Stargazing

More than 20 people have objected to plans to build 43 new homes on land in Corfe Mullen. Dorset Country Homes has submitted an outline proposal for land south of Lambs Green Lane. It says that 15 of the homes would be affordable. However, locals have been quick to object to the impact they claim it would have on the rural area and the increase in traffic which could happen if it is allowed. A resident of Lambs Green Lane said: “The site is not part of the main urban area of Corfe Mullen and will have a significant material impact on the Green Belt, setting a precedent and undermining other local Green Belt sites. “Being elevated it is clearly visible from the Stour Valley and development will detract from the aesthetics and openness of the countryside.” Others cited the area’s rural character, with one objector complaining that they had moved to the area for its ‘village’ feel which would be impacted by the plan. Others voiced concern for local wildlife.

Iona strikes goldat ‘mini-Olympics’

Sports fans at a West Moors care home have been victorious at a ‘miniOlympics’ event. After the excitement of Team GB’s exploits at the Tokyo Games, residents at Brook View and sister home Avon Cliff in Bournemouth decided to hold their own version of the Games. After a ceremonial cauldron lighting, gentle rivalry was played out in indoor contests including ‘hook a duck’, a ladder and bean bag game, quoits, carpet bowls, football and hockey. There were also cycling, weightlifting, basketball and shooting events. Competitors at both homes then took pride of place on podiums where they were presented with gold, silver and bronze trophies and medals. Overall winner was Iona Midlane at Brook View. She said: “We all had great fun playing and egging each other on.” Gold medal winners included Barbara Binding in basketball, Francis McCausland in shooting and Pam Cheadle in cycling. Fellow competitor Bella Kier, who also won a tennis tournament at Avon Cliff earlier in the summer, said: “We always have the most fun playing sport and it is always very well supported.” Brook View Companionship team member Sarah Moule said: “Our residents were following the Tokyo action closely every day and supporting Team GB. “There was a great deal of laughter and smiles all round Brook View as we then created our own ‘Team BV’. “Everyone enjoyed going hands-on and getting active.”

CHAMPION: Brook View resident Iona Midlane is presented with her trophy by healthcare assistants Sheridan Simpson, left, and Lilli Walter. Inset, Jack Morey in action playing football

The evening star puts on a show for us

Night sky events with Bob Mizon MBE of the Wessex Astronomical Society

Ancient peoples wondered why an extraordinarily bright star appeared sometimes in the west, following the Sun down, and sometimes in the east before sunrise. Many thought that these were two different objects and called them the Evening Star and the Morning Star. Much later was it realised that this brilliant ‘star’ is in fact the planet Venus, and what we are seeing is a lot of sunlight reflected from its cloudy atmosphere, a toxic combination of acids and carbon dioxide. A goddess of love to the Romans because of its pure white light, it is now known to be a hellish planet whose enormous surface temperature of about 500 degrees has destroyed spaceprobes and ruled out visits by astronauts. Watch for it in the last week of August and in early September low in the west after sunset. No, it’s not a UFO. Clear skies!

Cycle lane becoming a national issue

By Faith Eckersall

newsdesk@stourandavon.net Wimborne’s new cycle lane is fast-becoming the UK’s most infamous thoroughfare – thanks to a slew of national comments and reports claiming it’s caused accidents and is wider than the existing road it sits beside. Now Dorset Council has hit back at what it says are unsubstantiated claims being made against the route, which is being funded as part of a £79 million grant from the government’s green Transforming Cities Fund. Dorset Council said: “A number of articles have been published regarding the recently opened cycle lane on Wimborne Road West, Colehill, Dorset. The articles make a number of contentious statements, which are inaccurate or incorrect.” The council addressed headon, claims that the images show the ‘particularly busy’ junction of the A31 at Canford Bottom with Wimborne road West. “Wimborne Road West and Leigh Road were originally this trunk road but were superseded with the construction of the A31 Wimborne Bypass,” it said. “As a result, the road is now significantly wider than is needed for a local residential through road and can well accommodate a bidirectional cycle lane, giving people green, healthy travel choices and helping to reduce congestion and speeding.” It dismissed claims that the cycle lane was the UK’s widest, saying it was for two-way traffic and therefore the correct width at 3.5 metres wide, but admitted it would be reviewing the lane markings to see if they were confusing cyclists. The council dismissed allegations that local residents had not been fully informed, saying that in November 2020, all residents and businesses on Leigh Road and Wimborne Road West, as well as residents and businesses on other local roads leading to those roads had received letters, leaflets and other communications giving details about the scheme and why it was being undertaken.

VINE: On the move?

It described as ‘unsubstantiated’ reports that lorries had suffered smashed mirrors because of the alleged narrowness of the lanes, and also said it has received no complaints from Jewsons on Leigh Road, as some reports had stated. Reports variously described the lane as ‘shambolic’ and it was claimed it had ‘divided opinion’ in the immediate area. Organisations as diverse at the Daily Telegraph to the Ladbible website carried the story but the BBC 2 and TV broadcaster Jeremy Vine, a keen cyclist, tweeted that he would ‘move to Wimborne’ for the cycle lane. l What do you think about the new cycle lane? Is it a shambles or a waste of money? Or are you already enjoying the freedom and safety it brings to the area’s cyclists?

Church’s problem is a matter of rust

A church that has served its community for more than 100 years could fall victim to the Covid pandemic... and a bad case of rust. Colehill Methodist Church, which first welcomed worshippers in 1913, is facing a financial battle only weeks after opening its doors following an 18-month shutdown due to the antivirus regulations which closed churches across the nation. With income lost during lockdown from the hire of the chapel’s large hall to community groups, finances were already under severe pressure. But routine servicing last month of the central heating boiler brought a further blow when it was revealed that rust meant it had to be taken out of service immediately. “Without heating, as we approach the autumn and winter months, it means that we can’t offer the hall to local groups and we depend on that income to keep us going,” said church steward Dennis Brewer. “The church has been a part of Colehill life for all these years and it would be so sad for everyone if we had to close our doors.” For members of the Lonnen Road church, the hall has been the setting for coffee mornings, pancake and harvest festival events, Christmas teas and special lunches to raise money for charity work in Africa. Local groups have used it for activities including dancing, children’s trampoline, keep fit, yoga, Pilates and league table tennis. Some cash help for the church has been offered by the Methodist circuit under its funding scheme for churches hit by the pandemic closure but, to raise enough money to replace the boiler, the Colehill fellowship is now organising a Gift Day, on Saturday September 4, from 10am to noon, with tea, coffee and cakes for visitors.

BOILING OVER: Colehill Methodist Church