Letters

Letters Claiming credit for work during crisis

nIn the past few weeks we’ve seen two graphics from Wiltshire Conservatives claiming credit for the hard work done by Wiltshire Council employees during the coronavirus crisis. Given the Conservative Government’s repeated calls not to politicise the public health crisis, we condemn the local Conservatives’ actions – which are politicising the crisis. We all should be rightly proud of the massive efforts over many months by local volunteers and officers at parish, town and Wiltshire councils which has, so far, led to a relatively good outcome compared to the country as a whole. By attempting to claim credit for work which is not theirs, the Wiltshire Conservatives reduce trust in public authorities, trust which is essential to continue to keep people and jobs safe. We trust we will see no more of these awful attempts by the local Conservatives to claim credit for the hard work done by many others. Wiltshire Liberal Democrats

nPerhaps Simon Hoare missed my letter about housing standards in the previous issue (Letters, October 9), but it would have been good to have some positive news on this topic amongst his “reasons to be cheerful” (October 23). Nearly 2,000 houses in Gillingham, apart from thousands more nationwide, should surely be built to the highest possible thermal standards if we are to conserve energy and reduce global warming. Anyone can check what is possible by doing an internet search for the Norwich housing 64 I just wanted to share this photo with you that I took last week on a glorious autumn morning as the rising sun caught a spider web in my garden. Feel free to use it in the magazine if you wish. It is so lovely to have the Blackmore Vale magazine back again, you have all done a tremendous job of bringing it back to life in the format we all love. Thank you! Bev Jones no major changes for the

development given a RIBA award in October 2019. Colin Marsh Gillingham

nA quick email, long overdue, to say congratulations on getting the BVM back out. I was delighted to learn that it was going to be up and running again. Well done to you all, and with us for a long time to come. To all the team, good luck. Deborah Purdue Iwerne Minster nMay we send our congratulations also on such a terrific publication. Little tweaks here and there,

best wishes for it remaining readers, and so interesting with such varied, good articles, reporting and photography. But this has caused a problem: A battle between who gets to read it first. Anonymously Us

nCongratulations on a really good read, I found your latest edition such an easy magazine to read. The larger font and colour make every page interesting and exciting. The style of many of the adverts having been given a new makeover look much more interesting too. It is a great privilege to have the BVM back in circulation. We have all missed you. But how you could go to print without a letter from your infamous contributor? Must have been difficult. So here goes... Good dry spring, or good wet spring, global warming or climate change I’m not sure which, but I do know my eight-year-old olive tree has borne fruit this year, not enough to ‘do’ anything useful, but if things continue, wowee! for next year. When ready, Giles Herschel from Olives et al, has offered to harvest the fruit and prepare them for eating. So I can hardly wait. This fantastic news is a true sign of brighter days to come. So stay safe and keep smiling Della Jones MBE

nNot everyone uses social media so I would like to use the letters page to inform all Shaftesbury Swimmers that there is a movement to lobby the council for the installation of a retractable roof at the Oasis pool so this great facility can be used all the year round. If you are passionate about swimming and willing to support this then please contact Claire Commons, the clerk to the council at townclerk@shaftesburytc.gov.uk. For future communication it would be useful if you could email me too on bathurst08@btinternet.com. Janice Jackson

across the country, we are very fortunate in Gillingham to have Riversmeet. The management and staff are to be commended for their determination to keep as many activities going as possible. They have made huge efforts to ensure a safe environment is maintained within the necessary restrictions. In zumba, for instance, each of us is confined to a marked-out square, while Spinning and Pump and Tone are carefully distanced. One can even feel safe in swimming, circling in lanes with restricted numbers. All of these changes for our safety have of course reduced the number of people Riversmeet can accommodate; but it continues to be a great service to the community as well as fun and enjoyable. Pippa Shillington Gillingham

nIt’s so lovely to have you back in print again. Many of our residents have read the Blackmore Vale Magazine for years and it’s lovely to be able to pick up a pile to bring into work each week. At Abbey View in Sherborne we are planning to support the poppy appeal this year by creating a large display of poppies in a cascade outside of our home. The local businesses supporting our appeal are also displaying a wreath outside of the home and we have set up a Justgiving page. Di and Emma Abbey View

nAs someone who assisted Peter Jones with the production of the first editions of the Blackmore Vale Magazine (subsequently sold to Mr and Mrs Chalcraft) I felt I must write and say how pleased I was to see our ‘old friend’ again. I

Seedy characters

n Readers have been sending in pictures of their unusually shaped fruit and veg – here the latest we’ve received. Wendy Chambers of Witchampton says: “I loved Teddy the Potato and can’t quite match that but one of my peppers, I thought, was rather cute as a seahorse!” Also pictured are Snoopy and Tweety Pie potatoes from Gina Richardson’s allotment. We also received a spud pic so anatomically correct it couldn’t be printed in a family newspaper... Keep ‘em coming! Email your funny fruit and veg pictures to newsdesk@blackmorevale.net

wish you every success with your new venture, long may you continue. Diana Hine Stalbridge

nIt was wonderful to read all the positive news about Sherborne in your last edition. Four new shops, the Sunday markets and plans for Sherborne House! I hope the impending lockdown of most of the country (other than schools and universities which appear to be the main source of the problem) will not dent this progress. I was also pleased to hear that some Sherborne residents funded much needed school dinners during half-term to replace those axed by the Government. One thing that does concern me is that I have heard of people seeking a covid test being referred to Cardiff or the Isle of Wight. Given that Sherborne has a hospital, GP surgeries, chemists with consultation facilities, etc, I struggle to believe such oneminute swab tests cannot be carried out here, even outside such premises. If it is beyond the wit of man to use existing local medical facilities, perhaps one of the remaining empty shops could be turned into a testing centre. Significantly increased testing, especially on a routine basis of people with no symptoms, and vaccinations are crucial to solving the problem, but local residents need these to be delivered right here in the Vale and not hundreds of miles away. Mike Bignell Sherborne

Corrections and clarifications

P25 Tony Bonnell, who died on September 26, was headmaster at Stower Provost Community School in Gillingham, and not Stour Provost school. Heartfelt apologies.

P49 In our arts coverage, we stated ‘Taboo has devised a socially distanced play’. Flea the Pandemic was written for Taboo Theatre by playwright Sue Ashby who, together with Tony Benge, co-wrote ‘Rage, Tears & Cider’ and ‘The Miller’s Daughter’ for Taboo.