New Milton Advertiser 30th Oct 2020

18 · Friday 30th October 2020

news@adt.press · advertising@adt.press · 01425 613384

Letters

Write to news@adt.press with your phone number and full address, which can be withheld from publication on request. Letters may be edited. Reader’s photo treated as second class citi- zens, usually because they can’t vote so the powers that be see Monitoring the usage, a booking system and noise con- trol processes were not yet fully calculated and questions re- ferring to these concerns were answered in a vague manner. A further meeting was planned to

Thank you for your long service SIR – IT was inevitable;

Compromise on muga noise SIR – I live within 150 metres of the Brockenhurst multi-use games area (muga). The muga was an admirable achievement, raising funds to provide an area which could benefit community sports. The Brockenhurst Village Trust (BVT) and the organis- ers assured local residents at a community meeting prior to the building of the muga that the noise impact on local res- idents would be minimised by the design of the base. meet with them and educate themselves in the school of real life. Bridget Craig, Ashurst MPs’ crass meal comments SIR – I am a constituent of New Forest East MP Julian Lewis and have just read his comments on the free school meals controversy, along with Desmond Swayne’s, on your website. I am appalled and disgusted that these two men who have never known poverty in their lives feel entitled to make such crass and ill-informed com- ments about what it is like to live on minimum income or Universal Credit. When Tory councillors in Hampshire, who are more knowledgeable about poverty in the county, state publicly that they are under enormous financial pressure in spite of receiving government money earlier in the year, then I think these two men, who supposedly represent these families, should them as an easy scapegoat. I think it shows how out- of-touch the current group of Conservative councillors are if they’re willing to spend £1,500 a month just to stop kids having somewhere to hang out in the evenings. Don’t blame the kids for not understanding the regulations. Blame the government for screwing up the messaging. Ben Thompson, Totton

Wonderful local sports cov- erage with action shots. Lots of local information. Even a Christian piece. The Letters page was al- ways interesting to read – the moans, prejudices exposed, anger vented, heartfelt pleas made – a chance to let off steam publicly. Motoring, school events, local history, entertainments and news: everything the well-informed local needed to know – and more. The paper was even featured in a region- al television programme, its fame so widespread. The page dimensions have mercifully shrunk making it more physically manageable to turn them and read in comfort. Then came the new printing press. Then came the colour. More realistic and enjoyable. All for currently 70p. Worth every penny. So thanks, Eddie Curry and your forefathers for your enterprise, perseverance and amazingly long service to the New Forest. The Iliffe organisation has taken over a south coast gem. I hope they nurture it as well as the Currys have done. Just a plea before you de- part. Perhaps it would be pos- sible for the A&T’s 90-year- old archive to be donated to the recently established Milton Heritage Society as a legacy from you, an example to future generations of what a local paper should be, and tribute to you? “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” William Petts, New Milton investigate the reasons? In- deed, reduced recycling could be good for the environment. For example, my recycling has dropped considerably as my newspaper is now digital and we are careful about the amount of packaging on prod- ucts we purchase. There seems to have been little consideration to dealing with the problems this could cause to our older citizens and disabled residents using heavy bins. And how will the 8% of houses already deemed unsuitable for the new system be managed? Finally if all our recycling is not to be processed in Hamp- shire, is it morally acceptable to dump it on other parts of the UK or, worse, on poorer countries? Nevertheless it is important to keep an open mind on these issues. If the council members really believe the proposed Safe and healthy wheelie bins SIR – Wheelie bins: the best thing I’ve heard since March. We all make waste, so let’s deal with it in the safest, healthi- est and least damaging to the changes are a practical option then they should organise a pilot trial in the district before committing themselves. Alan D. Marsh, East Boldre

things endure and are always there, taken for granted, as with people. Then, like life, change comes and we have to adjust to new circumstances. This is the case with the Curry family and their excel- lent service to our commu- nities. They’ve been with us printing the well-loved A&T for 90 years, no less. But at least the A&T goes on – we hope in the familiar way but, no doubt, change will come and, we hope again, in digest- ible bites. It’s changed over those 90 years, of course. I well remem- ber the office, down an alley past the hot metal cylinder workshop, past old lorries and a mobile crane into another, older world. Full of papers everywhere, a table strewn with notes, memos pinned to boards on walls, cuttings, sta- tionery, hardly any space etc. It was in fact little more than a shack, in need of re- furbishment. Two dedicated ladies made it work however. They knew everything nec- essary to deal with a con- stant flow of people placing advertisements and paying for them, handing in reports, photographs, answering queries and a myriad of other business tasks. Hectic, unrelenting but efficient and courteous. Now we send it all by email, by phone or post. We’ve adjusted to change. The stories of saints and sinners juxtaposed one anoth- er. The good eggs and the bad ones. Written about without judgement but with balance. Answers needed on waste queries SIR – Before embarking on significant changes in rubbish and recycling collections, the rate paying public need sensi- ble answers to a number of key questions. Chris Noble, New Forest Dis- trict Council’s service manager for waste and transport, in- ferred that the changes would lead to a more cost effective and carbon efficient service and minimise waste (A&T, 23rd October). What are the cost reductions that can be attained? What level of carbon reduction will be achieved? How do you plan to minimise waste? What are the initial costs of new bins and lorry bin handling systems? Will these proposals increase flytipping at increased cost to the council? It is probable that some assessments are based on spurious statistics. How do you measure the rubbish per- centage against the recycling percentage? Is this by weight or volume or just the number of sacks collected? Is there comparable data be- tween councils across England on the actual amounts of waste per head of population and how would NFDC compare on this measure? If our local recycling rate is low, should not the council

who are in need, and to thank God for those things that have been provided for us. But do we always remember to say thank you to those in our lives who are making a difference even in a small way – even through prayer? As my nan always said: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” – and she was right. But perhaps we could see this a little differently and think: “If I don’t feel like saying something nice – say something nice anyway!” provide updates, allow feed- back and address any issues. Since the muga has been open, there has not been one single meeting or provision for feedback to enable the custodi- ans to ascertain the impact on local residents. My emails were responded to with a “promise to pass it on”. One complaint of footballs landing in adjacent gardens and then being retrieved by participants entering the private gardens is resolved, but some issues remain unresolved and there is a perceived gen- eral lack of anyone giving any consideration for neighbouring residents. When the muga is being used for the purpose for which it was intended, although short periods of very high noise levels can be irritating, I have learned to accept it. However, it is on the occa- sions when the users are being disrespectful and using foul language, when it is used after dark, when there are continu- ous high noise levels on Sun- days and also when hard balls are slammed into the wooden fencing. The compounding effect has a serious impact on tranquillity. It is unfortunate that due to the lack of listening, recognis- ing or accepting neighbouring residents’ issues, let alone try- ing to resolve them, that legal action is being taken. Surely, in a democratic soci- ety, there can be some level of compromise? Name and address supplied Thanks for car problem help SIR – Following a problem with our car in Lymington High Street we would like to extend our grateful thanks to the peo- ple who came to our aid: the lady who contacted the police, Victoria from Stanford House Hotel and especially the kind lady from Mine’s A Pasty. You all made a difficult situa- tion more bearable. Name supplied, Brockenhurst

Paul White spotted this Spitfire as it flew over Tanners Lane near Lymington. Please send your photos to news@adt.press

4x4 drivers think they own roads SIR – I am writing to you about some inconsiderate driving around the Lymington area by 4x4 drivers. Last weekend on Saturday afternoon I was driving towards Lymington from Lyndhurst when I arrived at Brocken- hurst. I decided to avoid the railway level junction and went past the golf club en- trance where there were some roadworks with traffic lights. The lights changed to red so I slowed down – only to be over- taken by a white 4x4 who drove through the red light! On way back from Lym- ington later, I drove past the Ampress business roundabout towards Brockenhurst and there was a car in front with L plates, so I gave myself a safe distance. I heard a horn behind by a grey Range Rover which was following me. When I looked in my rear mirror he or she was within inches of my rear and stayed like that trying to overtake on those dangerous bends. They turned off right just before the Old Filly Inn, so I hardly delayed them. Why is it 4x4 drivers seem to Let’s tell our leaders we want a say on this quality-of-life is- sue. Visit chng.it/CD2SVjmqwg A.S. Delmont, Lymington effects of loud, artificial noise on the health of people and wildlife, causing tinnitus, heart arrhythmias, muscle weakness, insomnia, cognitive difficulties, lowered immunity, and reduced biodiversity in birds and ma- rine creatures. Other towns have negotiated with the train companies and settled on alternatives. But so far, Lymington and New Forest councils have declined to advo- cate for our rights.

think they own the road? A few months ago I had another experience at Hunters Hill, Ashurst. I was driving up the hill towards Ashurst in the outside lane overtaking slower cars when a 4x4 behind me moved into the inside lane and would not let me in where the road moves into one. It then turned left towards Beaulieu. So much for courteous driv- ing. Name supplied, Ashurst

Sounding off about train horn SIR – Most people I’ve spo- ken to about the 130-decibel train horn blasts at Lymington station agree they’re incredi- bly loud – and have got louder since South Western Railway put new trains on about five years ago. But the same people de- fend their use as necessary to safeguard the footpath a few metres away. Would they hold the same opinion if they knew that hu- man hearing is damaged at 100 decibels? That for a fraction of what the council has spent on the town’s facelifts, they could have put in safety equipment such as lights and barriers at the footpath? That for less than £1,000, trains can be provisioned with “broadband horns” that direct the sound to a specific location instead of spraying it in a one-mile radius, 33 times a day? Do they realise this land- scape includes two ecologically fragile bodies of water that actually amplify the alarm five miles out to sea? Have they fac- tored in that it is now bouncing off the new housing complex? (Dry weather drives up the dec- ibels even further – we’ve had five rainless months this year – not to mention the cold air and reduced leaf cover in winter.) Scientific research clearly demonstrates the harmful There will be some residents who won’t be able to use them and, as is the case now, that will be managed appropriately. Shirley Macey, New Milton environment way as soon as possible. I’ve used them for 30 years and it was brilliant, so I felt I had gone back in time when I moved here.

Kids an easy scapegoat

SIR – I was disappointed to read in last week’s paper that the council have threatened to close New Milton skate park at night because kids are hanging out there in groups larger than six (A&T, 23rd October). This is a heavy-handed response, but why should that surprise me? Kids are often

Christian Comment IF THERE is one thing that has helped to reflect on the situation at hand over the last few months, then it has to be my daughter’s take on events. At nine, she has had to cele- brate her birthday (without a party), experience a cancelled holiday, learn to Zoom her friends during lockdown, and carry out her school work online (with a bit of help from mum and dad). As we approach the first order a hand sanitising dis- penser with her name on it. Regularly, throughout home-schooling and into this term, she has asked to email or make a card for her teach- er, to say thank you for a great day at school, and to tell him all the things she has enjoyed. I think sometimes when everything around us is

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changing and we feel uncom- fortable, we forget to look for the positives, to see where we can offer something nice to say – to even say thank you to those who are supporting us even when everything is more challenging for them and us. As Christians we are en- couraged to pray for those

half-term of a full timetable back at school, I see someone who has manged to take all of this in her stride, and to embrace the change that has occurred, even choosing to use her own pocket money to

Rev. Paul O’Connor, Minister for Christchurch Group of Churches

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