER teenagers with an in- terest in agriculture are being urged to support the future of Brockenhurst Young Farmers Club. The group, which runs meet- ings from its own headquarters in Tiptoe, was set up 76 years ago to help train young people in agricultural practices and ar- range social events. In recent years membership has dwindled and at one point the club was faced with the prospect of closure. Although this trend has now reversed with a large number of younger members signing up in the last year, organisers need older participants to help fill key roles running the club. Chair Samantha Gates said: “We have been very pleased with the great number of new members that have joined us recently – and we are having lots of enquiries and potential members coming along to see what we can do.” She added: “I came along to DOG walkers in Lymington are being urged to take used poo bags home after it was revealed bins were overflowing. New Forest District Council has reduced the number of dog waste collections due to the pandemic, the latest full meeting of Lymington and Pennington Town Council heard. Cllr Alan Penson told members: “I would urge that when people find the bins full they take that waste home with

Arnewood head teacher Nigel Pressnell and pupils with the plans

have some of the best facilities locally and this latest phase will give them access to state-of- the-art expressive arts spaces.” He continued: “This will benefit all key stages including the many students who remain at Arnewood sixth form to follow creative qualifications.” Mr Pressnell said the changes to the exterior will result in it being “more in harmony” with

other outside buildings, making for a more attractive school environment overall. Funding for the building was secured from the Department for Education’s Condition Improvement Fund after it accepted an application from the school. It is the latest phase of improvements at Arnewood following the recent upgrade of

the three-storey Elizabeth Cook Building, previously the Scola building. It was named after the well-regarded chairman of governors, Elizabeth Cook, who has served in the role since 1978. The upgrades have come during the school’s 50th anniversary year – it first opened its doors in September 1970.

Dog walkers waste plea

Court appearance for murder-accused teen

As reported in the A&T, the death of Mr Cutting, who was living in Bournemouth at the time, prompted a string of trib- utes from friends and family on social media. His brother Paul said he was a “crazy kid”, while in anoth - er Kira Green said he was “my soulmate and my hero”.

ed in custody to appear before the same court on 20th Novem- ber. A trial date has been set for late January next year. Meanwhile, a third man has been charged with assisting an offender in relation to Mr Cut- ting’s death. Nicholas Bran- sky (49), from Bournemouth, appeared before Poole Magis- trates’ Court last Friday.

found with stab wounds in Bo- scombe Chine Gardens on 30th June. A 19-year-old, Khalid Mo- hamed, of Leyton, Weltham For- est, also appeared before the same court. He did not enter pleas to two matters: assisting an offender and being involved in the supply of class A drugs. The teenagers were remand-

A TEENAGER accused of murdering a former Highcliffe School pupil has appeared in court. The 16-year-old from London, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not enter a plea at Salisbury Crown Court to the accusation of killing James Cutting. Mr Cutting, who was 31, was