Salisbury & Avon Gazette - Issue 39

Stars trekkin’ - across the universe...

Well, to a lost city in South America

TREKKING through a tropical rainforest to reach a 1,500-yearold lost city… It sounds like the stuff of childhood adventure stories.

But for a group of intrepid charity fundraisers, it is set to become a reality.

A total of 34 people, aged between 23 and 80, are to set out into a tropical rainforest in Colombia to raise money for a charity 5,000 miles away.

The group is trekking to the Lost City of Teyuna in aid of the Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital’s charity.

Their journey will involve walking for up to 12 hours a day, in around 30C heat and 90% humidity, staying in simple communal bunkhouses.

Then, to finally reach the Lost City, they will have to climb 1,200 ancient stone steps.

Here in the UK, they have been taking on weekend walks of between 10 and 12 miles in a bid to ready themselves for the challenge.

Among them will be threetime cancer survivor Colin Ford, from Salisbury.

“During my treatment, I have had more than my fair share of opportunity to benefit from the many facilities funded by the Stars Appeal,” said Colin, who previously trekked to Petra, in Jordan, in aid of the Stars Appeal in 2022.

“These include CT scanners, MRI scanners, specialist

observation machines and equipment on the Pembroke Suite and Urology Department and the free Wi-Fi and tea and coffee stations on the wards.

“There’s no doubt the work of the charity made the care I’ve received even better.”

He will be joined by first time trekkers, Dr Helena McKeown and her husband Peter Ewing, from Harnham.

GP Helena said: “It’s brilliant to be raising money for the Stars Appeal. I’ve had four children at Salisbury Hospital as well as having emergency procedures and referrals where I’ve received fantastic care. I have a lot to thank them for.”

She said she could have been forced to give up her job as a GP after breaking her finger 10 years ago, when a rare complication left her unable to use her right hand.

“I would have had to retire early,” Helena added. “I have the hospital and their staff at the fracture clinic and occupational therapy to thank for getting my hand working again and enabling me to return to the job I love.”

For Jayne Prigent, from Wilton, owner of JASHAIRGroup, the trip will be her fifth trek for the Stars Appeal and her first time trekking with her daughter, Alice.

They will be trekking as a thank you to the hospital and

Stars Appeal for the care their family has received over the years.

The trekkers set off on April 20. All of them have paid for their own trek costs and together hope to raise more than £50,000 for the Stars Appeal.

The Stars Trekkers and right, Jayne and Alice Prigent

Helen McKeown and Peter Ewing

Crew of lost submarine remembered in special Stonehenge service

IN March 1944, during World War Two, submarine HMS Stonehenge was undertaking its second patrol in the Indian Ocean.

With 50 crew aboard, the S Class P232 vessel was patrolling on the back of the successful sinking of two Japanese ships.

But it – and the crew – were never seen again.

Reported overdue on March 20, 1944, the Stonehenge has never been found.

It is believed the sub probably hit a mine and sunk.

Eight decades later, a charity that supports veterans and other vulnerable homeless people in Wiltshire, organised a special remembrance service at the stone circle.

Staff and supporters of the charity, Alabaré, were joined at Stonehenge by representatives from across the military and civilian communities for a service of prayer and remembrance to mark 80 years since the loss of HMS Stonehenge.

“As a national charity supporting veterans, Alabaré organised this event to commemorate the submarine and are grateful to English Heritage for the opportunity to gather at the iconic site which is the submarine’s namesake,” a spokesperson said.

“We are grateful to Sarah Rose Troughton, Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, for speaking at our event and to The Rt Reverend Stephen Lake, Bishop of Salisbury and Alabaré patron, who led our service of remembrance.

“Our sincere thanks to everyone who joined us today for this poignant event.”

Landmark Salisbury cycle store is on the move

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Hayball

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“With all this new space, we are able to continue our focus on providing a great range of products but with just a little more breathing room,” a spokesperson said.

“We’ll also have an in-store cafe and free on-street parking, meaning getting to us will be easier than ever before.

“We’re looking forward to a great year, and with your support we can make that happen.”

They said all bikes in for servicing will be moved over to the new shop.

“If you are unable to collect your bike as usual, we are more than happy to personally deliver it to you,” they added.

“Please email us to schedule delivery.”

LANDMARK Salisbury shop is on the move – after 99 years.

Cyclesport is leaving its premises in Winchester Street to a new home on the Churchfields Industrial Estate.

will open at the new motorcycle shop on Tuesday, April

Hayball Cyclesport, in Salisbury, is on the move

The lost crew of HMS Stonehenge was remembered during the service Pictures: Alabare

Woman arrested after crash that killed “little angel” Zac, nine

THE heartbroken family of Zac Roe – who tragically died after a crash near East Woodyates – have paid tribute to a “little angel”.

Zac, from Andover in Hampshire, sadly died after an incident on the A354 Salisbury Road at around 5.20pm on Monday, March 25.

His father, Josh, said: “Words cannot describe the pain I’m feeling, my heart is broken. You are my little angel. I love you more than anything in this world, you are my best buddy.”

Zac’s grandfather, Chris Roe, added: “Zac, there are just no words to find. I just want to thank you for the wonderful and fun filled memories we shared on your short journey of your life.

“You were taken too soon, but memories will last us a lifetime.

“We will never stop loving you. Your smile and laughter still echoes around my and everyone’s heart.

“Sweet dreams our little angel.”

A woman was arrested after the crash, which involved a grey Citroen DS9, a white Ford Transit van and a DAF cattle transporter truck.

The woman, in her 30s and from Hampshire, was arrested on suspicion of murder and a driving offence.

She was taken to hospital and remained in police custody on Monday night.

After the crash, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “First and

foremost, our thoughts are with the loved ones of the young boy during this very difficult time.

“A number of initial lines of enquiry have been carried out and detectives are now undertaking an investigation to establish the full circumstances of what happened.

“I would ask any witnesses who have not already spoken to police, or anyone who may have captured relevant dashcam footage, to please come forward.

“Also, I am keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the manner of driving of any of the vehicles involved prior to the incident.

“A detailed scene examination was carried out overnight and I would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding during the road closure.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk, or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55240044571.

Nine-year-old Zac Roe, inset, was tragically killed in a crash on the A354

Gas leak and stuck lorry caused traffic chaos

A GAS leak brought traffic chaos to Salisbury when it forced the closure of a main road.

The leak, on the morning of March 26, saw Devizes Road closed to motorists early in the morning, with drivers facing congestion as they approached.

During the problems, a lorry became stuck in Meadow Road, before eventually navigating its way out and allowing traffic to

flow once more.

Emergency repair work was carried out by gas company, SGN.

During the work, residents were left stranded after the lorry got stuck, with commuters also caught in tailbacks.

The lorry driver who got stuck in Meadow Road said: “I was trying to get up the A360 and I just came to the road closure.

“There were no signs warning me, I just had to turn right and tried to get back to the roundabout.

“It’s ridiculous and I feel bad because all these cars are stuck behind me – but it’s not my fault.”

Paul Wilson, a Meadow Road resident, said: “I’m supposed to be at work early this morning but my van is stuck fast.

“The problem is, a lot of people park on double yellows overnight because there aren’t enough parking spaces and that’s what’s jammed the truck in.

“You can’t really blame the lorry driver, but this is going to disrupt a lot of people’s mornings.”

The road has now fully reopened following work to repair the leak.

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The stuck lorry, left, caused tailbacks around Devizes Road in Salisbury

Wilton man who put a plastic bag over partner’s head is jailed

WILTON man Jason Thorne has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for assaulting a former partner.

The 34-year-old, of The Avenue, appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday (March 26) after pleading guilty to two counts of actual bodily harm and threats to kill.

In March 2018, Thorne hit his victim so hard he knocked out a tooth, and then in December 2022 he put a plastic bag over his victim’s head and threatened to kill her.

As she tried to escape, he punched and kicked her and pulled a large chunk of hair out, causing bruising.

Thorne was sentenced to 43 months in prison, another three years reduced by 10 per cent to run concurrently.

He will remain on license for

a further four years and was given a seven year restraining order.

In a statement read out in court his victim said: “I used to be a happy, outgoing person, but now I am anxious a lot of the time I overthink everything and I miss being how I was before all of this began.”

Jason Thorne has been jailed for threeand-a-half years

feel his aggression and violence was somehow ‘normal’.

“Regular verbal and physical abuse from someone who claims to love you is not normal.

“The courage it took for her to end the relationship and come forward to report what he had put her through should not be underestimated, and I am grateful for her support throughout our investigation.

Local Crime Investigator, Joe Cantillion, said: “Jason Thorne behaved terribly towards this woman over many years, repeatedly assaulting her with the most serious offences knocking out a tooth and putting a plastic bag over her head.

“The repeated assaults and outbursts eventually led her to

“I very much hope that Thorne’s eventual guilty plea and sentence provide her with some comfort and confidence as she continues to build a happier future away from him.”

Wiltshire Police issued the court report with the support of the victim.

People should report nonemergency crime to Wiltshire Police on 101, or 999.

Van theft from car park

POLICE have released images of a van stolen from a New Milton car park in a bid to track down the thieves.

The white Ford Transit tipper was taken from the Wheatsheaf Inn car park, in Christchurch Road, some time between 12.40am and 1.15am on Tuesday, March 5.

“Since this was reported to us, officers have been carrying out various lines of enquiry and would like to appeal for information and witnesses,”

said a Hampshire Police spokesperson.

“We also have images of the van, which has a distinctive reflective stripe down the side of the vehicle. Do you recognise the van? Have you seen it?”

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the vehicle should contact police on 101, quoting reference number 44240095365.

They can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Picture: Wiltshire Police

Arrest after 50 dead animals left outside community shop

A MAN has been arrested in connection with incident in which around 50 dead animals were left outside a shop.

Police were called to Broughton Community Shop, pictured, on the morning of Friday, March 15, after around 50 dead hares, a kestrel and a barn owl were found outside the High Street premises.

Hampshire Police said examinations of the barn owl and kestrel revealed the birds had been shot with a firearm.

Both the kestrel and the barn owl are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, giving them legal protection.

On Thursday (March 28), a 37-year-old man from Totton was arrested on suspicion of; Criminal Damage; night poaching; an offence under the Public Order Act; killing of a Schedule 1 bird; an offence under the Animal Welfare Act; killing of brown hare in the closed season; an offence under the Firearms Act. He remains in police custody. Country Watch Sergeant, Stuart Ross,

said: “Since this incident took place, we have been actively pursuing a number of lines of enquiry and working with partner agencies to establish the circumstances of what happened.

“We are grateful for the help we have received from the local community and we’d like to thank them for their patience

while we investigate what happened.

“There may be some people with information who have not yet come forward, and if so, we would urge them to do so as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting reference number 44240111410.

CCTV in search for missing Lynne

POLICE have released these CCTV images of a missing woman last seen in Salisbury.

The pictures show 69-yearold Lynne on a number 44 bus in the city on Thursday, March 21 – the day she was reported missing.

Officers searching for Lynne said the images have been positively identified by her family.

“It is thought that she got off a number 44 bus in Exeter Street, Salisbury, at 12.52pm on Thursday (March 21) and detectives are now urgently appealing for dashcam footage taken from the Exeter Street area at the time,” a Wiltshire Police spokesperson said.

Supt Liz Coles said: “Lynne has now been missing for a week and her family are extremely worried about her.

“A dedicated team of detectives is actively working to

trace her movements since she was reported missing.

“Today we are urgently appealing for anyone who may have dash cam footage of her leaving the bus in Exeter Street.

“We also need to hear from anyone who may have been on the bus or was in the area at the time. Members of the public can also help by checking their ring doorbell footage and CCTV. Any small piece of information could be vital.

“I also want to make a direct appeal to Lynne, if you are reading this. You should know that your family are very worried about you. They love you and need to know you are safe. Please contact us.”

Lynne was last seen wearing a navy coat, dark trousers and black ankle boots, and was carrying a distinctive light blue bag.

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about her whereabouts should contact police on 999, quoting log 306 of March 22.

Lynne was last seen in Salisbury on March 21, police said

Pictures:Wiltshire Police

£11.4 million secured for new electric buses in Salisbury

THE motor is running on an £11.4 million project to bring 23 electric buses to the streets of Salisbury.

Wiltshire Council and Salisbury Reds have secured funding from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Area) initiative for the scheme.

The two organisations worked in partnership to bid for the funding, and will also be providing their own financial contributions, with the council providing up to £1m from its Salisbury Transport Strategy fund.

The investment not only includes the purchase of the buses, but also the electric charging infrastructure, which will be installed at Salisbury Reds’ depot.

A total of 23 electric buses, which will come into service in 2026, will run on major city routes and surrounding areas, including services to and from Stonehenge and the city’s Park and Ride sites.

Cllr Tamara Reay, cabinet member for transport, said: “It’s fantastic that our partnership with Salisbury Reds has

attracted this huge investment into the city, which will both reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality – two key parts of our business plan.

“We have committed to improving our bus network across the county, and Salisbury, with its many bus routes in the city, is the perfect place to bring the first electric buses to Wiltshire.

“Our officers and colleagues from Salisbury Reds will now work on implementing this plan, starting with the installation of the bus charging infrastructure, and people will start to see these new electric buses in the city from 2026.”

Andrew Wickham, managing director of Salisbury Reds, said: “This is very exciting news, and it will put Salisbury right at the forefront of sustainable transport.

“We are bringing 23 new, all electric, double and single decker buses into our fleet – to join the three we already have –and these are set to arrive in early 2026.

“Each bus will be equipped with tap on, tap off, technology for contactless

payments, USB charging points for all seats, and next stop audio and visual announcements.

“The buses will also have a fully accessible wheelchair ramp, audio loops, dementia-friendly internal colour schemes and CCTV for added security.

“Our Salisbury depot is already equipped to charge our three electric park-and-ride buses, and we will be upgrading the charging infrastructure to accommodate our new fleet.

“All of this will have a significant impact on Salisbury’s overall carbon emissions. It will also improve air quality here.

“The success of this bid is testament to the excellent working relationship we enjoy with Wiltshire Council – and it gives us a wonderful opportunity to make Salisbury’s transport the envy of other areas of the United Kingdom and, indeed, the world.

“All of this also ties in perfectly with our parent company the Go-Ahead Group’s Climate Change Strategy – which has an overarching target to become a net zero carbon business by 2045.”

Fire crews called out after house struck by lightning

A HOUSE was struck by lightning - starting a fire - during storms on Thursday evening.

At around 5.25pm, firefighters were called to a property in George VI Road, Tidworth, after reports lightning had struck the building and “caught the corner of the roof on fire”.

“Our crews from Ludgershall and Amesbury fire stations

attended rapidly and upon arrival discovered that there was a small section of the roof that had be struck by lightning,” a Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said.

“Crews used their thermal imaging camera to check for any hot spots and found there to be no fire spread.”

No one was injured in the incident, it is understood.

Broadband rollout for south Wilts

MORE than 14,000 homes and businesss are set to get super-fast broadband as part of a new rollout.

Wessex Internet has won an £18 million government-funded Project Gigabit contract to roll out connectivity in South Wiltshire.

It will see around 14,500 people able to connect to gigabit broadband in hard-toreach areas in the company’s third Project Gigabit contract.

The investment will see Wessex Internet expand its existing network in the Wylye Valley across the Salisbury Plain, connecting villages surrounding Amesbury to the east and going as far north as Chisbury and Little Bedwyn.

All properties will benefit from full fibre connections, also known as Fibre to the Premise (FTTP), with the fibre optic cable going all the way to the home or business, not just stopping at the cabinet down the road. It means connection speeds can be up to 10Gbps.

Planning for the five-year contract is underway, the company said, with construction due to start in September.

Data and digital infrastructure minister, Julia Lopez, said: “Our record-breaking

Why Calving at 2 is Best for Beef, by Synergy Farm Health’s Vet Vikki Wyse

rollout of gigabit broadband is a game changer, bringing lightning-fast connectivity to the most remote locations previously stuck in the digital slow lane.

“Thanks to our Project Gigabit, thousands of hard-to-reach homes and businesses in Wiltshire will soon have the opportunity to tap into the fastest broadband speeds available, providing endless opportunities to improve lives and grow the economy.”

Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO at Wessex Internet, said: “From entertainment to education, fast, reliable broadband is essential to modern living, and those living and working in rural communities should not be left behind.

“We’re delighted to have been awarded another government contract to extend our

Calving beef cows for the first time at 2 years old is an effective strategy for maximising herd efficiency and reducing costs. The critical factors to consider are:

• Calf health and growth BEFORE weaning

• Growth rates from weaning to first calving

• Nutrition and management AFTER the first calving

Nutrition of growing heifers is critical to ensure that they reach the target weight and frame size ready for bulling. To calve at 2 years old, heifers should be mated at 15 months. They need to reach puberty by 12 months. Only around 65% of heifers reach this target, so there is plenty of room for improvement.

Any calfhood diseases are likely to reduce growth rates, either directly though reduced food intakes, or indirectly through damage to the gut (from scours) or diverting energy to fight infection.

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• Calf health records – we can help determine if your calves are getting the healthy start they need and advise accordingly

• Heifer scoring – we can measure their pelvis diameter (to ensure they have the capacity to calve safely) and repro tract (to determine if they have hit puberty)

• Nutrition and management – we can advise on diet and husbandry to ensure optimal growth rates are achieved.

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network in Wiltshire and bring blisteringfast broadband to thousands more homes and businesses.”

Wessex Internet is already delivering gigabit-capable broadband in North Dorset and the New Forest to around 17,500 rural homes and businesses, funding through Project Gigabit.

Based near Blandford, in Dorset, Wessex Internet has already rolled out its full fibre infrastructure to more than 3,000 properties in Wiltshire, including in East Knoyle and West Knoyle and Corton.

Cllr Ashley O’Neill, cabinet member for broadband at Wiltshire Council, said: “We are delighted that a contract has been awarded to deliver next generation broadband to thousands of homes and businesses in South Wiltshire.

“One of our key priorities is to have well-connected communities. As lightningfast gigabit broadband connections have a profound benefit for local people and businesses, we look forward to working with Wessex Internet to achieve a successful rollout of this scheme and seeing the real difference it can make to people’s lives.”

Heat pumps for hospital

HEAT pumps are set to be installed at Salisbury District Hospital, if plans are approved.

AHP Architects & Surveyors Ltd has submitted a planning application to Wiltshire Council for seven heatt pumps, to provide low-carbon heating for the Odstock Road hospital.

The pumps would be housed in three locations, with two new enclosures built, and three pumps added to the existing energy site, the application said.

Pumps would help the buildings hit the Government’s net zero pledges, it said.

The scheme will now be considered by council planners. See wiltshire.gov. uk, application reference PL/2024/02564.

Man in his 80s killed after van comes off the A303

A MAN in his 80s died after a crash on the A303 on the evening of Thursday, March 28.

The incident happened at around 5pm on the eastbound carriageway between Cholderton and Thruxton.

Police said a Volkswagen Crafter van had left the carriageway.

“The driver, a man in his 80s from Solihull, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been informed,” a spokesperson said.

“Although there is nothing to suggest another vehicle was involved at this stage, officers are trying to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Officers would like to hear from any witnesses who may have seen what happened. If you witnessed the collision, or have any dashcam footage which may assist our investigation, please get in touch.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 and quote the reference number 44240132554, or online via https://www.hampshire.police. uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/ tell-us-about-existing-casereport.

The Army Flying Museum

Immerse yourself in the fascinating story of British Army flying by visiting a local hidden gem. The Army Flying Museum sits adjacent to the Army Air Corps Airfield at Middle Wallop, just 20 minutes from Salisbury, and offers access and affordability to visitors; pay for admission once, and you will receive free entry to the Museum for a whole year.

Two large hangars house the impressive journey of British soldiers in the air from the pioneering days of balloons and kites to the Glider Pilot Regiment landing at Arnhem, right through to modern helicopter operations. Often likened to the Tardis, visitors are frequently met with surprise at the volume of artefacts, medals and over thirty fixed wing and rotary aircraft. Imaginative displays with a clever use of interactives and video provide for fascinating insight into the history of British Army flying.

The ‘Explore the Apache’ interactive display offers visitors the chance to find out everything about this iconic aircraft through films, images, and audio recordings. A special touchscreen allows them to ‘ask’ three soldiers questions about their training and first-hand experiences of flying and working on the Apache. For front row seats of these aircraft in action, look no further than the Museum’s Apache Café. Overlooking the active airfield, and open daily, this is an excellent spot to enjoy a bite to eat or drink, whilst admiring all manner of aircraft. Whether it be an Apache thundering overhead or the Historic Army Aircraft Flight waving at the café and children in the play park below, this is where the action is! Good food, friendly staff, and a great view make this a popular haunt.

The Museum offers a packed event programme and free creative activities for children are also staged at all the school holidays and the Museum has a regular event programme of lectures, concerts and family friendly events.

The Army Flying Museum is open daily from 9am to 4pm.The Museum is easily accessible from the M3 and A303 on the A343 between Salisbury and Andover. The Apache Café is also open daily from 9.00am to 3.30pm. Museum entry is not required to access the café.

The van left the A303 between Cholderton and Thruxton Picture: Google

Fisherton Gateway work almost finished

PARTS of the work to improve the Fisherton Gateway in Salisbury are nearly finished.

Area B, between Summerlock Approach and Malthouse Lane and Area C, between Fisherton Bridge and Summerlock Approach, are all substantially complete.

Once remedial works to the grouting have been completed over the next few weeks, the areas will be opened to pedestrians, Wiltshire Council said. Traffic will continue to follow the one-way system from the junction of South Western Road and Fisherton Street to the junction of Fisherton Street and Minster Street.

The scope of works in Area A has been amended to accommodate the fencing around the new hotel site, which blocks part of the highway, preventing the original scope of works from being carried out.

Works in Area D, between Water Lane and Salisbury UR

Church, are continuing and will finish in June. Upon completion of Area D, work will continue heading towards the railway bridge. Upon completion of Area C, work will continue on the other side of Fisherton Street, in the direction of South Western Road.

In the coming months, the section of Fisherton Street under the railway bridge and South Western Road will be under two-way temporary traffic lights during the construction of the footpath in those areas. Throughout the remaining period of the work, the one-way system will remain in operation, with the ‘live’ through-traffic

lane moving lanes as works progress through the sections.

In general, traffic will flow on the far side of the carriageway from the works.

Cllr Nick Holder, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for highways, Street Scene and flooding, said: “We are nearing a key milestone where one side of Fisherton Street will be finished with the exception of the Malthouse Lane junction which will be completed later in the summer.

“As we move to work on South Western Road and the other side of Fisherton Street, Milestone will continue to liaise with those businesses closest to the works to ensure their customers have access to their premises and deliveries can be made. Fisherton Street is very much open for business.

“There’s no doubt about it, this has been a challenging scheme. We’ve had unchartered and shallow utility services

which in some cases have been so close to the kerb line, an adjustment to the design was needed or a change to the methodology was required as it was not safe to use the excavator as extensively as originally planned. As well as several gas leaks from ageing infrastructure, the on-site team have also had to wait for utility companies to either remove pipes which are no longer required or to move their assets so work can continue.

“We are currently still aiming for a summer completion, although it’s likely to be towards the end of the summer subject to encountering any further utility challenges.

“We apologise for the disruption and are unable to accelerate the programme of works as this would involve closing off parts of Fisherton Street causing a greater impact on traffic, businesses and local people in the area.”

Beards allowed!

STROKE your chin – beards are welcome in the Army – so long as they are well kept.

The move, which came after a change in directives, means soldiers and officers can now sport beards and moustaches.

However, the facial hair must be neat, properly groomed and will be routinely checked.

The Army is the last of the armed forces to allow facial hair, following the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

It has been welcomed by MP Andrew Murrison (Con, South West Wiltshire) –himself a Royal Navy veteran and reservist, as well as Minister for Defence People.

Dr Murrison, whose constituency includes the garrison town of Warminster, said: “Beards are much more common these days among young men who may be thinking of joining the Army than a generation ago. Facial hair may be a small thing, but I don’t want any good people being put off the Army by unnecessary rules.

“Potential reservists in particular may wonder why they would have to be clean shaven 365 days a year when they are on duty for just five weeks.”

Police trace women after Co-op thefts

POLICE are keen to trace these people after household products worth around £80 were stolen from a Fordingbridge shop.

The thefts occurred at the Co-op, in the High Street, between 12.25pm and 1.05pm on Friday, March 15.

Police have released a CCTV image of people they would like to trace, as well as another man not pictured, in connection with the incident.

The first woman is described as: Aged around 25; around 5ft 5ins tall; blonde hair. She was wearing a white top, cream trousers, white sliders and carrying a blue shopping bag.

The second woman is described as: Around 25 years old; around 5ft 5ins tall, with brown hair.

She was wearing a grey jumper, grey leggings and white sliders.

“We believe the women in this image

Wednesday 17th April

can help us with our investigation and would urge them, or anyone who knows their identity, to get in touch with us,” a Hampshire Police spokesperson said.

“Also, if you have information about this incident, saw anything suspicious in the area at the time, or have any CCTV, mobile phone, dash cam or doorbell camera footage which could aid our investigation, please contact us.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 44240112549.

To win a pair of BRAX Trousers

Biker who filmed himself fleeing police banned from the roads for a year

A BIKER who filmed himseelf as he fled police and pulled wheelies n front of officers has been banned from driving.

Damion Cregan, of Cambridge Hill, Larkhill, has been disqualified from driving for a year after an incident near Bulford in April last year.

The 23-year-old appeared at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Thursday (March 28), where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

The incident unfolded at around 11.40am on April 15, 2023, when a motorcyclistwhich later was identified as Cregan - failed to stop for officers and filmed himself driving away from officers.

Cregan was disqualified from driving for 12 months, ordered to have an extended test, ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work, pay £85 costs and £114 surcharge.

PC Mike Hanscomb from the Road Policing Unit said: “When on patrol we were overtaken by a motorcyclist, who did

not have a number plate.

“When we asked him to pull over and stop he did not and started to do wheelies in front of the marked police car. The driver also started to film himself while driving at speed in a 30mph zone.

“This kind of behaviour is totally

unacceptable and put the public at great danger. Speed and dangerous driving are some of the fatal five driving offences that we are targeting.

“They are offences most likely to contribute to death and serious injury on the roads.”

Damion Cregan, right, filmed himself fleeing police officers in Larkhill

Pictures: Wiltshire Police

Check if your children are eligible for free school meals in early years

FAMILIES are being urged to check if their children are eligible for free, healthy lunchtime school meals.

Meals are available for selected youngsters in reception and years one and two, as well as in years three and above in some cases.

The initiative helps to save families around £350 per year.

All infant school children,

those in reception, year one and year two, have been entitled to free school meals since September 2014.

All families need to do is tell their school that they want their child or children to continue to have free school meals.

If families are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, their school will also receive a pupil premium of £1,385 per pupil.

The funding is provided to all schools by the government to enable schools to help children from lower income families achieve.

For children in years three and above, free school meals are not provided automatically, they can be awarded if the family receive any of the following benefits: Income support; Job seeker’s allowance (income-based); Employment and support allowance (incomerelated); support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit; Child tax credit - providing they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and your family’s annual income (as assessed by HMRC) is not more than £16,190 (as of 6 April 2012); Working tax credit ‘run-on’ - the payment you may receive for a further four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit; Universal credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods).

If a family receives these benefits, their school will also continue to receive the pupil premium of £1,385 per pupil.

If a family that receives these benefits would still like their school to benefit from the extra funding provided but does not want their child to have free school meals, they must still register for free school meals.

For every child registered, the school receives £985 for secondary-aged pupils or £1,385 for primary-aged pupils.

Laura Mayes, cabinet member for education and skills, said: “Free school meals ensure that all children can benefit from a healthy meal at lunchtime, and also provides schools with additional funding to support children from lower income families to achieve their full potential.

“Free school meals are available for all children from reception until year two, and I would encourage all families to check if they are eligible to continue receiving free school meals from year three as this can represent a saving of more than £350 per year.

“If children are eligible to continue to receive free school meals, their school will also continue to receive the premium of either £985 or £1,385 extra per eligible pupil, which really helps schools to ensure all children have the best start.”

Free school meal applications for all primary schools are managed by Wiltshire Council.

However, a small number of secondary schools manage their own applications and will advise parents on their process.

These schools are:

n Bishop Wordsorth’s Grammar School

n Bradon Forest School

n Salisbury Sixth Form College

n South Wilts Grammar School for Girls

n St John’s School Marlborough Registering for free school meals is confidential and will not affect any other benefits they are claiming. Apply online at https://parentportal.wiltshire. gov.uk/web/portal/pages/home, or by printing and returning the form at https://www.wiltshire. gov.uk/article/1669/free-schoolmeals.

CCTV appeal after alleged sex assault outside shop

DO you recognise this person? Police are keen to trace them in connection with an inquiry into a sexual assault in Lymington.

A woman in her 20s was touched inappropriately outside Boots Opticians at the top of Lymington High Street at around 10.30am on Monday, March 18, and police are keen to trace a person caught on CCTV.

It was reported that her hair, hand and shoulders were touched in an inappropriate way without her consent.

“Moments later, she boarded a bus and the man followed her,” a Hampshire Police spokesperson said. “The woman was also inappropriately touched during the bus journey. No injuries were reported.

“Since this was reported to us, officers have launched an

investigation and would like to speak with potential witnesses.

“Were you in the area at the time? Did you witness any suspicious behaviour? Do you recognise the man in the CCTV image?”

The person in the image is described as being aged between 25 and 35, 5ft 7ins tall, of average build with short black hair and facial hair. He was wearing a grey hoodie, blue jeans and grey and white trainers.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting reference number 44240115997. They can also report any information online at https://www.hampshire. police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/ cor/tell-us-about-existingcase-report, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Shield your home from Care Costs & Inheritance Tax with a Living Trust.

How a Living Trust protects your estate:

1. Care Costs:

Placing your main home into a living trust can ring fence the property from any potential future care costs. Thus, protecting your inheritance.

2. Asset Protection:

By transferring ownership of your home and other assets to a living trust, can help protect them from creditors, divorce & remarriage, and other potential claims, including care costs.

3. Inheritance Tax Planning:

A living trust can be part of an estate planning strategy to minimize inheritance tax liability. By placing assets into a trust, they can be excluded from your taxable estate upon your passing, potentially reducing the amount of inheritance tax your beneficiaries would owe.

4. Revocable Nature:

One of the advantages of a living trust is that it is revocable, meaning you can make changes to the trust or even revoke it entirely during your lifetime. This flexibility allows you to adapt to changing circumstances or wishes.

5. Trust Administration:

When you establish a living trust, you typically designate yourself as the trustee, thus maintaining control over the assets and allowing you to continue using and managing them as you did before. Should you move home the trust stays in place and protects your new residence. The effectiveness of a living trust in achieving your specific goals will depend on your individual circumstances. Oakwood Wills offer a free consultation in the privacy of our own home.

Tel 07832 331594, email: info@oakwoodwills.co.uk.

Police are keen to identify this person

Picture: Hampshire Police

The Salisbury venue highlighting the plight of the social club in a cost-ofliving crisis and tough times...

“IT’S as important to have places when times are hard as it is to have places to celebrate, what our club is for many people.”

But one Salisbury social club that’s been at the heart of the community for decades could face closure.

Stratford Social Club is battling rising costs and falling membership as it bids to stay open.

The venue, complete with iconic high ceilings, bar, pool room, vault darts and community space, is a social hub for residents.

But its 170 members are simply not enough to keep the lights on and the doors open, the management committee says, and is appealing for hirers, members and new people on the volunteer committee to keep it running.

Salisbury City Council owns the club’s Chatham Close home, letting it for free as part of the Rent Reduction Community Impact Scheme.

Chair of the committee, Carl Doran, said: “This is a fantastic facility, run by an amazing but increasingly small group of volunteers.

“We need to shout out for hirers and members and say if we don’t use it, we will lose it.”

Dolly Burnett, a committee mmber for more than 25 years, said: “We have been the venue for a number of community events over the last few months and it’s as important to have places when times are hard as it is to have places to celebrate, what our club is for many people.

“We have celebrated new year, hosted darts tournaments and the monthly Mencap Disco and also been the venue for wakes and memorials.

“We just want to share our spaces with more people and sadly we have whole days in the week where the club is empty.

“Surely someone out there needs this space?”

Finances are tight at the club, which is looking for groups and organisations who would like to share and use their spaces, be that for individual groups or sessions or as a long-term partner in the facility.

City Councilor John Wells (Lab, St Francis and Stratford) has been supporting the club’s committee over the past six months.

He said: “If you live locally and have a skill like social media, creating flyers, or would like to put on an event you need only give a few hours a month to the committee, and it could make all the difference.”

Chair Carl added: “If nothing else, become a member. It only costs between £5 and £15 a year. Just that membership fee makes a huge difference to us, and you will always be welcome at the club for a cheeky pint at a very friendly price.”

Mr Doran has also been hiring the basement of the club for his own business, The Happy Fruiter, since the pandemic, with that rent being a lifeline for the club.

But with all options on the table, and business changes for Mr Doran, the club are also open to hearing from other businesses who may wish to sub-let the premises.

Anyone interested in membership or hire of the club can visit their Facebook page or email the chair of the committee at carldoran1@virginmedia.com.

Community groups or others interested in full day or multiple day use of the facilities can contact the City Council Communities Team at bhc@ salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk.

Cllr John Wells, left, with chair of the committee Carl Doran at Stratford Social Club

Health firm based at Shrewton home

A RENOWNED nutritionist and naturopath has applied for planning guidance on whether their business represents a ‘change of use’ at their home.

Lucinda Miller, pictured, is the founder of NatureDoc, an online naturopathic practice, which also has an online shop running from Maddington Manor, in Shrewton.

Planning firm RTPI has applied to Wiltshire Council, on behalf of Christopher Miller, to confirm the use of the premises for the business does not constitute a ‘material change of use’ and does not require planning permission.

The application also details that, due to running from the house for a “substantial period of time”, the use has become lawful regardless.

“The application property is a substantial, eight-bedroomed dwelling and the current occupants comprise a five-

person family,” it said.

“This is a large, transient family unit, with the applicant’s daughter currently away attending university and the applicant’s son attending a boarding school throughout the year,” the application said.

“As such, not all of the eight bedrooms are utilised. However, the maximum occupation of the property could result in a considerable number of comings and goinf to and from the site, together with a number of parked vehicles on

hardstanding to the front and side of the dwelling.

“Such movements include those from individuals employed for cleaning and gardening services at the site.”

The application said the virtual clinic and eCommerce business had run from the house since 2006, initially as a sole trader.

“At present, the business operates as a virtual clinic, acting, among other things, as an online hub for therapists who work independently and remotely,” it went on. “They rarely, if ever, visit the application property.

“A key part of the business is simply the management of the diaries of these remotelyworking therapists.”

In 2017, the firm launched an

online shop, with a “limited amount of stock”, typically food supplements, held on site.

“This stock is delivered several times per week in small vans by couriers such as DPD, UPS and DHL,” the application said.

“There are also collections and deliveries from Royal Mail, but this is activity which would have taken place regardless.”

The business use is “inconsequential to the main ise as a dwellinghouse and is simply incidental/ancillary to it”, it said.

“Moreover, the operation of this small-scale online business does not change the domestic character of the large property or th wider village setting,” the submission concluded.

The application will now be considered by council planners. For more details, log on to wiltshire.gov.uk and search for reference PL/2024/02106.

Halfway House Harriers defend league title - with a game to spare

HALFWAY House Harriers FC have defended their league title – with a game in hand.

The side topped the Salisbury & District Football League for the second year running.

And, having secured the league title with a game in hand, Halfway finished the season in style in their final

fixture – an emphatic 4-0 win against league new entrants, Gazz FC 1st.

Halfway manager, Ryan Bennett, said: “This season has been has been really competitive, with some great teams all hopeful of the winning the league.

“We only dropped five points

all season, which is a great effort and I am delighted for my lads that we have been able to defend our title.”

But he said the team could not yet relax – with two cup ties fast approaching.

“Our season is not over yet,” Ryan added. “We have two cup semi finals coming up and our

aim is to go all the way.”

The Salisbury and District Football League culminates in the Chalke Valley Cup, Charity B cup and the Oliver Pidgley invitational cup finals, which are all to be hosted by Laverstock and Ford FC on April 21 and 28.

Chair of the league, Tony Welsh, said: “I would like to congratulate Halfway House Harriers on their league success.

“Competition was fierce this year and it was great to see so many teams still being in with a chance of a league title so late into the season.

“This year has been very successful thanks to the teams competing in our competitions, our matchday officials and our league committee members.

“We have big plans to grow the league next year and have already been approached by two additional teams looking to join.”

Anyone interested in forming a new team, or bringing an existing team to the league, can get in touch with the Salisbury & District League by email to saldflsecretary@gmail.com.

off the trophy after another successful season

Halfway House Harriers have secured another league title - with a game to spare

Reviving your garden and revitalizing your outdoor space is essential for creating a sanctuary of tranquility and beauty. Whether through updating furniture or adding vibrant plants these enhancements not only elevate the aesthetic appeal but also promote relaxation and well-being.

By breathing new life into your garden, you transform it into a haven where you can reconnect with nature, entertain guests, and find solace amidst the beauty of your surroundings.

Your Local Gardening Services

Our gardening services business is named after the springbok. Just like the creature we’re named after, we’re light on our feet and love getting rid of grass, leaves and other green stuff around your garden!

We established our business in the gardening industry with the objective of providing a crucial service to both homeowners and commercial clients in Salisbury, Amesbury, and the surrounding areas. Our regular gardening services include mowing the lawn, hedge cutting, pruning, and tidying up. We also provide pressure washing and emergency gardening assistance. Our services can be booked as a one-off or a subscription service — weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. We love what we do, so you can contact us for any job, big or small.

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Our gardening services business is named after the springbok, a quirky little antelope whose home is on the African savannah. Just like the creature, we’re light on our feet!

Elevate Your Outdoor Living Experience with Our Bespoke Designs and Handcrafted Creations!

PM Services is dedicated to supplying the best in bespoke landscaping, timber builds and groundworks in Salisbury and surrounding areas. Quality and longevity are what we strive for, we are passionate about using the finest materials, tailored to each customer’s unique vision.

A landscaped garden offers countless benefits beyond aesthetics. It extends the living space of a home, creating inviting areas for relaxation, entertainment, and leisure activities. With years of experience and a commitment to excellence, we bring creativity, skill, and attention to detail to every project. Crafted with care and precision, our timber structures—whether it’s pergolas, gazebos, or outdoor kitchens —add a touch of natural beauty and charm to any landscape. In a bustling era dominated by mass production, there’s something truly special about handcrafted treasures. Ask us about our 3D design service to help curate your new garden space.

TRUST BROADVIEW TO CREATE THE WOW FACTOR IN YOUR HOME

As we look ahead to the warmer months, we’ll soon be turning our attention to our gardens and the prospect of spending more time outdoors.

Whether that’s simply relaxing or entertaining friends and family, our gardens are a focal point, particularly in the Spring and Summer months.

What better way to make the most of your time outdoors, than by creating an outdoor living environment with Broadview thanks to their louvred roof pergola systems and garden awnings.

With one of the largest ranges of outdoor living systems in the South and manufactured by the Belgium based industry leading brand Brustor, every system from Broadview can be custom designed to fit your property.

Outdoor pergolas with rotating and retracting roofs operated by remote or app control, along with weatherproof side screens and heaters can effectively create an extra indoor room, outdoors!

Alongside of this, it’s not just the structure alone that Broadview can provide. Their specialist design-team work alongside a wide range of suppliers across the South who offer outdoor kitchens, hot tubs, fire pits and garden landscaping– all of which can help to create a stunning outdoor living environment that can be used all year round.

No more leaving guests outside to entertain themselves while you nip back into the kitchen to prepare the next course or organise the next round of drinks, with an outdoor kitchen positioned within your new outdoor structure, you really can make the most of entertaining this year. What’s more, thanks to either sliding glass walls or integrated screens, the structure can be completely enclosed and with the great addition of heating and lighting, it can be used in all twelve months of the year. As the temperature drops, simply slide the glass shut and you can create a cosy and sheltered area within your garden, protected from the elements. Or, in warmer weather, all you need to do to make the most of the sunshine is

open the roof and side screens for the perfect al-fresco space. As well as their range of pergolas, Broadview also offer fully cassetted retractable awnings that can be installed to your property for added shade.

Broadview has an extensive range of awning models to choose from, each with their own features and all can be operated by either Somfy remote control or a manual crank handle.

Made with a beautifully crafted aluminium frame of superior quality and a weather-resistant fabric cover, the awnings provide stylish shading for your sunny patio. Available in any RAL colour and with the addition of LEDs and heating, Broadview has the perfect solution for you.

And it’s not just Broadview’s range of outdoor shading solutions that can offer shield from the Summer’s sun and glare; they have an innovative range of internal window coverings from motorised blinds to plantation shutters and also specialise in solutions for large-shaped windows including apex and gable end windows, to roof lanterns.

Many homeowners think that their complex shaped windows prevent them from being covered with a blind, but worry not, you can still enjoy the beauty of an apex window with the coverage of a seamlessly fitted shade. Available in an endless range of colours and materials, along with robust, colour matching hardware and cutting-edge technology, Broadview’s bespoke blinds will allow ample natural light to flood into your home but offer shade when you need it. Now is the perfect time to give your indoor and outdoor space a makeover.

Broadview Shading Solutions, a family run business based in Dorset, are celebrating 55 years in business this year.

Their expert team specialises in helping you to create the perfect shading solution for your home, from concept to completion. Contact our team today 01202 679012 or visit their website: www.broadview.co.uk

More SEND places at new free school

MORE school places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will be available in Wiltshire after it was confirmed a new free school will open in the county.

The new school, for 130 pupils, will provide specialist provision for pupils aged four to 19 years with social emotional and mental health needs (SEMH).

It will be located at Bitham Park, Westbury, subject to completion of feasibility studies and planning permissions, Wiltshire Council said.

It will be run by Brunel Academies Trust, which runs several schools in Wiltshire and Swindon.

Wiltshire Council successfully bid to the Department for Education (DfE) to build a new school in the Westbury area to help meet the need for more special school places in West Wiltshire.

The school could be opened by Autumn 2026.

Cllr Jane Davies, cabinet member for SEND, said: “This is welcome news and ensures our long-term ambition to create sufficient special school places across Wiltshire takes an important step forward.

“We are committed to ensuring we have sufficient spaces with opportunities for all children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to ensure they have schooling that provides them with the very best opportunities to learn.”

Cllr Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I am delighted we’ve appointed an education provider with a proven track record and that can ensure a good quality of learning for our children and young people.”

Jackie Fieldwick MBE, CEO of the Brunel Academies Trust, added: “This is certainly an exciting opportunity for Wiltshire and Brunel.”

Petrol station break-in

Police are appealing for information after a break-in at the High Post Filling Station, on Amesbury Road, at just after 11.30pm on the night of Monday, March 18.

“Enquiries are ongoing with

our Burglary Team and we would urge anyone with information to get in touch,” a Wiltshire Police spokesperson said.

“If you can help, please call 101 and quote crime reference number 54240031560.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Events

Award-winning writer and trail designer to give talk in Salisbury

AWARD-winning writer, broadcaster and trail designer Leon McCarron is set to give a talk at Arundells.

Hailing from Northern Ireland, Leon has won numerous awards for his travel books, is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a fellow of the Abraham Path Initiative, the Philadelphia Geographical Society’s Explorer of the Year for 2022, and known for long-distance expeditions and immersive multimedia storytelling.

He has walked across China, crossed the Empty Quarter desert on foot, kayaked along Iran’s longest river, and ridden on horseback across Argentine Patagonia.

His most recent journey took him along the full length of the river Tigris and in the past decade, he has travelled more than 30,000 miles by human power, and is currently based between Iraq and Ireland.

Leon, pictured, is the author of three books. His most recent, Wounded Tigris: A River Journey Through the Cradle of Civilisation, was a Sunday Times Book of the Week, New Statesman Book of the Year, and is shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year Award. He has bylines in Smithsonian, National Geographic, New Scientist, Noema and Geo. Previous books have been

Down ton Bowlin g Club

Why not join us for a roll up at 2pm every Monday or 6pm every Friday throughout the season* from 15th April?

All equipment & tuition provide d.

Downton Bowling Club

Wick Lane, Downton, SP5 3NF

Contact: Mike 01725 513359

email: info@downtonbc.co.uk

web: downtonbc.co.uk or facebook.com/downtonbc/

A warm welcome awaits you.

* excluding Bank Holidays

shortlisted for the Banff Mountain Book Festival award, and his journalism has won the gold medal in environmental reporting from the American Society of Travel Writers.

alongside a new exhibition, we’ll be featuring events related to the theme of travel and exploration,” a spokesperson said.

His TV shows have aired on National Geographic, Discovery Channel and the BBC, and he has lectured all over the world to schools, businesses and societies. Leon has 10+ years of experience in trail design and development, with a particular focus on the Middle East, Central Asia and China. He is the co-founder of the Zagros Mountain Trail in Iraq.

“This talk is part of Arundells’ Travels Season,

Travels: People and Places will explore how Edward Heath’s passion for travel shaped the eclectic collection at Arundells.

Displays in the house and The Studio will shed new light on collection highlights and objects not usually on show.

Tickets for the Leon McCarron talk cost £15, and the show starts at 7.30pm on May 8. For more details, and to book, log on to arundells.org/ events/leonmccarron.

Downton Bowling Club is seeking new bowling members

Downton Bowling Club is seeking new bowling members, of all ages both those new to bowls and those with existing experience, to join a small friendly Club for the coming 2024 outdoor bowling season.

The Club is based in Wick Lane, Downton with its own bowling green, but forming part of the Brian Whitehead Sports Centre. Members of the Bowling Club are automatically Members, and can enjoy, the facilities of the Brian Whitehead Social Club. Lawn bowls is an enjoyable, rewarding and social way to whole body outdoor exercise, in a gentle manner, with others having a similar interest.

As a Club we offer coaching and social bowls for new and less experienced bowlers and equipment can be provided. For more experienced bowlers who are seeking competitive matches the Club has ladies and gents teams playing in the New Forest Leagues and has two mixed teams playing in the Bournemouth and District Saturday morning triples league and a team playing mid- week in the local Mixed Triples League. As new and less experienced bowlers gain experience there will be progression to the Leagues if they wish.

During the winter months the Club organizes weekly short mat bowls sessions in the afternoon and fortnightly coffee mornings to enable Members to keep in touch. Other social functions are arranged throughout the year.

In addition to Monday afternoon and Friday evening sessions referred to in the Advert the Club are holding the following open sessions, which are free and will include refreshments equipment and tuition.

• 2-00 pm to 4-00pm Saturday 11th May

• 2-00 pm to 4-00pm Sunday 12th May

• 5-30pm to 7-00pm Friday 24th May

• 2-00pm to 4-00 pm Sunday 26th May

If you wish to have a go outside of the above open days please telephone Alan Waters on 01725 512531 to arrange a convenient time and date.

Bag a bargain as Car Boot Sundays to return to city centre this month

CAR Boot Sundays are returning to Salisbury this month.

The sales, in the Market Place, will take place on every third Sunday of the month from Sunday, April 21, until Sunday, September 15.

The sale will take a break in June due to Salisbury Motor Show.

Car boot Sundays give people the chance to sell their pre-loved items in in the city centre, opening to sellers from 7am and to buyers from 9am, until 1pm.

“Buyers can enter for free to bag a bargain making someone’s old, your new,” a Salisbury City Council spokesperson said.

“It costs just £5 per car on the day for sellers and £10 for vans or cars with trailers.

“Don’t worry about booking; just turn up on the day to be allocated your spot on the Market Place.

“The car boot is on a paved surface in the centre of town, perfect for all weather conditions.

“There will also be a food vendor providing food and drink to enjoy while shopping.”

12th Avon & Bourne Valley Art Exhibition

Saturday / Sunday May 11th / 12th

11.00 am - 5.00 pm

FIGHELDEAN VILLAGE HALL

The first and last Car Boot Sales of the year will be running alongside The Salisbury Teenage Market, which give young entrepreneurs the chance to showcase their skills and business ideas.

Anyone aged between 13 and 21 (up to 25 for SEND) can sell or perform at the sales.

Guildhall to host craft and gift market next month

A CRAFT and gift market will be returning to Salisbury for its 12th year next month.

The event, which is free to enter, will run at the Guildhall, in Market Square, on May 4 and 5, open from 10am until 4pm.

“Back for our 12th Year with many quality stalls providing those unique bespoke products that you won’t find elsewhere,” a spokesperson said.

“The events are always well attended, attracting many thousands of visitors throughout the year.

“Located in central Salisbury, in the Banqueting Hall of Salisbury Guildhall, these events provide a quality and unique shopping experience well protected from the British weather.”

Organisers promise a “host of locally-based crafts people, as well as those from a little further away, creating quality products for you to enjoy and purchase”.

“Products have ranged from jewellery to dinosaur-themed products, from signed books to framed art and photography,” they added.

“A wealth of different products which varies with every event.”

(Just off A345 between Durrington & Netheravon). Now firmly established as an important venue for all up and coming Artists looking for a well organised and professional alternative to show their works- with over 160 Exhibits on view in 2023, 31 original sales plus many prints and over 300 visitors.

2024

For more information on Salisbury Teenage Market, visit https://bit. ly/49QDAJt.

The dates of Car Boot Sundays are:

April 21

May 19

July 21

August 18

September 15

Avon & Bourne Valley Art Exhibition

Established 14 years ago by 3 keen local artists, this venue helps, mainly those isolated amateur artists of Salisbury Plain, by giving them a non-judgemental platform to show their work. Located in Figheldean (SATNAV the Village Hall at SP4 8JR)” Open to the public with Free Admission - light refreshments are available. Run on a totally non-profit basis, this year we are again supporting ‘Salisbury District Hospital Charity Star’s Appeal’. For full details of how to enter, please e-mail trevorwoodbridge_5@ outlook.com (01980 / 670153) or richardhorner008@icloud.com (01980 / 670626).

Best in Show 2023 winner, Gary Peerless voted by the general public.

12th Avon & Bourne Valley Art Exhibition

Saturday / Sunday May 11th / 12th 2024

11.00 am - 5.00 pm

FIGHELDEAN VILLAGE HALL

(Just off A345 between Durrington & Netheravon). Now firmly established as an important venue for all up and coming Artists looking for a well organised and professional alternative to show their works- with over 160 Exhibits on view in 2023, 31 original sales plus many prints and over 300 visitors.

Avon & Bourne Valley Art Exhibition

Wiltshire Council cabinet member stands down due to family illness

A MEMBER of the top team at Wiltshire Council has stood down due to a family illness.

Cllr Caroline Thomas, cabinet member for transport, Street Scene and flooding, has resigned from her role, prompting a reshuffle of the team.

Council leader, Cllr Richard Clewer, thanked Cllr Thomas for her hard work and commitment after it was confirmed she has stepped down due to “family illness making it very difficult to fulfil her role”.

Cllr Thomas said she had taken the decision with a “heavy heart”.

“During my time as cabinet member for transport, Street Scene and flooding, I am very proud of our achievements –increasing funding for potholes and resurfacing, gully clearance, white lining, road signage and litter; investing in camera technology and enforcement across Wiltshire to clean up the county and catch offenders,” she said.

“I am also particularly proud of our award-winning fly-tipping campaign which has seen rates across the county fall and an increase in prosecutions.

“We have secured significant grant funding for Active Travel, maintaining bus services and adding Demand Responsive Transport.

“The depot strategy is now off the ground and the fourth Local Transport Plan is under development.

“I am pleased I was also able to support the Western Gateway Sub National Transport Body produce their first Strategic Transport Plan.

“I’d like to thank all officers for their hard work and support during my term.

“There are very few circumstances in

which I could have envisaged resigning voluntarily from my role but as we all know, family must come first.

“I look forward to continuing to work hard for the residents of Marlborough East from the backbenches and securing the best outcomes for Marlborough and Wiltshire.”

Cllr Clewer added: “I want to thank Cllr Thomas for her service and great commitment to her role throughout her time on cabinet and I wish her well for the future.

“Caroline has worked tremendously hard with officers and other cabinet members to ensure we have been able to progress a number of our business plan priorities and deliver the best outcomes for residents and businesses across Wiltshire.

“Cllr Dominic Muns and Cllr Tamara Reay will be joining cabinet and I look

forward to welcoming them in their new roles.”

n The reshuffle sees the following changes in the cabinet:

Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways, Street Scene and Flooding

Cllr Dominic Muns, Cabinet Member for Waste and Environment

Cllr Tamara Reay, Cabinet Member for Transport and Assets

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Leisure, Libraries and Communities

Cllr Nabil Najjar, Portfolio Holder for Education and Skills

Cllr Richard Rogers, Portfolio Holder for Highways

Cllr Sven Hocking, Portfolio Holder for Arts, Heritage and Tourism

Council initiatives shortlisted for prestigious awards

WILTSHIRE Council has been announced as a finalist in three categories at the 2024 Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards.

The council has been shortlisted for Best Transport Decarbonisation Project, Community Engagement, and Senior Leadership Team, in the awards which recognise the organisations, projects and people making the biggest impact in local government across the UK.

In the Best Transport Decarbonisation Project category, the Wiltshire Connect service, which offers a flexible and bookable bus service to rural communities, has been shortlisted.

The Prevention and Wellbeing team has been shortlisted in the Community Engagement category for its innovative approach to prevention. And the council’s corporate leadership team has also

been shortlisted for its high performance and leadership model.

Cllr Richard Clewer, leader at the council, said: “Wiltshire Council leads the way in providing modern and evidence-led preventative services and being shortlisted for these awards, which acknowledge the tremendous effort of local authorities to support communities and overcome challenges, is recognition of the substantial progress we’ve made so far.

“There’s never been a more challenging time in local government but these awards provide a platform to showcase the important work being undertaken across the services we deliver, and to inspire and be inspired by the innovative approaches taken by other local authorities.”

Winners will be announced on June 21.

Politics

Running out clock on water scandal

AS the weather improves and the land dries out, more of us will no doubt start walking and running alongside our lovely rivers.

How many of us, however, will hesitate before actually getting into the water?

I was shocked to read this week that there has been an 89% increase in sewage dumps by Wessex Water in the last year.

New figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Wessex Water, which covers Salisbury and South Wiltshire, discharged sewage a staggering 41,453 times last year, a 89% rise compared to in 2022.

Looking closer at the Environment Agency’s data, the Wastewater Treatment Works at Hurdcott have spilt 253 times into the River Bourne, for almost 4,000 hours, while at Great Wishford there have been 122 spills into the River Wylye

and 122 spills into the Nadder at Barford St Martin.

A year ago, this paper ran a story about Wessex Water outlining plans to triple investment to tackle storm overflows and yet there has been a 187% increase in the hours sewage has been spilt into our rivers.

Again, a year ago, our Conservative MP stated “The government has put out some critically strong signals to the

Victoria Charleston

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson for Salisbury constituency

industry recently and some pretty hard targets for them to meet … You won’t expect these things to be solved overnight but we’ve got to continue to be very, very clear that high standards are expected in our water supply.”

For over two years my party has called for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers and on beaches, including replacing Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation

Authority, with a tougher regulator.

We have also called for a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into our waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis, including Salisbury’s Conservative MP.

It is a complete scandal that sewage is being pumped into our rivers and waterways.

Our communities should not be forced to put up with this any longer yet time and again this Conservative government has voted against tougher action on sewage dumping.

Like many of the pressing crises facing us, NHS waiting lists, the economy, the climate, it feels like this Conservative Government is simply running down the clock until they can pass the buck.

‘£100,000 a year is not that much!’

NEXT time you are confronted with a huge gas or electricity bill, or are surprised how much your weekly shopping at the local supermarket costs, spare a thought for the poor residents in Jeremy Hunt’s South-West Surrey constituency having to make ends meet on a measly 100 grand a year!

Now, before you start feeling hard done by in your own circumstances, you need to understand as the Chancellor pointed out this week.

“What sounds like a large salary – when you have house prices averaging around £670,000 in my area and you’ve got a mortgage and childcare costs – it doesn’t go as far as you might think,” he said.

Hunt’s comments, in an interview with Sky News, were reiterated in a Laura Kuenssberg interview after the Chancellor was criticised by the Labour

party for being ‘out of touch’ with working people.

LBC News reported, in a post about constituency phone calls, the Chancellor had said: “I spoke to a lady from Godalming about eligibility for the government’s childcare offer which is not available if one parent is earning over £100k...”

How on earth could anyone conclude he was out of touch?

It will be comforting for the 4% of the population earning over £100,000 a year to hear of the Chancellor’s intention to

consider their need to receive financial support from the government to afford their childcare needs if the Conservatives are returned to power in the next general election.

“We weren’t able to afford to fund childcare for people on the higher salaries, but I was simply saying that’s something I’d love to be able to look at in the next parliament,” he went on.

It is worrying that any politician could make such an outrageous statement in the

current economic climate but, coming from the person responsible for the economic strategy for the country, it is frightening.

For a government proposing to crack down on undeserved expenditure on benefits payments, the Chancellor’s comments further erodes any remaining credibility he, or the current government, might command.

Shadow paymaster general

Jonathan Ashworth said: “It is staggering for the Chancellor to complain about mortgage costs when it was the Conservatives who crashed the economy with their kamikaze budget and sent mortgage costs through the roof.”

According to the Office for National Statistics, the UK’s median gross annual salary for full-time employees in April 2023 was £34,963.

Cllr John Wells Labour chair of Environment and Climate Committee (Salisbury City Council)

Rood found in ‘secret’ loft chapel

A RARE, hidden Anglo-Saxon ‘rood’ has been discovered and preserved at a village church.

The work of art was contained within a “Middle Age virtual reality box” in a hidden ‘loft’ chapel at St Mary’s Church, in Breamore.

Dr Miriam Gill, a scholar with expertise on late mediaeval wall paintings, has written a report on the imagery and described it as a “significant and important” piece.

She said that at the time of its creation, depictions of the suffering of Christ were only starting to appear, so the “violence” was new to worshippers.

Her input has increased the knowledge of the 11th century life-size bas-relief, that shows Christ crucified, with Mary and John on either side.

Rood – an old word for cross - and associated later paintings are on the upper walls of the south porch because in the Middle Ages the room was used as a chapel.

The rood and wall paintings are largely unknown because of the church’s rural location and the artwork’s hidden position. Expert conservator Peter Martindale spent a month on the project, securing flaking paint and areas of detached plaster, removing microbiological growth and filling cracks. Originally displayed within the church, the rood was moved in the 14th or 15th centuries to its current position. The other walls were then painted and the images included a depiction of Judas hanging from a tree, and drops of blood.

The small, enclosed space

enabled people to contemplate Christ’s suffering and perhaps their own mortality in a charged religious atmosphere.

Its hidden location did not protect the rood and in the 16th century it was defaced, but the figures remain and Christ can be seen in pain on the cross.

Dr Gill said: “This is extraordinary - a significant and important work of art, with extra resonance at Easter.

“Before the 10th and 11th centuries you didn’t get many realistic depictions of Christ’s suffering, and this rood comes from the time when people are starting to depict the violence.

“When it was moved from the church to the porch it was already hundreds of years old and it was then given a new scheme all around it – it was refurbished.

“The cross was given an elaborate landscape and countryside setting with trees, hills and distant buildings.

“The rood was likely defaced after 1547 when orders came down to destroy things like this because they were considered religiously wrong during the Reformation.”

Peter added: “When I first climbed up into the porch, with a scaffold platform at the level of the medieval floor, I had a sense of what those people 600 years ago felt within the chapel.

“It would have been an

incredible religious space and was like nothing I’ve felt before – it must have been like a mediaeval virtual reality box.

“After the rood was moved to the porch – a huge task – the other walls were painted and included a depiction of Judas and sacred monograms.

“Dozens of drops of fictive blood, a reminder of Christ’s passion, adorn the walls, and there is a fascinating trace of painted text.

“The purpose of these vivid depictions would have been created to aid contemplation of Christ’s suffering and his ultimate gift to us all.

“The figures were carved from limestone then painted in bright colours which are something that we don’t usually associate with our churches today. To work on something almost 1,000 years old, which has such a history, is a great privilege. It had been conserved in 1980, but required some more work to keep it stable.”

The careful conservation measures will ensure its survival for many more years.

Andy Finch, church warden, said: “It is an astonishing survivor, a leap back to the Christianity practised in the church a thousand years ago.

“We feel that it is our responsibility to ensure this Anglo-Saxon rood is there for the next generation.”

Peter Martindale has been working to conserve the rood at St Mary’s Church

‘Why don’t we build up in the UK?’

EVERY time I go out for a walk, it is never too long until I stumble across plans for more homes on one site or another.

Old Sarum, the city centre, it doesn’t matter where, it feels like any spare patch of land is being snapped up to build houses on.

With the housing crisis we are so often told about, I can understand why we need to build. Young people now have an awful time trying to get on the ladder, far more than we ever did.

I was in Europe last month and one thing I noticed was the amount of apartment blockssomething we don’t see a lot in our towns and cities.

Speaking to people in France and Germany, it seems this is commonplace, and people rather like living in an apartment and not a house.

Why are we not doing something like this? As I found, apartment vblocks don’t have to be highirise, these were of four and five storeys, which means about 15 or 20 homes in a single building, where we would probably put four houses.

I think it’s something we should think about, because it would help young people, who prefer this kind of town centre living, get their own place to live.

Let’s hope the planning changes we keep hearing about think about this.

LEON Salisbury

Educate young people on violence

MY heart went out to Gifty Tetteh when reading the story in your last paper (‘I never got to say goodbye to my son 0 I don’t wish this to anybody’, March 25).

What a horrible ordeal for any mother to go through,

losing a son in such horrible circumstances.

Violent crime is an awful thing and we need to do something to educate young people in the dangers of it.

It’s a long time since I was out in town late at night, but I can never remember fearing for my life, even if there was a disagreement.

Young people nowadays seem to constantly have to be on their guard against really serious violence, like knives and even guns.

The government needs to introduce some serious laws and punishments to stp people behaving in such an awful way.

PHIL SMITH via email

A good use of resources?

NOT long ago, I was driving to work when I noticed a lot of police vehicles on the side of the road.

I thought there must have been a big incident, so slowed accordingly and kept my eyes peeled for any danger.

But it turns out there was some sort of vehicle inspection operation going on by highways or the police.

It seems ridiculous to me it took so many people for such a thing, who could have found something better to do.

CONFUSED DRIVER via email

Time to change clock changing!

ISN’T it about time we did away with this silly changing of the clocks?

I don’t know what it is for, and I don’t think anyone else does either, so is it really necessary?

The only thing that changes for me is that I spend the next

Fact of the fortnight

DID you know the role Salisbury played in one of the biggest-selling rap albums of all time?

The title of Jay-Z’s 12th album might give you a clue as to why...

Magna Carta Holy Grail, was released in 2013, with a copy of the album’s artwork places alongside the real thing at the cathedral.

Then, that same month, the star himself was pictured in Wiltshire as he paid a visit to see the real Magna Carta in Salisbury.

He is believed to have spent an hour with the Dean of Salisbury, the Very Rev June Osbourne, who said he was a “delightful guest”.

“He was clearly moved by seeing the original Magna Carta,” she said.

“He was a delightful guest and we discussed the work we seek to do here to further the cause of social justice.

“I think it may have surprised some of our visitors.”

We can only imagine!

few weeks walking around the house finding yet another clock that hasn’t been changed, before spending 10 minutes in the cupboard to dig out the instruction manual that tells me how to change it.

And for what, some archaic farming tradition? Or is there some very important reasons behind it no one knows about?

I’d be happy to hear.

In the meantime, back to trying to work out how to change the clock on my cooker.

JOHN Laverstock

Flag debate

I COULDN’T help notice the

massive argument over a flag on the back of a football shirt last week and it has infuriated me.

Does it really matter what colour the badge on a football shirt is?

I don’t think anyone cares when companies change the colour of the flag, so why does it matter for sport?

We had political leaders being asked for comment on the matter, yet the cost-of-living crisis ignored and wars carry on around the world.

I really couldn’t care less what colour a cross on a shirt is and we need to get our priorities right in this country.

SALLY K Salisbury

Send your letters by email to: newsdesk@salisburyandavon.co.uk

Phixius Auctions Record-Breaking Sales

Phixius Auctions: Codford Warminster's Hub for Record-Breaking Sales In the heart of Codford Warminster, there lies a fairly young auction house that has made its mark as a veritable treasure trove for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Phixius Auctions, with its rich history and impeccable track record, has become synonymous with outstanding sales and unforgettable bidding wars. Among the countless remarkable items that have found new homes under its roof, two stand out as the epitome of record-breaking success: the Martin Brothers pottery ' Dragon' vase and the life-sized cast bronze 'Horse' sculpture. The Martin Brothers pottery 'Dragon' vase dates back to 1892 and is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship. This extraordinary piece depicts polychrome entwined grotesque dragons engaged in an intense battle, surrounded by mythical 'beasts'.

Expertly signed by the Martin Brothers themselves, the vase bears the inscription 'London & Southall', sealing its authenticity. This work of art achieved a Sale Price of an impressive £20.450. This astounding price cemented Phixius Auctions as a force to be reckoned with in UK Auctions Houses. In a similar vein, Phixius Auctions also witnessed the sale of a life-sized cast bronze 'Horse' sculpture that left onlookers in awe. This magnificently crafted

sculpture not only displayed unparalleled artistic skill but also exuded a startling level of realism. Standing over 7.2 feet tall and measuring an impressive 8.5 feet in length.

The sale was completed post sale for an impressive £14,500.00 Phixius Auctions success can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, the impeccable reputation of the auction house, built steadily over the last 2 years of consistently delivering exceptional results, attracts buyers and sellers alike. Collectors and enthusiasts know that when they enter Phixius Auctions, they are stepping into a realm of unparalleled quality and service.

Secondly, the expertise and passion of the auction house's staff play a significant role in the success of their auctions.

With a deep knowledge of their respective fields, the specialists at Phixius Auctions provide invaluable insights and guidance to both buyers and sellers. This ensures that the items on offer are not only authentic but also accurately valued, enhancing the overall experience for all involved.

Lastly, Phixius Auctions' commitment to promoting its auctions through various channels, including digital platforms and traditional marketing methods, ensures a wide reach and attracts a diverse pool of bidders. This global exposure ensures that their

auctions receive attention from international collectors, further fueling the competitive spirit that lies at the core of every successful bidding war. As Phixius Auctions continues to cement its Reputation in the U.K Auctions, its legacy grows with each record-breaking sale.

The Martin Brothers pottery 'Dragon' vase and the life-sized cast bronze 'Horse' sculpture, as well as numerous other offerings, passed over by regional Auctions Houses, which achieved exceptional results, serve as examples of the commitment of this auction house, to serve the region and offer exceptional service. Codford Warminster is undoubtedly fortunate to be home to an establishment that consistently raises the bar for excellence in the art and antiquities market, as well as the general Sales Market. "Phixius Auctions keeps moving forward due to the untiring dedication to exceptional service, and the growing support of the peoples of Wiltshire, who continue to support us with their private treasures", Phixius Auctions holds Weekly General and Antique Auctions Every Friday Night from 5pm to 9.30 pm.

Bidders who dont want to come into the rooms have the choice of bidding on the Phixius Auctions Site as well as Easylive Auctions and Saleroom.com Auction platforms

Somerset man’s gold nugget fails to sell at auction despite bids

A GOLD nugget thought to be the largest ever found in England, failed to sell at auction.

The 64.8g lump had a guide price of up to £40,000, but bids reached just £12,000 before the online auction closed on Monday (April 1).

The nugget was found in May last year by Somerset metal detectorist, Richard Brock, during a trip to Much Wenlock, Shropshire.

Auctioneer Ben Jones, of Mullock Jones, said negotiations would now start with prospective buyers in an attempt to increase the price.

“I’m sure we’ll have an influx of people coming in, which is usually the case post-auction anyway,” Mr Jones told BBC Radio Shropshire.

“You always take a gamble with these things, and sometimes you just have to see how they ride and play it out, really.”

Mr Brock said he made the discovery having turned up late to the search, and after experiencing technical problems, using a back-up detector.

The Shropshire site was a route for a railway line which is believed to have transported stone from Wales to England, which may have been the source of the nugget.

Mr Jones said his hopes of a sale had been raised by last-minute bids: “There was a sort of scurry at the end.

“[In the] last couple of minutes there were a few bids being placed, and you sit there thinking, ‘This could go a bit more’.

“We’ll have a chat to the bidders and speak to the vendor, and see if there’s something we can do.”

Son of a gun! Highlevel sale at Holts

HOLTS March auction of fine Modern and Antique Guns continued to prove that the UK and international market is at an unprecedently high level selling 90% ‘on the hammer’ with a value exceeding £1.1 million (before after sales and the Sealed Bid sale).

One of many locally consigned guns that stood out was lot 802 a 6mm ‘Velodog’ Pocket Revolver circa 1880, designed in France, supposedly for cyclists to defend against dog attacks! Which sold for £450 against an estimate of £250-350. Another fantastic result for a more modern shot gun was lot 1509, a Westley Richards & Co .410 Boxlock ejector that sold for a very satisfying hammer price of £2,600 against an estimate of £800-1,200

One of the stars of the show was lot 1556 a rare Charles Lancaster 20-Bore Four Barrelled Shot Gun made circa 1885 which generated much interested and some intense bidding, eventually selling for £17,000

HOLTS are now accepting consignments for their next auction, with local valuation days throughout the region. The next one at the NFU offices, Sturminster Newton on Thursday 2nd May. For full list of venues please see the HOLTS website to book an appointment or discuss a valuation or home visit contact David Thurgood on 01297 306123 or by email at westcountry@holtsauctioneers. com

We, as the Police rely on your support, information and trust. This enables us to be reliably informed and focus our efforts where the demand is consequently making Salisbury a safer place to live.” Report crime by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Thursday 2nd May

To book an appointment, arrange a free valuation or home visit please contact: David Thurgood

01297 306123

westcountry@holtsauctioneers.com

The nugget found by Somerset detectorist, Richard Brock Picture: Mullock Jones

TA & MDSA Roles at Semley CE VA Primary School

1 year Fixed Term TA and MDSA

3 roles available, both with a possibility of extension

Hours of work: 1 Role: TA: 12 hours - Thursday & Friday 6 hours per day plus

MDSA: 2 hours – Thursday & Friday Lunchtimes

2 Roles: TA: 30 hours – Monday – Friday plus

MDSA: 5 hours – Monday to Friday Lunchtimes

Contract type: Fixed-Term Contract (Term Time Only)

Salary: TA - Grade D £11.98 per hour Pro-Rata

MDSA: Grade B £11.59 per hour Pro-Rata

Closing date: Wednesday 24th April 2024 at 12pm

Interview date: Wednesday 1st May 2024

Commencement date: 1 Role (12 hours TA & 2 Hours MDSA) - ASAP

2 Roles (30 hours TA & 5 Hours MDSA) –September 2024

We have some roles for caring and committed Teaching Assistants to join our dedicated pool of TAs who provide invaluable support to our children.

Semley CE VA Primary School is vibrant and welcoming, set in a beautiful village near Shaftesbury on the Dorset / Wiltshire border, and graded as ‘good’ by Ofsted (May 2023). We are very proud of our children who live out the school values whilst enjoying learning and challenging themselves both inside and outside the classroom.

The successful candidates will be confident in supporting all areas of the curriculum and can work confidently with both the whole class and with some 1-to-1 or small group interventions. Ideally they will have previous experience of supporting learning but most importantly will be adaptable, patient and enjoy working as part of a team. The post also includes MDSA duties to support Lunchtimes. We would be pleased to receive applications from an already qualified HLTA and will support professional development.

We would welcome a visit to the school so you can come and get a feel for our school and ethos.

Please do contact the office to arrange a visit or with any queries. Contact Details: admin@semley.wilts.sch.uk

or 01747 830427

Rise in jobs in construction sector at start of 2024, data shows

RECRUITMENT in the construction sector has increased - ending a downturn in the market.

Research by the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) showed a rise in recruitment at the start of 2024.

The data – provided by the world’s largest network of job boards, Broadbean – revealed the number of new positions posted by employers rose by 64% and 51% in January and February respectively compared to December 2023.

In addition, applications spiked at the beginning of the year, up a whopping 214% in January, reaching the highest point recorded over the last 12 months.

This is in keeping with the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which revealed a 1.1% monthly increase in output across the construction sector in January.

In further positive news for workers, APSCo’s research showed salaries in the sector also climbed significantly, with a 6.5% year-on-year increase in February 2024 as employers looked to boost pay in order to tackle ongoing skills shortages.

Ann Swain, global CEO of APSCo, said: “The construction sector is often seen as a bellwether of the economy and a downturn in this market usually represents a challenging economic climate, which is what we saw over the course of last year.

“The sector has faced difficulties as a result of global geopolitical issues with supply chain costs rising and an ongoing shortage of talent.

“However, there are signs of positivity and the growth in both new jobs and applications seen at the start of 2024 as output increases suggests that the market could be turning.

“The aforementioned shortages of skills – along with rising inflation levels and the cost-of-living crisis - have led to a significant rise in salaries, which can only be good news for the future of the sector.”

The do’s and don’ts of weeding

by Sally Gregson

SPRING is the time of year when weeding the borders is particularly prescient. Every weed left in place now will increase exponentially if it is allowed to seed. What was a single weed can suddenly become a forest of dandelions or nettles or docks.

With such pernicious weeds, it is essential that the entire root is removed and the roots disposed of in the waste bin, not the compost heap. Even a fraction of root can turn into a whole plant. The best tool for the job is a long, narrowpronged hand-fork that can excavate right down to the tip of the root. A twist of the wrist will extract the whole weed entirely.

Annual weeds that cannot proliferate from their roots are best extracted before their flowers have set seed. If they

are removed on a sunny day, and the seed has not yet formed, they can be left to wilt on the surface, although tidy gardeners may prefer to take the carcases away.

A garden hoe can be of great use in such a situation, especially among the formal rows of seedlings in the vegetable garden. Here it’s possible to run a hoe down through the rows, detaching the upper parts from the roots and leaving the weeds to die. Perhaps a quick run down the rows, hand-weeding between the seedlings, could finish off the task.

But hoeing in the ornamental garden can cause more harm than good. Leaving self-sown seedlings of ornamentals such as the soft lemon-yellow Oenothera odorata ‘Sulphurea’, or ‘pot marigolds’ (Calendula), will give a more relaxed, fuller

feel to the planting. And often these seedlings put themselves in such good places. Hoeing the borders can make it all look too regimented and self-consciously ‘tidy’.

And when a whole border is thoroughly weeded in late spring, not only is it a timely

job well-done, but the soil has been titivated in between the perennials and shrubs, making a more absorbent surface for any more rain to drain down into the ground beneath the roots. And young plants actually like the rain, unlike gardeners.

SALISBURY & SURROUNDING AREAS

www.manorfarmbutchers.co.uk Tel: 01722 742724

Use it or lose it, please support your local independent shops.

or on social media. Call us on 01722 742724 if you’d like to discuss your culinary needs. Manor Farm Butchers, Burcombe Lane, Salisbury, SP2 0EJ

Cryptic crossword

Place 1 to 9 once into every black-bordered 3x3 area as well as each of the 54 rows indicated by the coloured lines. Rows don’t cross the thick black lines.

Killer Sudoku Pro

Killer Sudoku Pro

Place numbers 1 to 9 once each into every row, column and bold-lined 3x3 box. No digit may be repeated in any dash-lined cage, and all the digits in any cage must add up to the value shown in that cage.

up source in hearing (4)

8 Unsteadiness, isn’t it, with Libya? (11)

13 Coils by ground around medium? That’s characteristic of a sign (8)

15 Conveyance of French uniform (8)

17 Indifference apparently at hospital close irresponsibility (6) 18

For the solutions, turn to page 43

Family’s plea over mobile phones at the wheel after A303 tragedy

THE family of a young mum tragically killed in a crash caused by a lorry driver using his mobile phone have pleaded with drivers to put their phone away before getting behind the wheel.

Alex Britton, Tina Ince and Tom Watson were killed in an incident on the A303 near Andover on August 25, 2021.

After Alex’s car broke down on the westbound carriageway that day, Tina and Tom both stopped to offer her assistance.

But a lorry driver, who was watching videos and typing in his destination on his phone, did not see the three cars stopped ahead of him and crashed into them.

Now, relations of Alex, pictured right have come forward to plead with motorists to put their phone away while driving, as Hampshire Police launched a month of action against drivers committing ‘Fatal Four’ offences - the four main causes of deaths on county roads: Impairment from drink or drugs; distraction including mobile phones; speeding; and not wearing a seatbelt.

Roads policing officers will be out in force with increased patrols across Hampshire and Isle of Wight for the whole month of April, as part of a national campaign to target motorists who are committing these offences.

Aaron Law, Alex’s fiancée and father to her two young children, said: “One of the

most devastating things I’ve ever done is break the news to my, at the time, threeyear-old daughter that her mummy wasn’t coming back home.

“Being only three, we thought she would find it hard to understand, but instantly she grasped what was going on and she broke down in tears.

“I never planned to raise two children by myself. We planned to do it as a family.

“I now struggle every day with simple tasks. There’s just certain things that I can’t teach them, that mummy would have taught them.”

Ian Britton, Alex’s father, said: “She’s always in our thoughts, we have times when we’ll sit here and think about some of the good times we had, and then also think about the day.

“I’ve now had to get counselling to deal with the grief, no one should ever have to bury their children before them.”

Avril Swain, Alex’s mother, added: “When I actually found out that he had been on his phone… unimaginable, actually, that somebody in charge of that huge lorry would take his eyes off the road to look at his phone.

“Since the day of this incident, our lives have changed forever. There’s no turning back from it. It was catastrophic.

“If anybody is thinking about even peeking at their phone whilst driving, just don’t. Whatever it is, it can wait until the end of your journey or, if it is some emergency, pull over.

“Please don’t drive while on your phone.”

Detective Constable Mark Furse, who was the Family Liaison Officer for Alex’s relatives, said: “This was a terrible incident where three people lost their lives because of one man’s selfish actions.

“Using your mobile phone is a huge distraction when driving but sadly we still see people doing this every day.

“Nothing is so important that it justifies using your phone while driving and there’s just no excuse for it.

“If you choose to use your mobile phone when you’re driving and it goes wrong, you will get caught and you will go to prison.”

Alex Britton, Tom Watson and Tina Ince were killed in the A303 crash, pictured right

Traffic lights set for £500k update

WORK to update traffic lights on Wiltshire roads will continue after more than £500,000 of funding was secured.

Wiltshire Council has been handed the money from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Traffic Signal Obsolescence Grant (TSOG) to fund improvements to lights and crossings.

A total of £584,521.45 will be spent improving infrastructure that has a set of traffic lights, including both signalled traffic junctions and pedestrian crossings.

Cllr Nick Holder, cabinet member for highways at the council, said: “We’re delighted to receive this additional funding that will be spent on improving and replacing traffic signals throughout the county.

“We haven’t yet decided on the specific sites that this funding will be used for, but we

are planning to improve approximately 30 sets of traffic lights, from simple upgrades such as renewing the monitoring equipment through to full-scale replacements of lights that have reached their end of life.

“In our Business Plan, we

have committed to having well-connected communities, and this funding will help us to install the latest equipment to help us meet that goal and ensure we have traffic signal assets that will last for many years to come.

“Our officers will now look

to create a forward plan of improvements and upgrades, as we have until March 2026 to complete this work.”

This is the second grant the council has received money from the DfT to upgrade traffic lights, as it was awarded £500,000 in 2021.

Changes to poultry permitting introduced by Environment Agency

THE Environment Agency is introducing changes to environmental permitting in poultry.

There is a new requirement for all permitted pig and poultry farms to produce a climate change risk assessment.

This is already a requirement for new permits but the EA (Environment Agency) is now expanding this to existing permit holders as well.

The risk assessment should specify the identified risks and propose potential mitigation strategies.

By April 1, the EA expected all operators to at least have completed a climate change risk assessment and by October 31, 2026, the EA will expect all permitted poultry farms to have appropriate climate change adaptation planning embedded into their management system.

The agency has published the following guidance to support permit operators in carrying out

a risk assessment and embedding climate change adaptation into their management systems:

n Updated overarching management system guidance which explains the new requirement and what operators should consider and do to help make their site more resilient to

climate change

n Supporting guidance to help operators comply with the revised requirement

n Intensive farming specific examples of climate related risks and possible mitigations

The NFU has been working with the EA and AHDB to provide a risk assessment

template for pig and poultry producers which will shortly be available online.

If you have any queries about completing your risk assessment, NFU members can contact CallFirst on 0370 845 8458 for support and advice on the changes.

Badger culling will continue to target TB

THE culling of badgers will be allowed in some areas, under new Government rules.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has revealed the next stage of the strategy to target bovine tuberculosis (bTB).

“Our strategy to eradicate bovine TB in England is turning the tide on this disease with the lowest number of new bTB breakdowns in nearly 20 years,” a spokesperson said.

“The latest proposals will ensure this downward trend continues, and all culling decisions taken under the new targeted approach will continue to be led by the very best scientific and epidemiological evidence.

“We are proposing that culling should be

available in the High Risk Area and Edge Area of England, in areas where there are high levels of infection in cattle, and where evidence suggests badgers are part of the problem in the spread of disease to these herds.

“We have always been clear that culling would remain an option where epidemiological assessment indicates that it is needed.”

They said the strategy did not “aim to remove all badgers”, but to lower the badger population to reduce infection.

“Culling would continue until the disease situation inside the cluster has been deemed to have improved sufficiently, such that it is no longer deemed a cluster, or the prevalence of infection in badgers has been

reduced substantially,” they added.

“Badger vaccination would then take place to maintain disease control benefits.”

Environment secretary, Steve Barclay (Con, North East Cambridgeshire), said: “Bovine TB has taken a terrible toll on farmers, leading to the loss of highly prized animals and, in the worst cases, valued herds.

“There are no easy answers in the battle against TB, but badger culling has proved highly effective and needs to remain a key part of our approach.

“Our strategy has led to a significant reduction in this insidious disease, which we will continue to cull in areas where the evidence confirms it is required, as well as making use of vaccinations.”

Police campaign to protect livestock

POLICE have joined an initiative aimed at keeping pets and livestock safe.

Last year, Operation Recall was launched by animal welfare charities, including Naturewatch Foundation and the RSPCA, alongside police and the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) to raise awareness and help tackle the issue of livestock worrying.

Now, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary is adopting Op Recall in a bid to keep family pets safe, as well as livestock.

Livestock worrying is when a dog attacks or chases livestock on agricultural land or is at large in a field with livestock, which can result in significant injury or suffering and in the worst cases, death of the animals involved.

This also has devastating consequences for livestock keepers, causing personal distress as well as significant financial costs.

Under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, it is a criminal offence for a dog to actively worry livestock and dog owners risk prosecution.

Geoff Edmond, national wildlife co-ordinator at the RSPCA, said: “While the vast majority of dog owners take care as a matter of course, sadly accidents can happen and even the most docile and obedient dogs can get distracted and excited by grazing animals.

“Being chased by a dog causes the animals stress and anxiety, this can lead to pregnancy loss in livestock, and in some extreme cases, severe attacks can happen which have a devastating effect on the livestock, resulting in injury and even

death.

“This also has an adverse impact on the farmers themselves, both in terms of their livelihood and the emotional toll of seeing their animals suffer.

“Some actions in life, we can’t avoid. This one we can.”

The initiative highlights points to bear in mind:

n If you come across a sheep on its back, try to roll it over and raise the alarm with the farmer if this is possible.

n It is so important to keep dogs either on leads or under close control around livestock.

n If you are walking your dog in a field and there is no livestock, please keep the dog in sight at all times, be aware of what it is doing, and be confident it will return to you promptly on command. If you cannot be confident of this, the dog should not be off the lead.

n Ensure the dog does not stray off the path or area where you have right of access.

n It is a criminal offence for a dog to actively worry livestock.

Owners should be aware that in such instances, the owner or person in control of the dog can be prosecuted, and as a last resort the dog can be shot by the farmer to end an attack.

Kate Salmon, Operation Recall lead for the Naturewatch Foundation, said: “The consequences of livestock attacks for all animals involved, including the dogs, can be devastating.

“Some people go out for a walk with

their dog, or unknowingly allow their dog to escape their property and return home without their family pet.

“With more awareness and selfresponsibility people can enjoy their pets, whilst keeping them and livestock safe. We’re calling for everyone to protect their dog and protect livestock.”

And Police Staff Investigator Andrew Williams, from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Country Watch team, added: “Sadly we do receive regular reports in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight of livestock worrying, including incidents of sheep and lambs being killed and seriously injured.

“Shepherds report that they get a mixed response from dog owners when challenged, some are apologetic but others can be hostile.

“We are fast approaching the Easter Holidays when we know people will be making the most of the open spaces our counties have to offer.

“I would like to remind dog owners that they must be mindful of livestock – even if they can’t see them – when out enjoying the countryside.

“I would also like to encourage all dog owners to ensure they have control over their dogs at all times and to seek training wherever possible.

“Remember – protect your dog and protect livestock. It is your responsibility as an owner to keep your dog safe and keep your dog on a lead.”

For more information on Operation Recall, visit naturewatch.org/campaigns/ operation-recall.

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