Letters

Letters Who attacked our lovely Gilbert?

What mindless idiot vandalised the antlers on Sir Gilbert (as I call our Ronal stag on the Peacemarsh roundabout)? A lovely, life-sized stag representing part of our coat of arms for Gillingham. I despair! BB Peacemarsh

n Readers may be surprised and alarmed at the recent decision by Wiltshire planners to permit the construction of a bungalow on a highly visible site in the heart of the Cranborne Chase area of AONB. The application submitted by the owners of Cools Farm, Tisbury focused on the merits of a share farmers agreement and where to locate new accommodation for such an individual on the farm. Despite vehement opposition from councillors from the neighbouring parish councils of West Tisbury and East Knoyle, and their supplications to investigate several other sites closer to the existing farm buildings, the planning committee favoured the remotest and most intrusive location. By granting new access on to the most hazardous stretch of the C309 (Tokes Lane), the principle of a new dwelling here has been accepted and the value of an AONB been questioned. Discussion in committee relished an informative debate on the calving habits of a suckling herd while ignoring any review of alternative sites. Presumably respect for lockdown had prevented any committee members actually visiting the farm to consider these. A lucky day for the applicants and a sad one for rural England and those ramblers and riders who enjoy the 32

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk unrivalled and unspoilt countryside from this part of the Wessex Ridgeway. Disappointed dog walker from East Knoyle

n Now that Royal Mail has announced record profits may I suggest that they might like to invest in a bucket and sponge and clean their vans? There can be no scruffier or battered fleet of vehicles on the road. I remember the days when the vans were bright red, not dull pink and brown with mud. Come on, let’s get some pride back ‘Royal’ Mail. Nigel Hayter

nThe NBVM’s MP’s Roundup (p64/65) provides a valuable outlet for our bevy of local MPs, but it’s a shame at Easter that not one of them mentions Yemen and the World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis, currently being driven by British weapons and logistics since President Biden pulled the US out of arming Saudi. Yemen was already ravaged by mass starvation due to Western sanctions, as well as by a cholera epidemic and, of course, covid. Please pray for the men, women and children of Yemen. Mark Pennell Corton Denham Sherbone

n I was pleased to read of your plans to expand into Stour and Avon – a much deserved success I think as the NBVM is very impressive. However, a little more coverage of the Wincanton area, where I am sure you have a wide readership, would be welcome. Roy Carne

n Thank you for giving the sponsorship of the G & S show by Gritchie Brewing Co. front page coverage in your April 2 edition. It is particularly significant and worthy of recognition that a local brewery shall be sponsoring the show in 2021 after such a very difficult period for the brewing and associated hospitality industries during lockdown restrictions. There are of course many synergies between farming and brewing not least because farmers provide a key ingredient to the brewers, and no doubt one or two of them might enjoy indulging in the finished product too! Isn’t it great when local businesses support local events like this and particularly in such testing times for all. May I add my thanks to Guy Ritchie and his team for their key support of this year’s show on 18th & 19th August and promise him I shall be doing my bit to reciprocate by quenching my thirst with a pint or two of Gritchie Ale throughout this summer and beyond! Matthew Price President Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show

n After a period of seemingly lying fallow, we are all being increasingly treated once more to the world as seen through the eyes of Bill Woodhouse (Letters 2/4/21). Whilst he is of course entitled to his views, I do expect the NBVM to exercise some editorial judgement in what it deems fit for publication, and not provide him with the kind of platform he was afforded by the previous incarnation of this newspaper. If his letters are reprinted verbatim, it will only encourage him further. Michael Stone Pimperne We apologise unreservedly. Somehow his letter snuck

through during the editorial process despite making little sense and despite Mr Woodhouse having a swipe at Dorset Council’s support of the Gypsy community for no apparent reason. We are very, very sorry this happened. Ed

n I’ve never written a letter to a paper before but feel strongly the editorial team has a duty to call out blatant racism, and shouldn’t be giving it a platform in their pages. An apology, and a ban on future letters from this individual is in order. Dr Hazel Robinson Absolutely. The letter was intended to be spiked but found its way onto the page. We will ensure this never happens again and apologise profusely to anyone who may have been upset by Mr Woodhouse’s remarks. Ed

n I would like to respond to a couple of letters in your most recent NBVM, As a Dorset councillor representing Sturminster Newton, I am part of a steering group for the future of the St Mary’s School. The council’s preferred option is to use the site for children with special educational needs and disabilities, and the consultation process shows overwhelming support for this too. Whilst the initial purchase price may seem high, I consider, along with many of my colleagues that we are spending to invest in future revenue savings. We have 250 children and young people that have to attend independent provision, costing Dorset Council some £14 million each year. It currently costs an eyewatering £60,000 to provide independent out of county provision per child, this reduces to £22,000 for high quality provision within Dorset. Had we as a council had to repurpose an old site, or had to build new the costs would have been far higher than the purchase price paid. On a recent tour of the site we could see that all classrooms are fitted with desks, chairs, the libraries are stocked, there are fully kitted out bedrooms, the kitchens are ready to be in full use again. This site is ready to take children as early as this September. The site also offers additional possible income streams which we will be exploring and please believe that we councillors are working hand in hand with officers to give the people of Dorset the very best educational and respite facility for those that need it most –our children of Dorset. Carole Jones Dorset Councillor for Sturminster Newton

n As a frequent user of Sherborne railway station before the arrival of coronavirus, I would like to echo Maggie ForbesBuckingham’s comments (Letters, Apr 2) on Colin who used to work in the ticket office. For those of us who prefer to plan our train journeys and buy our tickets by interacting with a human being rather than a computer he was absolutely perfect –knowledgeable, helpful, patient and courteous with a dry sense of humour, in an age when these qualities are not always guaranteed from those working in customer facing roles. He will be a hard act to follow and sorely missed. I hope South Western Railway gave him the send-off he deserves. Gordon Lethbridge Sherborne

n Firstly, may I say how much we enjoy your new format. The Blackmore Vale now has a lot more teeth and it is good that our four MPs are actively contributing. May I therefore bring to everyone’s attention a problem which I believe is looming in Gillingham: Health facilities. We are a population of around 12,000 and almost 2,000 children in education. Do you, your readers and the Dorset MPs and councillors agree that the present facilities are not sufficient? We have four supermarkets, two petrol stations and building permission for 1,500

nWhile out on his daily walk near Charlton Musgrove, photographer Nicholas Dibben caught this stunning Red Kite on camera. Nick said: I see this Red Kite most days on my daily walk. This time it had just caught a field vole and flew over my head at about 30ft.” Nick’s photograph’s can be found on Facebook Nick Dibben and nickspics47zxc more homes. Surely we will need a proper medical centre including a day surgery unit? Yvonne Phillips Gillingham

n Just to say many thanks for including the article and picture on Sturminster Community Learning Centre re-opening in edition 14. Three people already have mentioned the article when requesting an appointment. And of course thank you for the magazine itself, an incredibly valuable community asset. David Shepherd Chair of Trustees

n Yet another spat concerning DC, although precipitated by the planning decision in 2019 of NDDC. In the light of the purchase of St Marys School, it seems ironic that this should involve the demolition of the former NDDC building in Blandford, which perhaps could have been utilised for the one option of SEND, identified as one possibility for St Marys. Town councillors now seem to be at loggerheads with the new county council. It further seems illogical to me in that I assume we, as council tax payers will now, because of the DC purchase of St Mary’s, which is in Wiltshire, be making a significant indirect payment of council tax to that county through our compulsory contributions to DC. Smart strategic thinking. I see, from a recent DC advertisement for digital staff that we the tax payers, are now referred to as customers. Jeremy Bloomfield East Stour