Alfred’s Way, Wincanton BA9 9RU

Retirement housing manager gives residents’ spirits a big lift

By Karen Bate

‘An angel in disguise’ has come to the rescue of the older and frail residents living in Homecanton House in Wincanton after a faulty lift has left many ‘marooned’ or struggling with the flight of stairs. The lift broke down several days before Christmas and is not expected to be repaired until a circuit board arrives from Spain. Among the residents trapped, one is 100 years old and several struggle with health conditions which make navigating the staircase ‘extremely tricky’. However, while the broken lift is an annoyance, the manager of Homecanton, Fiona, has come to the rescue, helping residents with their laundry and shopping. Resident Carol Willment got in touch with the New Blackmore Vale to describe Fiona ‘as an angel in disguise’. Carol said: “Us old folk in Homecanton House in Wincanton are well and truly blessed. Fiona is going above beyond and back again to help us. “Our lift is out of order, possibly until after the new year. The circuit board comes from Spain, which means some folk are well and truly marooned! “Fiona is doing our laundry and shopping and delivered our Christmas goodies to us that we received from Wincanton Town Council, carrying them over three floors. Well done to an angel in disguise. “I have asthma and arthritis, so I worry about my knees on the way down and my breathing on the way up. I am 76, so I am one of the youngest and can get on with it, but others are older and more frail. “We hope the lift is mended soon.” Chief operating officer for FirstPort, David Young, said: “We know that a broken lift at a retirement development can be particularly challenging, and whilst we await the spare part to be delivered, it’s great to hear that our onsite development manager, Fiona has been doing a fantastic job at helping residents. Our teams throughout the country strive to create a sense of community at our retirement developments and I commend Fiona for going the extra mile. We’re working with a contractor to have the lift repaired as soon as possible.”

Scheme for third solar park gets green light from officers

By Karen Bate

The planning application from Next Energy for a solar park south of Brains Farm near Wincanton has been unanimously approved and without objections by officers at South Somerset District Council. The solar farm at Moor Lane covers seven fields and is believed will generate enough renewable energy to power some 6,000 homes in the area. There are currently two solar farms near Wincanton, one at Higher Halterleigh Farm the second at Sutor Farm, to the west of Moor Lane. A spokesperson from Next Energy said: “The proposed site takes up seven fields because there are existing woodland parcels taking up areas within these fields, which in turn breaks up and mitigates visual impact of the solar panels. “The proposed solar park is facing away from the viewpoints at Wincanton and Stoke Trister, only the coloured backs of the frames will be visible. More mitigation will take place over the next five years by letting the hedgerows increase in size and height to 10 metres and more tree planting. No hedgerows or trees will be removed. “Some 40 acres of biodiversity land will be generated through the scheme, which would also be used for education. And enough power to supply 6,000 homes or help with future Business Park for Wincanton, supporting employment and electric powered car charging points. It will support the power grid with much need power.” No long distance trenching will be needed for the farm as the power network grid is adjacent and overhead. He added that the solar farm was ‘a short term temporary planning to fix a power shortage until such time new technology comes along’. Next Energy have put in place a community benefit fund and engaged with Wincanton Town Council to discuss how this could benefit the local community.

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Residents of Whitecliffe House in Blandford didn’t need to be asked twice to become wannabe stylists and help staff member Emma Foxley lose her locks to donate to The Little Princess Trust. Emma allowed the residents, under the guidance of the home’s hairdresser Shanna Corben, to cut her 29.6-inch length hair in her first haircut for three years. Lois Ramsden said: “It didn’t take us long to get stuck in and it was a lot of fun, perhaps not so much for Emma but certainly for the rest of us.” The Little Princess Trust provides free, real hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their own hair because of cancer treatment and other medical conditions. Emma, who has worked for Colten Care for nearly seven years, is currently six months pregnant and early on in her pregnancy she experienced the heartbreak of her mum passing away. Emma said: “I wanted to help put a big smile on the face of someone who needs my locks more than I do.” Debbie Easter, Companionship Team leader at Whitecliffe House, said: “We wanted to do everything we could to support her initiative in aid of the Trust. While of course donating your own hair is a serious move, it was a joy to see residents having fun as they got involved in helping Emma.”

Platinum Award-Winning Care 2020

We have recently been awarded this much sought after accolade for our work with Gold Standards Framework

“The staff here are quite simply wonderful, they can’t do enough for you. The food is excellent with plenty of variety and my quality of life has improved since moving here.

I only wish I made the decision sooner.” Current resident

Exceptional Care in Stunning Surroundings

Live life better... every day at SPETISBURY MANOR Why not arrange a visit to see for yourself 01258 857378 | www.spetisburymanor.co.uk | info@spetisburymanor.co.uk

To the wealthy city dweller, the unspoilt Blackmore Vale, with its charming, quintessential English villages, is the perfect spot to re-locate or set up a second home. But scratch the surface of the area’s bucolic beauty, and there are signs that many existing residents not only experience financial hardship but extreme isolation. A 2019 Dorset Council report, the State of Dorset: Deprivation, revealed 46 per cent of Dorset’s population live in rural communities considered to be deprived in terms of barriers to housing and essential services. Older people are particularly vulnerable where they face the challenge of accessing transport for essential health and care services, even to shop for essentials. Some 21 neighbourhoods in Dorset were among 66 nationally, which fell in the 20 per cent most deprived. One in five Dorset households are vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness, which is classed as a serious public health issue for older people. The Friends of Stour Connect in Sturminster Newton, is one charity that has worked tirelessly to deliver a hot meal to these older people, some living in remote hamlets in the vale. Their only face-to-face contact that day might well be the volunteer delivering the food. Chairperson Andy Watson said: “Our average customer is a person or couple living on their own without the ability to cook or microwave food for themselves or at risk when cooking for themselves, and are therefore not suitable for foodbanks. We’re not just there to hand over a meal five days a week, but to check in with each beneficiary. And to contact a family member if there’s a problem. “We see a huge level of loneliness and social deprivation continuing since the end of the last lock down in July.” There are gaps in provision, as no meals go out at weekends. This can leave an older person stranded. One man was taken to hospital after a fall, leaving his wife without food or access to the shops until the lunch arrived on the Monday. A car needing repair, an older person unable to drive or to afford to run a car creates further social deprivation. The charity need volunteer drivers to help and without them the scheme could stop altogether. Currently Stour Connect works with NORDCAT, who assist with meals, but they too are struggling to find drivers. Trustee Tracey Chick said: “We know there are vulnerable people out there who still need support, and whilst our numbers are increasing we know we are barely scratching the surface of need.” With the help of statutory and voluntary organisations, families and neighbours it should be possible to find them. Friends of Stour Connect, Stour Connect Buildings, Stour View Close, Sturminster Newton, 01258 471359 or email admin@ friendsofstourconnect.org

COMING SOON!

Parkinson’s/Wheelchair Dance

Sessions with qualified instructors 6 weekly sessions on Thursday mornings (commencing on 20th January 2022) 11am – 12.30pm Free parking Café Adapted toilet facilities on site

The dance sessions will be held at Friends of Stour Connect Stour View Close (off Bath Road) Sturminster Newton DT10 1JF Please phone us on 01258 471359 or Email us at admin@friendsofstourconnect.org.uk for details