Politics

Political round-up County not consulting its own residents

In wishing all your readers the Season’s Greetings, reflections upon 2022 with all its joys and sorrows are unavoidable. The joy of the Platinum Jubilee in June and the sorrow of Her Majesty’s death in September were remembered when His Majesty King Charles III came to Parliament just before Christmas to inaugurate the ornamental lamps on either side of the steps to the Jubilee Fountain in New Palace Yard. The lamps are the gift from MPs and Peers for the Platinum Jubilee. His Majesty also unveiled the plaque in Westminster Hall marking where his mother Lay in State.

n All those who use the busy A31 at St Leonards should be alerted to the potential impact on congestion and safety of the proposed Brocks Pine Surf Reef development. The planning application for a massive artificial wave park, south side of the Woolsbridge roundabout, was made over a year ago but comments from statutory consultees, including Highways England, are still awaited. The proposed project on South East Dorset Green Belt land is both a major threat to the open character of the area and to the amenity of local residents. As the surf reef is dependent upon removing current facilities from the Avon Heath Country Park including the visitor centre, nursery, café and car park, there is a question as to why Dorset Council, which owns those facilities, is indulging the project. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Dorset Council with the developer, W H White Limited, in July 2021. It states that Dorset Council is happy for the developer ‘to prepare and submit an outline planning application and reserved matters encompassing the Council’s land’. Dorset Council commits itself ‘not to oppose any planning application to support Option 3 of the Vision Document’ and to assist ‘in gathering survey information and other relevant information’. The parties ‘agree to work together in a positive, open and transparent manner pursuant to optimising the public benefits of the scheme, whilst respecting that this is a commercial venture’. The Council further agrees that ‘appropriate Dorset Council Officer time is afforded to this project; with a monthly progress meeting’. Unfortunately, Parish Councillors and local residents, whom I met on a cold December morning in the car park of the Country Park, feel very much in the dark as to what is happening and are worried about the blight caused by indecision. Although the Council apparently began its dialogue with the developer in autumn 2020, there does not appear to have been any consultation carried out by Dorset Council with local residents prior to the Memorandum of Understanding being signed to ascertain whether those local residents support the project in principle. With all best wishes for 2023.

Christchurch & East Dorset CHRIS CHOPE MP

Is the blue wall crumbling here too?

For decades, many voters and pollsters have written off rural Dorset as being of any political interest due to its habit of consistently returning the same party to Parliament. As I read the letters page of this publication, do I detect that the blue wall might be crumbling here too? Indeed, I can’t help but wonder sometimes, reading the wittering of local Tory MPs, whether they’ve given up. Are they eyeing the next life raft to a job in a right-wing thing tank, or the Campaign for Rural England? Particularly common from them at this time of year is the veneration of charities that help families put food on the table at Christmas. Whilst philanthropy is laudable, millions in the UK shouldn’t be reliant on a patchwork of charities to mop up after the Conservative’s failure to feed the country. There are different, intelligent choices available. More than 800,000 children in the UK are living in poverty but are not eligible for free school meals because, cruelly, the threshold for qualification has not increased with inflation. PWC calculated that extending meals to them would generate £1.71 in core economic benefit for every £1 invested – higher than for an increase in Universal Credit. And extending free school meals into the holidays would take the fear out of Christmas for families. I know what Conservatives will say – it’s not the duty of the state to feed people. I agree. The state should be fostering an economy that works for its citizens, providing sufficiently well-paid, secure jobs so that people can feed themselves.

Dorset Labour ALAN CROSS

But the Tories have failed to do that. So here we are. For children in poverty, either the state feeds them, or it forces them to food banks like the one in Sturminster Newton - run by a Tory councillor! Truly, this is the Conservative circular economy. And what of the Lib-Dems? We saw their new columnist last issue brazenly attempt to take credit for the creation of the welfare state. Deary me. What historical revisionism. They had 12 MPs when Labour created the welfare state in the 1945 government. Ms Slade brushes over the more recent fact that her LibDem party voted through round upon round of austerity as part of the 2010-2015 Coalition government, the scars of which are still felt today. Dorset doesn’t forget. I choose to look forward to a brighter future next year. One where – let us dream for a second – the Tories give in to public pressure and call for an election. One which brings in a Labour government with local Labour MPs that don’t leave it to Children in Need to support children in need.

A New Year’s resolution for the planet

This time last year we were optimistic that we had seen the end of Covid-19 and normality was returning. There was a sense the economy would bounce back and although there had been early stories about Downing Street parties during lockdown restrictions we could not have known where it would all lead. The New Year is usually a time to look fondly back and to consider the future but with the triple threat of war on our continent, an energy/ cost of living crisis and the very real impact of the climate emergency it’s a bit different. I have been talking to residents throughout Mid Dorset and North Poole for months and asking how they feel about climate change. Most say that they do not feel the Government is doing enough, and some shared their lifestyle changes to consider the environment. Too many, though, say they have not done anything beyond recycling and some suggested that acting was pointless when more polluting nations have not committed to net zero by 2050. The bizarre decision to develop a coal (coke) mine in Cumbria has further complicated the picture. The suggestion that it wasn’t a problem because the fossil fuel would be exported elsewhere is not only irresponsible but incredibly bad business. As the former Lib Dem leader and Cumbrian MP said ‘its like investing in a Betamax factory’ – something only those of you as old as me would understand! So, is it worth doing the right thing for the environment whilst the Government and other nations get the big things wrong? Of course it is. The word society comes from the Latin socius meaning ‘comrade or ally’ and suggests a way of living that considers other people. While some of the bigger changes require capital investment, lots of the lifestyle

Dorset Lib-Dems VIKKI SLADE

and society changes which benefit the climate will also help the cost-of-living crisis. In fact, many hark back to a simpler day when our grandparents lived with less stuff and a ‘make do and mend’ attitude. Food is a great example. As a child, we only had satsumas as a Christmas treat and strawberries in the summer and weekend walks would lead to us making blackberry and apple crumble in the autumn. I may be remembering with rose-coloured glasses, but I wonder if we appreciated the food more, through having to wait for the season. Reducing food miles, eating seasonally, and growing some of our own has a triple benefit – reducing the environmental impact, saving money, and improving wellbeing and mental health. This seems simple, and I am not advocating giving up all the lovely food we have discovered from around the world. But as a New Year’s Resolution it’s perfect. Whatever changes you make for 2023 don’t set yourself up to fail. Take small steps and once embedded in your life add another one and by this time next year your carbon footprint and your bills should have reduced and your connection with nature increased. Happy New Year!

Plan to return care home to family dwelling

A building converted into a care home in the 1970s could soon return to being a family residence - with the same family that has run it for decades. Stoneleigh House, pictured right, was purchased by the Edbrooke family in 1974 and converted into a care home during the following years. The family continued to live in property alongside the care home for decades. It is currently owned by the daughter of the Edbrookes - who was just 11 when her parents bought the house, on Rowlands Hill - who wishes to retire and bring the building back into use solely as a home. A planning application has been submitted to Dorset Council to change the use of the building back to a private dwelling. The planning application, submitted by Martin Hanham town planning consultant, said: “Once converted, the Edbrooke family had bedrooms in the attic, shared use of the kitchen, and kept some of the principle rooms on the ground floor for family use. “My client continued to live with her parents at Stoneleigh House until 1986, by which time she had completed her nurse training. “After a short spell abroad, of about a year, my client returned to Stoneleigh House.” The application explains how, after getting married, the current owner lived at the property with her husband, where they raised their three children. In 1996, she bought the property from her parents, the applications says. “The current situation is that my client still lives at Stoneleigh House with her new husband,” it said. However, despite currently having seven residents and employing 14 part-time staff, she wishes to retire the business as it would prove difficult for a new operator to take on. The application explained: “The matter is now compounded by the energy crisis and the fact the builkding is old and therefore not energy efficient. “A new owner would have to re-register the home and would have to meet current standards, regulations and modern requirements. “However, the building was built circa the 1860s and the very nature of the building means that it could not meet the current required standards and regulations. “Finally, my client wishes to retire from the business and return Stoneleigh House to the beautiful private dwelling it once was.” The plans are now out for consultation until January 22, before being considered by Dorset Council planners. For more details, and to comment on the scheme, log on to dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and search for application reference P/ FUL/2022/07704.