Letters

Letters Litter more pressing than bungalow

The Disappointed Dog Walker writing in the February 16 edition of the New Blackmore Vale about the construction of a bungalow, mentioning Cools Farm and Toke’s Lane, should reflect that it is customary to allow new residences on farms for either the retiring generation or the newest and that Cools ORGANIC farm has long been in possession of a wellrespected local farming family. The rural landscape which we enjoy is in fact an industrial site, the industry being farming, and it looks the way it does because of the farmers. He or she might do better to seek to explain the presence of litter in idyllic Toke’s Lane – this has appeared over the past two years or so and in increasing quantities. This is a true crime against the environment and humanity – not only for the toxic element and danger to wildlife, but for microplastics which scientists have recently discovered, not just in carrots and fish but in the human digestive tract and most recently on both sides of the human placenta. ‘Disappointed’ would be well advised to address their campaigning zeal to this filth which mars any – indeed every –favourite walk. Anne Booth Shaftesbury

n Re: Various letters in NBV. A letter I have just received from Gillingham Medical Practice list the names of six Partners and three salaried GPs in the heading - a total of nine doctors! Surely it is much easier (for the Patient) to phone for an appointment. Jill Trainor Gillingham

n Looking at your latest 96page bumper issue I have to congratulate you on the incredible transformation you have achieved with the BVM. 34

Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures.co.uk

Now we have a vibrant publication which is a genuine mirror of our spread of communities – well-written and crisply presented with judicious use of colour. It is a pleasure to read and with increased traffic throughout the issue this will greatly benefit your advertisers. Here’s wishing you great fortune Peter Jackson (former editor of both TVTimes and the Sunday Times Magazine and publisher of ELLE magazine)

n I write to protest at the attempt to suppress a genuine opinion held by one of your most regular and longstanding correspondents, Bill Woodhouse (BVM page 32 edition 15). A journal such as the BVM has a duty to foster free expressions of opinions on matters of public interest. This does not require them to share such views. Freedom of expression is no freedom if confined to what others will not feel offended by. Feeling offended is an option, not a necessary consequence of reading opinions one does not share. Racism is a term so imprecise that it is used, with intent to offend, with no regard for its meaning. That meaning is prejudicial conduct towards a person because of his/her distinctive racial characteristics. How can such an honourable man as Mr Woodhouse remotely be thought of as ‘racist’? It was most disappointing to see the editor bending the knee to Dr Robinson. Jeremy Nieboer

n Dear NBVM, so Hazel Robinson and Michael Stone were shocked at Bill Woodhouse’s comments. Was it on the Dorset Council News 16 page documents, or was it about the road closure or even his observations on his travels to Sturminster? I am also trying to find where Mr Woodhouse has a swipe at Dorset Council’s support of the Gypsy community. Would someone please point out where Bill was a blatant racist? Some of us enjoy the world as seen through the eyes of Bill Woodhouse. And as for NBVM apologising profusely for anyone been upset is comical. Brian Welton Sturminster Newton

n On this sunny April afternoon, I find myself strongly urged to write to you in response to Bill Woodhouse’s letter, published 2nd of this month. After reading Mr Woodhouse’s words regarding his thoughts on the latest Dorset Council News, his confusion on an unmarked road closure, a general observation of his journeys surrounding, and because of the latter, a missed dental appointment; I honestly gave no other thought to what he freely had to write. So, to read in your latest publication a letter written by Dr Hazel Robinson and Michael Stone on their disgust at his racist rants, I felt I had no other choice than to write to you for answers. As a woman in her mid-20s, I’m perplexed at how a Dr could find something like this so offensive. I feel more than ever we’re being exposed to the horror of racism and the devastating effect it so clearly has on individuals and society. You only need to open a newspaper, turn on the television, flick onto social media to see the struggle so many people are still wrongly facing in 2021. I would highly appreciate if you could clearly point out where the racist comments are and why has NBMV mentioned the council supporting his allegations? I have been left feeling saddened and frustrated for Mr Woodhouse. What has happened to freedom of speech? After all of this, I do hope he has finally found out why the road was closed! I very much look forward to hearing your response, Hannah Louise Sturminster Newton

n With the lovely sunshine and the easing of lockdown, we took a trip to Shearwater Lake to get some exercise walking along the lake. The car park, owned by the Longleat Estate, opposite the cafe, had been closed during lockdown. We have always used this car park over many years. We innocently decided to park on the road a short distance from the café. Quite a few other people had done the same thing. Imagine our surprise and upset when we returned to our car to find that Wiltshire Council had issued a fixed penalty parking offence notice. It appears the road along the side of the lake is covered by a clearway. It seems that Wiltshire Council are using this as a very underhand cheapskate method of enforcing a parking ban. I think most people would regard a clearway as something to prevent dangerous stopping and parking on busy trunk roads, not minor country lanes. A far more appropriate and transparent method would be to use yellow lines with notices at intervals. It seems many people had arrived, intending to use the car park. In finding it closed they found the nearest place to park not realising it is a clearway It appears Wiltshire Council are hell bent on exploiting this situation in order to raise as much cash from unsuspecting motorists as possible. Rather than using discretion and not enforcing the parking ban until the car park is open they have decided to abuse the powers vested in them to entrap as many unwitting motorists as possible. This really is contemptible behaviour. If this letter prevents even one of your readers from falling into the same trap as us it will have been worthwhile. Roger Phek

n I just wanted to say a quick thank you for publishing the article on our charity’s anniversary – our phone has been ringing all week! We’re getting some

What a wasted opportunity

A double electrical vehicle charge point in Bell Street car park, Shaftesbury – the town’s main car park – opened for public use just before Easter. But who would know? Neither Dorset Council, who installed the charge point as part of its rollout of EV charge points across Dorset, nor Shaftesbury Town Council marked the event with a photocall or formal opening or put out any publicity of any sort about it. What a wasted opportunity. It makes you wonder if they really understand or accept the urgency of the climate crisis affecting the planet that resulted in the Government this month (April) bringing forward the crucial target date to achieve carbon neutrality in Britain by 15 years to 2035. Nothing but nothing is now more important than dealing with this issue with urgency –and maximum publicity. Jeff Thomas Shaftesbury

fantastic new volunteers on board, and it shows just what a good reach you have. Thanks again Juliet Ruddick Dorset Reading Partners

n Your headline in the NBVM of 16 April, ‘Iconic landmark set to benefit from extensive weeding’, rather saddened me: it needs so much more than that. The sycamores growing along the top of the wall, which were coppiced in 2011, are now showing substantial regrowth, resulting in multiple shoots pushing through the wall to a length of several feet. The valerian, although pretty when in flower, is a blight which, without substantial treatment, will form large clumps of compressed roots within the wall; when exposed, these resemble large logs of wood, not something to be encouraged in ancient stonework. The back of the Town Hall is also affected by this plant, and an annual trimming back will have no deterrent effect on damage to the stonework by the roots. Since the considerable expenditure of £40,000 in 1982 1984 and the tree work in 2011, nothing appears to have been done which is other than cosmetic. What happened to the Gold Hill Preservation Committee set up at that time? Why isn’t English Heritage involved in the preservation and maintenance of Shaftesbury’s ancient, valuable monument? The ‘extensive weeding’ should be only the start of what will become a rescue operation. Jenny Jones Shaftesbury

n May I, through your pages, raise a question (and possibly draw it to the attention of the panel of MPs, who regularly contribute to your magazine)? Following recent Government guidelines, I ordered a covid-19 self-test Kit, and was surprised to find it was delivered as a ‘Tracked 24’ item. Having checked on the Royal Mail website, the current cost for this package is £4.02, as opposed to £1.83 for normal First-Class postage. When medical samples are sent for assessment, I accept there is a need for urgency and also reassurance that the items have reached their destination (especially if the contents are potentially hazardous). As I understand it, however, the home-test kits are designed as a preventive measure, to be distributed routinely to potentially a large number of households (and there is no indication on the package to suggest the contents are hazardous). At an additional £2.19 per package, delivered to even one million households on a weekly basis over, say, a six-month period, the additional cost is in excess of £56 million. Whilst this may appear as the proverbial ‘drop in the ocean’ compared to the overall cost of Covid, I do feel it might be put to better use in supporting our existing hospitals, or possibly even building a new one. I fully appreciate that the financial cost of Covid, however great, is preferable to further human cost; but at some point, the coronavirus bill, in all its enormity, will have to be faced. All I ask is: Is this particular additional expense really necessary? If the occasional package goes astray, by all means send a replacement – and track its progress. For the most part, however, why not send it first class – and put your trust in the Posties who, by all accounts, have been doing sterling work throughout the pandemic? J Micklewright Milborne Port

n I picked up my first copy of NBV today and just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the journalistic style. There’s a ‘standard’ method of constructing and writing news articles most journalists seem determined to follow. It results in most publications appearing to have been written by robot/ computer and is not appealing. Your publication seems different. the writing feels as if it’s done by ‘real’ people and for a local publication I think that’s excellent. it makes me feel as if your journalists probably actually care about the local area and people. I hope you go from strength to strength. Andy Tebbutt-Russell