New Milton Advertiser 6th Nov 2020

Friday 6th November 2020 · 13 News

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Surge in food parcels as benefit claims rise

Eight-home bid for town vacant plot is rejected A BID to turn a vacant space in Ringwood, which formerly housed sound engineers, into an eight-home development has been rejected by New For - est District Council. The refusal of PC Crutcher Trust’s proposal for 2 Nurs - ery Road was blamed on fears it would “fail to improve” the town’s conservation area, and the suggested parking arrange - ments, which the authority said could exacerbate existing problems. It would have seen the out - buildings demolished, the front building turned into a two-bed cottage, and the construction of six three-bedroom hous - es and a two-bedroom home. There were also 11 parking spaces planned in an inner courtyard. Siding against the brownfield site rejuvenation, NFDC ruled the proposal would appear “over-dominant” on nearby Nursery Road and Hightown Road and have a “detrimental impact” on the character of the area. NFDC added the close prox - imity of the parking and ma - noeuvring space to amenity areas could cause noise and disturbance. Parking problems already exist in the area, it added, and a shortfall of provision on the site would “exacerbate exist - ing pressures” for on-street car parking and lead to an “unac - ceptable and harmful impact on highway safety”. In the application, agent Pure Town Planning insisted the site was not suitable for use as a builder’s or commercial unit, adding the scheme need - ed eight homes to be viable and maximise the use of the land. The proposal attracted 23 objections and another nine comments. Among the concerns raised were flooding worries, the parking situation, and access to the site and the surrounding roads which critics maintained were “congested”. TWO persistent shoplifters from Totton were given “one last chance” to break their drug habits by magistrates who spared them both an immedi - ate jail term. Shaun Havard (33), of Meach - er Close, and Paul Munday (41), of Harwood Close, admitted numerous offences – including four they committed together – in which items such as a cloth - ing, food, alcohol and coffee were taken. Among the stores target - ed by the pair were some on the Waterside, including the

Plea to put phones’ removal on hold

BT is being urged not to hang up on three payphones in the New Forest amid claims they are still needed. The kiosks – one in Ringwood and two in Hythe – are among 10 that the telecommunications company is consulting the dis - trict council over as it proposes to remove them. Town and parish councils were invited to submit their views on the matter to NFDC for consideration. Now Cllr Ed - ward Heron, cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, has decided which ones the au - thority will formally object to losing. Close proximity to shops or social housing were some of the reasons given for pushing to keep the three boxes. Ringwood Town Council ob - jected to the proposed removal of the kiosk at the junction of Butlers Lane and Gorley Road, saying it was “well-positioned in a visible location close to shops”. The box, which had been used 72 times in the past 12 months, also served a nearby social housing area, members argued. They stated: “The town coun - cil would like to add that whilst

the nation is still in the grips of the pandemic, it is more important than ever that peo - ple have access to a telephone, both for health and social rea - sons.” An objection by Hythe and Dibden Parish Council to the removal of the payphone in Fairview Drive, Hythe, said its 96 uses in 12 months showed it was “of some value to the local community”. The parish council also ob - jected to the removal of the payphone outside 52 Netley View in Cedar Road, Hythe – although that was used only 12 times in 12 months. Members said it was impor - tant due to its proximity to a large estate comprising rented and social housing. Cllr Heron agreed to a recom - mendation that NFDC raises objections to the removal of the three payphones. No objections were put for - ward to BT’s plans to remove the other seven kiosks: near Damerham Village Hall in Ford - ingbridge; Roundhill, Fording - bridge; Drake Close, New Mil - ton; Efford Way, Pennington; Church Lane, Lyndhurst; North Road, Dibden Purlieu; and Ash - ley Road, Ashley.

New Forest food bank reveals increase as second lockdown hits

BY BEN CRAIG

A FOOD charity has reported a fivefold increase in the num - ber of parcels it has given out to families as benefits claims surged locally during the pan - demic. Figures from the New Forest Food Bank were revealed as the number of people in the district claiming working-age benefits reached 4,205 in September – more than two-and-a-half times the level in March. From April to August the Lymington-based food bank gave out 2,206 packages – five times the amount provided over the same period in 2019. Another food bank in Lynd - hurst, which was established by volunteers at the start of the pandemic, has provided more than 180 parcels, worth £60 each, since March. They con - tain food as well as household items like toothpaste, deter - gents and shampoo. The food bank numbers were collated by the New Forest Ro - tary Club which is now focusing fundraising efforts to support

Volunteers at a Lyndhurst food bank have been kept busy

families facing financial hard - ship following the first lock - down and ongoing restrictions, which have hit the local hospi - tality sector, in particular. Club president Steve Timms said: “The financial hardship caused to families is widely ex - pected to increase the demand for food parcels within commu - nities throughout the New For - est area.

“Although seemingly affluent areas, loss of income is caus - ing immense hardship to many families, with pride often pre - venting deserving cases from seeking assistance.” The club has allocated £750 to Lyndhurst Welfare Chari - ty for its food bank and £500 each to New Forest Basics Bank and Totton Basics Bank. Mr Timms said New Forest communities and local busi - nesses have been generous in their support through dona - tions of cash, food and other essentials. Oliver Stanley, chair of New Forest Basics Bank, said: “Our fulfilment has been pulled in many directions in recent months, from responding to families of school children who missed out on the free school lunch vouchers, to helping New Forest District Council in de - livering substantial parcels to those who were shielded but not included in the government free box scheme. “We have seen an increase in clients since the crisis broke, and we are very well prepared to react to the possibility of a further increase once the fur -

lough scheme drops off. “I would encourage any - one noticing friends or family struggling with food poverty to please go and visit an agen - cy such as the Citizens Advice New Forest who will be able to refer for a food parcel if neces - sary.” He added: “I am really grate - ful for the support we have re - ceived from the Rotary Club and their members. With the ongoing Covid-19 situation, this kind of community involvement is really helpful in highlighting the situation the New Forest Basics bank faces where food poverty is concerned across the New Forest.” According to the Office for National Statistics, the propor - tion of people in the NFDC area claiming working-age benefits was 4.3% in September, com - pared to 5.4% in the south-east region and 6.5% in the UK. In the constituency of Christchurch the claimants to - tal came to 2,145, compared to 765 in March. The proportion claiming working-age benefits there was 4.8% last month, and 5.3% in the wider south-west re - gion.

Priestlands School North Street, Pennington, Lymington SO41 8FZ 01590 677033

info@priestlands.hants.sch.uk www.priestlands.hants.sch.uk

COMMUNITY GOVERNOR This is a voluntary role for which the term of office is four years and would suit someone keen to represent community interests on our Board of Governors. As long as you’re over 18, live and work in the local area, but are not a current parent of Priestlands’ students, we would love to hear from you. As a Board we think it is important that we reflect our school community and therefore we would especially welcome applications from younger applicants and those from an ethnic minority background. Applicants offering experience of education or social services would be particularly welcome. More information on the role and an application form is on our website at: http://www.priestlands.hants.sch.uk/Governor-Vacancies If you are interested but would like an informal chat before making an application, please contact Caroline Clitherow, Clerk to Governors, via email at: caroline.clitherow@priestlands.hants.sch.uk The Clerk is also be able to arrange an informal discussion with the Headteacher if desired. Priestlands School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975 and you will be required to declare whether you have any criminal convictions. Priestlands School is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Oliver Stanley (left) receives a cheque on behalf of New Forest Basics Bank from Rotary’s president Steve Timms (centre) and Mike Clarke

Shoplifters given ‘one last chance’

Tesco Express in Hythe three times in four days in Sep - tember. In total, Munday pleaded guilty to six offences between June and September, and ad - mitted they put him in breach of a conditional discharge for assault and attempted theft. Havard admitted seven sepa - rate thefts between August and September. The Bench noted both de - fendants had extensive records of offending and gave each a six- month prison term, suspended for 18 months.

That was because, South - ampton magistrates warned, both men were getting “one last chance” to “break their drug habits”. Both Havard and Munday were placed under a six-month electronic curfew between 2pm and 2am, and told to undertake probation programmes to help their rehabilitation. They were also told to pay £128 court costs each and banned from entering any Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl or Waitrose store in Totton, Dib - den Purlieu or Hythe.

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Mon – Sat 9am – 5pm, Sundays 10am – 4pm Setley Ridge Farm Shop 01590 623000 Setley Ridge Garden Centre 01590 622839

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