Swift in flight

FROM THE EDITOR

This edition of The Dubber completes my third year as editor. Although I am not thinking of handing in my notice yet, it would be nice to have someone who can take over on occasions and maybe in the long term later. So if there is anyone out there who would like to help (training in DTP can be given), please get in touch.

There are a number of strong views expressed in this month’s Dubber. There are angles on the wind farm, village traffic, devolution, travellers’ sites to name but a few. It gives me a bit of headache deciding whether it’s fact or opinion and should go in ‘News’ or ‘Letters’. But, I am always pleased that, here in the sticks, we are not an apathetic bunch. When I was teaching, the students always seemed so unwilling to demonstrate or even have any passionate views (except about the marks they had just received for their essays). Perhaps, some hardship over the next few years will do them some good. As a child of the sixties, I love a good demo or a bit of bolshiness... as long as it’s not aimed at me that is.

Angela Bell

ed@thedubber.co.uk

Thanks to Owen Bryant ICIA, Bath University for this month’s cover design.

LETTER FROM THE RECTORY

February 2012

Dear Friends

Love is all around, love is in the air, all you need is love, love me tender love me true, love, love me do! Yes, it’s that time of year again, the time when the price of flowers goes sky high, bookings in restaurants are very hard to get, and the postie does extra weight training lugging excess bags of cards around for delivery. It’s the season of love and in a few days there will be many people waiting by the letter box, hopeful of the card coming through the post that will reassure them that they are loved, cared for and are valued by another human being! And, of course, there will be just as many people who will be disappointed, maybe saddened in their loneliness, and possibly feeling that the lack of that affirming piece of stationery indicates that they are somehow a lesser person than they thought.

That may sound a bit dramatic, but, actually, as human beings, we are designed to need love. And we function to our fullest potential when are confident of being loved. If love wasn’t a basic need and a state that we aspire to, then it prompts us to ask the question why is love the hub of our daily lives, and why is love such a commercial commodity?

Love comes in many forms, and it is very easy to mistake lust for love. In the Bible, St Paul wrote a wonderful description of love, an ideal to aspire to whether you have faith or not. He wrote ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.’ (1 Corinthians 13) Love is never an easy option! It is challenging and often costly.

The greatest example we have of love is the love of God for his creation and that includes us. He gave us his Son, Jesus, who lived and died for the salvation of humanity. Whether we know human love or not, we can all live with the knowledge that we are loved beyond measure by God. Jesus is no longer with us in body, but he is in Spirit! And we can all live out the spirit of love one to another by adopting St Paul’s definition of love as our way of life. Maybe we could make the concept of Valentine’s day our goal for every day. Not the commercial side, but the showing of love and concern to all the people we live amongst.

Gaynor Burrett

Priest-in-charge

Kingston, Langton Matravers & Worth Matravers

GENERAL NEWS

VALENTINE VAUDEVILLE

This production, generously supported by Corbens, Estate Agents, is by the group that presented ‘Cinderella’ in 2010, and we look forward to another full house this year, in Langton Village Hall on Wednesday, 15  February at 7.30 pm.

The programme will begin with a Langton version of Call My Bluff, assisted by the audience (please bring a pencil), before the highlight of the evening, when Mr Thomas Hardy will appear in person (oh yes he will!) in a light-hearted sideways glance at Hardy’s Wessex.

This will be followed by refreshments, and then an attempt by the team to speak for Just A Minute without hesitation, deviation or repetition. The evening will end with musical entertainment.

Tickets (inclusive of refreshment) are £5, (£2.50 for under 15s), and are now available from The Post Office and also from Jan and Roger. Proceeds in aid of St George’s Church Building Fund.

Roger Free

SHIP INN AUCTION

(LtoR) Pete & Carol Burgess present the cheque to Steve Churchill

Roger, Sue, Pete & Carol wish to say a huge thank you to everybody who helped make the above event on Boxing Day such a happy and successful event. Thanks to your generosity either by donating or buying gifts, we raised the incredible amount of £806.38 for our chosen charity Heroes Haven. A special thanks to the gentleman from Wareham who donated the lovely books.

In January, the presentation to Steve Churchill, the Chairman of Heroes Haven, took place at the Ship. He praised the auction goers’ generosity.

We all hope you enjoyed yourselves and hope to see at the same time and place in 2012.    

Roger, Sue, Pete & Carol

NEAR MISS IN LANGTON

In January, two cars collided outside the village hall as I was walking my children home from school. A stationary vehicle pulled out without indicating and hit the car travelling past it which was pushed across the    and came to a halt at the kerb, no more than half a metre from me and the children. Thankfully, they were both travelling really slowly otherwise they would have hit us.  

The High Street is narrow, cars pass very close to pedestrians, who have absolutely nowhere to go due to the high stone walls on either side in many places. I would like to see speed limits reduced and am in contact with an organisation www.20splentyforus.org.uk which has information on how communities can campaign together to change their local speed limits. I’ve also spoken to the Traffic Engineers at DCC and am expecting a call back.

I know that the issues of traffic and parking are currently on agendas for discussion with the school Governors and the Parish Council, and in light of the imminent changes to the school now is the perfect time for the village to start talking about the issues we face, and try to come up with a solution together which suits us all.

To that end I have booked LM village hall on Saturday, 4 February from 10- 4pm and would like to invite all Langton residents and anyone who has anything at all to say about traffic in Langton to come along and share their concerns. Let’s start talking about possible changes we can make and what we would like to do to make our village safer.

There will be refreshments, colouring for the children and hopefully some information about possible options we can take forward. I’d also like to think about a petition to gauge local opinion, and will be thinking about fundraising for posters/leaflets window stickers etc so please come along and let me know your thoughts. The main purpose of the session is to start a dialogue and get local people thinking and talking about road safety in our village. If you would like to help please come and get involved. For further information please email cassie@dorsetteaparty.co.uk.

Cassie Feltham

PURBECK U3A

Furzebrook Village Hall is the venue for this month’s meeting of Purbeck U3A. Visitors are very welcome to join members at 10 ’til noon on Thursday, 23 February to listen to Duncan Flint from Dorset County Council talk about the Olympics and Paralympics and what this will mean for us Dorset residents. His talk, entitled ‘Dorset’s Preparations for the London 2012 Games’, will follow refreshments and a brief U3A matters session.

Juliet Greves

PHOTO HONOURS PRESIDENT

The watchkeepers of St Alban’s Head NCI gather in front of the Portland coastguard helicopter to honour Gerald Crofton Briggs

The watchkeepers of the St Alban’s Head station of the National Coastwatch Institution recently gathered at their lookout on the lonely headland south of Worth Matravers. The occasion was a special photograph to honour their President, Gerald Crofton Briggs. He was one of the founders of the station in 1996 and, although in his eighties, still keeps the occasional watch. The watchkeepers are all volunteers and man the station during the day, 364 days a year.

John Newth

WHERE AM I IN PURBECK?

Sue at the Ship pointed this oddity out to me - make sure you use the style at this point! Where am I?

Chris Meadows

WEST COUNTRY EMBROIDERERS

Do you fancy trying your hand at a bit of embroidery? If so, how about coming along to the West Country Embroiderers, Purbeck group. We meet on the first Tuesday of the month, (excluding January and August) from 10am at Church Knowle Village Hall, where we have day schools in different types of embroidery, ranging from Indian Applique, South African flowers and painting lace to brilliant bags and knot gardens.

We are a very friendly and informal group, not all of us have lots of expertise, but we do have lots of fun. We meet with other embroidery groups once a year on Dorset Day, where we can also purchase interesting threads, beads and books.

If you would like to come along as a guest for a taster, please contact Sally Silk.

Elaine Snazell

BURNGATE STONE CARVING CENTRE

The Centre will be open daily February between 10am and 2pm (until 3pm at weekends). We have scheduled lots of new courses for 2012 and our new leaflet is ready – contact the Centre if you would like to receive one or pop up to see what we have to offer this year.

We are running some new courses in 2012 – Sewing classes with Ros Sunley, Pottery with Rachel Fooks and Painting with Jan Dagley to name but a few. We continue to offer Printmaking with Heather Gibbons and 3D Wire & Sculpture with Di Quinn and Midge Bullock. If you would like to register your interest for any of these courses, please contact the Centre. If there’s something you would like to see being offered at the Centre, contact us and we will see what we can arrange.

We will be running the following courses in February:

• Freeform with Jonathan Sells on the 4, 5, 6, 13, 20 & 27
• Introduction to stone carving with Val Quinn, Saturday, 11 Feb.
• Have-a-go lettering and carve a fossil with Alan Davis every Tuesday.
• Have-a-go carving and Carry on Carving with Val Quinn every Wednesday.
• Printmaking with Heather Gibbons on 17 & 18 Feb.
• Art of the letter: Lettering in stone with Anna Bowen, Saturday, 18 Feb.
• 3D Wire and Sculpture with Midge Bullock and Di Quinn every Thursday morning

The half term holiday will be packed full of activities for all the family but especially for the children to help keep them entertained whatever the weather! Parents/Carers don’t have to stay on site for the children’s sessions or if you want to stay, you can enjoy a drink in our tearoom. Please visit our website for more information on all our activities.

• Sewing fun with Rosie Ralls, Monday, 13 Feb.
• Children’s have-a-go stone carving (6 yrs+), Tuesday, 14 Feb.
• Arty fun – make your own cards (5 yrs+), Tuesday, 14 Feb.
• Messy print making (5 yrs+), Wednesday, 15 Feb.
• Art and craft madness - Masks & Hats (5 yrs+), Thursday, 16 Feb.
• Family have-a-go stone carving (6 yrs+), Thursday, 16 Feb.

It’s advisable to book a place on our courses, as space is limited. For more information and booking please contact us at info@burngatestonecentre.co.uk. Our website www.burngatestonecentre.co.uk will have all the latest information on courses and activities.

Kelly Fenech

ROUND THE CLOCK PRAYER

We are planning another ecumenical prayer room at the United Reformed Church from 9am Friday 17 to 9am Sunday 19 February (leading up to the United Service). We are planning to pray particularly for the whole community of Swanage.

This prayer room is for everyone – regardless of your tradition or experience in praying. People almost invariably find it an enriching experience. If you have not been before and are a little nervous, please give it a try. Essentially, it is a room with resources and stimulus for prayer (pictures, books, information, craft materials) that you can use in whatever way you wish for as long or short a time as you wish. You can come and pray on your own in silence or with others in a group; there will be some advertised times of joint prayer or liturgy led by ministers of all traditions. Look in your church for a detailed timetable. Each church will take responsibility for a few hours and it will be really helpful if you can sign up to be there at certain times. Otherwise, please drop in when you can.

Alan Dominy

THE WRIGHT MOVE

Pat and Gerald will shortly be moving from Coombe Farm Cottage to 36 High Street, Langton Matravers. This will mean they no longer have room to store all the bric à brac, books etc collected for the NSPCC. A Table Top Sale will be held at the Catholic Hall, Rempstone Road on Saturday, 11 February, 10.30am until 4pm. Household items, garden sundries, clothing unwanted Christmas gifts, etc. There are lots of bargains to be had.

Pat Wright

2011... A DRY YEAR?

The ground is currently very muddy and soggy, so it may seem strange to refer to 2011 as a dry year. I have been collecting rainfall data for Worth Matravers over the past 19 years, and the 2011 results can be examined against this background information, as shown below. Average annual rainfall 33.3ins (846mm); Wettest year (2000) 44.9ins (1140mm); Driest year (2004) 26.8ins (681mm)

At 27.5ins (699mm) the 2011 rainfall was almost 18% below average, and during March/April/May we had only 2.1ins (54mm). The rainfall for 2010 was even slightly less at 27.0ins (686mm). Thus although we may have fared better than the east and south-east of England in respect of filling reservoirs and recharging aquifers, a somewhat higher rainfall over the next few years could be beneficial for our water supplies and the environment in general. If this is the case, then hopefully the main holiday season will be spared: last August was the wettest month of the year here, with 4.4ins (111mm) of rain!

Colin Nunn

IVY BOWER’S SWEETSHOP

There used to be a small sweetshop at the entrance to Acton, belonging to Ivy Bower. If anyone has a photograph of the shop which could be copied, could they please contact the Clerk at the Parish Office, Langton Matravers. (See contact details under Langton Parish Council Report). Thank you.

Jan Marsh

COME & SING MORNING

Do you sing in the bath? Have you always thought you couldn’t sing but would really like to.

Well now is your chance to have a go!

Come and join the Belvedere Singers in the community room at The Mowlem on Saturday, 25 February from 10.30am-12.30pm. The music will be light and easy and there will be some fun vocal warm ups. The morning is free and coffee will be provided.

All abilities and ages are welcome. So either drop in for half an hour or stay for the whole time. We look forward to seeing you.

Helen Knight

NEWS FROM LEESON HOUSE

This year’s New Year’s resolution is to keep in touch with The Dubber. Already in 2012 a group of mad scientists have been doing some nationally-important research at Leeson House! The scientists were St George’s Year 4 and their job was to survey our hedges and ponds as part of the national Open Air Laboratories initiative. The children’s results will be interpreted by scientists and used to form a picture of the health of Britain’s habitats. Leeson staff were completely bowled over by the children’s knowledge and enthusiasm for wildlife-hunting. Well done Year 4!

A date for you diary is the Leeson House Ceilidh on Friday, 24 February at 7.30pm. The superb, talented and very pretty band Dorset Ceilidh will play and call the dances. The lounges and dining room will be open, there’ll be delicious locally-made pasties, a quiz, and of course a bar! So please come and shake off the February blues with some fine feasting, drinking and dancing in a lovely setting. All welcome, see you there! Phone Leeson (422126) for tickets (£12/£10 concessions).

Alison Jay

WHERE AM I ANSWER

The lonely style is on the footpath coming out of Acton where it crosses the track up to Bonfield’s quarry, on its way up to the Worth Road which you can see in the background.

Chris Meadows

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NEWS FROM KINGSTON

     

SPRING IN WINTER

After the excitement of the Christmas activities, the Christmas Party at The Scott Arms, which Father Christmas managed to find time to visit, and the Party to welcome in 2012, also at The Scott Arms, Kingston settled back to its normal life. The unusually mild weather encouraged daffodils and primroses to bloom. The Ravens raucous calls could be heard as they circled the church tower, and at dawn birds were singing to claim their territory ready for the nesting season. A shock to them all in the middle of the month when we had a few sharp frosts. Perhaps winter is still to come.

FAREWELL

Gaynor Burrett, Priest in Charge (left) and David Scott, Churchwarden (right)

present Elizabeth Crabbe (centre) with Terry Hardy’s Book on St James’ as a farewell gift

After many years in Purbeck, Elizabeth Crabbe has decided to leave us and spend her retirement in Wales. Her help and encouragement during her time here to our clergy has been invaluable and she will be much missed. We wish her much happiness in her new home.

Greta Hardy

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NEWS FROM HARMANS CROSS

HARMANS CROSS MOVIE NIGHTS

Since we started our monthly Movie Nights in November 2009, our first 15 films have had an average audience of 54 people. January’s showing of the well-received historical thriller The Conspirator attracted exactly that number.

On Tuesday, 14 February we are showing the 2011 light-hearted romantic thriller The Adjustment Bureau. Do we control our destiny, or do unseen forces manipulate us? Matt Damon stars in a man who glimpses the future Fate has planned for him and realises he wants something else. To get it, he must pursue the only woman he’s ever loved across, under and through the streets of modern-day New York. On the brink of winning a seat in the US Senate, the ambitious politician meets beautiful contemporary ballet dancer (played by Emily Blunt) - a woman like none he’s ever known. But just as he realises he’s falling for her, mysterious men conspire to keep the two apart. ‘Exciting, mind-bending and romantic,’ said The Daily Star; The Daily Telegraph critic thought it was ‘refreshing to watch a film that isn’t willing to settle for creating a mood of bluesy paranoia’, while The Daily Mail said it was a ‘romantic drama that presents us with one of the most likeable couples in recent cinema’.

Movie Nights are held at the village hall on the second Tuesday every month; tickets are only available at the door on the night and are £4 each. This month the hall and the bar will open at 6.45pm; the film will start at 7.30 (with a 15 minute interval around 8.30) and finish around 9.30. Movie Nights then continue on Tuesday, 13 March with last year’s British romantic comedy Chalet Girl - more details next month.

Nigel Edmonds

MUSIC NIGHTS LIVE AT HARMANS CROSS

Our second live music event at the village hall is on Saturday, 31 March when we are proud to present our first Blues Night with popular, talented Bournemouth-based band ‘Paint It Blue’. They describe their music genre as Blues/Psychedelic/Rock and will play a selection of covers as well as their own original material (also available on the night on the band’s debut CD) with influences ranging from soul, gospel and funk to rock and British blues. On the night we are expecting the four-piece configuration of the band made up of female vocals/acoustic guitar/percussion, lead/rhythm guitar, bass guitar & drums. Samples of their music are on www.myspace.com/paintitblueuk

For the latest news keep an eye on the Village Hall’s new Music Nights Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/pages/Harmans-Cross-Village-Hall-Music-Nights/298417733522065

The doors and reasonably-priced Residents’ Club bar will open at 7.30pm with the group on stage playing two sessions from 8pm. Tickets are only £6 from the Harmans Cross SPAR shop (from 24 Feb) or from John Dainton and Nigel Edmonds or on the door (if still available) with profits from the night going to the Village Hall Fund.

Nigel Edmonds

HARMANS CROSS RESIDENTS’ CLUB

Our Christmas Evening in December attracted a record 56 members and guests to the village hall, including a number of new residents. The hall was beautifully decorated and festive music could occasionally be heard above the hubbub. On offer was a free glass of mulled wine or a soft drink, mince pies and nibbles. On the night, and shortly afterwards, a further five members joined the Club, taking our total membership to 111.

New members are welcome at a reduced subscription of £2.50 from now until the annual membership renewal on 31 July. Non-residents can also join if proposed and seconded by existing members who live in Harmans Cross. To join, pick up an application form from our notice board in the village hall or print one off from harmanscrosshall.co.uk/resclub/rules.html.

After a quiet night on 6 January, the next Friday’s attendance increased to an above-average 25. The new log fire made things very cosy, making for a really enjoyable evening. The Club’s licensed bar is now open to members and guests every Friday from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.

Nigel Edmonds

HARMANS CROSS VILLAGE CLUB

An evening with Gordon Stevens is on 4 February. Gordon is a resident of Harmans Cross and the evening is one not to be missed. The talk is entitled ‘Life in Books’. Gordon is an award-winning documentary maker and best-selling thriller writer. He is one of the few journalists invited to become a member of the Special Forces Club. Gordon’s latest publication is about the secret diaries of the SAS at War. He started writing books after he met a Guerrilla Leader in South America. The evening will include a light supper. Tickets are £6 for members and £7 for non members and are available from Yvette Rowlatt.

A skittles evening will be held on 16 February at the Village Inn, Ulwell at 7pm. There is a very good restaurant at the Village Inn for those wishing to eat beforehand. Those of you who regularly come know what a fun evening it is. Those of you who have never been before, give it a try, you will be assured of a warm welcome. Those interested please give your name to Yvette so the Village Inn will know approximately how many to expect.

On 23 February, we have a talk by Viv Endecott entitled ‘Five Cheers for Enid Blyton’. Enid Blyton was a regular visitor to Purbeck. Purbeck and surrounding areas were an inspiration to her and Finniston Farm was inspired by Enid’s own Manor Farm in Stourton Caundle, whilst Five Have a Mystery to Solve is set in a part of Dorset which Enid Blyton loved, with Whispering Island being based on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. I am sure Viv will have many tales to tell about Enid Blyton’s time spent in Purbeck so do join us.

Marie Evans

HARMANS CROSS COMPUTER CLUB

I hope you have all had an enjoyable Christmas and are ready to test the grey matter again in the coming weeks!

We have the following dates booked: 13 Feb, 27 Feb, 12 Mar, 26 Mar. These are all Mondays with the usual 7- 8.30 pm time slot in the small meeting room at Harmans Cross Village Hall.

We will start off with some help to show how to put items up for sale on sites such as ebay, and decide going forward on topics of general interest. Hope to see you there.

Shaun Williams

MUSICAL FUN

There is another evening of musical entertainment scheduled for Saturday, 18  February, when Swanage Sea Rowing Club are holding an open fund raising evening.

Time and Tide a three piece folk group lead by Robin Plowman, will entertain from 7.30pm with a theme ‘Who’s Afear’d?’ his latest show. Many will already know Robin as the recently retired head ranger at Durlston National Nature Reserve, and some may even have experienced his guided walks up there where he often broke into song about some local shipwreck or the like, and witnessed the pleasure he gets from the fun. The programme will include tales of Dorset Sea Dogs, Soldiers and Gentlemen Smugglers in both words and song, and promises to be an entertaining evening.

Ticket price £7.50 will include a Ploughman’s (no pun intended ) supper, and can be obtained from George Wallace.

Hugh Salter

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NEWS FROM LANGTON MATRAVERS

LM HISTORY & PRESERVATION SOCIETY

The Langton Matravers Local History & Preservation Society meets in the village hall at 7.30pm on Thursday, 16 February when Reg Saville will give an illustrated talk on ‘The History of Worth Matravers from 1770 to 1950’. All welcome, members £2.50, non-members £3.50.

We are trying to put together some photographs of the School now that it is on the verge of a new life and would like to see any old photographs you may have of Langton school, particularly of 1902-1960. We would very much like to copy some these if you would give your permission. Please contact either Reg or Rosemary.

Rosemary Stevens

LANGTON FLOWERS

As always, I want to say a huge thank you to all the ladies who give up their precious time at a very busy time of year for everyone to decorate St George’s Church so beautifully. The team may change slightly from year to year but the good will and excellent results continue.  

Rachel James

LANGTON MATRAVERS PARISH COUNCIL

January Meeting

Present: Cllr P. White, in the Chair, Cllr M. Turner (Vice-Chairman), and Cllrs J.Bradford, C. Drayson, M. Kirby, W. Knight, P. Loudoun, M. Lovell and H.Tizard. There were four members of the public present.

National Trust

David Hodd of the NT reported to the meeting on the Trust’s work in the area within the last month. Parts of the Coastal Path have been cleared. A new gate has been put up in the quarry field at Acton in preparation for a new electric fence. In cooperation with the Council’s Footpath Liaison Officer, Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle, the Trust plans to survey and repair sections of the Priest’s Way, with possible funding from DCC. Funding has been obtained from Europe for repair to steps at Guillemot Ledge and the Trust is bidding for more funding to renew interpretation at Spyway barn. For further details, please contact David.Hodd@nationaltrust.org.uk

Footpaths Report

Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle, PC Footpath Liaison Officer, has been very busy with footpath matters this month. As well as plans for work on the Priest’s Way, he has discussed making a new path between the bottom of Crack Lane and New Barn (avoiding the A351), with Steve Kourik, DCC Footpath Officer: DCC are prepared to fund the costs of the work if landowners are willing and a suitable proposal is made. To contact Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle on any footpath matter, please e-mail ian@ianva.co.uk.

Planning

 6/2011/0790 National Trust. Site freestanding contained unit to provide welfare and toilet facilities for staff and volunteers. Castle View (Albi’s Barn) Langton Matravers. Observation: The Council were in favour of the application on the condition that the building is provided with appropriate natural screening to minimise the visual impact on the immediate environment.

Following a presentation by John Wootton in the Public Discussion period regarding the appeal against PDC’s refusal to grant permission for double-glazed replacement windows at Serrells Mead Cottages (1) Langton Matravers (No.6/2011/0387), the Council voted to strongly support the appeal, as it supports sustainable and energy-conserving policies.

Parish Plan

Recommendations from parishioners collected in 2011 were presented to the Council by Cllr Kirby on behalf of the Parish Plan Working Party. Councillors were happy to adopt most of the proposals, and some items, including traffic management, will be addressed at the next meeting.

School Field Lease

After discussion of the past history of the play licence and lease on part of the school field, which relates to the area with the play equipment, it was agreed that the lease be signed on the Council’s behalf by the chairman and Vice-Chairman.

Next Meetings

The next Parish Council meeting is at 7pm on Thursday, 9 February. The March monthly meeting will be held at 7pm on Thursday, 8 March. Please attend. Agenda items are posted on the notice boards at least five days before meetings, and there is a 15-minute Public Discussion period at the start of each meeting when you can make your views known.

Contact Details

Full draft minutes are posted on the Parish notice boards. To comment on local issues, or inform the Clerk about malfunctioning footway lights, blocked drains etc. Please write to: The Parish Office, 1A High Street, Langton Matravers. Alternatively you can email the Clerk at langtonmatravers@dorsetparishes.gov.uk

Mary Sparks, Parish Clerk

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NEWS FROM WORTH MATRAVERS

WORTH AFTERNOON CLUB

At our January meeting, we welcomed David Corben who gave us a very interesting talk on the history of the RNLI and of his 35 years as a lifeboat man. The talk included filmed footage of their training and also of actual rescues that the Swanage RNLI were involved in. This gave us all an idea of the wonderful work the RNLI do in our area and of the terrible conditions they endure doing their valuable and voluntary work. Our next meeting is on Wednesday 8 February at 2.30pm when our speaker will be local photographer Ken Ayres with Moods of the Landscape. Visitors welcome.  

Beverley Tucker

ORGAN APPEAL UPDATE

We are delighted to report our Fund is growing and now stands at £13,225. Our very sincere thanks to all who have contributed, including the smartie boxes given to the children at the Christingle Service. The tea towels are selling well and are proving very popular. We are also very fortunate to have been given -  by Mary Counsell’s Family - her very special water colour prints of her montage of Worth, to sell for the Organ Fund.

The combined Harmans Cross and Worth Matravers Quiz Night on 17 February will soon be with us, do come and enjoy a fun evening there are posters in The Dubber to remind you of the details and where you can obtain tickets. Don’t forget to have a good look around St Nicholas Church as our Quiz Master intends a section of questions on the Church.

Anyone still wishing to donate to the Organ Appeal - Gift Aid envelopes are available in Church, or we would be delighted to hear from you.

Marian Holloway, Chair Fund Raising Committee

WORTH MATRAVERS PARISH COUNCIL

Representing Harmans Cross and Worth Matravers

January Meeting

Cllr Field was in the Chair, Cllrs Burden, Bugler, Meates, Sandham, with District/County Cllr Lovell were in attendance. Cllr Newman and Cllr Hobson gave their apologies. There were five members of the public present.

Wind Farm

The Council agreed to support the work being carried out by Dr Langley on the visual effects of the proposed offshore wind farm. There were no financial implications. It was agreed that it would be valuable if other Parish and Town Councils also supported this important technical study work.

Overhanging Vegetation

The pedestrian problems caused by overhanging hedges and vegetation blocking the footway on Haycrafts Lane by ‘Woodlands’ were raised. The Clerk confirmed this had been reported via Dorset for You Highways site and DCC Highways had provided an up to date leaflet and had indicated they would be taking action.

Affordable Housing Provision in Worth

The Council noted concerns expressed at the meeting about the January Dubber article. Cllrs discussed and noted a further Draft of the Affordable Housing Needs Study provided by PDC. (This report was originally commissioned by Worth Matravers Parish Council).

Further clarification from the individual questionnaires would be sought.

Gypsy and Traveller Sites

The Council reviewed the consultancy study carried out for Dorset CC and Purbeck DC of a wide range of possible sites in Purbeck for Gypsy and Travellers. It was agreed that the proposed sites in the Swanage area were not satisfactory options and not supported being in the area east of Wareham which has low employment opportunities and poor transport accessibility.

Priority should be given to locating such sites where they was historically demand along the main road travel corridors from Dorchester to Poole and Bournemouth. As a priority, existing sites with the infrastructure in place should be considered for expansion with additional pitches and sites already purchased and used for this purpose by Travellers without consent should be given further consideration.

Worth Village Withy Bed Maintenance

A working party of local residents continues to maintain this important feature in the centre of Worth Village and aims to work on the Withy Bed on the ‘first’ Sunday of each month

The group met on the Sunday, 7 January and the next planned visit will be on Sunday, 5 February. Anyone wishing to come and help will be very welcome.

Worth Car Park

Use of the car park for overnight parking by temporary residents or other visitors in the village was to be encouraged to reduce parking congestion and obstruction on the narrow village streets roads. Users would be requested to make the daily donation for the length of their stay

Highway Matters

Drainage issues on the embankment of the Railway bridge in Haycrafts Lane were brought to the Council’s attention. It was agreed these would be discussed with the Railway Company to seek a joint approach to DCC to resolve the problem.

Planning Applications

• PA 6/2011/0770 Downshay Farm, Haycrafts Lane Certificate of Lawfulness Use of land for camping and caravanning. No objection
• TWA 6/2011/0190 Tree Works Springbrooke Close. No observations
• The potentially unauthorized Tree Works reported at Worth Farm Cottage with pollarding of a Sycamore tree had been passed on to PDC Tree Works enforcement but the tree had not been located. The enforcement officer had been requested to contact Cllr Bugler.

Other Matters

The Council discussed the Parish Precept to be levied for 2012-13 as part of the Council Tax collected by PDC. The PC resolved that the Parish Precept for 2012-13 would be set at £ NIL. It was agreed the Council Budget for 2012-13 would be set and the Asset Register reviewed at the February meeting.

The next meeting will be held at Worth Matravers Village Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 7 February.

Roger Khanna, Parish Clerk

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NEWS FROM NOWHERE

I hope you had a good Christmas. I enjoyed mine while still complaining off and on about its relentless commercialism.

I was similarly bi-polar about the New Year celebrations. It is not the British compulsion to consume life threatening amounts of alcohol that worries me for everyone has the right to choose their own path to disaster, despite the tremendous hole it makes in the NHS budget. Nor the arrival of yet another party, so soon after the last one, but I am a bit perplexed at how every year we celebrate the coming of the new year and manage to forget how spectacularly the old failed to come up to scratch.

Similarly, every year we sing Auld Lang Syne and every year can’t remember more than the first line or so. It must be the best known song in the world and you would think that having sung it every year since we were old enough to stagger into a pub, we would have got our brain round the lyrics, even including those foreign sounding words slipped in from across the border. Auld Lang Syne must run a close second to Happy Birthday in the popularity stakes, which has even fewer words, but I remember a moment of great embarrassment when I couldn’t finish even that.

I was in a room full of people who unwisely broke into song when a candlelit cake was produced for someone we had never met before. We started full of well-meaning bonhomie until we faced the inexorable approach of the penultimate line when you have to add the person’s name. You can’t sing ‘Happy Birthday dear whatshisname’ and we tailed off into a embarrassed mumble. However, help is at hand, if Scotland decides to leave the UK, we can repatriate Auld Lang Syne and get Elton to write us a replacement.

You will gather that while I am happy to dance about depersonalised by fancy dress and champagne to celebrate the passing of Old Year, I would prefer tactfully to avoid any reference to the one coming. Especially 2012, when loads of people will probably lose their jobs, the fingers of one or more neurotic Heads of State might stray onto the nuclear button, (always supposing that Bin Laden Mk 2 doesn’t get there first) and the European monetary system spirals into collapse.

Poor old Greece, two years ago they were happily fiddling their tax returns and helping their relatives build yet another profitable restaurant and today they face no work, no money and soon perhaps no food. Their creditors seem to have forgotten the first principle of bankruptcy, which is that it is better to have £1 in ten than no pounds at all. If Greece defaults, other countries will start to fall like dominoes, which is the only game the world’s economists seem to understand at present. I expect they have ‘Keep Calm and Carry on’ framed above their desks. It should read ‘Wake up and Get Real’.

In present circumstances wishing someone a Happy New Year is like saying you hope they enjoy their next trip to the dentist, which brings me neatly to the announcement that the National Health dental practice in Swanage is going private. They say it is to improve patient care, but I suspect that money has something to do with it and I wonder why so many dentists are tempted to better themselves by leaving the NHS whereas Doctors seem happy to stay. Can it be that the dentists control the number of people coming into the profession so that they can command premium prices? Certainly it is not often that one meets an impoverished dentist and it is amazingly difficult to find replacements for the ones that go private.

After the New Year Party come the New Year resolutions. I am not keen on those either, surprise, surprise, for I think if you know you are going to do something you don’t need a resolution, you just go ahead and do it.

Making a resolution almost certainly indicates that you know you are not going to do it, which means resolutions are merely a check list of personal failure. I concede they are a smart way of placating ones guilt with useless promises and as I don’t want to appear in any way grumpy I intended to offer a list of my own. Thankfully I have run out of space. There is just room enough to wish you all a very Happy New Year.            

Tony Viney

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HAVE YOUR SAY

Dear Dubber

I am appealing to kind neighbours adjacent/nearby to Tomsfield Road to give me their old newspapers which they would normally recycle. These are needed for dog-hygiene in my kitchen at night to absorb urine from my 12½ year old terrier, who has become diabetic and blind. ‘Lucky’ was originally a rescue dog and now has daily insulin injections and special food. I am putting a labelled plastic dustbin near my gate (Light House, 11 Tomsfield Road, Langton Matravers) on the campsite turning circle for the receipt of old newspapers. My grateful thanks to any neighbourly person who can help me with contributions whenever possible. The papers absorb most of the ‘pee’ and greatly ease the chore of mopping and sanitising the floor. Many thanks in advance.  

David Pope

Dear Dubber

We would like to thank all the people who visited our Christmas light display (Serrells Oak Langton Matravers) and who generously donated money. Together we raised £406 in aid of CanCare and Heroes Haven Swanage. Also a thank you for all the messages of support, to the neighbours for their patience and Jacky for her help. A special mention to Zara & Emre for their help in counting the money. Saturday, 1 December 2012, we start all over again. Once again thank you for all your continued support.

Ken & Kay Burgess

Dear Dubber

ENECO’s current plan for the Navitus Bay windfarm covers 200 sq km (bigger than Purbeck) to the west of the Isle of Wight. There will be somewhere between 130 and 400 turbines, 205m to 150m tall (Salisbury Cathedral is 123m tall). The closest turbines are 13.2km from the coast, closer than the Dutch and German governments would approve. From Durlston, the farm will appear to be over two and a half times the width of the whole Isle of Wight, and the nearest turbines will appear to be up to three times the height.

ENECO will be holding a public exhibition at the Mowlem on Tuesday, 21 February (2 – 8pm), followed by a 28 day consultation period starting sometime in March. This round of consultation is likely to be the most important in determining adjustments to ENECO’s plans. There will be later opportunities to express your views, but the further the plan progresses, the harder it is to change direction, so it is very important that you act now.

Like it or not, the government has already decided that wind power is necessary, affordable and effective. Objections on these grounds alone will have negligible weight. Key issues for ENECO include visual, environmental, economic and social impacts, and safety of navigation, but there are others.

If you object to the plan, be clear and focus on issues that can actually affect the outcome. Back up your arguments with evidence, such as other publications etc., if possible.

I am still surprised at the lack of public awareness of this project given its great local impact. Homes in Purbeck with views to the Isle of Wight would have the best views. In order to provide more information, we are putting together a website www.ChallengeNavitus.org.uk, which will also raise reasonable concerns and objections to ENECO’s current plan. The website should be operational by the time you read this. There will be an associated facebook page at www.facebook.com/ChallengeNavitusWindfarm. We hope you will participate.

Hilarie Lewis

Dear Dubber

Last week, I was so disturbed by the way the debate on Scottish independence was going that I wrote to the leaders of the three main parties in Westminster, the SNP, also to Richard Drax, several newspapers and leading commentators in the BBC. I think it was Hitler who said that if you are going to tell a lie, tell a big one! The big lie regarding Scottish Independence is that it is the sole concern of Holyrood and the five million people in Scotland. Not True! 62 million people in the United Kingdom will be affected by the outcome and 57 million of us will have no say what so ever.

Neither are any of the politicians north or south of the border telling us what the implications of separation will be. None of us will live in Great Britain any more, a term adopted by James I, which presumably means we will have to have new passports. The design of the Union Jack will have to change dropping the blue of Scotland. Imagine the cost of bringing the atomic submarines down south – who will pay? There will be countless more costs and unforeseen consequences, plus years of wrangling. So should you be asked by an opinion poll if you are in favour of Scottish Independence, don’t glibly say, ‘Yes’, because you think it will stop Alex Salmond whingeing. The problem is we just don’t know enough to make a judgement. Asking your MP might be a start.

Chris Meadows

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