New Milton Advertiser 9th Oct 2020

Friday 9th October 2020

L YMINGTON T IMES | advertiserandtimes.co.uk 70P

Education Help and advice for your child’s best education Pages 25-27

Weddings Making the big day one you will never forget Page 29

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Garden Offices Log Cabins Summerhouses

Cup magic with Gloucester win Pages 21-23

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Police break up Covid rule flouters

Pumpkin kings’ record bid

INSIDE

Index Business Planning Obituaries 19 Christian Comment 20 Letters 20 From Our Files 24 Puzzle Corner 24 On the Hoof 28 Clubs and Societies 28 Food and Drink 31 Classifieds 32-35 Motoring 36-37 Family Announcements back page NMA Price Rise 03 Near-miss for driver after tree crashes on road feet from her car Page 5 Lymington’s Thomas Tripp pub to reopen – with a new name Page 9 Forest hotels boss slams ‘wrong’ curfew for restaurants Page 10 ‘Ridiculous’ raid on 21 beach huts to cost owners thousands Page 15 16 18

Station Road on the night of Friday 25th September he en- countered “hostility and open disregard for order in a time when all of us are having to sac- rifice so much”. PCSO McCaffery warned that those who flout the rules risk a £200 fine. Reacting to news of last Fri- day’s incident in Osborne Road, town mayor Cllr Alvin Reid em- phasised it was a small minority of youngsters who were going against the pandemic regula- tions. “Any breach is bad. We’re all struggling to try and keep to the regulations, but unfortunately there are a few people who be- lieve the regulations don’t apply to them,” he told the A&T. “We should educate them so that they understand the impact it could have on their family and their grandparents if they catch the virus. “All the data shows that young people are quite safe – if they catch it, it would usual- ly be just a mild attack. But if they were to pass it on to their parents or grandparents, they

O cers’ plea to parents after 30 youths found in abandoned house

BY CHRIS MARCH

POLICE broke up a gathering of about 30 youngsters at an abandoned house in New Mil- ton in breach of Covid-19 regu- lations. The incident in Osborne Road last Friday night came ex- actly a week after officers were abused by a group of youths who refused to wear face cover- ings in a store in Station Road. It has prompted a call from the police that parents ensure their children understand the rules. Under the current govern- ment regulations aimed at re- ducing the spread of corona- virus, no more than six people from different households are allowed to gather indoors or outdoors – known as the Rule of Six. Responding to the call-out to Osborne Road shortly before 10.30pm, officers ejected the youngsters from the building. However, the group contin- ued to loiter in the streets out- side, leading to a 12-hour dis- persal order being enforced. In addition to Osborne Road, this banned them from gather-

Martha Syrett (2) sits atop a giant pumpkin grown by Ian and Stuart Paton – see full story, page 3

Aldi returns with store plan

ing in the areas of the nearby railway line, Whitefield Road, Ashley Road and Oak Road. Posting on social media after- wards, PCSO Amy Blake said: “It has been a running theme over the past few weekends whereby officers have been giv- en a verbal onslaught by groups of youths in the New Milton town area while operating in the line of duty. “We ask if you are a parent, please have this conversation with your teenagers. We try our best, and our jobs are not made any easier by groups of youths hurling verbal abuse and not complying with our directions.” As reported in the A&T, PCSO Alan McCaffery hit out at a “small minority” of teens and adults who refused to wear masks in New Milton shops. He said that while patrolling

SUPERMARKET giant Aldi has submitted new plans for a store in New Milton after its first effort was thrown out by councillors. The second application for a site opposite Tesco in Caird Avenue is being backed by one town councillor who said the last one being turned down was a “travesty of justice”. Aldi said that if given the go-

ahead the new store will cre- ate at least 30 new jobs. It has already attracted 42 letters of support lodged with New For- est District Council, against five objections. The German retail company’s last bid was turned down by just one vote by NFDC’s plan- ning committee in May. An Aldi spokesperson told the A&T this week: “We know

our customers are currently travelling beyond New Milton for our award-winning products and are committed to bringing our low-cost, high-quality offer to the area. “We have worked extensively with planning officers to revise our proposals for a new store on Caird Avenue. “We are hopeful this revised application will be considered acceptable and we can proceed with bringing this much-want- ed new investment to New Mil- ton.” The amended plan has been welcomed by residents and New Milton councillor David

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LYMINGTON police will relo- cate from the town’s station to a new base at the nearby town hall onMonday – two years after the move was first announced. The old police station in Southampton Road, which dates back to 1952, was branded by Hampshire police and crime commissioner Michael Lane as “outdated and no longer fit for purpose”. He said the new base in Av- enue Road provided a modern and fit-for-purpose accommo- dation for officers and staff to

continue policing the Lyming- ton area. It will have a public front desk, but the current Covid-19 pandemic means it will not open until restrictions allow. New Forest West Insp. Mike Minnock said: “This move pro- vides our officers with an up- to-date environment allowing us to cope with the challenges of modern-day policing. “Our officers will continue to deliver high-visibility patrols in Lymington and surrounding areas, while members of the

public will be able to report any crime or anti-social behaviour to us as our front desk will be staffed full-time, Monday to Friday, when it opens. “It will also allow for us to further embed our already positive relationship with our stakeholders such as the New Forest District Council as we look to continue to protect the community from high-harm of- fences.” The new base also boasts an interview room, workspace and

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Tory takes control with pledge to ‘reset’ council

£80k lottery prize unclaimed in New Forest A NEW Forest EuroMillions player has yet to claim their £80,000 prize, two weeks after winning. Camelot is on the hunt for the lucky winner who bought their ticket in the New Forest, but the lottery operator did not re- veal the exact location. The ticket-holder matched five numbers and a lucky star in the draw on 22nd September, when the results were 16, 25, 28, 39, 40, with lucky stars of 1 and 6. They have until 21st March next year to claim their prize of £79,147.50. If no one fronts up, the prize money will go towards UK National Lottery-funded projects. Players have 180 days after the draw to claim. Anyone who thinks they have the winning ticket should ring the National Lottery on 0333 234 5050 or email help@nation al-lottery.co.uk

Police base moves Continued from front page In a secret ballot Cllr Mellor won the support of 40 of the 74 elected members of BCP Coun- cil with Cllr Slade receiving 33 votes, and one councillor ab- staining. Cllr Mellor said an “inability of the previous administration to make decisions” had “ham- pered” its work and “squan- dered” opportunities. He promised to lead a council that “preserves our outstand- ing natural environment and protect our ancient, medieval and more modern history while embracing the 21st century fu- ture”. He said after his election: “Our purpose is to make your area a place where people want to be, where young peo- ple thrive, where businesses prosper, where those in work flourish, where there is hope for those that need it and where the elderly are valued. “We’re living in wholly unprec- edented and worrying times. It is our job to provide certainty, confidence and optimism to our communities.” Rather than appoint a cab- inet immediately, he appealed to the Christchurch Independ- welfare facilities for officers and staff, meeting rooms and park- ing. Mr Lane said: “Providing ef- fective and efficient bases for the officers and staff that serve our communities has always been one of my priorities for the role of commissioner, and our service must respond to chang- ing demands. “This move sees the police even closer to the centre of Lymington, where they will con- tinue to keep residents safer.” THE retention of a public en- quiries desk at the new Lym- ington police base prompted complaints the town was be- ing treated better than New Milton. Speaking during Monday’s virtual New Milton Town Council meeting, residents’ association chairman Alan Watson argued this was just one of a number of examples of Lymington being better served and funded. “Low and behold the Hawkins, who said he believed it addressed previous problems. One of the main reasons the committee turned down the last application was because it was felt the store would be better located at the site of the town’s former Co-op in Station Road, which is now owned by local department store Brad- beers. Cllr Hawkins said Aldi should “not be forced into renting someone else’s property”, add- ing there was not enough space for lorries to turn at the former Co-op site. He added: “I think it is a trav- esty of justice it was turned down by one vote last time. New Milton residents want this. It will give them better choice and they believe it will be an as- set for the town. “I am first and foremost a town councillor for New Milton and if this is what the residents want then I will vote for it.” NFDC also said the original plan for a supermarket, on land currently owned by New Milton Sand and Ballast, had insuf- ficient landscaping and unac- ceptable proposals for vehicle access. There was also concern about the impact on town cen- tre shops. Aldi store bid Continued from front page

ents, who broke off from the Conservatives over the creation of BCP Council, to “take the weekend” to consider an offer to become a part of his admin- istration. However, the offer was im- mediately rebuffed by the group which had dismissed

similar offers in recent weeks. “We stood on a platform in the elections last year that the Tories cannot be trusted to pro- tect Christchurch and we won eight of the 10 seats,” it said in a statement. “We stand by that position to retain our political and personal integrity.”

New leader at BCP after Unity Alliance lost confidence vote

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A CONSERVATIVE councillor will lead BCP Council after his group secured majority support at an extraordinary meeting. Cllr Drew Mellor beat com- petition from Liberal Democrat Cllr Vikki Slade, having de- posed her in a vote of no con- fidence last month, writes Josh Wright of the Local Democracy Reporting Service. He said he would lead a coun- cil that is “collaborative, ac- countable and fair”. Last Thursday night’s ballot was brought about following the success of a vote of no con- fidence against the Unity Alli- ance leader, Cllr Slade. Cllr Mellor was nominated as leader by his deputy, Cllr Phil Broadhead, who said the council “needed a reset” and relationships that “had broken down” needed to be repaired. Christchurch Independent

Fresh cabinet includes Covid role ON Tuesday Cllr Drew Mellor appointed his first cabinet, in- cluding a new role with a spe- cific focus on the coronavirus response. ous cabinet experience and he will be responsible for envi- ronmental issues.

The other appointments are Cllr Phil Broadhead, regenera- tion; Cllr Mohan Iyengar, tour- ism; Cllr Mike White, children; Cllr Karen Rampton, adults; Cllr Mike Greene, transport; and Cllr Bob Lawton, housing. Cllr Mellor has also intro- duced six new “lead mem- ber” positions through which certain councillors will be re- sponsible for overseeing prior- ity areas. Three Conservatives have been appointed so far with the remaining positions saved for councillors from other groups. The first meeting of the new cabinet will be held on 28th October.

Cllr Mellor selected 10 coun- cillors to head up the council’s work – all but one of whom have been cabinet members before. He said his “knowl- edgeable and skilful” team would work to “drive our area forward”. Included in the cabinet will be a new health and ed- ucation portfolio, headed by Cllr Nicola Greene to lead on the council’s response to the coronavirus. Cllr Mellor also created a “community safety” role for Cllr May Haines. Cllr Mark Anderson was his only selection without previ-

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Cllr Lesley Dedman, a member of the Unity Alliance cabinet, put forward Cllr Slade once again as the coalition’s candi- date, praising her “integrity” and “honest desire to improve things for residents”. Questions were raised by Lib- eral Democrat Cllr Mike Cox about Cllr Mellor’s past in busi- ness, highlighting two county court judgments over debts. But Cllr Mellor hit back, ask- ing which entrepreneur had not “made mistakes”.

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The new town hall office and (inset) Michael Lane No front desk in New Milton is ‘unfair treatment’

police were very pleased to announce that in their new Lymington home they will have a front desk,” Mr Watson said. “Yet, New Milton, which is a larger town with 27,000 res- idents, has not had a public desk for years.” There has been no pub- lic police desk in New Mil- ton since officers moved into the town hall in Ashley Road following the closure in 2013 of the old station in Old

Milton Road. In September, the A&T asked Hampshire police if a public desk may now be made available at New Milton as the provision is continuing in Lymington. A force spokesperson re- plied: “We are unaware of any plans at this stage.” Responding to Mr Watson’s complaints, NewMilton mayor Cllr Alvin Reid said he would write to the police about the matter.

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ciety, there is always a few who think the rules don’t apply to them.” In Bournemouth, Dorset Po- lice fined a local 19-year-old man £200 for hosting an illegal birthday party with 18 guests at a flat off Manor Road on the same night. Another wrote: “This is fan- tastic news. It will be great to have an Aldi in the town.” £20,000 towards improvements at the roundabout at Caird Av- enue and the A337. The new supermarket would not “compete” with existing stores in the area, including Morrisons, Lidl and Tesco, it said, but “complement” them. It will provide a “valuable con- tribution towards local shop- ping”, it claimed. After news of the latest plan- ning application was posted on social media, one local said: “An Aldi store will be an asset to New Milton and adjacent towns and villages. Let’s all hope this application gets through plan- ning this time.”

sure they know what they must do and, if they don’t heed the warning, take alternative action to try and improve their behav- iour.” Cllr Reid added: “We’re con- scious that most kids are good and understanding but, as is the case across the whole of so- In its submission, Aldi said a new priority T-junction onto Caird Avenue will be created for access to the 1,862-square metre store. There will also be a new pedestrian crossing. It said it will also contribute The planning committee nar- rowly backed a council officer’s recommendation that Aldi’s development did not satisfy the needs of the town. The new application claimed these problems have been solved. It reiterated its argu- ment that the former Co-op site, which has lain empty since being bought by Bradbeers in 2017, is not commercially viable as it has too little room for the 127 car parking spaces it is pro- posing.

Covid flouters Continued from front page

would probably be mortified. “Chastising them doesn’t always do so much good. We should educate them first to en-

Weekly rate of new coronavirus cases accelerating THE weekly number of new coronavirus cases in the New Forest is accelerating again, according to government fig- ures. cording to latest separate fig- ures compiled by the Office for National Statistics. ures also showed there have been no Covid-19 deaths in the conurbation, leaving the total at 189.

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The provisional figures from ONS relate to cause of death for fatalities up to 25th Sep- tember but which were regis- tered up to 3rd October. In the BCP Council area, which includes Christchurch, the number of cases registered so far has reached 1,429. The latest week of ONS fig-

On Tuesday the regional R-rates – the average number of people who get infected from someone with the coro- navirus – were in the range of 1.1-1.4 for both the south-east and south-west. A rate of more than one indi- cates the pandemic is growing.

There were 55 new cases in the district as of Tuesday, compared with 35 the week before – bringing the total to 661 so far. The previous week’s increase was 10. However, there were no deaths in the New Forest, ac-

Friday 9th October 2020 · 3

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Care home award to thank community

Man broke order to contact woman FLOUTING a restraining order by contacting a woman landed a Christchurch man with an 18-month condition- al discharge. Vincent Clark (40), of Melbourne Road, admitted committing the offence on 22nd September, when he appeared before Poole mag- istrates. He was also told to pay £106 court costs. 70-minute delay as lane blocked DELAYS of up to 70 minutes were caused by a road accident near the A35 Tot- ton bypass on Wednesday evening. The incident close to the Redbridge causeway blocked one lane on the eastbound side of the dual carriageway and generated queues that stretched back to the junc- tion with the A326.

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Residents seek unsung heroes of pandemic for special accolade

BY CAROLYN GRIFFITH

UNSUNG heroes who have gone out of their way to help the community during the coro- navirus pandemic are being sought for a special accolade launched by a Waterside care home. Residents at Oaklands Rest Home in Marchwood have or- ganised a competition to find locals who deserve to be rec- ognised for their efforts with a Waterside Community Champi- on Award. The prize is for all community members, including NHS work- ers or members of the public, who have helped others in some way. Home manager Nicola Ray said: “The last few months have been a challenging time for all of us but there are some brilliant people in our community who have gone the extra mile to make a differ- ence and we want to celebrate them. “There have been stories of individuals who have worked tirelessly, volunteering their time for free to keep spirits of HIGHCLIFFE residents have welcomed moves to reinvigo- rate the high street by lowering the speed limit to 20mph, wid- ening pavements and removing parking bays. The new proposals were un- veiled by Highcliffe and Walk- ford Parish Council which said it will create a new “café cul- ture” in the village. It employed consultants Paul Basham Associates to look at ways Lymington Road could be improved amid fears the pan- demic could sound its death knell. With the aim of making it “less congested and chaotic”, they suggested free parking sessions in the Wortley Road car park to “remove the domi- nance” of vehicles in the village centre, as well as a new zebra crossing. Pavements would be wid- ened and improved, while there would be increased signage for cyclists. After the plans were made public by the parish council, vil- lagers said they welcome dthe changes, with many adding they do not currently use it. Highcliffe Action Team (HAT) was pleased with the new measures. A spokesperson told the A&T: “HAT passion- ately supports positive meas- ures that will further benefit our high street. GIGANTIC from across the UK will travel to the New Forest tomorrow (Satur- day) as Lymington twins Ian and Stuart Paton stake their claim for the title of world’s big- gest pumpkin. Incredibly, the enormous specimen pictured on the front page with Ian’s two-year-old granddaughter Martha Syret- t,is not the cream of their crop – there are, in fact, two larger pumpkins set to be tip the scales during the weigh-in event at Pinetop Nursery. Ian (59) told the A&T: “This year we have two absolute mon- sters in our pumpkin patch. By measuring the circumference we can estimate the weight and we believe one will be around the ninth biggest pumpkin ever grown and the other pumpkin is even bigger than that. “This year our largest pump- kins circumference is 500in which is over 20ft – it is an ab- solute monster and there is a very real chance it could take the world record which has been held by Mathias Willemi- jns since 2016.” During its three-week grow- ing peak, Ian and Stuart esti- mated the largest pumpkin was gaining 51lbs each day, with the pair spending around six hours a day tending to it. As well as the huge time commitment, growing super- sized vegetables is an expensive hob-by with the pair investing thousands of pounds in equip- ment and specialist watering systems. They decided to host their own official weigh-in event in growers

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Residents and staff are urging people to nominate their local heroes

others up. “The Waterside Community Champion Award is a chance to make sure their hard work isn’t gone unnoticed and they gain the recognition that they deserve.” As reported in the A&T, local residents have thrown them- selves into supporting the effort against the coronavirus.

Volunteer groups have dedi- acted themselves to manufac- turing facemasks, running er- rands for people self-isolating, and organising PPE for front- line carers and medics. Nominations must include the name of the person be- ing put forward and why they deserve to win along with the nominator’s name and

contact details. They can be emailed to wcc@oaklandsresthome.co.uk or sent to the home’s Face- book page www.facebook.com/ OaklandsRH Entries must be sent by 6pm on 30th October, with the win- ner set to be announced on 13th November to coincide with World Kindness Day.

Villagers back street revamp ideas

huge prices to eat. There is re- ally only the Globe which is ‘af- fordable’ in the evenings.” On the proposals to remove parking bays, except two for the disabled, one resident said: “Get rid of all street parking. Make the car park free for 30 minutes for those short runs to the bakery and butcher when just nipping in.” The parish council is hoping the plans will be supported by BCP Council so work can begin next year.

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Highcliffe’s Lymington Road could see a raft of changes

One claimed: “Some of the current shops believe they are mini Harrods. Prices are ridic- ulous.” Others said they looked for- ward to the proposals being implemented, with one saying: “About time, poor village. It used to be so lovely with all the little shops.” Some residents offered their own suggestions, with one say- ing: “I don’t mean we can turn the clock back but let’s have less of the retirement village filled with well-heeled resi - dents. “Need to cater for people who work and can’t afford to pay

“Clearly, it’s been a very dif- ficult year for a number of our traders, shops, offices and busi - nesses on Lymington Road, so we look forward to working to- gether on new and innovative initiatives to take Highcliffe forward. “May we also take this oppor- tunity to encourage local res- idents to continue to support our high street, particularly through the winter season.” Posting on social media, one man admitted: “I live in High- cliffe but rarely go to the high street because the shops there have nothing to offer unless you are 80 or older.”

Growers dream big for pumpkin competition

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Lymington twins Ian and Stuart Paton with a previous whopper

Lymington this year after the annual Pumpkin Festival at Royal Victoria Country Park in Southampton was called off due to the pandemic. Ian said: “We talked about what we should do and felt that is was very sad for all the grow- ers who had gone to so much ef- fort that they would be unable to get the pumpkins officially weighed, so we decided to hold our own drive-by event in line with social distancing rules. “We have asked growers to register in advance – but we don’t really know how many will turn up on the day.” In order for the weigh-in to be officially recognised, Ian and Stuart have arranged for special scales and a panel of three in- dependent judges to join them tomorrow. The event will not be open to the public but will be broadcast live on YouTube. The pair have already shipped

one pumpkin to Spain for an official weigh-in there, which tipped the scales at 2,060lb, and they said the specimens they will weigh in Lymington are much larger. They currently hold the UK record, for a 2,433lb effort which they grew in 2018, but have long set their sights on taking the world record held by Mathias Willemijns for a 187.5 stone – or 2,624lbs – pumpkin. Ian said: “The prize money we do win is pretty insignificant when you consider the money and time we devote to growing the pumpkins. But we are very determined – one day we will get the world record. “We started growing pump- kins over 40 years ago, when our biggest weighed 54lbs, and it is absolutely incredible to think that the pumpkins we grow now can gain around that in weight each day.”

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‘He was just the most incredible guy’

Man accused of parrot theft A CHRISTCHURCH man accused of stealing an Afri- can grey parrot from a house has had his case sent to the crown court. Jack Alexander (30), of Nelson Drive, Christchurch, did not enter a plea to the charge, which accuses him of trespassing at the home to commit the alleged theft on 27th September. Poole magistrates sent the case to Bournemouth Crown Court, granting him condi- tional bail. Firefighter in river rescue AN off-duty firefighter was among passers-by who sprang into action to rescue a man who had reportedly jumped into a river in Ford- ingbridge. The fire service was called out shortly before 5.30pm on Sunday, after the casualty entered the water in Bridge Street. However, by the time the local crew arrived at the scene, he had been pulled out by the members of the public. The crew remained to treat him. 19 Fir Avenue, New Milton • Double glaze your whole house

Tributes paid to ‘well loved’ carer Andy who died aged 32

Chantelle said: “I know the lockdown had been difficult for Andy – he couldn’t get out as much as he would have liked and socialising had become re- ally difficult. “He did have help for his men- tal health before the pandemic but I think some of the support stopped and he struggled with that. “I knew he had been strug- gling recently and I saw him the week before he died and he didn’t look good. I just wanted to give him a hug but because of social distancing I wasn’t able to.” She added: “I am still in com- plete shock about what has happened – I just keep expect- ing Andrew to pop up. It’s very hard to accept that he’s gone.” Cousin Iain said: “Andy was actually quite reclusive and techie – he loved playing with computers, taking them apart and then rebuilding them. “He had struggled with his mental health for many years and had sought help in the past. He used to go to vari- ous support groups but sadly when Covid began I think they stopped meeting or went online which probably left him feeling a bit isolated and alone. “Personally I don’t think the support system was very effec- tive even before Covid but when the pandemic started lots of the avenues that he would have used were suddenly closed to him. He had nowhere to go in a crisis. “It has been wonderful to find out just how many friends An- drew had and how much they cared for him. He was clearly highly thought of by many peo- ple.” Friends of Andy’s hope to ar- range a memorial for him in De- cember which will take place on the beach at Durdle Door – one of his happiest places. Chantelle added: “Andrew had an absolute heart of gold and was very caring despite his own difficulties. So many peo - ple have been in touch to say how much he meant to them and how he touched their lives.”

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TRIBUTES have been paid to popular New Milton carer Andy Maclean who tragically died last week aged just 32 after friends said he struggled with his mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. Described as intelligent and kind, Andy was a home carer working for Agincare in New Milton and was a well-known and popular member of the Walker Arms pool team. Pool team captain Iain Bar- ton said: “Andy had been on the pool team with me for around five years and during that time we became close friends. He struggled with his mental health at times but always real- ly loved the weekly pool nights. He was popular and well loved.” A spokesperson for the Hampshire coroner’s service confirmed Andy’s death was under investigation but said an inquest has not yet been opened. Originally from South Africa, Andy grew up and attended school in Johannesburg before travelling to the UK around 10 years ago, initially living in Lon- don and working in the catering industry. He followed in the footsteps of his cousin Iain Walker (34) who had moved to London a couple of years earlier. Iain said: “Although I’m only a couple of years older than Andy, I was a bit like a father figure to him. “He didn’t really have any other family here so I used to come down and visit him when I could and we’d go to Durdle Door or Weymouth. “He had built up a close net- work of friends since coming here.” After moving to the New Mil- ton area, Andy initially worked at the Walker Arms pub in Sta- tion Road and later joined its pool team. DORSET Police is riding a new wave in crime-fighting with a boat set to patrol the county’s 98 miles of coastline. Buccaneer, an 11-metre RIB, was officially unveiled at a small launch event attended by Chief Constable James Vaughan and Dorset police and crime com- missioner Martyn Underhill. Weighing in at 5.5 tons and carrying 600 litres of fuel, the vessel can travel up to 200 miles on a full tank at a top speed of 50 knots with up to eight people on board. Crewed by the force support group – a small team of special- ly trained marine police officers – it can be out in all weathers, day or night. Efforts to tackle criminali- ty on the water will be carried out alongside the force’s part- ners including Border Force, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, HM Coastguard, Roy- al Navy, RNLI, Marine Man- agement Organisation and the Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. HAMPSHIRE County Council has come under fire as it was revealed that most of its phone lines have been shut since March. A number of telephone ser- vices run by Hampshire County Council have been closed since 25th March, writes Maria Zac- caro of the Local Democracy Reporting Service . HCC said phone lines that take urgent calls have remained open and the others are set to be reopened in October. It stressed that online forms are available instead. Call centre staff have to work in a socially-distanced way and this has reduced the capacity of the council’s call centres, HCC added. But the news sparked criti- cism from opposition council- lors who said not every resident has access to online services. Phone lines for general en- quiries, libraries, blue badge and concessionary travel, coun- tryside, roads and transport, re- cycling, waste and planning are those that have been shut over the past six months. HCC said the school admis- sions phone line was reopened in August, while phone lines for

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Andy Maclean was ‘very open’ about his mental health struggles

His close friends Chantelle Deeks and Matt Luscombe re- call they first met Andy around four years ago at the Walker Arms. Chantelle said: “Andy was sit- ting alone at a bench outside looking a little lost so we start- ed chatting and asked what he was doing. He explained he was writing out a mathematical equation to see if anyone could work it out. “We were chatting away to him and at first he was so en - grossed in what he was writing he wasn’t really responding – but after a bit of perseverance he came out of his shell a bit and we realised he was living just round the corner from us in Barton.”

The couple soon formed a close friendship with Andy and he would often pop round to their house or meet them to play pool. Matt said: “Andy was always very open with us about his mental health struggles but that wasn’t all he was about. He was just the most incredible guy who would do anything for anyone. “He cared deeply about his friends and the people who he cared for and looked after as part of his job. He would always put others first.” A keen photographer, Andy loved nature and particularly enjoyed visiting Durdle Door and the Dorset coast to take pictures.

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The new vessel will also play a key role in search-and-rescue operations. Mr Vaughan said: “Buccaneer represents a significant invest - ment by Dorset Police and the police and crime commissioner, enhancing our specialist capa- bilities in policing our coastal

waters and marine communi- ties. “The boat is three years in the making to get to launch: from design requirements, building, sea trials and final - ly unveiling the new specialist equipment. “It includes brand new fea-

tures and the latest marine nav- igation technology and search- and-rescue equipment.” He added: “This will great- ly enhance the service we’re able to provide to our marine communities and I would like to thank all those involved for making it happen.”

Council slammed after shut phone lines revealed

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adult health and care, children’s services and registrations have remained open throughout the pandemic. But Liberal Democrat oppo- sition leader Cllr Keith House criticised the authority and said district councils were able to have their call centres up and running over a weekend in March. He said several resi- dents complained. Cllr House added: “It is beyond belief that after six months the main county phone line is still closed, as are access to a whole raft of services. This is a significant issue. “The county council is there to provide support to all resi- dents, not just those with de- cent internet facilities. For ser- vices such as getting a new Blue Badge for parking, this can limit where residents are able to shop or access other public services such as their GP or hospital.” The county council said a new technology platform, allowing staff to answer calls away from the office, will “shortly” enable the phone lines to be switched back on. HCC leader Cllr Keith Mans added: “I realise that many people still prefer to use a

telephone to reach public ser- vices and that, for a small few, it is the only means of commu- nication. “I am therefore pleased we were able to maintain critical phone services during the pan- demic, and look forward to re- suming our other phone servic- es very soon. “To be clear, our telephone contact centre does not direct- ly deliver services, but is one of several routes through which residents can get directed to the services that the county council provides.” He said the Hantshelp4Vul- nerable helpline for isolated and vulnerable residents had been launched over the past months. “People contacting Hant- shelp4Vulnerable via 0333 370 4000 can then be connected with the appropriate support services, including Blue Badge,” Cllr Mans said. The authority confirmed that during this period call centre staff have continued to work re- motely responding to enquiries submitted online, processing online applications, as well as working to manage the phone lines that remained open.

Arms wrapped up for town CHRISTCHURCH’S coat of arms will be protected for gen- erations to come after it was transferred from the former borough council to the new town authority. Mayor Cllr Lesley Dedman had petitioned the Crown to keep the symbol and has now had the royal seal of approval. Town clerk Daniel Lucas said: “It’s not very often you receive an email from a herald of Her Majesty enclosing a royal war- rant. It was quite humbling to receive and to be a tiny part of history.” Cllr Dedman said it was im- portant that Christchurch re- tains its heritage and identity. “These coat of arms are a signif- icant part of this town’s story,” she said. A history of the arms and their meaning can be found on the council’s website at www. christchurch-tc.gov.uk

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Driver’s near miss as tree crashes on road

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Motorist ‘so lucky’ after Storm Alex brings wind and rain

BY CHRIS MARCH

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A STUNNED motorist said she was lucky to be alive after a large tree branch fell across a main road just feet from her car as Storm Alex battered the New Forest. The dramatic near-miss hap- pened as Joanne Page (58) was driving along the A337 South- ampton Road, Lymington, on her way home shortly after 10.30am on Saturday. Having slammed on the brakes the moment she saw the branch coming down, Joanne managed to bring her Jaguar estate to a stop about 10 feet away. “I just thought, ‘Bloody hell, I’m so lucky’,” she told the A&T. “Had I just gone a little faster, got in the car a bit earlier, just a couple of seconds – it’s Sliding Doors, isn’t it?” Joanne had been taking extra care in the horrendous condi- tions, having been involved in a collision in similar weather in Boldre more than 20 years ago. At the time of Saturday’s collision, Joanne said the road did not seem particularly busy, although one other motorist stopped behind her to check she was alright. “I just could not believe what I saw,” she continued. “It was like some sort of film I

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Joanne Page (inset) just managed to stop her car in time

cident as she watched the tree branch crash through a fence alongside the road. It brought back further memories of the devastation wreaked on the New Forest by the great storm of 1987, when she worked at the Rhinefield Manor Hotel. “It was a tear-jerking experi- ence to walk through the For- est back then,” she said. “You couldn’t go through Rhinefield Road because all the trees had fallen down.” But she added: “To see a tree

of that size actually fall across the road [on Saturday] – that there were no fatalities or inju- ries is quite remarkable.” Following her lucky escape, Joanne decided to leave the scene quickly in case any more trees or branches came down. She added: “What’s so eerie about all of this is that over the last 10 days or so, I had tried to stop thinking of my mortality. It had got to the point where I even phoned up about my life policy to check it was okay!”

was watching as this tree was falling. I could see this flash of white as it fell right in front of me. It was like it was happening in slow motion. “It was huge. The word I’d use is ‘majestic’. If I had been closer to it, my car wouldn’t have been able to accelerate away from it. “I’m not a flaky person. I’m 5ft 4in tall, with white hair, and have had quite a lot of trauma in my life. I wasn’t shaken, but I was just completely stunned.” Joanne said she experienced a flashback to her previous ac-

Rogue trader warning after pensioner conned

RESIDENTS are urged to be wary of doorstep callers after an elderly man lost £80 to rogue traders in Dibden Purlieu. The pensioner was ap- proached at his home in Bev- erley Road around 2.15pm last Monday by three unknown men who told him work needed to be carried out in his garden fol- lowing complaints from nearby neighbours. However, after he agreed and handed over the cash, the trio quickly left the scene

without completing the work. Police have launched an in- vestigation into the offence and people are being urged to come forward if they can help trace the culprits. A spokesperson for the Hampshire force said: “If resi- dents have doubts about those who are approaching them, and are concerned, we advise that they don’t engage and report serious suspicious behaviour to the police directly by calling 101.”

Food bank £2.5k boost from chemical giant New Forest Basics Bank has seen increased demand during the pandemic

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NEW Forest Basics Bank has been boosted by a £2,500 do- nation from the petrochemical giant Ineos, which has offices in Lyndhurst. The amount was pledged through the global firm’s £1m community fund and will help support the provision of food parcels by the Lymington-based service. The charity was set up in 2004 and has since helped more than 20,000 people in the district. Oliver Stanley, New Forest Basics Bank chair, said it was “incredibly grateful”, adding: “During the Covid-19 crisis we have seen a significant increase in demand for our services. “The poor in our community are even more vulnerable at the moment and it is hugely impor- tant that we are able to contin- ue to provide food parcels to those who need them most.” Ineos’s community fund helps support charitable organ- isations and was established

by the firm’s chairman, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, in March in tandem with its Covid-19 Hands On campaign. That set up six new factories to provide millions of bottles of free hand sanitiser to thou- sands of hospitals and frontline staff, every month. Nathan Moore, Ineos group financial controller, noted the “overwhelming surge of de- mand” for food banks, adding: “They are such an important service to many in communities all over the world and we are so pleased to be able to help the New Forest Basics Bank. “The work they do in provid- ing food parcels to the vulner- able in our community is vital and it is imperative that their service is able to keep running.” As reported in the A&T, mul- ti-billionaire Sir Jim, who has a home near Beaulieu, recently changed his primary residence from the UK to the tax haven of Monaco.

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Our specialist valuers will be available on this date at the Wimborne office for Free Valuations and sale advice. Special focus will be on furniture, glass/ metalware, barometers, ceramics, clocks, statuary, garden and architectural items etc. Free Valuations take place in Wimborne every Friday, appointments are advised.

Hannya Robinsonwith Lymington Business Centre’s DonaldMackenzie

Hannya’s coastal art wins gallery prize

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THE winner of a Lymington art gallery’s annual open exhibi- tion was Hannya Robinson with her aptly titled Coastal Isola- tion. St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery’s 20th event received entries from across Hampshire, Dorset and beyond. Each year visitors to the show choose their favourite piece, and Hann- ya’s artwork received 860 votes.

Museum curator Steve Mar- shall said: “It’s always interest- ing to see how our visitors vote. They take the task very serious- ly, with family members often having debates in the gallery.” As a keen sailor, Hannya is donating her £200 prize money to the Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust. The award was spon- sored by Lymington Business Centre.

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