New Milton Advertiser 4th Dec 2020

Friday 4th December 2020

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N EW M ILTON A DVERTISER | advertiserandtimes.co.uk

Christmas in New Milton

What’s On Find the festive fun as theatres unlock doors Page 18

Sport Wilson’s last day heartache at championship Pages 23-24

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Getting in the spirit Pages 19-21

LT Price Rise 03

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Mum loses bid to hush play park

INSIDE 9 771353 223033

Desperately seeking Santas

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Index Obituaries Business What’s On 18 Christian Comment 22 Letters 22 From Our Files 25 Puzzle Corner 25 Food and Drink 26 Planning 28 New Forest Notes 29 Classifieds 32-35 Motoring 36-40 Family Announcements back page 9 771353 223033 9 771353 223033 47 9 771353 223033 48 Demand for action over ‘out of control’ off-tr ack cyclists Page 7 Thieves target town’s Christmas lights for second year running Page 11 9 771353 223033 9 771353 223033 45 46 Local MPs rebel against Covid tiers as Forest infection rate plummets Page 4 Commoners’ livestock cash to be halved in funding shake-up Page 5 9 771353 223033 9 771353 223033 43 44 15 17

‘Cloud has been lifted’ says village trust as judge rejects case

Continued on page 2 A COMPANY has been fined £150,000 over safety failings which led to a care home resi- dent contracting Legionnaires’ disease and suffering an “ago- nising” death. Andy Clegg (56) died in No- vember 2017, around two weeks after he was admitted to Salis- bury District Hospital. Doctors diagnosed him as suffering from pneumonia arising from expo- sure to the Legionella bacteria. An investigation found that Andy, described by family as a “loving and caring man”, picked up the bacteria from the bath- room taps and shower in the However, he added: “Whilst it is not for this court to advise the complainant on any future action she may wish or be ad- vised to take, it seems to me that the manner in which the muga is currently operated may potentially be in breach of the terms of the planning grant when judged as a whole. “Naturally this ground re- lates to the position, pre-Covid, recognising that the area is now subject to closure. However, it is a ground that will reopen, and it is an open question as to whether the area will continue to operate in its former man- ner.” Brockenhurst Village Trust chair Kevin Plummer said it had been a “prolonged and dif- ficult time”, adding: “A cloud has been lifted, but we can’t rejoice because inevitably there are not just winners, but losers. “That would never be our in- tention, but it was inevitable after the court case began. The

Oakhaven Hospice’s annual Santa Dash fundraiser will have a very different Christmas presence this year, as participants are asked to complete the 3km course within their households over a week – full story, page 6

BY JON WALLER

165-home plans unveiled

A MOTHER has lost her bid for a noise order to stop alleged unruly behaviour of youngsters using a popular Brockenhurst games area. This week District Judge Anthony Callaway threw out a case against Brockenhurst Vil- lage Trust by Marie Sampson relating to the multi-use games area (muga) in Highwood Lane. She was told to pay the trust’s court costs amounting to around £2,500. However, it is unlikely to end the saga, as New Forest District Council’s environmental health department has launched an investigation after a complaint was made over the facility. The judge also suggested the muga – overseen by the village trust – may have breached plan- ning rules and may have to op- erate differently. Mrs Sampson, who has two children, had claimed her near- by family home was regularly disturbed by nuisance noise and went to court seeking a

en suite of his room at Fording- bridge Care Home. A subsequent investigation found the bacteria in a “number of rooms”. The company which runs it, Sentinel Health Care Ltd, based at Fritham, near Lyndhurst, was prosecuted by national care watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC). At Southampton Magis- trates’ Court, Sentinel admit- ted two charges of failing to provide care and treatment in a safe way that resulted in harm or loss. In addition to the fine, it was ordered to pay £17,500 court costs. DEVELOPER Pennyfarthing Homes will unveil plans for up to 165 houses on the edge of New Milton at an online public consultation event. An exhibition showing draft proposals for the site, on green- belt land off Brockhills Lane, was due to be held at New Mil- ton Community Centre back in March, but in light of Cov- id-19 restrictions the public will now be consulted via Zoom on Thursday 10th December. The project team will present the plans, which include a 50% affordable housing provision,

In the wake of the sentenc- ing, Andy’s family issued a safe- ty warning amid their campaign to raise awareness of the dan- gers of Legionella. His brother Matt (50) said: “While three years has passed since Andy’s death, the hurt and pain we continue to feel is as strong now as when he died. “His death was hard enough to take but we feel our pain was only added to by the position the company and its managing director Al Donnelly have ad- opted. and host a question-and-an- swer session. Attendees will also have the chance to give feedback. The number of homes had been reduced from an earlier proposal for 173 to “improve” the scheme, the developer said. A spokesperson for New Mil- ton-based Pennyfarthing said the site is an adopted strategic allocation in the new Local Plan formally approved by New For- est District Council in July. This sets out locations and policies for the construction of nearly 10,500 new homes out-

side the national park by 2036. But Cllr Steve Clarke, chair of New Milton Town Coun- cil’s planning committee, said despite being in line with the Local Plan, the level of devel- opment proposed would un- doubtedly prove controversial. “Plans are in the early stages, but we’ve already seen com- ments on social media about the number of homes and the fact the site is greenbelt,” he said. “From a town council per- spective, we want to see an ef- fective traffic management sys- tem in place around the Sway Road/Brockhills junction. “And we have concerns around the safety of the pedes- trian access to Sway Road.” Cllr Clarke said the plans rep- resented the largest develop-

The Brockenhurst games area

noise abatement order under section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. She insisted she did not want it shut down, suggesting the trust instead erect a new fence to curb the noise and lock it at night. The trust denied the level of disruption claimed and said the new fence could cost £30,000. It said it had offered to install a new barrier on the Sampsons’ boundary, provided the com- plainant fund half the cost, but that had not been taken up. Both parties gave evidence earlier this year and, announc- ing his decision at Southamp- ton Magistrates’ Court, Judge Callaway rejected the noise or- der request.

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Care firm fined £150k over death

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