From Our Files: Ration comment row...house price problems...bogus policeman

LYMINGTON Borough Council referred back a committee recommendation to proceed with negotiations with the Ministry of Transport regarding acquisition of land at New Milton and Lymington for the establishment of car parks.

Councillor J Dean moved that the question of the Lymington car parks should be referred back saying that it would be a “white elephant” at the top end of the town.

A large number of the cars parked in Lymington High Street belonged to traders and they would not use the park, he said.

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A STATEMENT made by councillor Major I Bellairs at a meeting of the Borough Council caused several strong protests and after being asked by the Mayor he withdrew his remarks.

The council were discussing the nomination of members to serve on the Borough Food Control Committee and Major Bellairs said that all the people in the borough were dissatisfied with their rations but they “sat down under it” whereas the people in the Midlands did not.

The butchers held a meeting in Bournemouth and they told a friend of mine they would not dare to issue the bare ration to people in the Midlands. People get 2s and 3s worth of meat on each book.”

50 YEARS AGO

A CHALLENGE to the planning committee of Lymington Borough Council was issued by Brian Riley head of design for McCarthy & Stone Ltd.

It came at the close of a speech on the proposed development of New Milton centre where Mr Ripley touched upon the virtual impossibility for young married people to buy a house.

The problem stemmed from land prices, he said, at anything from £50,000 an acre and up and the attitude of the planning committee.

“When I approach the planners with a scheme their raise their voices in horror if the density exceeds 12 dwellings per acre.

“On this basis therefore, before even a brick is laid, the site value is between £6,000 and £7,000. Can you wonder the selling price of properties is £12,500?” he said.

He said the answer was for planners to allow more density.

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MR ROBERT ADLEY, Conservative MP for Bristol North East and prospective candidate for Christchurch and Lymington, has written to the Minister for Local Government and Development expressing concern at the effect of local government reorganisation on local authority expenditure.

He said he had written about the “orgy of local authority expenditure and I haven’t particularly cited Lymington.”

He gave the example of Harrogate where the council are putting forward a multi-million pound conference centre plan “which has barely been discussed locally.”

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IT was not impossible for one of the 13 women members of New Forest District Council to become Chairman Mrs M J Bannister said at a council meeting.

Mrs Bannister was accused of sex discrimination in a minute containing recommendations on badges of office.

“It should read, “she said “’Badge for the chairman and consort’ not ‘chairman and wife.’”

The council decided to alter the wording accordingly.

25 YEARS AGO

AUTHOR, journalist and broadcaster Bill Bryson came to Highcliffe with a television crew which is producing a six part series on his best selling travelogue ‘Notes from a Small Island.”

In his book Bill visits Highcliffe Castle and writes about Gordon Selfridge, one time resident of it.

Bill said: “I lived in Christchurch for two years and always have a great fondness for the place. Last time I was here Highcliffe Castle was a crumbling wreck, so it’s good to be back to see the tremendous work that’s been done.”

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SURPRISE and delight has been expressed by Hampshire County Council after its website was praised by billionaire Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft.

During an interview with the New York Times Mr Gates said: “One good example of a website that goes well beyond the basics is published by Hampshire County Council in Southern England.”

Councillor Freddie Emery-Wallis, leader of the council, said: “This recognition by Bill Gates is a very welcome endorsement of the importance that we have given our web development work – we must have got it right!”

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A BOGUS policeman purporting to be from New Milton police station is being sought by the real boys in blue at the Old Milton nick.

Four or five reports of him making telephone calls during which he becomes insulting and abusive have been received.

On the last occasion he called a local business and made out he was a Sgt Tom Fairfax and asked the woman receptionist personal questions.

“He starts off all very polite and formal but then turns nasty, “said a police spokesman.

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“IT’S cheaper by taxi than by bus!” that was the message from Boldre parish councillors. They were informed by county councillor Ken Thornber that the county was inviting ideas after being awarded £680,000 to improve rural bus services this year.

Cllr Angela Grainer was not impressed. Still in plaster after falling from a ladder while decorating the village hall for the VE Day 50th anniversary in May told her colleagues how she had been charged a £1.20 bus fare for the half mile between the top and bottom of Pilley Hill.

Cllr Jim Witt said: “It’s cheaper to go by taxi than bus to Lymington these days!”