Attempting to tidy my overburdened desk recently, I discovered a copy of Ethical Consumer magazine. The cover picture showed a Lego family, standing on top of our planet, which was shaped like a piggy bank and stained with oil. The child was asking ‘Mum and Dad, are your savings messing up my future?’ Above, the headline was ‘Can your pension and investments help to fight climate change?’ The magazine was dated spring 2014, and the article on ethical banks scored Barclays the worst of all. In 2023, they are still bumping along the bottom, with an ethical score of TWO out of 20 points. I have now finally closed my long-held Barclays account. Better late than never. (I chose Triodos instead – other ethical banks are available!) My pension fund is ranked second best for ethics, but it still only scores 10 out of 20 points, so the pension industry clearly has a long way to go. An October 2021 report found that the UK pensions industry enables more CO2 emissions worldwide than all the UK’s carbon emissions put together. It’s why the Dorset Action group has been urging Dorset Council to divest the millions their pension fund has invested in fossil fuels. Yes, pension funds must seek the best possible returns for their members, but as renewable sources of energy now make more economic sense than fossil fuels, it is obvious where the long-term smart money should go. And of course profit is not the only criteria. To quote Sir David Attenborough: ‘It is crazy that our banks and our pensions are investing in fossil fuels, when these are the very things that are jeopardising the future we are saving for’. If you are a member of Dorset Council’s pension scheme, you can go to dtaction.co.uk to see how you can help persuade the council to change its investment strategy. Change has to come – and come soon. We consumers really do have the power to drive that change! From changing our lightbulbs to our bank accounts – whatever else we can change – we can help to create a future everyone can all enjoy.
The big issues of the week leading up to this month’s BV publication have been the Windsor Framework and the Cost of Living (neatly expressed in the price of gas and electricity).
Mike Chapman Lib Dems
As a Lib Dem, my instincts are to head for the common ground, find the right balance, seek fairness and a basis for sustainable future growth. Why? Well, mostly because I have seen and felt the effects of a lack of compromise and misplaced ideology. July 1972 saw me volunteering at a camp for “troubled kids” from Belfast. On our last evening, around a campfire we heard of the deaths and injuries of some of their friends from a wave of attacks on the streets of their city. Five years later found me in a flat in Madrid, 15 yards from where terrorists chose to put a bomb in the gateway to a government building. I remember thinking as I briefly sailed through the air towards the wall on the far side of my bedroom, “It’s the weekend, for crissake!” Neither event was justifiable, not remotely justifiable. Both, though, were born of age-old repression and a lack of hope coupled with excess zeal and misplaced ideology. Woe betide the DUP if they prolong the current stand-off.
A pyrrhic victory Sir Ed Davey’s call for further strong support for families and businesses in the face of continuing high gas and electricity prices is spot on. There will be those abstract-minded mandarins in the Treasury who believe that the nation will soon adjust to a new normal – just as it has done with £10 for a pack of cigarettes, £5 for a pint and around £1.50/litre for petrol. We will all be praised for the environmentally sound principle of giving up non-essential energy use, when the truth is that using less is becoming the only way of affording what we need. The proliferation of pre-payment meters further drives a hand-to-mouth existence for too many, especially those on low and/or fixed incomes. The original price hike was the driver of inflation; time alone solves the inflation percentage even if prices stay high – a pyrrhic victory for Rishi if ever there was one. No, the government can and must act to resolve the way in which energy from fixed cost sources such as hydro, nuclear, wind and solar is only buyable at the same rate as that produced by fossil fuels, themselves price-hiked by Putin’s grotesque war of conquest. Remember, the typical US electricity price is about half what it is in the UK. The price in France is only a little more than the US price. So, less wringing of hands and bleating that you ‘can’t beat the market’, please. Let’s see some action, some fairness and less of a blight on opportunity.
The Windsor Framework isn’t just good news for businesses, says MP Simon Hoare. It shows a return to adult politics and better relationships
Simon Hoare MP
I am sure many of you are slightly weary of news, comment and discussion of the Northern Ireland Protocol. You will, I hope, forgive me for taking a keen interest in this matter. As chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee, it slightly goes with the territory. We have just had the announcement of the Windsor Framework – the updated and revised operational requirements of the Protocol. The changes which have been agreed are excellent news for the people and economy of Northern Ireland. They are also good news for those businesses across the UK, including here in North Dorset, who sell to Northern Ireland.
The side effects However, there are some other benefits to this week’s announcements which I believe are worth highlighting. The first is that it begins a new volume in the relationship of the UK and the EU. We have left the EU but too many people were picking at the scab that wanted to heal. Windsor cauterises the wound. The UK remains an European country. Our nearest and largest trading market is Europe. The horrors of Ukraine have broadly united European countries not just in collective condemnation but collegiate actions. This, of itself, has served as a reminder of our shared principles and values. With this improved relationship, I think we can have legitimate expectations that we are in a better place with the French government and that a more collaborative approach to breaking the Channel people traffickers is in prospect. Membership of Horizon is also there for the taking – of strategic benefit to our strong and growing pharmaceutical, technological and scientific communities. This will help ‘Europe plc’ face into the powerful competition of Asia and the US. With that newly-forged relationship also lies the hope that it will be easier for musicians and artists to be able to perform across the EU without recourse to the current visa bureaucracy.
Grown up politics All of the above are placed within touching distance simply by resolving the Protocol issues. Now, we must not fall into the trap of believing that was inevitable. It wasn’t. It took the new type of politics of the government and the Prime Minister. Gone is the bellicose, flippant, impatient cakeism, to be replaced by the calm and the respectful. The magic ingredient in politics – as in so much else in life – is trust. No trust; no progress. Recent events have only been able to come about because mutual respect, politeness, seriousness of purpose, attention to detail and calm advocacy have been restored. Improved Anglo-Irish and Anglo-French relations were prerequisites for progress and Rishi Sunak and his ministers quickly saw these as pivotal actions upon which they have delivered. The dropping of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which rode a coach and horses through our international legal obligations, is another important step in restoring the UK’s reputation as being a country that keeps its words. That longstanding and hard-earned reputation is a vital foundation stone of the City of London and our place as a leading global financial centre which, of itself, contributes such a lot to the Treasury and the funding of our public services.
Manners maketh Now, I supported Rishi Sunak from the get-go, so of course I could be accused of some bias. However I think even the most sceptical observer would have to admit that his seriousness of purpose, his politeness and his attention to detail can and will pay dividends for our country. As one of my American political friends said to me recently: ‘it’s so good to have the UK we all know, love and respect back in the room.’
The 2023 Eventing season looks a little different this year, but with her first competition in March, Toots Bartlett has been enjoying the work
Toots and Cor Y Taran working in some rare spring sunshine. Images: Courtenay Hitchcock
The final countdown is on. Eventing season is about to begin – the first event is at Cirencester Park at the end of March! All my horses are back into full fitness work now – galloping, trotting up the hills and, most excitingly, we’re back jumping! As I write, we are working towards getting them out on the grass for their first cross-country school of the year. We have often had to start the season having only prepared in the school, so it is a real bonus this year to be able to prepare properly. I’m aware we (my horses and me!) always get over-excited for our first cross-country so I’m hoping that our disciplined schooling over the winter has prepared us. I’ve worked hard on my partnership with each horse to fine-tune any issues we noted last year. The weather’s been kind and the ground is in great shape, highly unusually for February we have even been able to do some canter work on the grass. I am definitely not being complacent, however. The Great British Weather can be relied on to throw us a curve ball!
Toots saddling up in the barn
Events lost, found and changed There has been a huge change in the British Eventing calendar this year, and we wave goodbye to many great events, including Houghton Hall International near Kings Lynn and Barbury Castle International, both of which ran classes up to CCI4S. Osberton International (in Lincolnshire) has given its Young Horse Championship to Cornbury in Oxfordshire. This does mean, however, that these events have been replaced by other venues – I’m not sorry to be heading to Bicton Arena in Devon instead of making the six hour trip to Houghton Hall, as I have done for the past five years. Bicton also offers the horses an all-weather surface for the show-jumping phase which in these changing summers and harder ground is a welcome addition. The King’s coronation will also alter the running order of the UK’s biggest CCI5 event of the year, traditionally held at Badminton House on the first weekend of May. Due to the large number of Eventing supporters who wish to watch the coronation, in addition to the battling media coverage, Badminton has made the smart decision to run the cross-country on the Sunday instead of the Saturday, and have therefore moved the show-jumping to the Monday. It will be an interesting experiment to see if an extra day between the dressage and the cross-country is beneficial, and what effect it has on the overall cross-country statistics. Either way, it is always a truly amazing weekend of top quality sport and one not to be missed!
Hopefully it won’t be long before I’m a Badminton competitor myself – but horses who have the skill, athleticism, trainable brain, stamina, brave heart and sheer ability required to take on one of the toughest and most demanding tracks in the world are very few and far between. If you happen to have one please do get in touch!
Roger Guttridge has personal memories of the fire which destroyed Harding’s newsagent’s shop at Sturminster Newton in 1956
Harding’s in Bridge Street before the fire. Historic images from Sturminster from Sturminster Newton Through Time, by Roger Guttridge and Steve Case
One of my most vivid childhood memories is of the day that Harding’s newsagent’s shop at Sturminster Newton went up in smoke and flames. The year was 1956 and I was a six-year-old pupil at Sturminster County Primary School (now the William Barnes School) in Bridge Street. Harding’s was a little further up Bridge Street, where Retsel House is now, so my mother and I had to walk right past the shop on our way to the school. I remember picking my way through the mounds of charred beams, thatch and other debris – and the fire brigade hoses strung out across the road.
Harding’s on the morning of the 1956 fire.
The combined stench of fire, smoke and water damage stayed with me into adulthood, and those memories flooded back whenever I attended a fire as a reporter for the Western Gazette or the Bournemouth Evening Echo. I also remember learning how John Harding heroically carried his sons Christopher, a fellow pupil at my school, and his younger brother Richard, to safety at the height of the fire. Sadly, Chris and Richard are no longer with us. The picturesque thatched building was replaced by the grey and rather utilitarian Retsel House, which houses businesses to this day, including a pet shop and a barber’s shop. In my later childhood there was a barber’s on the first floor. While waiting for a haircut, I would advance my education by exploring the revelations of an early girlie magazine called Parade. I don’t think it did me any harm, but others may potentially disagree.
Replacement building Retsel House today
The Hardings were rather unlucky with fires. The family’s previous business, the Bristol Bazaar, was in another thatched building at the corner of Ricketts Lane at the top of Bridge Street and was burned down in 1926, along with the adjoining shop occupied by Mr Pope the shoemaker. Historically, Sturminster has had several major fires – a notable one 340 years ago in 1681 and another less than 50 years later in 1729 which destroyed 67 houses, ten barns and the Market House. One of the replacement buildings after 1729 became Barnett’s hardware shop at Market Cross, but this too was completely destroyed in a blaze complicated by exploding paint cans, paraffin and gas cylinders.
As event organiser at the Turnpike Showground, shepherd Bonnie Cradock is facing a doubly busy spring, thanks to one over-excited fun-loving ram
Bonnie Cradock, shepherd and events organiser. Images: Courtenay Hitchcock
Bonnie Cradock rolls her eyes as she spots a ewe lambing out of the office window. ‘Last year I had them timed perfectly, lambing began the week after the Spring Countryside Show. But a ram got into the flock and enjoyed himself – and so here I am, unintentionally lambing in February!’ The 27-year old shepherd from Ludwell near Shaftesbury has a flock of 1,200 sheep which she shares with her brother Matt. Add to that her ‘second’ job of organising two of Dorset’s major country shows, and she keeps herself busy. Lambing is the ‘hardest part of the job, but the most rewarding,’ she says ‘My days start at 4.30am and I arm myself with a Thermos of coffee. We rent our land so our flocks are spread around – we stretch from lambs in Bere Regis to breeding ewes in Fovant, and everything in between. It can take five hours to check on them all. ‘I’ve been working for the past few years for the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show, and I now do that almost full time. I love it; as an agricultural show team everyone’s very understanding if I turn up late for work because I’ve had an unexpected ‘sheep situation!’ The Spring Countryside Show means April is a crazy month – the early lambers will be finished shortly, and then I’ll be working flat out on the show before going straight into 10-hour lambing days. And I thought a career in the army would be hard work!’ Despite growing up on a dairy farm, Bonnie was determined the Army life was for her. Having passed officer selection with flying colours, Bonnie did her A-levels at Welbeck Sixth Form Defence College. Ironically, it was her beloved sheep which caused an end to her military career: an old shoulder injury,caused by five year-old Bonnie moving sheep with Matt, didn’t appreciate her playing rugby and polo for the army, and Bonnie was discharged. For the past four years Bonnie has been sheep farming, working with her more experienced big brother.
Bonnie loves working with her brother Matt
A life in music And so to Bonnie’s eight music choices, in no particular order, along with how and why they have stuck in her life:
Rockin’ All Over The World Status Quo This reminds me of too many hours spent singing and dancing to it with my dad, while either decorating a house or doing mundane cleaning jobs. It never fails to make the tedious tasks that much easier.
Emo Girl Machine Gun Kelly Don’t ask (that’s literally what we’re doing here Bonnie – Ed). I don’t even know why I love it. But I can sing along to the whole thing and it is definitely one of my top songs (and that’s a fact – I just checked my Spotify stats!).
Air Hostess Busted I have too many memories of awful dancing to this with friends when I was younger! But that’s what I love about it – every time I listen to it, it’s packed with all those memories of carefree, awful-dancing young me.
Life is a Highway Rascal Flatts Whenever I am feeling blue, this is the song that gets put on – and with zero apologies to anyone within earshot, it’s on repeat until I feel lifted.
Truth Hurts Lizzo Ooof. I’m not sure that anyone who has had to deal with a certain type of man needs this explained?! “Why men great ‘til they gotta be great?”. Yes.
Hooked on a Feeling Blue Swede I know it’s old, but I first heard this song while watching Guardians of the Galaxy and I couldn’t get it out of my head for weeks, it just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I haven’t told my other half this, but this is the song I’d want our first dance to be to – it’s so upbeat and it’s how he makes me feel. Maybe don’t include that bit … (oops – Ed)
Soul Lee Brice To be honest, anyone that sings a bit of country has my heart. If you haven’t heard it, give it a listen. I can’t even say how happy this song makes me. If you hear me listening to it, you know it’s been a very good day!
I Am A Cider Drinker The Wurzels. Would it even be a Dorset Island Discs with a young farmer if this wasn’t included?! Many, many memories of great nights (often in muddy fields) surrounded by hundreds of people all singing along to this. It’s something everyone should experience.
A book for a castaway Anything on the Greek Gods. I am currently reading a couple of books on the history of them, and trying to follow all the story lines and keeping track of who is related to who would definitely make the time go by!
A luxury item? A sleeping bag. I’ll be fine on the island, I could actually do with some piece and quiet. As long as I’ve got something warm to cover me I’ll be grand!
One to keep? And if a giant wave was coming, and there was only time to snatch one record, which would Bonnie save from the water? ‘Hooked on a feeling. Obviously.’
Natalie Aldrich, senior heritage and archaeology consultant at Savills, looks at some common beliefs and misconceptions around owning a listed building
Built circa 1770 in the grounds of Grade I listed New Wardour Castle, The Hexagon is a hexagonal house with a wealth of period features, including stone mullion, leaded windows and a combination of stone and oak floors. Currently for sale through Savills
According to Historic England, there are around 400,000 Grade I, Grade II and Grade II*-listed buildings in England. A building is listed when it is of special architectural or historic interest considered to be of national importance and therefore worth protecting. The older the building, the more likely it is to be listed. So what does this mean for those who live in one? I can’t make any changes! This is a common misconception. You may well be able to undertake partial demolition, add an extension, or make many other changes. However, the significance, of the building should be understood and the right permissions obtained. In understanding which elements of the building are of most architectural, historic or archaeological interest, it is then possible to understand how any proposed development may impact this. For example, if you have a listed 18th- century cottage which includes a 20th-century extension, by illustrating that the extension adds no special heritage interest, you are more likely to obtain permission to demolish it. Equally, it is possible to make internal alterations. Some may need Listed Building Consent (LBC), which must be sought from your local planning authority, while others may not. Upgrading kitchens and bathrooms can often be done without needing consent so long as there aren’t significant changes to the services (plumbing, for example). In England, Historic England provides guidance on what does – and does not – need LBC, so having a good relationship with your local conservation officer can be beneficial. Only the exterior is covered by the listing, so I can do what I want inside! This is not true. The statutory listing of a building covers the whole building – internally and externally (unless parts are specifically excluded in the list description). The listing can also cover attached structures and fixtures, later extensions or additions, or buildings which pre-date 1948 which are located within land attached to the building which may not be explicitly described in the list entry. This is sometimes referred to as ‘curtilage listing’. Most listings provide a description of the building. Nevertheless just because an element of the building is not mentioned does not mean it is not covered.
Can I knock down walls? Possibly. Again, understanding the history and development of the building, including how the internal layout and form may contribute to the heritage interest, is key in whether you may be allowed to alter the internal fabric/form. If an internal partition is modern it may be possible to remove it, especially in cases where this would reveal the original proportions of the space. For example, the principal rooms of an 18th-century townhouse were at first-floor level, larger with high ceilings. Where more recent subdivision has occurred, it may be possible to reverse this and reinstate the intended floorplan.
The exterior of The Hexagon
Am I allowed double glazing? It will depend on what is currently installed, where the heritage interest lies and what sort of windows are proposed. Traditionally, double glazing in listed buildings has not been encouraged by local planning authorities, who prefer secondary glazing which does not require changes to the fabric of the building. It is possible to install energy efficient windows which respect the appearance and style of the original and, therefore, would not affect the understanding of the building.
Can I paint the front door? There is no general rule to say you can’t! There are circumstances where you may need to obtain LBC – for example, if the door is original and its appearance or fabric is important in explaining its special interest. Also, if you live in a Conservation Area and wish to paint your front door a different colour, you should speak to your local planning authority to see if you need planning permission and/or listed building consent.
Can I build a new structure or building in the grounds? Yes. You may be able to erect a new building or structure in the grounds of your listed building without needing LBC. You may, however, need to obtain planning permission. If permission is required, consideration will be given to how the proposal may impact the significance of the listed building in terms of its setting, and therefore careful thought regarding the scale, design, use of materials and location of a new structure in the design stage may be beneficial.
Can I be made to maintain my listed building? There is no direct legal obligation or specific duty on owners to keep their buildings in a good state of repair, but local authorities have powers to take action where a listed building has deteriorated to the extent that its preservation may be at risk. The local authority can issue an Urgent Works Notice for the preservation of the building after giving notice to the owner. This only applies to an unoccupied building, or unused part of a partly occupied building, and generally only relates to works to ensure the building is weathertight, safe from collapse or to prevent vandalism or theft. If the works are not carried out by the owner, the authority has the power to enter the property, carry out the works and seek to recover the costs from the owner. A Repairs Notice may be served where it is considered that the building is not being properly preserved. These powers are not confined to urgent works or to unoccupied buildings and can be used where it is deemed an owner is not keeping the building in reasonable repair which may put the building at risk. If it is deemed that reasonable steps are not being taken by the owner to preserve the building, then the local authority may begin compulsory purchase proceedings. Be aware that should the local authority intervene in such cases, you may be liable for costs including the costs of works required to return it to a preserved state.
Can I get financial help to maintain my listed building? It may be possible to apply for financial support to help maintain your building. Historic England may provide grants, however these tend to be for buildings of greatest national significance and where some degree of public access is provided. Other sources of funding may be available, but again these sources have criteria for access.
Can I appeal against the listing? Yes, it is possible to question or challenge the designation of your listed building. This can happen both when a listing is proposed, and when a building is already listed. You can apply to Historic England to review the previous assessment, however you would need to provide evidence as to why the building does not meet the statutory criteria for inclusion, which may be based on information not considered at the time of listing. This may be because new evidence has come to light, for example regarding the architect of the building, the age or origins of internal fabric, or loss of fabric following accidental damage.
There’s no doubt that buying a house is one of the most expensive purchases in a lifetime. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to make your next move, you’ll already have factored the initial deposit and monthly mortgage payments into your budget.
Cllr Pauline Batstone (front left) and Cllr Graham Carr-Jones performing the official ribbon-cutting of Abri Homes’ Violet Cross development at Hazelbury Bryan
But what about the less obvious, ‘whole of life’ running costs, such as rising energy bills and expensive upgrades? With the average household set to spend a third of their income on energy bills alone, this is one cost that shouldn’t be overlooked. Buyers can get a good idea of how much they’ll be spending on energy by looking at a home’s EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating. Put simply, an EPC is a scale of energy efficiency, with A being the highest and G the lowest. Newer homes tend to have higher EPC ratings, meaning they’re likely to use less energy and so protect homeowners from rising energy bills. In order to achieve these ratings, they’ll often come equipped with the latest energy efficiency measures too – which are often simple to install in a new build, but costly if upgrading an older home with a lower EPC rating. If you’re looking for a future-proof home in the Blackmore Vale area, Abri Homes’ Violet Cross development, set in the idyllic village of Hazelbury Bryan, certainly fits the bill. There’s just a few three bedroom houses remaining, all boasting an EPC B to C rating, so you can rest assured that your home is making the most of the energy it’s using. And besides their open-plan living spaces and private gardens, they also boast energy-efficient smart thermostats, LED lights, and double-glazed windows and doors. Although the ‘whole life’ running costs are important, buyers will be pleased that the initial cost is affordable, too – not least because house prices in the area are well above the national average. By contrast, homes at Violet Cross are available to purchase through Shared Ownership, with a 35% share of a three bedroom end-terrace house available for just £101,500, instead of the full market value of £290,000. At Abri Homes, we believe that everyone should have a warm and affordable place to live; and our Shared Ownership homes offer just that. Whilst there may have been a time where an EPC rating was little more than a letter on a piece of paper, it’s now more important than ever to consider energy-efficiency and make sure your property is ready for what the future brings.
To find out more about our wide range of homes across the south and south west of England visit abrihomes.co.uk
