From Our Files: Rate of difference...woodlands strategy...town organ restored
50 YEARS AGO
A RURAL spot like Burley with few amenities is faced with a similar rate distribution as a town with underground transport and all the bright lights, Mr James Botterell told the parish council.
He said: “We in Burley have no streetlights, a poor bus service getting worse, and a filthy village. Yet our raTe distribution is the same as a big town.”
Members decided to support the campaign over the present rating system from Wombourne, Wolverhampton.
The council are also to complain about the rating system to the New Forest District Council and the New Forest MP.
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DENYING rumours that a receiver was about to be appointed at New Milton’s McCarthy & Stone, a spokesman told the A&T “of course you’ve heard a report. But in fact there is absolutely no truth in it.
“There can’t be any truth in it because John McCarthy has just gone away on a three-week holiday. I don’t suppose for one minute that he would have gone away and left us to it!
“We don’t have any problems – well we have the same problems as any other builder which is low house sales and whathaveyou, but there’s absolutely no problem there.
“In fact, we have just signed a contract for McCarthy & Stone to build new office blocks in Christchurch. This was only done in the last two days at a value of £250,000 so it is hardly likely that we are going into liquidation.”
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AFTER 67 years of trading the New Milton branch of Whittle’s Ironmongers on Station Bridge has closed. Mr B. Whittle told the A&T that he felt unable to continue running both his New Milton and Lymington premises having lost the services of his manager due to ill health.
The cost of replacing staff was a contributory factor in his decision.
25 YEARS AGO
Police investigating the murder of Paul Booth at a Totton garage have been sent a drawing apparently done by someone who witnessed the attack.
It was received after an appeal on Crimewatch for information.
The drawing shows a group of men arguing with Paul, who was found with severe head injuries on the forecourt of the Esso garage in Ringwood Road, Totton on 5th February..
In it one of the men is shown telling him: "I will show you what I'm on about!" before punching him.
According to the anonymous artist the men had argued over Paul inadvertently blocking a petrol pump for a Mitsubishi Shogun.
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A STRATEGY aimed at safeguarding the future of some of the woodlands in the New Forest has been published by the Forestry Commission.
The report, The Plan for the Ancient and Ornamental Woodlands of the New Forest, is the culmination of more than three years’ effort by FC ecologists working in partnership with Dr George Peterken.
Top priority will be the re-introduction of a holly pollarding programme designed to encourage the growth of rare lichens which need more light. Foreign trees and shrubs, such as sycamore, turkey oak and rhododendron which threaten the site’s ecology will be felled.
Grazing deer and livestock in severely damaged woodlands will be reduced in a bid to allow the natural regeneration of native oak and beech trees.
Dr Peterken said: “Millions of people are attracted by the beauty of the New Forest’s ancient and ornamental woodlands every year. Our plan of action will safeguard the woods historic character for future generations to enjoy.”
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LYMINGTON cricketers have been no-balled by town councillors for not doing enough to help themselves.
“We are not here to be milked all the time,” declared Mike Thorp at a meeting of the town council’s amenities committee.
Members agreed to arrange a meeting with the cricket club to discuss its plans after another call on the council’s kitty.
“Let’s be blunt with them,” maintained Mr Thorp.
The cricketers want bow-topped fencing extended near the pavilion in the recreation ground to stop cars driving onto the pitch. The reported cost is £1,250.
They also need a new toilet and a spike-proof carpet for the lounge.
Mr Thorp said the proposed new fencing was “tarting up the ground a bit”.
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THERE will be a day of celebration at Christchurch Priory to mark the completion of the half-million-pound restoration of the magnificent pipe organ.
The organ, parts of which date back to 1778, was last played in public in 1973. But it has now been completely rebuilt and after undergoing ‘sea trials’ was reported to sound as good as ever.
Although much of the cost was covered by a lottery grant of £373,000, the rest was raised locally by the Priory 900th anniversary appeal.
