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2010 ARCHIVE |
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FROM THE EDITOR
As I sit here this weekend working through The Dubber, I keep thinking of all the jobs I should be doing. I’ve still got presents and food to get; all my gifts to wrap and my Christmas cards to write... why didn’t I do it all earlier? It’s the same lament every Christmas... Dubber or no Dubber; I just never seem to get to grips with it early enough.
I long to be a Nigella or a Kirsty Allsopp pouring cocktails on Christmas Eve with
my house tastefully strewn with home-
Instead, I end up running around like the proverbial blue fly, trying to play catch up... and eventually drop into bed exhausted at about 2am on Christmas morning.
Oh well... there’s always next year!
Season’s greetings to all
Angela Bell
Once again, thanks go to designer Owen Bryant from the Institute of Contemporary Interdisciplinary Arts at Bath University for this month’s cover.
LETTER FROM THE RECTORY
January 2010
Dear Friends
“....the hopes and fears of all the years, are met in thee tonight”...set me thinking of my hopes and fears for the new year.
Last year, at this time, we feared for St George’s School. This year, we hope that it will continue to flourish; for hopes have a basis, unlike dreams, in reality and we know that we have a gifted and dedicated staff and strong community support.
Last year some hoped, and some feared, the advent of the allotments. This year we look forward to the plough service, asking a blessing on the crops, knowing that fears (people tell me ) were without foundation and we expect based on our experience, that not just crops, but friendships will grow too.
Both hopes and fears can be on the grand scale, like hopes for world peace and fears about global warming, or on a personal level... like hopes for a new relationship or fears about health or money.
So I’m not writing about resolutions this New Year, but asking what are your hopes and fears?
I love to listen to my grandchildren their hopes are often so large; the sky is the limit. Fears can be often be dispelled by a word from someone they trust. But they are blessed, unlike some children who carry heavy burdens and, with increasing age, most of us find that our hopes and our fears change.
Illness has touched our family closely in the past year; making us more aware that the future for us all is uncertain and, as I sang the words of the carol, I was aware of Mary whose heart rejoiced in the hope which a new child brings but was pierced by the sword of grief and fear as she dreaded his suffering. That mixture of joy and grief is the essence of human relationships for all who take the risk of loving.
We find our hopes and our fears change; we hope more for the small things with shorter time scales and get greater pleasure from them. We find that some of our fears for the future have been needless. So what do we put our faith in?
I hope for this year, whatever your hopes or fears, you find that place where all hopes and fears meet ...that still centre at the heart of all things where you receive that most precious gift of wonder and faith which brings hope and dispels all fear. As Richard Crashaw wrote of the nativity ‘Eternity shut in a span’ and that you will find, as I have done, that fears lose their hold and hope is becomes boundless.
May you have a peaceful, fear free and hopeful 2010,
Judith Malins
Priest in charge
Kingston, Langton Matravers, & Worth Matravers
GENERAL NEWS
SCHOOL’S FUTURE SECURE
The Governors of St George’s C of E VA First School in Langton would like to thank all those in the community and beyond who helped to secure the school for the future. The school is now no longer threatened with closure and it is to be proposed that all four first schools in Swanage and Langton become primaries in new papers coming out for consultation in Mid February. Please do remove all posters and banners and thank you to all those who displayed them. They were very influential on all visitors. Please also spread the word that the school is ‘open for business’ for the future.
It has been a very challenging time for the community but we are excited about the future. The Cothill Educational Trust who are now in the Old Malthouse School next door to St George’s are generously allowing our pupils to have shared access to the land required for a Multi Use Games Area and additional play space so that the children need no longer cross the road for their playtimes and some games lessons. There will also be opportunities for the older pupils to take part in their science project studying the DNA of trees led by experts from The Natural History Museum.
The whole community of the Purbeck Hills rallied to the cause, writing letters, erecting banners and signing petitions. Financial support came from various sources and Jim Etherington played a fantastic fund raising gig at The Ship. Many came to our march to County Hall in Dorchester with the tractor and trailer and the children sang ‘The Purbeck Island’ song by Bob Smith beautifully. The event was covered by the BBC, local radio and press and contributed to the successful result. We must also thank speech makers, Jon Hales, Chris Meadows, William Knight and Adrian Richardson from the Cothill who made points clearly and strongly.
There are so many to thank and it would take pages to do it. Particular thanks however
must go to some volunteers who gave up a tremendous amount of work time. Andrew Hinsull
from Droveway Architectural Services provided accurate, inspiring and quickly drawn
plans demonstrating clearly how we could accommodate a school for the future. Likewise
Bridget Mayes gave an enormous amount of help in creating a document for the politicians
stating our case, writing key letters and using her expertise to superb effect in
handling our media and PR. Nicky Glassock also chaired the Action Group for us in
addition to many other roles within the school. The Governors also wish to thank
the staff for continuing to run our cheerful and exciting school as normal despite
all this distraction. We would like to say that there was a tidal wave of support
for the school and that we could not have secured its future without such all-
We have one last important favour to ask so that all this will not be in vain. From February half term until Easter there will be new consultation papers and it is essential that we take the last step of completing hundreds of returns between us in support of the school. Thank you all.
Sarah Painter, Chair of Governors, St George’s School
The finale of St George’s Christmas Play: ’Christmas Around the World’
The School Choir conducted by Sarah Painter sing at Putlake Christmas Fair
THANK YOU FROM LANGTON PRE-
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support over the last few weeks. There are too many people and organisations to mention individually as it would probably fill the entire page! We have been extremely touched by the generous donations received and words can’t express our gratitude enough.
We are pleased to say that, because of these donations, the money raised through our own fundraising events, and the Sustainability Grant from Surestart, our financial position is gradually improving and we are working towards a more secure future. It is thanks to all the fantastic local support, and that of the wider local community, that we are now able to start the New Year on a positive note.
Special thanks also go to the rest of the committee, as well as the staff and parents
of the pre-
Kelly Fenech
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST
A happy new year to you and your nearest and dearest. We hope the festive season has been a time of rest and relaxation for you all.
Many of you will no doubt be planning to enjoy a walk on Studland beach over the
New Year period and, whatever the weather, it is certainly the time to see the beach
at its quietest and most dramatic. The countryside team have recently re-
Whilst it is quiet in terms of visitor numbers the work of the beach ranger team continues at a pace throughout winter dealing with the modern day curse of marine waste as well as completing the essential repairs needed after such a busy holiday season. The beach café also remains open and recently won a regional National Trust award for the greatest range of products locally sourced so do pop in.
At the end of last year you may have picked up on the successful recreation of a rare stone lined dew pond in Langton Matravers. The pond was discovered after the area was surveyed for the Purbeck Important Ponds Project which is organised by Dorset Wildlife Trust. A dew pond is a pond that doesn’t have a water source coming into it and is created where water collects in a depression in a field.
When the dew pond was discovered it was buried under a thicket of bushes in the corner of a field. It took two days for a team of volunteers to uncover the pond, which was filled with about three tonnes of rubble. It’s great to be able to help recreate such an important habitat for wildlife. Dew ponds are an excellent habitat for wildlife, including all known British dragonfly species and the rare great crested newt. It will be exciting to see how the area develops and we hope to see smooth newts there as well as the great crested variety in the future. A fuller account of the discovery of the dew pond and its importance for wildlife can be found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/dorset/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8369000/8369957.stm
Mandy Jarvis, CV Manager for the National Trust
WHERE AM I IN PURBECK?
Now where is this? It’s quite new and it is at one of my favourite spots in Purbeck? On New Years Day there will be thousands of people and dogs here.
Last month’s photo was of an avenue of trees leading from the pond at Smedmore House down towards Kimmeridge Bay. We loved our visit to the house when it was open in the autumn, if you haven’t been do go next time it’s open.
Chris Meadows
EAT PURBECK BEEF & SAVE THE WORLD
“Eat less beef!” Screamed the Sunday Times colour supplement. Now, I don’t know the
total ins and outs of how the carbon footprint is calculated when it comes to beef
production. It does upset me that all beef production is lumped into the same category.
Of course, intensive beef production will have a high carbon footprint and to my
mind the practice of feed-
The beef produced by the farmers in Purbeck is done in such a way that the environment
is enhanced and without this massive carbon burden. The Purbeck hills would not look
the same, were it not for the grazing of both cattle and sheep. These animals graze
in very different ways producing specific habitats for a variety of plants and insects.
If grass is not grazed it will flower in late May, produce seeds and stop growing.
If it is grazed, however, the grass will keep growing, trapping carbon, which is
turned into meat by the grazing animal. In winter, these animals will be brought
inside and fed not a grain and soya but silage. On some farms grass is growing using
no fertiliser with clover producing the nitrogen needed by the grass. This diet does
not create the quantity of carbon dioxide or methane, expelled by the feed-
You can also come to the Purbeck Products market on 9 January at Swanage Middle School; there is plenty of parking, plenty of produce, happy cheerful farmers and producers, a chance to sample the best of Purbeck food. So, HAPPY NEW YEAR from the Purbeck producers, and may the only beef in 2010 you have be Purbeck Beef.
Christopher Lees
POOLE COMMUNITY PASSION PLAY
The Poole Community Passion Play which runs from 8–10 April and is Poole’s answer to Oberammergau is now recruiting. If you are interested in taking part either acting or helping back stage, the team meet on Wednesdays. Contact Roger Bayldon: roger@bayldon.org
BURNGATE STONE CARVING CENTRE
The first Burngate Stone Carving Centre quarry walk is on 23 January, 10am–12pm and is £5 per person. Starting at Burngate you will walk through Acton Common to H.F.Bonfield’s Blacklands Quarry, where Stanley Bonfield will explain the formation of the stone beds and the workings of the stone from the slab to the finished products – lintels, jambs and stone paving for Southampton. Finally you’ll return to the centre for a hot cuppa and some biscuits. The quarry walk is available to everyone over 14 years of age and you must wear footwear suitable for very muddy quarries! Please contact the centre on 439405 to book your space on the quarry tour.
We have scheduled plenty of courses for the new year and all the details are on our
website www.burngatestonecentre.co.uk. We have the following courses in January -
And finally, we say goodbye to David Callaghan the centre manager who is off to pastures new. David will be missed by all, he’s worked hard to get the centre up and running and we wish him all the best for the future.
Kelly Fenech
HELP WITH RISING HOMES COSTS
Purbeck District Council is assisting people on low incomes this winter. The Council is offering a range of grants and loans to help relieve the hardship of high home maintenance costs and to help improve energy efficiency.
The interest-
Small-
With high house prices and few affordable properties available to rent, many local people cannot make Purbeck their home. However, incentives are available to landlords who own a property in Purbeck which has been empty for six months and is in need of refurbishment. If they let to tenants currently on the Council Housing Register they could receive a Landlords Empty Homes Grant of up to £10,000.
Councillor Beryl Ezzard, Housing and Social Issues Spokesperson, said: “Fuel poverty and expensive household maintenance are serious issues for some of our local residents. I urge people on low incomes and benefits to contact the Council to find out what grants they may be entitled to.
“With a need to find homes for those on the Housing Register, I also encourage property landlords to get in touch to find out how we can help them refurbish their empty property.”
For further details on all the Grants and Schemes, contact the Environmental Services Private Sector Housing Team at Purbeck District Council on 557311.
Claire Lodge
LM HISTORY & PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Our first meeting of the new year will take place in the village hall on Thursday
21 January at 7.30pm. Reg Saville will give an illustrated talk on ‘Shops of Langton.’
Over the past hundred years there has been a great many, Langton used to be self
sufficient. This will be a very interesting talk. All welcome, members £2.50, non-
Rosemary Stevens
LANGTON MATRAVERS PARISH COUNCIL
St George’s School
The County Councillor, Cllr M. Lovell, reported that DCC Cabinet had accepted the recommendation of the Community Overview Committee and agreed that St George’s school should be kept open. The Cabinet had also agreed to further consultation regarding secondary education in Swanage.
The Chairman, Cllr N. Priddle, congratulated Cllr Lovell on his part in this success.
Cllr P. Loudoun said that he had attended the Community Overview Committee Meeting and he was very impressed by the presentation given by the representatives of St George’s and he wanted to congratulate them all for saving both the school and the village.
It was agreed that Val Winch should be the Council’s representative on the St George’s Board of Governors.
Financial Forecast
The Financial Forecast was received. It was agreed that this would be a good time to invest some of the funds in completing the wall and repairing the paths and kerbs at the Council’s cemetery. The Clerk was instructed to inspect and measure the relevant areas and to report back to Council.
Parish Precept
It was agreed that the precept for the year 2010/2011 should remain at £11,000.
Allotments
The water pipe has been drained in preparation for winter and regular meter readings were being taken to ensure that there were no leaks.
The Council agreed to the LMAA’s request to attach gutters and downpipes to the shed so that rainwater could be gathered in water butts.
The Council also agreed to allow the fence by the shed to be increased in height to about six feet to allow for Clematis Montana to be grown up it to provide some protection and shade for the shed, the door of which had been buckled in the recent storm.
The Clerk announced that he would be sending out the new rent and water charges for the coming year.
Donations
Langton Matravers Pre-
Victim Support: The Council unanimously agreed to a grant in aid of £50.
Windmill Lane
The Clerk was instructed to write to Miles Butler to point out that he was mistaken in advising Jim Knight MP that the Council had only made the claim in April when, in fact, the Council had first made the claim that the route was a public footpath over 30 years ago.
Purbeck Products
The Clerk announced that the Purbeck Products market would no longer be held at Putlake Farm.
Weston Farm Music Festival
It was agreed the Clerk should contact Worth Matravers Parish Council with regard to Langton Matravers Parish Council being included in any discussions about traffic management for this event.
Planning
- Plan submitted by Mr G Bell: Convert loftspace, relocate two existing roof lights and insert new roof light, Juliette balcony in first floor gable and ground floor French doors at 13 Capston Field, Langton Matravers. The Parish Council has no objection
- Plan submitted by Old Malthouse Trust: Demolition of two storey extension. Erection
of two storey entrance lobby and access corridors. Proposed non-
material amendment to PA 0257 – re- arrangement of fenestration, including two additional windows, reduction of rooflights and adjustment of upper roof height at Old Malthouse School, High Street, Langton Matravers. The Parish Council has no objection.
Planning decisions by PDC:
- Plan submitted by Mr R Turner; Sever land and erect three bedroom chalet bungalow with parking, 1 Durnford Drove, Langton Matravers. Approved.
- Plan submitted by Mr J Wotton; site static caravan for occupation by site warden – Certificate of Lawfulness – Existing. Tom’s Field Road (Part of Tom’s Field Campsite), Langton Matravers. Approved.
- Plan 0674: This application has been invalidated.
The next meeting of LMPC is at 7pm on 14 January.
John Bellucci, Clerk to the Parish Council
WORTH COMMUNITY PROPERTY TRUST
At last some good news with our bid for Government funding to support the five community houses in Worth. It has taken over a year, but we have now passed stage one of the bidding process to get a £275,000 grant from the Homes and Communities Agency. The regional office of the HCA has approved the technical specification of our proposed community housing.
They have also established that the houses will provide good value for money. So they have provisionally allocated the money for us in their regional budget. We now have to get HCA head office approval for our proposed development partnership. They will evaluate the track record of our architect, professional contract manager and the support provided by the Synergy Housing Group. We have been told that this stage should not take more than a couple of months.
Our biggest achievement has been to help establish the new mechanism to fund community groups. In the past the HCA would only give grants to Housing Associations and private companies. We acted as a pilot organisation to develop the new mechanism.
Now community groups across the country can apply for funding to support community housing. Our next major challenge will be to secure a loan to fund the development. This has become much more difficult because of the credit crunch.
Bob Kenyon
WORTH AFTERNOON CLUB
Festivities began early in Worth this year with our Christmas lunch in early December. It is always delightful to commence with carol singing by the children of St George’s School, and once again they gave a wonderful performance. Sophie Morgan and her team provided a delicious meal and a great time was had by all.
The first meeting of 2010 is on Wednesday 13 January. There will be a short AGM, followed by our talk, Entertainment World, by Rob Fox. Visitors welcome.
Rachel Seaton
WORTH MATRAVERS PARISH COUNCIL -
We are very aware of the very strong feelings in WM against the proposed three day Classical Music Festival in August 2010, and I thank all residents for sending me copies of your objections. I urged the organisers to hold a public meeting, to inform residents of their plans, as soon as I heard about the proposed Festival. To date they have not done so.
When the organisers spoke at the Parish Council meeting, we did raise concerns over the venue site and the resultant traffic problems, particularly as it was over a bank holiday weekend when the village is already saturated with tourists.
I would like to correct one statement that has been made. The Parish Council is NOT a Statutory Consultee for a license application and are not notified of any such applications.
I have spoken to PDC and they have asked for an urgent meeting with the applicants, as the application, as submitted, is incomplete. This meeting is due to take place on Tuesday, 5 January and the 28 day period for objections will only commence when a further application is made. I have also spoken to the Police.
Because of the numbers of residents being encouraged to attend our next meeting,
we are calling a Parish Meeting to be held before the Parish Council meeting on 5
January in HX Village Hall commencing at 7pm to discuss these issues. I have requested
that the Agent, A-
To other matters. We are very grateful to Justin from ‘Purbeck Pigs’, for once again donating the Christmas tree for WM.
It was unanimously agreed that Val Winch be appointed as Parish Representative for both WM and LM, on the Board of Governors for St George’s School, to replace Cllr Wendy Wilson, who has now become a full Governor.
A report was submitted by Shiela Johnson on the maintenance of the Withy Bed, during 2009. It was unanimously agreed that Mrs Johnson be asked to continue in her role of caretaker and officially thanked for the work that she does for the Parish.
The ‘No Through Road’ sign which was erected by the School House, is to be re-
Parish Plan Actions
‘Establish the future use and support the present landscaping project at Swanworth Quarry.’ A parish meeting is being held on Wednesday 13 January at 7.30pm in WM Village Hall, for all parishioners to have their say on the future use of the Quarry land. Three Planning Officers from PDC will be attending this meeting and the Quarry Manager and Chairman of Worth Community Property Trust have also been invited. Please come along.
If you are unable to attend, but would like to express a view, please phone me on 439245.
Planning applications this month
Two applications for:
- The Conifirs, Valley Rd, HX. 1. Erect new garage. 2. Convert integral double garage to habitable room. The PC had no objection.
- Plot 9, Flower Meadow, HX. Raise the finished floor level by 450mm. -
The PC had no objection provided the roof height remains the same as original plan.
Listed Building Consent. 1 London Row, WM. Repair to main rear roof section. -
TPO. Plot 13, Flower Meadow, HX. Fell 1 Ash. -
TPO. Begbie Field, WM. Work to be carried out to 23 trees.
A donation of £100 has been sent to The Dubber, in recognition of the work done to support the Parish.
The next meeting is on Tuesday, 5 January in HX Village Hall, with a Parish Meeting to discuss the proposed Classical Music Festival at 7pm to be followed by the Parish Council Meeting.
Seasons Greetings to all readers.
Joyce Meates, Chairman
KINGSTON NEWS
There seems to have been a lull in the affairs of Kingston, before the storm of Christmas. However things are hotting up. There was a memorable Carol Concert in the Church, given by the Purbeck Arts Club Choir together with the choir and recorder players from St George’s School. The children gave a great performance. It was really very mature. Combining adults with children was a great success.
Congratulations to St George’s and their teachers, Sarah Painter, who memorably doubled as a music stand, and Helen Hinsull. We must not forget Jay Buckle, the Arts Club conductor and their accompanist, Isabelle Butler. Oh, and the adult choir weren’t too bad either.
There have been two appearances of interest on the television recently, which have concerned Kingston men. Jon Hales was very impressive speaking about the campaign of St George’s School to remain where they are... a star of the future?
In a series of programmes about the law in the 18th century, there was a man called Sir John Scott, who must have been our Lord Eldon in his early days. They both belong to the legal profession.
On Friday, 18 December, Chris Batten was married to John Anstey... very much a village wedding. We wish them every happiness.
Since the future of our telephone box has been raised, there have been other suggestions for its use. A village library? This has been done elsewhere. A cold frame, if we are allowed to put in a plastic top? A drop off point for Santa? We can only muse.
You should receive this edition before Christmas, so may we wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
George Pitman
THE VILLAGE CLUB
The trip to Winchester saw a full coach and the added bonus of visiting the Cathedral and hearing the famous Welsh singer, Bryn Terfel rehearsing for a Christmas Concert. A good day out enjoyed by all. The Christmas Party in the Village Hall was well attended, with mulled wine, mince pies, crackers, raffle and the entertainment provided by The Rev. Timbrell in his own highly amusing style. This was the last Christmas in the old hall and therefore a bit nostalgic but still enjoyed by all. Congratulations to our new member, Sue Smith, who is making a fantastic job of the new bunting for the new hall. Any donations of lightweight fabric welcome please ~ old shirts, duvet covers, etc ~ anything that flutters! The AGM on 21 January at 2pm will be held in the Village Hall as usual. Please come along and hear what is planned for the year. Renew your membership and share the Club’s 9th birthday cake; Tea and biscuits as usual. All welcome. A Happy New Year to everyone.
Jane Rogers
HARMANS CROSS RESIDENTS’ CLUB
There was a wonderfully festive atmosphere for our Christmas party night which almost filled the village hall on 18 December when 45 members, guests and new residents enjoyed a free glass of mulled wine or soft drink with mince pies and nibbles. Two more people joined the Club on the night bringing our total membership to 80. Many thanks to everyone for their support.
The next few Club Nights at the village hall from 7.30pm to 10.30pm are: 8, 15, 22 (Pub Quiz from 8.30pm) & 29 January and a ‘Farewell to the Old Hall Party’ on 12 February. After the old hall closes on 14 February, we plan to meet twice a month at one or two local pubs on Friday evenings – for details see February’s Dubber.
Nigel Edmonds, Chairman
COLOURFUL CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
A full complement of stall holders and helpers were delighted to welcome excited youngsters and their parents to the hall for our Christmas Bazaar in early December. Even though there was strong competition from the street fair in Swanage.
Judy Robson and Jenny Porter who organised this annual event thanked Glen and Betty Bower for serving up teas, coffees and some delicious cakes. Also Richard and Midge Bullock for helping with the Christmas decorations. See photos on the website.
“We were really pleased with the turnout and interest from the local community – even the Belvedere Singers who took a stall, looked as if they would break into song,” said Judy.
Many of the young children who attended were invited to view and comment upon the New Playground Equipment that was displayed in picture form by Nigel Edmonds.
Alan Stephenson
CO-
The members of the New Village Hall in Harmans Cross are really cooking thanks to
a £2,000 donation from the Co-
The grant will be used to help equip the kitchens in a new village hall that will be completed in Spring 2010.
“The Community Fund can make a real and lasting contribution to local communities
and we are delighted to support the New Village Hall. Many community groups share
our co-
The Co-
The Fund offers grants of between £100 and £2,000, with local Co-
Speaking on behalf of the Village Hall, Bob Evans said: “The local Co-
Alan Stephenson
MODEL RAILWAY GROUP
There were five layouts a display of ships and Great Western railcars at our meeting on 4 December. Last month Terry Jenkins and I each assumed the other was bringing a goods shed for the Hornby Dublo three rail layout. This time the layout had two goods sheds! I ran Silver King with two Gresley coaches and a horse box.
On the Evercreech layout were two 9F 2-
Our next meeting will be on Friday 1 January and we are having a TT gauge evening on 20 January.
Robin Brasher
SURFS UP
Do you have friends or family that you’d like to see, but live too far away to make this possible, then Sykpe may be your cyber answer.
If you have a computer equipped with a webcam and speakers then Sykpe will allow you not only to speak to your friends and family but to see them as well. This web based service is free to download and completely free to use. If you have basic computer skills, then the setup process is pretty straight forward. You can of course only ‘call’ someone who has a skype address, so it is very similar, in that sense, to using email. In addition it is easy and safe to use, so you control who can call you. So, if this sounds interesting, you should be googling Sykpe. If you’re interested, but completely confused then you should be coming along to computer club!
For more details about Sykpe and computer club, please get in touch.
Shaun Williams
How long does it take to build a house? That depends partly on what sort of a house you have in mind and on how many bureaucrats are standing in your way. If the house you want to build is not a part time pad for someone who already has a house, but an essential base for someone wanting to work and start a family, you will find that the numbers of bureaucrats increase exponentially.
I well remember the difficulties which arose from trying to build houses on the Bebgie land. She had gifted it to the Council for that specific purpose and it was a free bit of real estate with a queue of eligible people hoping to live there. Nevertheless there were many years of form filling and letter writing before the first stone was laid, so I was not all that surprised by the apparently slow progress of the Worth Community Trust with their houses. Nevertheless, I thought a trawl through the Trust Minutes might be instructive. The story begins at the tail end of 2005 when Bob Kenyon bought some land and set up a steering group which in turn became the Worth Community Trust.
After a great many meetings it was given £10,000 by Purbeck Community Action to enable
it to commission architects and submit an outline planning application for five houses.
Here is where the game of snakes and ladders begins for as they were affordable houses,
they required a Section 106 agreement. This was to specify that they were for people
with local connexions and couldn’t be sold on the open market at a profit. It is
surely not the first time such conditions have been required, but no standard wording
was deemed acceptable and the Trust had to employ a firm of lawyers to draw one up.
It took a year to re-
Following further investigation by the East Dorset Antiquarian Society it was agreed that if no more than five houses were built, a road could be constructed on top of the remains. However this further small ladder, was promptly counteracted by another snake when the Antiquarians discovered a quarry working, not where the houses were to be built, but in the corner of one of the proposed gardens. The District Council insisted that a £7,500 contamination study be carried out so they could be told what everyone already knows, that ancient quarry workings are made up of nothing more dangerous than bits of cast off stone. To be fair they eventually agreed to pay for the survey themselves, so up another small ladder and then another still when the Trust was given a grant of £50,000 towards building costs.
All seemed to bode well, especially in October 2008 when the Housing Corporation put up a massive ladder making Worth the site of one of its pilot projects with the prospect of a £275,000 grant. However, if you think that is the end of the story you don’t know your bureaucrats, for they had another trick up their sleeve. Just when all seemed done and dusted, they disbanded the Housing Corporation and replaced it with a new body called the Housing and Communities Agency. A brand new name, but, I suspect, all the same people sitting at different desks, which of course didn’t stop them happily unpicking the old arrangement. They now insisted that the previously proposed tenants share of up to 5% was increased to 25% valued at open market prices, despite the fact that under the Council’s Section 106 agreement the shares could not be sold on the open market. This meant a tenant’s minimum share would cost £80,000 neatly making the affordable unaffordable, so the idea of a tenant’s share had to be dropped. I hope you are still with me.
We are now in August 2009 travelling fast down a snake, which has just extended its tail by saying that the Trust’s revised proposal can only be submitted to the HCA electronically under their a new ‘streamlined process’. This means that it can’t be sent to them on one of their beloved forms or even on a CD but has to be input electronically direct by an authorised Housing Association password holder. Fortunately, Worth Community Trust has connexions with the Synergy Housing Group so they suggested that Synergy fed the stuff into the HCA computer on their behalf. I expect you have already guessed it... Synergy is not the right kind of Housing Association either and must themselves transmit the data via someone else. This whole scenario would have been perfectly understood by civil servants in the Indian Government shortly after the second world war. They would have especially appreciated the latest bureaucratic rulings which have caused all progress to grind to a halt for over a year.
I have to ask myself how many Bob Kenyons exist in this world? The answer I guess is not many. Which of us would shell out our own money to secure a possible site for social housing, hold endless meetings, sell on at a loss and after four years still refuse to give up the battle? Since 2005 not a single brick, or in this case straw bale, has been laid and the previously negotiated loans to cover future construction costs of £400,000 have run out of time. Anyone who has money to spare and is prepared to lend it at a modest rate of interest, should contact Mr Kenyon and cheer him up with a fat cheque. You will find him sitting despondently at the end of a very large snake.
Tony Viney
SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Yvonne and I recently returned from a holiday in Austria, that beautiful country sadly linked in many minds with a recent bizarre event which our media considered to be ‘news’.
As it happened, just before leaving England we heard that a friend had needed permission to photograph her own child at a school sports day. In Austria we found a rather different attitude.
There was, at one mountain café, an almost full-
A few days later, again we seemed about to be frustrated in photographing a fine bronze of a mountain goat, as two little girls perched themselves on it. This time, not only did the parents again make it clear that I was welcome to take a photograph – they then hustled the girls off and lifted a younger sister up for another photo !
During our fortnight, in towns and villages, we noticed only one security camera. What we did see, chalked over the doorways of shops and homes, was the message 20 : C+ M+ B : 09, the Austrian welcome to Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. And what we did hear was Gruss Gott (God be with you), the cheerful greeting from almost everyone we met on our walks.
Roger Free
THE DUBBER 1965
Jim Bradford sent in this copy of the front cover of the Langton Dubber (as it was known then) in January 1965. The Dubber was just completing its first year and in a bit of trouble regarding submissions as the editorial from the same edition reveals:
“As we come to the end of the first year of the Langton Dubber one inevitably looks
back in review. But, it is remarkably difficult to assess whether it has fulfilled
its function or not -
Quite frankley [sic], the Dubber is tottering through lack of feeding. Please, this year, send us something to get our teeth into, and if you want us to starve to death at least tell us!”
Well, we certainly don’t have the same problem now!
Angela
HOWLERS FOR THE HOLIDAY
Alan Porter has sent in this collection of 2009 GCSE gaffes to keep us smiling over
the festive period. Speaking as an ex-
Angela
Q. Name the four seasons
A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar
Q. Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink
A. Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists
Q. How is dew formed?
A. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire
Q. What guarantees may a mortgage company insist on?
A. If you are buying a house they wilt insist that you are well endowed
Q. What are steroids?
A. Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs
Q What happens to your body as you age?
A. When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental
Q. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?
A. He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery
Q Name a major disease associated with cigarettes
A. Premature death
Q. What does ‘varicose’ mean?
A. Nearby
Q. What is the most common form of birth control?
A. Most people prevent contraception by wearing a condominium
Q. Give the meaning of the term ‘Caesarean section’
A. The Caesarean section is a district in Rome
Dear Dubber
I wonder whether any other Purbeck parents are unhappy about the new system for booking
children’s swimming lessons at Purbeck Sports Centre. Although there has been one
change made to the proposed new system -
This means that children will now have to swim for 50 weeks of the year and, if they want to withdraw for the summer, parents will have to give one month’s notice, cancel their direct debit and the children will not be guaranteed a place in the same group or any group when they return. The only other option is that parents pay to keep the place open. It also means that children will be told when they must change groups and which groups they can change to... severely limiting choice of times and days; this could be even more difficult for those people with more than one child taking swimming lessons or for children who do a number of other activities in the week. It also means that if your child is moved up a group and can’t fit in with the new time you will still have to give one month’s notice. As it is, the new proposals mean that parents will be paying an extra £50 a year for lessons that we don’t really want our children to have. We will have reduced choice of lesson times and we could be out of pocket because our child improves!
If, like me, you feel unhappy about this new system, please make your feelings known
to Paul Davis at Purbeck Sports Centre (pauldavis@purbeck-
Caroline Mandeville
Dear Dubber
It’s the peak holiday week, all holiday homes are let, the car parks are full and the village is alive to the buzz of numerous visitors and residents enjoying one of the most attractive places in the country and then 5,000 additional visitors in their 2,000 cars descend on Worth Matravers for the Classical Music Festival.
CHAOS, the roads become gridlocked, your journey to the shops takes an additional couple of hours, the beautiful Winspit ‘valley’ becomes an eyesore of camping and car parking and there is absolutely no chance of the Emergency Services meeting their time targets putting lives at risk.
Is this what you want? If not you need to act NOW prior to the granting of a Licence for the above event which is being planned for 26–28 August 2010.
Let your views be known by attending the special Parish meeting prior to the next Parish Council meeting. The Meeting will be held at 7pm. (Not 7.30 pm as previously advertised) on Tuesday, 5 January, at Harmans Cross Village Hall, where we intend to urge the Parish Council to make formal representation to the Purbeck District Council, Dorset County Council, Police and Emergency Services to oppose the application on the grounds of Public Safety. Many residents have already written to the Purbeck District Council to express their concern now we need YOUR support.
Residents’ Group
I know I said no more anonymous letters but...
Dear Dubber
New Years Cocktail Recipes for those who may have over-
BRONTOSAURUS. 3 measures of grapefruit juice; ½ measure of lime juice; ½ measure of grenadine syrup; Shake or stir along with some ice, add 3 measures of lemonade and decorate with a slice of cucumber ...and for those looking for more of a kick, BRONTOSAURUS REX, as above but substitute the lemonade with sparkling wine.
Anonymous
Letters should be emailed to ed@thedubber.co.uk
ED’S EMERALD FRITTATA
You might think that this is just a summer dish, and it’s certainly a great dish for a picnic, but those people growing their own veg often have plenty of chard or beet spinach still growing at this time of year and this makes a nice, simple winter lunch dish served with garlic bread. The olive oil adds the flavour to all frittatas and tortillas so don’t be frugal with it!
Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 10 mins
175g (6oz) of perpetual spinach/chard
(but can be any greens)
Two medium onions sliced
6 eggs
3 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Whisk the eggs in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Wash the greens,
shake off the excess moisture and finely shred them. Heat an 8” frying pan and add
one tablespoon of the olive oil and a pinch of salt. Add the greens and the onions
and stir-
Add the remaining oil. Pour in the egg mixture and spread out to make it even over the pan. Make sure the egg is well mixed into the greens. Cook over a medium heat for about six minutes then cook under a hot grill for a further four minutes to set the eggs (if you’re feeling adventurous flip it instead using a plate!), leave to rest in the pan for a few minutes before turning onto a plate.
Delicious served warm with salad or in slices when cold for a summer picnic.
If you have a recipe that you’d like to share, please send it to ed@thedubber.co.uk.
