Letters

Letters Colin the Sherborne railway station man:

For the first time in over a year I went to Sherborne station to find out train times for a trip to London. I never use the internet for information and purchase of tickets for Colin, at Sherborne station, was always there, issuing tickets and advice... the font of all train knowledge! Disaster –no Colin, he has retired! I know I am not the only person who will be missing him – there must be hundreds of people who will feel the same. Wherever you are, Colin, may I say a big Thank You for all your help over the years, you will be sadly missed. Any chance you could come out of retirement? Maggie Forbes-Buckingham Sherborne

n I was very impressed by the well worded letters sent by year 4 pupils of Gillingham Primary School written on the subject of balloons. Congratulations to them and their teacher, Julie Scammell, on raising the subject of the dangers these present to not only to sea life but land animals also. This applies everywhere, not just Gillingham. Well Done year 4. June Maitland Milborne St Andrew

n Mike Keatinge’s response (March 19) to Andrew Morrison, highlights the need to focus on solutions that are economically viable, achievable and based on proven technology. Instead of posing a massive disposal problem, nonrecyclable municipal waste could be viewed as a continuous, never-ending source of fuel for conversion to electricity in MWE incinerators. High temperature incineration in autoclaves (pyrology) has already been introduced, with the advantage of minimising emissions and ash residue. Preferred locations would be on 32

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk brown field sites eg redundant coal-fired fired power stations, with relevant infrastructure still in place. Landfill sites and exporting UK waste could (and should) soon become things of the past. In an ideal world, our PM will task the wonderful Kate Bingham, to devise and speedily implement a strategy , as she did so successfully to give us a covid-19 vaccine. Greenies and Nimbys, please climb out of your trenches! Get up in your helicopters and look down on the whole battlefield! There is no time to lose. Gordon Ratcliffe Chetnole

n I had my second vaccine this morning at the Blackmore Vale Partnership Surgery and wish to thank all the doctors and nurses and staff involved. It was so well organised. A very big Thank You. Eve Eyres Sturminster Newton n Regarding Pip Taylor’s concerns (Letters, March 19th) about speeding traffic in Bath Road, I can assure him that since the summer of 2014, efforts have been made to monitor speeds and report car and registration details of those offending to Dorset Police. This is carried out by volunteers, currently eight, who make up Sturminster Newton’s Community Speedwatch team. The team operates in five other town locations, all sites vetted by the police in 2014. Although parked vehicles can be an obstruction to those exiting drives and side roads, it is evident from monitoring sessions in Bath Road and our other locations, that they actually help to reduce traffic speed, as indeed do our high-viz jackets! Regrettably, in line with Government restrictions, CSW activities have been mainly curtailed since the first lockdown. We will be allowed to resume when restrictions are eased. However, the data the team has submitted over the years has helped to bring speeding issues around the town to the attention of the police. As a result, during lockdowns, the police Trucam van with its enforcement laser has monitored speed at three of our sites, including Bath Road, the last time there on March 8. All offending drivers have been issued with a ticket. The Trucam operator has also worked alongside team members at their monitoring sessions. In addition, although not a camera, Bath Road is to have a SID (Speed Indicator Device). Poles will be erected at three of our sites so that the SID can be moved around. At each selected location speed was monitored by the police to establish the need for a SID. Thanks go to Carole Jones, our county councillor, who has campaigned for this. With a bigger team, speed monitoring sessions would be more frequent. CSW is a country-wide initiative so if speeding vehicles concern you then step forward as a volunteer. In Sturminster’s case the town council is your point of contact. Annie Adkins, CSW Coordinator

n Stuart Jones completely misses the point of my letter, which is primarily pointed at local democracy, accountability and professionalism. Few people would question the need for SEND provision but as was made clear in the recently received Dorset Council News, this newly acquired expensive facility COULD be used for this purpose. As I said in my first letter, this expenditure was made in advance of any proposal of use being identified specifically and correctly costed on that basis. I also made the point that with the implied economies of scale on which the merger of the councils was justified, there

Letters come back! We’re lost without you there

must be redundant buildings scattered through the council areas that would lend themselves to such a facility. Indeed these could offer beneficial advantages in more local areas ,avoiding unnecessary travel and cost to one dedicated site, probably extremely inconvenient to some of those with this need. Following my letter, I find it surprising and inexplicable that no one from DCC saw fit to justify their position to the open forum of BV; neither from regional councillors. Perhaps Mr Jones is involved in some council activity and becomes the stalking horse in this situation. What exactly is Mr Jones saying? St Mary’s will still be running the school? No doubt for reasons beyond their control, it clearly went bankrupt and I cannot see how we can be proud of a school that no longer exists. Unless Mr Jones or DCC know something that we don’t. Some one needs to answer the question as to why our local councillor representatives were not allowed a vote on this very significant expenditure of our money. Surely DCC should have asked for use proposals before the acquisition, not after the monies had been spent. Jeremy Bloomfield Gillingham

n This Dorset Council News, a 16-page document arrived in the mail, Apart from it being an opportunity for the Leader of the Council to have the better part of a page to express his views does any other reader, think this addition to our already rising council tax, think this worth the costs involved? Would we not rather have up to date information that affects our lives? As just one example this Tuesday we had a dental appointment in Sturminster Newton, a seven-mile trip. Leaving in good time we found the road beyond Hazelbury Bryan to Sturminster Newton closed, with no explanation. Fortunately we know the lanes via Fifehead Neville to the Common above Sturminster Newton, still as ever housing Gypsies and Travellers in profusion. Nevertheless we arrived for our appointment ten minutes late and were refused treatment. We have yet to find out what the cause of this road closure was. If North Dorset wants to relate to those who fund the Council Tax could they not better keep us informed of the serious issues that affect our lives? We still have to learn why this road had to be closed! Bill Woodhouse Mappowder

n I write to say that I thoroughly endorse the comments made by Jeremy Bloomfield with regard to DCC purchase of St Mary’s School. An additional and in my opinion unnecessary cost which contributes to the fact that DCC have the second highest council tax rate in the country! T.D. Ball Stour Provost

n The recent anti-police violence in Bristol has underlined the importance of “order” in the phrase “law and order”. We all rely on our police to prevent and deter crime, but also to keep good order in our communities. This is as important in the high-rise centre of Bristol as in the country lanes and villages of rural Somerset. We need to be able to go about our lives free from fear and arbitrary disruption or threat from a mob. It’s why the election for Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) on Thursday 6 May is so important. The PCC is the key democratic link between the public and the police. It’s a big job. It matters who does it. The PCC sets the priorities for the police locally, sets the budget and holds the force to account on behalf of the public. In my 30 years as a soldier I worked with police around the world helping to fight crime and keep good order. Key to this is working with communities, actively and honestly. I want to see our police well-equipped with the latest technology, even better trained and with the people and resources in the right places to prevent crime. I will work with government to ensure Avon and Somerset crime levels stop rising, as is sadly the case at present, and start falling. The key measure of good policing is not how many arrests are made, but how low are levels of crime. And when we need them to protect us and our property, I want to reassure everyone that the police will be there for them. Mark Shelford Conservative candidate to be Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner

n News from the Coop: YIPPEE! We’re just waiting for 23.59 on Wednesday the 31st March; this is the precise time announced by Defra for the end of our lockdown which came into force on December 15th as a result of Avian Flu outbreaks. Defra, for the moment, you are top of the pops! Since the last report we’ve been doing pretty much er... what we were doing before. We just can’t wait to get out and about in the garden again. We’re dreaming of getting our beaks into one of those tasty little slugs and having a proper bath. We haven’t had a really good dust bath for weeks now. Let’s hope you guys get an end to your lockdown in the not too distant future as well – just stick to the rules like us! From Speckly, Reg, Red, Gertie and Titch

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk

Food & Drink Warm salad dish is bursting with Vitamin Sea

April – Part 1 The first of the new potatoes are starting to be harvested and appear in our local greengrocers. This fortnight’s recipe showcases them with a slightly unusual coastal partner which is also currently in season, samphire. Potatoes (a member of the nightshade family including tomatoes, aubergine, and bell peppers) are a good source of potassium, B vitamins, vitamin C, and fibre, and a moderate source of protein. Most of the nutrients, fibre, and protein are found in the skin so it is always best to keep the skins on! Samphire is rich in vitamin C, A and B vitamins, iodine, calcium, and magnesium. Samphire also contains fucoidans, bioactive compounds found in sea vegetables shown to have antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects. Samphire can be quite salty, so it is worth washing it lightly before cooking and not adding any other salt to the dish. Samphire and new potato salad (serves 4) 450g new potatoes (washed and cut to be similar sizes) 30g samphire (washed) 2 eggs (hard boiled) Couple of tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Pinch of black pepper Optional extras: pinch of smoked paprika, finely sliced spring onions. Cook the potatoes on the hob starting with cold water, not

Rebecca Vincent is a BANT registered nutritionist from Wincanton boiling. This is supposed to ensure an even cook all the way through the potato (something I picked up from my grandad, and when it came to potatoes he was always right). Boil until just soft when tested with a knife. Add the samphire and continue to simmer for 2-3 minutes. Drain well and set aside to cool for a few minutes. Instead of using mayonnaise I like to use diced hard-boiled eggs and a good quality olive oil to ‘coat’ the potato salad. This increases the protein content of the dish and helps slow the release of sugars from carbohydrates into the bloodstream. Dice the eggs quite finely and mix with the potatoes, samphire, olive oil, and pepper so everything is evenly coated and serve still warm, or chilled with leftovers the next day. A lovely addition to a salad or fish dish. rebeccavincentnutrition.co.uk

Cooking...

with Mrs Simkins

Easter Saffron Cake

Saffron has always been one of the most precious spices for either sweet or savoury dishes and is perfect to celebrate the festival of Easter. Easter saffron cakes are traditional across Eastern Europe and Russia and equally traditional in Cornwall: since saffron arrived there centuries ago, through the Spanish tin trade. It was once also a thriving crop in Saffron Walden, Essex (the name’s a bit of a giveaway!) where it has recently returned after a gap of 200 years. Here’s a lovely version: serve in slices or wedges, plain or buttered - or with jam and clotted cream. Here at Warrens Bakery, we only use the finest Spanish Saffron in our Saffron Cakes.The making of the legendary Saffron Cake is said to date back to the days when Phoenician traders exchanged spices and other goods for tin from the Cornish mines. The luxurious saffron spice, made from the dried stigmas of crocus flowers, was added to give exotic flavour to bread and cakes.

Makes 12 250ml milk 60g salted butter, diced Generous pinch of saffron threads 500g strong white bread flour 1 teaspoon crushed sea salt 150g mixed dried fruit and peel 1½ tablespoons golden caster sugar 1 teaspoon ‘easy-bake’ dried yeast 1 large egg, beaten Plus: Icing sugar to finish, sugar coated mini eggs and edible flowers

You will need a buttered 20cm loose bottomed cake tin Warm the milk. Add the butter and saffron. Steep for 20 minutes. Combine the flour, salt, fruit, sugar, and yeast and make a central well. Whisk the egg into the saffron milk and gradually incorporate into the dry mix. Knead together and transfer to a sparingly floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic: be steady, there’s no need to over-work enriched dough.

Prove for 1-2 hours or until virtually doubled in size. Knock back and fit into the tin. Prove for another hour or again until virtually doubled in size. Bake in a preheated oven 200C 180C (fan oven) gas mark 6 or equivalent for 25 minutes or until risen and golden brown. Dust with sieved icing sugar before serving and decorate with mini eggs and edible flowers. n MrsSimkins. co.uk n twitter.com/MrsSimkins Cooks n email: info@ MrsSimkins. co.uk

Mum’s Kitchen...

Banana, Ginger and Caramel Pudding

Ingredients Serves 6 For the Pudding 125g (4 ½ oz) plain flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon ground ginger 125g (4 ½ oz) light muscovado sugar 2 ripe bananas, mashed 1 large egg, beaten 200 ml (7fl oz) milk 75g (2 ½ oz) butter, melted For the caramel sauce 4 tablespoons golden syrup 125g (4 ½ oz) light muscovado sugar 250 ml (9fl oz) water Method Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan. Sift the flour, baking powder and ground ginger into a bowl, then beat in the sugar, mashed bananas, egg, milk and butter until well combined. Pour into a buttered 1.5 to 2ltr (2 ½ pint-3 ½ pint) ovenproof dish. (It is important to heed the size recommended as this pudding bubbles up during cooking). For the sauce, put the syrup, sugar and 250ml (9fl oz) water) in a pan over a medium heat. Stir until dissolved and bring to the boil. Pour immediately over the top of the pudding and place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes until golden and just firm in the centre when lightly pressed. Cool for a few minutes and serve with ice-cream, cream or crème fraiche.