Alocal expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues.
Q: ‘I’ve just had my bathroom re-tiled, but I’m not happy with the work. At first, things seemed to be going well, but then the tradesperson left to do another job and I had to chase them for updates. They did eventually come back and finish the job, but the work was pretty rough around the edges. They also left all the old tiles and plaster for me to dispose of, which I wasn’t expecting. I’ve now got the invoice, but I don’t think the price reflects the work done or the service I got. Can I challenge this?’
A: It’s always frustrating when you run into problems with home improvements. You mention that the job looked “rough round the edges” – if this is to a degree whereby you could consider the job unfinished or unsafe, you should be able to get the tiler to come back to fix it. You could also suggest to him/her that moving the old tiles might be considered as part of finishing the job. If the tiler considers the work complete, it’s worth knowing you’re protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which says the tiler should have completed the work with ‘reasonable care and skill’. If they haven’t done this, they’ve broken the law. The Act means you’re legally entitled to ask the tiler to fix the problem (if they provided the tiles as well as the service) or get money refunded (if they just provided the service and you bought the tiles). They should fix the problem or refund you in a reasonable amount of time, without causing too much inconvenience. As you’ve received the invoice for the work but not paid yet, now would be a good time to ask them to fix the issue or you could negotiate a lower price for the work. Let the tiler know you understand what you’re entitled to. Speak to them in person, or contact them in writing/over email – there are template letters on the Citizens Advice website. Either way, make sure you have a written copy of anything agreed. Before you contact them, it’s a good idea to take photographs to use as evidence of the problem. Make notes about what happened, including dates and times. You should also gather any paperwork and receipts – was there any prior written agreement about who would dispose of the old tiles? Was the final cost in line with estimates or quotes given to you at the outset of the work? If not, there is advice on the Citizens Advice website about steps you can take. If you’re struggling to come to an agreement with the tiler, there are other steps you can take to solve your problem, including using ‘alternative dispute resolution’, which is a way of solving disagreements without going to court. There are full details about how to do this on the Citizens Advice website.
craft in the beautiful surroundings of Bere Marsh Farm. Organised by the Countryside Regeneration Trust (the CRT), there are four creative workshops coming up this summer, all led by experienced local artists in a relaxed and friendly environment. All tools and materials will be provided, while hot and cold drinks and delicious homemade snacks will be available to purchase on the day from The Buzz – the CRT’s pop-up coffee trailer. Book your place today on one of the CRT’s summer workshops:
Nature Writing Friday 23rd June Two sessions – 9.30am or 1pm Learn techniques to deepen your connection to nature on this playful and gentle creative nature writing workshop with poet, writer and performer Sarah Acton. Adults £30 (CRT Friends/Volunteers £25)
Wool Weaving Saturday 1st July 10am to 1pm With the aid of local weaving expert, Jo Nash, learn traditional techniques for preparing the fleece for weaving, setting up a simple peg loom and then using uncarded wool fibre to create a beautiful natural tuffet to take home. Adults £60 (CRT Friends/Volunteers £55)
Willow Basket Weaving Saturday 12th August 9.30am to 4.30pm With the expert guidance of local willow weaver, Yanina Stockings, you will learn several techniques and create your own patterns. By the end of the session you will have made a sturdy berry-collecting basket with a smooth wrapped handle. Adults £80 (CRT Friends/Volunteers £75)
Willow Bird Feeders Saturday 9th September Willow Bird Feeder Creative Workshop 9.30am to 4.30pm Make three different types of willow bird feeders for fatballs, seeds and to hang on a bird table, with the expert guidance of Yanina Stockings. Adults £73 (CRT Friends/Volunteers £68)
All workshops at Bere Marsh Farm, Shillingstone, DT11 0QY – for bookings click: thecrt.co.uk
The Dorset Meat Company, renowned for its grass-fed meats and artisanal British cheeses, has triumphed at the Butcher Shop Of The Year Awards
Focused on a farm-to-fork ethos, the Dorset Meat Company, based in Henstridge, prides itself on its partnership with small-scale, family-run farms that adhere to traditional animal husbandry methods. Nick Somper, Founder of the Dorset Meat Co., expressed his delight at the recognition, hailing it as a testament to the whole team: ‘This prestigious national award is recognition of the dedication of the wonderful Dorset Meat Company team, as well as a real testimony to the work of all our amazing farmers, growers and producers. Their grass-fed, sustainable and ethically-raised produce allows our customers across the UK to enjoy the best food. ‘We believe strongly that small-scale farming is better for the farmer, the animal, the local ecology, and also for the consumer. We advocate that we all eat less meat, but to ensure it’s of the very highest quality and is produced in a way that respects nature, the environment and the animal. Eating meat from animals that themselves have only eaten a natural diet of grass, and wildflowers rich in vitamins and minerals makes sense. It’s a healthy choice to make.’ The Dorset Meat Company’s commitment to healthy, ethical, and sustainable food productionmeans they work with farms which prioritise natural and biodiverse environments, ensuring that the animals are raised without being rushed, which in turn enhances the texture and flavour of the meat. It is this high-integrity farming that is the heart of the Dorset Meat Company’s values. By cultivating relationships with these smaller, more traditional farms, the company makes it possible for their customers to make ethical and informed choices about the food they eat.
Not all steak and chops In addition to the butchery, Dorset Meat Co. also offer an impressive range of prepared meals, crafted by professional chefs in Dorset, delivering convenience and taste straight to the dinner table. Delivering across the UK five days a week, It’s not just locals who can enjoy the finest West Country produce. But, despite the name, the Dorset Meat Company isn’t just about meat. Their product range extends to an impressive selection of British artisanal and farmhouse cheeses, crafted by award-winning independent cheesemakers from the West Country. Their selection of outstanding deli items is equally impressive, featuring Dorset charcuterie, smoked salmon, home-made pies, and a variety of organic, home-made goods such as Dorset Sea Salt, bone broths, and a plethora of Mediterranean pastes and pestos. thedorsetmeatcompany.co.uk
We need a fee earner to join our busy Residential/Commercial Conveyancing Team. We have regular new client work as well as a huge amount of repeat business. The position would be based mainly in our Sturminster Newton office. To apply please send a covering letter and your CV to our Practice Manager Vanessa Howell [email protected]
We think we are great to work for so here are ten good reasons why you should too –
Show chair Nicki Ralph is glad Dorset County Hospital Charity is Charity of the Year – her gravely ill husband ‘would not be here without them’
Dorset Tractor Run 2022
Dorset County Show has announced that its chosen Charity of the Year is Dorset County Hospital Charity, which is running a £2.5m Capital Appeal to assist with funding enhancements to the planned new Emergency Department (ED) and Critical Care Unit of Dorset County Hospital. The decision to support the hospital holds personal significance for Nicki Ralph, Chair of the County Show. Her husband, Nic, experienced total kidney failure and sepsis last year. He spent almost three weeks in a coma, with 11 of those days on life support. Nicki says: ‘This truly is a cause close to my heart. My family are indebted to the incredible support the hospital gave my husband who, without a shadow of a doubt, wouldn’t be alive today without their unstinting help.’ Show stalwart Nic, 67, is now recovering well at home, and is aiming to do some fundraising himself for the hospital once he is fully recovered. Simon Pearson, Head of Charity for the hospital, highlighted the overwhelming demand faced by the Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, with over 50,000 people treated annually despite its original capacity of 22,000 attendances. To support the fundraising efforts, the Dorset County Show has planned several events. The annual Tractor Run is scheduled for Sunday, June 25th – tractors of all ages, sizes and makes will travel from Cheselbourne to Piddletrenthide and back (see image above). Additionally, a Dorset-themed Charity Night will take place on Wednesday, August 30th at the Showground, featuring music, bingo, and a bring-your-own food event. The Show itself is on the weekend of September 2nd and 3rd, and will be showcasing the usual county show mix of giant vegetables, prize cows, Dorset crafts and foods, monster trucks, axemen in action and hoe-down music. It’s a line-up with something for everyone! dorsetcountyshow.co.uk
This month, North Dorset CPRE’s Derek Gardiner looks at our rivers, which have become the latest rural planning application hurdle
Algal blooms consume oxygen from the water, undermining the river ecosystems and habitat
“Getting a complete overview of the health of our rivers and the pollution affecting them is hampered by outdated, underfunded and inadequate monitoring regimes. It is clear, however, that rivers in England are in a mess. A ‘chemical cocktail’ of sewage, agricultural waste, and plastic is polluting the waters of many of the country’s rivers”. This was the opinion of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee in its report published in January 2022. The main sources of pollution outlined in the Committee’s report are agricultural pollution (affecting 40 per cent of water bodies), sewage and wastewater (36 per cent) and run-off from towns, cities and transport, referred to as urban diffuse pollution (18 per cent). According to Sir James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency, the quality of water in English rivers is “flat-lining”, with the farming and water treatment sectors being the main polluters. One of the major concerns is the excessive concentration of nutrients which causes algal blooms. These consume oxygen from the water, in the process undermining the ecosystems in rivers and the surrounding habitats. Nitrogen and phosphorous are naturally present in the environment – in low quantities, they are necessary nutrients. However, the high levels of nitrates found in sewage, agricultural run-off, nitrogen-based fertilisers and manure pose a problem requiring active management to resolve. Since the UK left the EU, the Water Framework Directive (WFD), an important mechanism for assessing and managing the water environment, has been revoked. It has been replaced by similar legislation so that the UK continues to fulfil its reporting requirements under the new legislation.
Planning standstill Following a landmark European Court ruling in 2018 (the Dutch Nitrogen Case, commonly known as Dutch-N), the government agency Natural England issued advice directing councils not to approve developments that would add to the nutrient pollution in watercourses in protected habitats, where the site in question is already judged to be in an “unfavourable condition”. In other words, the level of phosphorus and nitrogen in the watercourses should not increase (“nutrient neutrality”) as a result of such developments being built. Figures provided by the Chief Planner, as of March 2022, showed that 74 local planning authorities have received nutrient neutrality advice from Natural England across 27 catchments, amounting to 14 per cent of England’s land area. In these areas, the granting of planning permission has been delayed until appropriate mitigation can be secured. According to the Home Builders Federation (HBF), this has led to proposals for an estimated 100,000 homes being put on hold. HBF companies have had to spend anything between £5,000 and £25,000 in order to procure works privately to mitigate potential nutrient pollution from new housing development.
The high levels of nitrates found in sewage and agricultural run-off require active management
Impact on Dorset On 16th March 2022, Natural England notified Dorset Council of its updated advice for development proposals that have the potential to affect water quality, resulting in adverse nutrient impacts on internationally-protected habitat sites. This advice applied to the catchments of five habitat sites which together cover a large part of the Dorset Council area. The advice was that Dorset Council should “carefully consider the nutrients impacts of any new plans and projects (including new development proposals) on habitats sites and whether those impacts may have an adverse effect on the integrity of a habitats site that requires mitigation, including through nutrient neutrality”. The catchment areas within Dorset that this relates to are: Poole Harbour nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient deposition Somerset Levels and Moors phosphorus nutrient deposition River Avon phosphorus nutrient deposition Chesil and The Fleet nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient deposition River Axe phosphorus nutrient deposition The problem of nutrient pollution is particularly pronounced in Poole Harbour. In a letter from Cllr Spencer Flower, Leader of Council Dorset Council, to The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Cllr Flower wrote “An upgrade of phosphorus removal at all wastewater treatment works over 250 population equivalent within the catchment, as originally suggested through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB), would easily provide the reduction needed to achieve the target limit for phosphorus input to the harbour. This would therefore remove the need for phosphorus neutrality, enabling development to continue”. The current draft of the LURB proposes that upgrades to wastewater treatment works serving 2,000 or more population equivalent should be the target. Cllr Flower has requested that this be reduced to 1,000 population equivalents. “This would help in both unlocking significant amounts of housing development and delivering against other environmental priorities. These significant benefits can be realised with a targeted and proportionate approach. This would aid in reducing phosphorus deposition to a level that enables favourable status to be achieved, help meet other government targets on the environment, and the delivery of new homes to restart.”
Restoring rivers to good Ecological status is a complex challenge requiring cross-sector collaboration. The Environment Agency says: “There are multiple influences on river water quality in England. To make significant improvements will require investment from the water and farming industries and individual behaviour changes. We must continue to tackle a legacy of Victorian drainage systems, historic lack of capital investment in agriculture, sewerage and road infrastructure, and insufficient maintenance of that infrastructure … The changing climate and growing population make targets harder to reach.”
One of Britain’s most distinguished painters, Philip Sutton RA, celebrates his 95th birthday in October. Ahead of that milestone, Sladers Yard, the contemporary gallery at West Bay, has a major retrospective of his work, running to 8th July. Next month, The BV will have an interview with the Dorset-based colourist, talking about his life and his joyous approach and love of the natural world.
The Magic Field by Philip Sutton
The exhibition of more than 100 works includes never previously exhibited paintings and work released for the first time by his family. Showcasing 65 oil paintings, 25 works on paper and 21 ceramics, the collection represents one of the most comprehensive assemblages of Sutton’s art. There will be an event at Sladers Yard on Friday 9th June at 6pm when Philip Sutton will be in conversation with Maureen Murray. Numbers are limited and tickets will be essential. Tickets £6 – Please call 01308 459511.
