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New Blackmore Vale, October 1, 2021
blackmorevale.net
Letters
I don’t want to point the finger, but stop
Fingerposts – icons of the Dorset countryside – are clearly under attack! In Ibberton we have 11 arms on the various posts in the village. So far this year we have had two destroyed by hedge-cutters and two damaged by delivery trucks. In addition, a year or two ago, a further arm was smashed by a milk tanker. In Hazelbury Bryan, where I am also parish clerk, I have two arms awaiting new brackets after damage by vandals. Sometimes we are fortunate that those doing the damage come forward and pay for the repair; other times the parish council has to meet the cost, even though it doesn’t own the fingerposts. Dorset Council Highways no longer fund any repairs. Can people please just be a little more vigilant – with other calls on parish council finances there may come a time when repairs are not considered a priority? Malcolm Wilson, Clerk, Ibberton Parish Council n Great to see the 1903 Darracq in BVM (Sept 17). No doubt many readers have seen the 1953 film Genevieve which features a 1904 model driven by Kenneth More in the London to Brighton run. Well worth seeing again particularly in this, the 125th anniversary year of the Veteran Car Run. Geraldine Beare Queen Camel n In a recent MPs’ round up Mr Warburton made a sniggering remark about householders being encouraged to spend ‘megabucks’ on renewable energy systems without suggesting what constituted mega bucks – £1,500? £5,000? £15,000? Since his casual comment was reported wholesale gas prices have quadrupled and wholesale electricity has risen steeply. Our ‘megabucks’ spending on renewables is not looking so ‘mega’ now… more a bargain. The more of your own energy you supply from renewables the less affected you are by what happens to fossil fuels. Many of our MPs seem not to grasp this. This also improves
I must also comment on the letter from David Woolacott in the same edition. As a member of the Church of England and a church goer I feel insulted by his letter. Not only for myself, but for the many good men and women who have devoted their lives to the church. I am surprised that he allowed his name to be printed, instead of hiding behind “Name and address supplied”. Richard Langdon Salisbury n If David Woolacott (letters, 17 Sept 21) follows his own logic, I assume that he does not use the BBC or the NHS given both organisations’ long association with Jimmy Savile. William Cook, Blandford
Cartoon by Lyndon Wall justsocaricatures .co.uk
the environment for our children and grandchildren, although it seems many of us do not think they are worth that investment. Our political leaders make grand statements about climate change, while only doing what their paymasters will allow. Richard Foley Tarrant Hinton n It was interesting to read MP Chris Loder’s article about the fate of the alpaca Geronimo, his criticism of Chris Packham spending too much time trying to stop the control of animals that spread the disease and campaign groups advocating a meat and dairy-free diet. Although he didn’t mention his own PM and the Government Committee for Climate Change advocating this several times in the past year. The real question though, was why did Defra order a healthy animal to be culled? Because as Mr Loder mentioned there is a real concern about the effectiveness of the tests given to Geronimo by Defra and cattle in general. Geronimo had four skin tests in New Zealand before he was exported – and all were negative. He later tested positive in two tests – two blood tests (enferplex) – administered in the UK. However, Iain McGill, a vet and TB researcher, said Geronimo was twice ‘primed’ – or microvaccinated – before being tested for
TB, which caused him to have high levels of antibodies, which in turn caused false-positive results. The fight may have been for Geronimo but it was really to highlight the unsound testing and the plight of farmers and the need to improve the whole testing process. If Mr Loder has concerns about testing reliability he should be petitioning his own government for change, not criticising wildlife NGOs or a TV presenter. Stopping the badger cull would be another positive step because there are other options. For me the real sadness of the whole episode is not the death of 28,000 cattle or the pointless cull of a staggeringly inconceivable 140,830 badgers since 2013, but the fact that Defra is still continuing to use a flawed testing system. Name and address supplied n At last, a voice of sanity in the Geronimo the alpaca saga. I refer to the piece by Chris Loder in this week’s edition (September 17). A relation of mine has lost several dairy cows due to Bovine TB, caused probably by the many badgers on his land. I have not noticed any crocodile tears being shed on their behalf by Chris Packham, and his supporters. I suppose the crux of the matter is cows are not cuddly like alpacas.
n It may not be widely known, but currently there is an election taking place for the General Synod of the Church of England. Each diocese sends a number of people to the Synod in London. Their views will influence how the Church of England operates. At a time when the establishment of the church is seeking to make changes that will affect even the smallest country parish, I believe it is important to have one’s voice heard, particularly as Salisbury Diocese is seeking to create a mega-parish in our area, something many people oppose. For that reason I have put my name forward, and it is for the 680 Diocesan Synod representatives to vote for those they choose. It is imperative that people understand the importance of this election and I encourage them to talk to their representative (see salisbury.anglican.org) and encourage their representatives to vote. I would wish to stand on a platform that would include the following: The church pause in its creation of mega-parishes. Appreciate that there is a problem that the number of people coming forward to serve as priests is reducing, and the funds available for the support of the church are likely to be more limited. In the light of the above, resources should be put into training the laity (volunteers) to fulfil many of the functions at present undertaken by the local vicar/priest. This would include: Allow licenced lay ministers (formerly licenced lay readers) to take communion services, baptisms and marriages.
