Hamilton Jewellers Est. 1967 YOUR LOCAL FAMILY JEWELLER NEW MILTON ADVERTISER Where Service still counts 5 POUND LANE • CHRISTCHURCH Telephone: 01202 482397 21.2 Barton-on-Sea and Lymington Times INCORPORATING LYMINGTON AND MILTON CHRONICLE 66, Old Milton Road, New Milton, BH25 6DX Tel: 01425 - 613384 Fax: 01425 - 610257 [email protected] YMINGTON’S departing town L“bullying clerk had suffered a campaign of and intimidation” by two Leaving: Steve Cridland new employer to try to speak to the leader and try to dish the dirt; thankfully they had the sense not to listen. This is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever heard and Steven doesn’t deserve it. “Well Burgess Hill, you don’t know how lucky you are. Steve, thank you for all the excellent work you have done over the last five years.” She went on to list all he had done for the town, praising his “can do” approach. “The councillors have come up with the ideas but you have made them happen,” she said. “Nothing has ever been too much trouble. “We are going to miss you — it’s a very, very sad day for this council.” Coun. White said Mr Cridland had been an “outstanding” clerk, who had made friends throughout the town. He then added: “I regret having to spoil these words with the truth of Car driver critical after head-on lorry smash MOTORIST was left fighting for a life-threatening condition, but no Ainvolved h e r l i f e a f t e r h e r c a r w a s further update was available when in a head-on collision the ‘A&T’ went to press. No one else with a lorry at Wootton, near New Milton. The smash between the 37-yearold woman’s blue Ford Focus and a Scania lorry belonging to Swaybased skip and plant hire company G. Farwell Ltd took place in Holmsley Road just before 3.10pm on Thursday in last week. Firefighters were alerted as she was trapped inside the car, and two crews from New Milton and one from Redbridge removed its roof to free her. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight air ambulance and a land ambulance were dispatched and the casualty was treated at the scene for serious head and face injuries. She was flown to Southampton General Hospital in www.charlesnobel.com email: [email protected] [email protected] SATURDAY, JANUARY 31st, 2015 RESIDENTS 'BULLIED AND INTIMIDATED' TOP COUNCIL OFFICER local residents — with one even phoning his new employer — a council meeting heard. Steve Cridland recently announced he would be stepping down from his position with Lymington Town Council after five years, having secured a similar position with Burgess Hill Town Council in Sussex. Speaking at Wednesday’s full council meeting, mayor Coun. Michael White and former mayor Coun. Anna Rostand said his decision was down to the “outrageous behaviour” of a small number of local residents, including Mike Thorpe and Mike Woodford, who had been “ fe d i n fo r ma t i o n ” by s o me councillors. Coun. Rostand said: “Some people may think, ‘Why is he going?’. I’ll tell you why he’s going. ”There are a few people who come to our meetings and they are so obnoxious and unpleasant. They have accused him of the most outrageous things. Mr Thorpe is not here tonight but he is one of them. Mr Woodford you have not made life easy for him with all your rantings and ravings, and you have written him endless letters — it’s tantamount to harassment what the poor town clerk has had to put up with and the people of Lymington need to know this." Mr Woodford, who was present at the meeting, then began shouting from the public gallery but he was silenced by members. Coun. Rostand continued: “Unfortunately, it is always the minority that dictate the majority. This is a handful of unpleasant people who have been fed information by a handful of councillors.” She added: “I want it known that Mr Thorpe actually phoned Steve’s EST D 1972 Creators of Fine Diamond Jewellery 86 Station Road, New Milton Tel: 01425 616347 www.newmiltonadvertiser.co.uk [email protected] [email protected] No. 4522 Diamond Merchants was hurt. Police kept the road closed off until shortly before midnight to allow a full investigation to be carried out. The ‘A&T’ contacted G. Farwell Ltd about the incident, but the company declined to comment. Anyone who saw what happened should contact Sgt Scott Kerr on 101, quoting Operation Juke, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Another two-vehicle collision took place elsewhere on the same road around 6.10pm that day. This resulted in a woman, thought to be in her 20s, having to be taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital with a possible chest injury. COOKSHOP ks2 40p Sophie stops off at Forest charity during royal visit the situation. Our town clerk chose to seek further opportunities for a reason — this is the completely outrageous behaviour of unelected members of the public, with support from certain councillors, who have harried, bullied and intimidated him and his staff, in an attempt to undermine the success of the council. “Those who attend this chamber regularly will have witnessed this.” Coun. Martina Humber, who represents Pennington, thanked Mr Cridland for his help with last year’s Christmas lights and the youth club, and Coun. Penny Jackman said he would be a “hard act to follow”. Mr Cridland then responded: “I certainly do not deny that when one wakes up at 3am worrying about what’s going to happen that day, it’s time to move on.” But Coun. Ted Jearrad said he “resented” the inference that some HRH The Countess of Wessex made a special visit to a charity that supports people with councillors had been “party to the learning difficulties on Wednesday. She toured the Stable Family Home Trust grounds at clerk’s departure”. Bisterne, near Ringwood, and chatted with excited staff and service users. The royal guest He continued: “I wish the town enjoyed a Makaton sign language demonstration and short drama performance, and was clerk well in his position and if he also shown woodwork and pottery creations. See page 4 for full report and pictures. can’t take a bit of flack then that’s too bad.” He also claimed the real reason for his leaving was a pay rise. Mr Cridland is the second staff member to leave the council in the last six months. In September 2014, finance officer Sue Finnimore reETECTIVES are hunting a man forward if they were in the area anything suspicious in Holbury signed after Mr Woodford and Mr who subjected a woman to a seri- between 10pm and midnight that Manor Park, Park Lane or Lime Kiln Thorpe questioned her professional ous sexual assault at a Holbury evening. Road between 10pm and midnight integrity. beauty spot. Det. Sgt Gemma Hunter said: “Did that evening.” A council meeting heard Mr WoodThe victim, who is in her early 20s, you see a lone woman in the area? ford had phoned The Institute of Did you see a man walking in or Anyone with information should Chartered Accountants in relation was attacked as she walked through around the park? contact Det. Sgt Hunter at SouthHolbury Manor Park around 11.30pm on Friday in last week. “I am also keen to speak to anyone ampton police station on 101 or call (Continued on page 2) People are being urged to come who might have seen or heard Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Woman admits Pennie murder inquiry charge HYTHE woman has admitted disposing of shoes which were Aevidence in the investigation into DISTRICT NEWS the alleged murder of motherof-five Pennie Davis. Lian Doyle (24), of Beech Crescent, appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Friday in last week and pleaded guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice. The offence took place between September 2nd and September 6th 2014, the court heard. Another allegation that Doyle assisted an offender has now been dropped by prosecutors. Her sentencing was adjourned until a trial, set to go ahead on March 3rd, into three other people charged in connection with the case has concluded. She was remanded in custody. Mrs Davis was found dead with mul t i pl e s t a b w o u n ds by he r husband Pete on September 2nd last year, in a paddock opposite Leygreen Farm at Beaulieu where she had been tending her horses. The mayor has hit back at her deputy, branding him “offensive and unprofessional”, after it emerged he had criticised her for not supporting him over a racist remark he made. Coun. Barbara Woodifield questioned why Coun. Michael Thierry, who previously likened enforcement action to “a nigger in a woodpile”, had raised his “faux pas” again. Page 2 RINGWOOD CHRISTCHURCH Appeals against the borough council’s refusal of two supermarket proposals will be considered at public meetings, while a scheme for a third is being scaled down. The challenges are by Simons Developments Ltd and Brookhouse (Christchurch) Ltd, while Quantum’s amendment to its multi-millionpound project was put down to market “turbulence”. Page 3 MILFORD Outline plans to replace the 119 beach huts damaged during last year’s Valentine’s Day storm have been submitted by New Forest District Council. Expected to cost £1.1m, the scheme includes ramps, steps, rails and temporary fencing, and existing huts will be replaced with concrete structures no “larger” or more “prominent”. Page 12 Park sex attacker hunted by police D Page 23 Amputee denied access at job centre for disability interview WHEELCHAIR-BOUND man Ab e5has spoken of his shock after i n g tu r n e d a w a y f r o m a disability assessment on health and safety grounds. Michael Sparks (52), from St Leonards Road, East End, whose right leg is amputated below the knee, travelled to Bournemouth job centre on January 13th but was told he could not go up to the first floor appointment room even though there was a lift because staff said he would not be able to get down unaided in the event of a fire. Mr Sparks (pictured) told the ‘A&T’: “The woman seemed a bit embarrassed to have to ask if I could walk up and down the stairs, as it’s obvious I’ve got an amputated leg. I felt a combination of shock and bemusement — I thought they were joking at first. “It’s a bizarre rule when they have got members of the public coming in for disability assessments — you would expect it to be on the ground floor.” Mr Sparks had originally applied for disability benefits in March 2014 after his toes were amputated following complications with diabetes. A subsequent infection in his foot meant he had the lower part of his leg amputated in October, three months after the death of his father whom he had given up work to care for. He told the ‘A&T’ he contacted the Department for Work and Pensions to inform them of his change in circumstances and chase up his appointment. “I kept phoning every other week and they would say I hadn’t been forgotten and had to wait for the computer to generate an appointment,” said Mr Sparks. Growing tired of waiting, he asked why an appointment could not be made over the phone and, to his surprise, he was eventually given one a few days later. At no point was he made aware there would be a problem with access, he added. His niece had taken the day off work to drive him to Bournemouth but their journey was wasted after he was refused entry to the assessment room on the first floor. Mr Sparks was finally assessed at home more than a week after his unsuccessful appointment in Bournemouth. He is currently on the waiting list for a council bungalow which would be more convenient for him than the cottage he has lived in since 1969, when his father started the plant nursery next door. Mr Sparks worked there until his father’s health deteriorated and he became his carer. As part of his treatment he was given a prosthetic lower leg which he is increasingly progressing to using, and his next aim is to start driving again. He told the ‘A&T’: “The team at St Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth have been magnificent. This is all new to me and it’s a learning curve. “I’ve met some other interesting amputees there and they give you some hope with what they have achieved.” A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “People who are invited to attend the assessment centre in Bournemouth (Continued on page 2) Mason & Cash Ceramic Casserole ‘the perfect casserole dish for cooking hearty stews and pot roasts in’ Victim: Pennie Davis Justin Robertson (36), of no fixed abode, has denied fatally stabbing her and another charge of conspiracy to murder her between August 19th and September 3rd. Samantha Maclean (28), of Beech Crescent, Hythe, has entered a not g u i l t y pl e a t o o n e ma t t e r o f conspiracy to murder. Benjamin Carr (22), of Edward Road, Shirley, also stands accused of one charge of conspiracy to murder. At a preliminary court hearing Carr was due to appear but did not because of an administrative error by the court. His defence barrister has indicated Carr would be entering a not guilty plea. Mrs Davies had five children, Sophie, Alex, Georgia, Daniel and Joe, and had married her fifth husband Pete, just four months before her death. More than 150 of her family, friends and colleagues gathered to pay their respects at her funeral at Southampton Crematorium and mourners made donations to a fund set up in her name to help support and educate her two youngest children and The Honeypot Children’s Charity. REGULAR FEATURES X X X X X X X X X X Bankruptcies . . . . . . . . . . p.3 Christian Comment . . . . . . . p.6 50 Years Ago & Puzzle Corner . p.8 New Forest Notes . . . . . . p.12 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . p.15 Sport . . . . . . p.16, p.17 & p.18 Planning . . . . . . . . . . . p.20 Theatre Reviews . . . . . . . p.21 Clubs & Societies . . p.24 & p.25 Women’s Activities . . . . . . p.25 EATING OUT Local restaurants on pages 12 & 13 WHAT’S ON Forthcoming events on page 9, 10 & 11 Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @LymingtonTimes www.facebook.com/LymTimes No.1 For Mother of the Bride and Groom SPRING OPEN WEEKEND am to 5pm SAT 31st Jan&9 0am to 4pm 1 b e F t s 1 N U S 1ltr was £24.00 NOW ONLY £9.99 Introducing our NEW Spring/Summer 1.8ltr was £40.00 NOW ONLY £14.99 collections for Mother of the Bride and Groom and wedding guests Available in Black or Red SAVE UP TO 50% on selected cookware & Accessories e.g. Jamie Oliver 4 Piece Cookware set RRP £160OUR PRICE £79.99 124-138 STATION ROAD, NEW MILTON BH25 6LW tXXXCSBECFFSTDPN The stunning brilliance of an individually hand selected diamond from the Charles Nobel Engagement Collection. in sizes 8 to 28. Diamond Merchants EST D 1972 Creators of Fine Diamond Jewellery 86 Station Road, New Milton Tel: 01425 616347 www.charlesnobel.com email: [email protected] School Road Fawley Village Southampton SO45 1EA 023 8089 4500 Free parking All major credit cards Normally OPEN 9am to 5pm MON to SAT www.charismafashions.com Page 2 ADVERTISER & TIMES Sat., Jan. 31st, 2015 Row over town councillor's racist comment erupts again RINGWOOD’S mayor has hit back at her deputy, branding him “offensive and unprofessional”, after he reportedly criticised her for not supporting him over a racist remark he made. As revealed in the ‘A&T’, Ringwood’s deputy mayor Coun. Michael Thierry compared ditch clearing enforcement to being “like a nigger in a woodpile” at a town council meeting just before Christmas. He did apologise at the meeting before adding: “I hope the gentleman of the press does not report that." Coun. Thierry subsequently refused to make any further comment when contacted by the ‘A&T’. The town’s mayor, Coun. Barbara Woodifield, later released a statement labelling the comment “extremely regrettable”. She said other members were “appalled” by the remark, but stressed she believed it was “ill thought out” rather than malicious. But at the town council’s latest meeting on Wednesday night, Coun. Woodifield revealed she had been contacted earlier that day by a newspaper which claimed Coun. Thierry had given them an interview in which he criticised her for not supporting him. Coun. Woodifield responded: “I find his actions offensive and unprofessional as a councillor. “Certainly Coun. Thierry is a very, DAY TRIPS 2015 18th Feb WK0DU 8th Mar WK0DU 14th Mar WK0DU 25th Mar WK0DU 4th Apr London Museums & Shops )ORUHQFH1LJKWLQJDOH0XVHXP South Bank London &KHOWHQKDPIHVWLYDO,ULVKGD\,QFOXVLYH Guildford Shopping or Sightseeing 6TXLUHV.LWFKHQ)DUQKDP Ideal Home Show ,GHDO+RPH6KRZ Windsor & Eton 8QOHVVVWDWHGIDUHVVKRZQDUHIRUFRDFKIDUHRQO\ For all other enquiries please call Booking Office: Brookside Garage, Crow Lane, Ringwood, Visit our website for more information www.solentcoaches.co.uk iRoberts Cars Comments: Coun. Thierry very experienced and well respected councillor but his comment could not be condoned by this council. “I am at a loss to understand and to know why Coun. Thierry would raise this faux pas in the press again just to criticise the mayor.” She believed the council dealt with the matter “swiftly, eloquently and very professionally”, and Coun. Woodifield concluded: “I cannot defend the indefensible. I would like to add; this woman is not for turning.” Coun. Thierry was not at the meeting due to a family matter, but Coun. Christine Ford, herself a former Affordable Luxury Private Hire Cars Mercedes Cars or 8 Passenger MPV Airports Cruise Ships Eurostar Man charged with imprisoning and kill threats FIRST www.irobertscars.co.uk [email protected] FOR LOCAL NEWS & INFORMATION Business Travel Holiday/Ski Groups Sports/Social Occasions 01425 613989 AN Ashley man appeared in court charged with imprisoning a woman, assaulting her and threatening to kill her. JUST ASK ONE OF OUR REGULAR READERS… I have purchased the Advertiser and Times for 37 years and rely on the paper for local news and the sailing results, which quite often cannot be found anywhere else. The editorial is written in a down-to-earth style, and overall, I find the paper solid, reliable and trustworthy. - A&T Reader t.c. mayor of Ringwood, spoke up in his defence, pointing out the story had gone all over the national press and even some news outlets in America. “I am not trying to take sides but I do want to just comment that I understand Coun. Thierry was very upset by quotations from you madam mayor to the press which seemed to blow up the comment, which was a slip of the tongue. “We have all said things,” she said, before claiming that Coun. Thierry’s wife Gillian had received “physical threats in the street”. She continued: “I went round before Christmas to take some flowers and she was still in tears about it. “I know that he [Coun. Thierry] said he was not going to say any more until the whole thing had blown over. It has been dealt with by the Conservatives on the district council and he was not going to talk to the press until after that point. “It’s absolutely been desperate for the Thierry family with physical threats and so on.” Coun. Woodifield then intervened, telling Coun. Ford: “I have to respect the town council and the people of Ringwood. I cannot condone the comments that he said.” To that Coun. Ford replied: “It was a slip of the tongue that goes with a certain age group and he apologised immediately after it. That should be the end of it.” Luke West (23), of Dinham Road, did not enter pleas to a total of seven charges when he appeared before Southampton magistrates. He stands accused of two counts of unlawfully detaining Jamie Leigh Ballard against her will, two of threatening to kill her and another two of assaulting and causing her actual bodily harm. Chris Willard, Keyhaven. West also faces one matter of failing to comply with a violent offender order which compelled him to register a new address within five days. Keep up with the local news and pick up your copy every week. YOUR LOCAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS FOR OVER 80 YEARS The defendant was remanded in custody to appear at the city’s crown court on February 13th. Disabled man denied access (Continued from front page) are advised in advance that it is located on the first floor and invited to contact us if they think this may present a difficulty for them. “We are sorry that Mr Sparks had a wasted journey and a home consultation has now been booked with him. “The reason the lift cannot be used is because if there is a fire there is nowhere for someone who cannot use the stairs — like a wheelchair user — to escape. “The assessments need to be carried out on the first floor, where the assessment centre is, as the medical rooms are on the first floor with the equipment and privacy necessary.” ––––––––––––––––– C & C Travel Lymington based company with pick-up points throughout the New Forest Coach Day Trips The listed price is for coach seats only, unless stated otherwise Wed. 4th Feb. Fri. 6th Feb. Sun. 8th Feb. Tues. 10th Feb. Thurs. 12th Feb. Sat. 14th Feb. Tues. 17th Feb. Gunwarf Quays, maybe go up the Spinnaker Tower? £12.00 Petersfield, featuring Antiques Fair in Festival Hall £14.00 Our annual hunt for Snowdrops £15.00 Join us for a leisurely drive around the Isle of Wight incl. £24.00 Lovely old market town of Alresford £12.00 Into Somerset to visit Wookey Hole (weather permitting) £15.00 Shrove Tuesday drive £15.00 The coach will operate providing the trip is viable To book a seat, for full excursion list, or Private Hire please phone Corinne on 023 8084 5083 or 07710 765005 Silver Street Farm, Hordle Departing town clerk 'bullied' Chrysler Grand Voyager Mercedes E Class Saloon (Continued from front page) to her handling of the accounts of the charity of local benefactor Henry Douglas Rooke. Mr Thorpe accused her of “massaging the budget” and being “on the fiddle” with regard to accounts linked to the sea water baths. Mr Cridland told members in an email: “As much as she was very happy working in the office environment, she became terrified of going into public meetings where members of the public, and indeed one or two councillors, were less than friendly towards her. “She is very sensitive about her integrity, and rightly so. She does not feel like doing a good job only to become fodder for council spats.” As reported in last week’s ‘A&T’, Mr Thorpe has now been banned from talking at meetings for 12 months after members accused him of making personal verbal attacks on them. At Wednesday’s meeting, new interim town clerk Graham Hunt was welcomed by members. New finance officer Estelle Hubbard was also praised for “quickly getting to grips” with the council’s budget. 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