CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a McDonald’s drive through near one of the area’s busiest roundabouts have been recommended for approval.

Planning officers at Havant Borough Council are recommending that the £1m plan is given the green light when councillors meet to debate the plans next week.

As reported, councillors decided to delay their decision last month on whether to grant planning permission to a McDonald’s at Larchwood Avenue, Bedhampton, near Asda, until further traffic reports are carried out.

Councillors said the roundabout already suffered congestion problems and more analysis was needed.

The applicant has now submitted an updated transport assessment, which deems that the Purbrook Way roundabout can cope with the predicted volumes of traffic.

A final decision will be made at a planning meeting next Wednesday at 5pm at the Public Service Plaza in Havant.

A BURGLAR who ransacked a home and fled with goods worth more than £16,000 has been jailed.

Samuel Hewett was part of a gang that stripped a home of tools and all of its valuable equipment while it was being renovated.

The gang left a trail of destruction at the property in Redwing Road, Clanfield, with water pouring from the ceiling and down the walls, damaged kitchen units, flooring and radiators.

Among items stolen while the owner was out were copper piping, a copper water tank, lead, an oven, kitchen and bedroom units and a TV.

Tiles, laminate flooring and tools were also taken in the burglary, which happened overnight on June 12 last year.

The stolen goods are estimated to be worth £16,500.

Some of the tools were later recovered.

Hewett, 22, of Tillington Gardens, Clanfield, was caught after police visited his home on an unrelated matter and spotted several items that had been stolen in the burglary. He was out at the time, but police later executed a search warrant at the property and seized stolen goods.

Hewett’s fingerprints were found on laminate flooring that had been stolen in the burglary and he was later arrested.

At Portsmouth Crown Court he was jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to one count of burglary.

Hewett is the only person ever to have been charged in relation to the crime.

In sentencing Hewett, Judge Roger Hetherington, said: ‘This was a serious burglary committed by a group of which you were the only person who has been brought to justice, where two or three of you went into a house and stripped it of all its valuable equipment and fittings and stole some highly-valuable builders’ tools as well.

‘It’s right that the property was not occupied at the time but this will have caused considerable distress to the owners who were renovating that property.’

He added: ‘There was a significant degree of loss to the victim and the premises were effectively ransacked.

‘These were premises definitely targeted, I have no doubt, because they were empty and being renovated.’

]]> 1.3550420 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:33:00 +0000 http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/portsmouth_shop_lifter_stole_food_and_alcohol_1_3550413

SHOPLIFTER Darren Biles has been told to pay £90.

The 37-year-old was caught stealing £20 worth of alcohol and food from Asda, at The Bridge shopping centre, in Portsmouth.

Biles, of Clive Road, Kingston, Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court. He will pay the money off at a rate of £5 a week.

ONE person has been led to safety after a fire in a Southsea flat.

Four fire engines were called to a blaze in St Edwards Road last night at 12.26am after a call from residents.

The fire started in a ground floor flat and was put out by 1.48am, no one is believed to have been injured.

BAG-FULLS of rubbish were cleared from Milton Beach by a team of University of Portsmouth students and staff – as part of a drive to raise awareness of volunteering.

Clothes, broken glass, cans and cigarette butts filled 20 black bin bags in two hours by the group doing their bit for Student Volunteering Week.

The national initiative has come into its own in Portsmouth this year as more than 500 students are taking part in a range of activities.

These include hosting a 1940s party for elderly people, sorting thousands of donated books to schools in Africa and sprucing up second hand clothes for The Rowans Hospice charity shops.

Volunteering leaders at the university hope the major drive will encourage more young people to help out in the community.

Since September about 300 university students out of 10,000 have done more than 2,000 hours of volunteering.

Alice Hickman, the university’s volunteer officer, said: ‘The utopian goal would be for every student to do some volunteering, but we hope all the activities we’ve put on this week will encourage more people than ever before to give it a go.

‘We want to increase participation not only because volunteering looks great on CVs and boosts employability, but because it’s important to give something back to the community.’

Miss Hickman says she hopes more volunteers will help dispel negative impressions of students who came under fire at the start of this academic year for incidents of vandalism including uprooting a tree.

She said: ‘We suffer from the actions of a small minority of individuals but hundreds who volunteer are passionate about making a positive impact on their community.’

People are invited to attend a volunteering fair at the student union building tomorrow from 11am until 2pm.

MORE than 350 Portsmouth schoolchildren coached by University of Portsmouth students will compete in a streetdance competition at a Southsea theatre today.

Boys and girls from 15 primary and secondary schools promise to wow audiences to the Kings Theatre with their cool moves.

To get tickets to the junior and senior Dance Off shows from 3.30 to 5.30pm and from 7pm to 9.30pm respectively, call the box office on (023) 9282 8282.

Tickets cost £3 per person or £10 for a family of four.

For just £25 I popped across the Channel to Calais at the weekend to stock up.

When boarding P&O’s massive new ferry the Spirit of France (one of two new ships on the route), I noticed a familiar shape – LD Lines’ Norman Spirit.

Now running on the lucrative Calais hop, LD is trying to pick up some of the traffic from the demise of Seafrance, liquidated by the French government.

But that means LD’s Portsmouth service is left with the freight ship Norman Voyager. Does that fill customers with confidence in the company’s commitment?

With two large P&O ships now replaced and out of service, why not put them to work sailing out of Portsmouth?

I reckon my driving has improved 10-fold since I started my PCV bus training (so I can drive the very first bus on the new BRT route). I find myself more relaxed, calmer and considerate when I’m in my own car.

Last week I passed the theory part, something I didn’t need to do when I passed my car test way back in 1991.

The amount we have to learn about safety, comfort and security is mind-boggling. I’m training with Rob, who will be on the Fareham, Portchester and Portsmouth runs.

The driving’s tough too. As well as negotiating narrow streets, a plastic cup was filled with water and placed on the dash. The aim was to not spill a drop. We didn’t!

We all know we have to work at relationships. So what are the secrets? Well, good communication for a start, but also being thoughtful.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve found is letting go. Sounds silly, but after living on my own for four years, having someone else in your life takes some getting used to.

Sarah and I have been together now for almost three years and this summer we’re getting married. But I still struggle with not having my own way all the time! Letting go of full control is a slow process.

You can’t have your cake and eat it, but I’m lucky as Sarah is someone who wants to take over the running of the house – with some help, of course.

What I need to remember is to drop the old single person adage of ‘I did it my way’ and start thinking ‘we do it our way’.

I love cooking, trying new dishes and experimenting. But we weren’t eating until 9pm after I’d got home from work, so Sarah took over.

Sadly, I admit that I’d become a food snob, sticking my nose in when she was cooking. After a good talking to, I apologised and now let her get on with it. I cook at the weekend.

Generally it seems us men are a bit messy and lazy. My love of ‘proper’ coffee sees grains left in the sink. so I now tidy up after myself.

I clean the bath after every use and even wipe down the shower doors. I’m learning!

The annoying thing is, apart from falling over her shoes, Sarah doesn’t really do much that I can complain about though – even though I try to find things.

So the ‘re-programming’ continues. I now watch EastEnders and get emotional at One Born Every Minute, the BAFTA-winning series filmed on a maternity ward.

Meanwhile I still have 10 episodes of Top Gear on Sky Plus that I have yet to watch.

Now I’ve left behind my singleton life, I realise that a successful relationship is about compromise.

That and accepting that although us men think we are the bosses, that is just not true.

Oh, and a simple ‘yes dear’ normally does the trick!

The present system of levies on new building projects has been allowed to develop on an ad hoc basis, with figures arrived at during council negotiations with individual developers.

This is hardly satisfactory. Though there is nothing wrong with the notion that developers standing to profit from building should be expected to contribute to infrastructure costs and community facilities, there really should be a fixed system of charges so that everybody knows where they stand.

Such transparency would prevent any accusations of favouritism or cosy deals and accusations of permission being granted for certain schemes because of the financial incentive offered to the council.

That’s why we’re pleased to see that from April the new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will be calculated based on floor space – £105 per square metre.

Brought in nationally in 2010, Portsmouth City Council is to become only the fourth local authority to receive approval to operate the scheme.

It simplifies matters and means that there is a level playing field for all developers, big or small. When they put together projects, they will be able to factor in exactly what they will have to pay as a levy. It’s there in black and white.

The managing director of Southsea-based Bernards Estate Agents, Jason Parker, has voiced his concern, saying the change could have a ‘potentially stifling effect on development’ and could lead to less social housing being built.

But Portsmouth South MP and city councillor Mike Hancock, who is head of planning, regeneration and economic development, insists that won’t happen. He thinks developers ‘will always argue they should pay less’.

We certainly hope that the new CIL will not deter developers because they are vital for our economy and to provide the extra houses we need.

The figures have to stack up, otherwise they won’t build.

But we still agree with the principle of a fixed levy. as the fairest way of determining payment.

PATIENTS at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester will benefit from several improvements thanks to a funding pledge.

At its annual meeting the Friends of Chichester Hospitals approved funding for just under £140,000 to buy equipment and pay for facility upgrades.

The money will go towards helping the hospital’s fight against infections. The Friends will be spending £29,000 on a vapour disinfection system.

This will enable side rooms or whole bays in a ward to be treated swiftly after infectious patients have been discharged and to protect new patients from hospital-acquired infections such as C Difficile, MRSA or the winter vomiting bug Norovirus which can prove deadly.

Friends chairman Jane Ramage said: ‘St Richard’s has worked hard to fight such bugs, and the friends are very pleased to support this equipment, which will ensure decontamination can take place promptly after an outbreak, without waiting to hire equipment in. It will always be on standby.’

Six intravenous anaesthetic pumps costing £9,240 will also be purchased as part of the hospital trust’s enhanced recovery programme at St Richard’s.

Also approved was a major redesign of the women and children’s reception and patient waiting area which will cost just over £100,000.

As part of the project an area of greater privacy will be provided for patients and staff needing to discuss sensitive personal details and arrange further investigations or appointments.

FOR most people tying up their shoelaces or learning to drive is a straight forward task to learn.

But for Lisa Clements, these skills, along with many others, have been difficult to master because of her disability.

The 30-year-old was born with part of her left arm missing.

From the age of six, Lisa, of Portsmouth Road, Horndean, has worn a prosthetic arm from the elbow down.

But even with the prosthetic arm, Lisa has had to adapt the way she does things to make it work for her – from small tasks to bigger tasks like learning to drive.

And now she wants to share the tips she has picked up over the years with other people in a similar situation.

She has created the Facebook group Armless Advice and hopes to help others.

Tips range from opening a bottle of wine and tying up shoelaces to links for support groups.

Lisa said: ‘I hope people do not take offence to the name, but it does what it says really.

‘I want to share the things I learnt, and if other people want to contribute then that’s fine too.’

Lisa said the current support offered doesn’t always help.

‘My left arm from my elbow down is missing from birth and no reason was given.

‘I’ve had a prosthetic arm, but it hasn’t been the most flexible – for instance I can’t control the power of my grip.

‘There are problems that you face with everyday tasks and I found there wasn’t much support for adults having to deal with this.

‘The support you get for children is amazing, like you have the charity Reach.

‘It’s really good with providing support.

‘But as you get older you find a lot of charities are for people that have lost a limb if they have been in the armed forces.

‘That can be very different to being born without part of your arm.’

To get more information go to facebook.com/armlessadvice.

Or find Lisa on Twitter under @armlessadvice.

HOTELS that fail to spend time and money on their websites face a drop in bookings, according to experts from the University of Portsmouth.

Dr Alice Good and recent graduate Arunasalam Sambhanthan, both from the school of computing, studied hotels in Sri Lanka and found customers expect online features – even when looking at small hotels.

Dr Good said: ‘Hotels that rely on web bookings are going to face a drop in bookings if they fail to keep pace with website design and the importance of it to customers.

‘A website is the interface – the shop window – between businesses and their customers and a poor user experience will reduce the chance of a customer committing to a business transaction.

‘A poorly-designed website will also reduce the chances of a customer returning to it and increase the chance that they will tell others very quickly about a poor experience.’

The experts outlined key elements of good hotel website design including internet security and ensuring reservations can be made online.

THE paint is being slapped on and the new staff are standing by – the new John Lewis store in Chichester will be open on April 5.

John Lewis at Home Chichester will focus on furniture, furnishing accessories, electrical and home technology, and will be the first of the retailer’s ‘at home’ format shops to introduce a small assortment of nursery and travel goods.

And in six weeks’ time, at 9am, its doors will open to customers.

The store’s branch manager Claire Dunkason said: ‘I’m thrilled to announce the opening date of the first John Lewis at Home shop in Sussex and can’t wait to open our doors to customers on Thursday, April 5.

‘Opening in Chichester has long been an aspiration for us.

‘The addition of a small assortment of travel and nursery goods is an exciting extension of the format which we believe will be really popular among our shoppers.’

Computer terminals in the branch will allow shoppers to browse the wider johnlewis.com assortment of fashion, beauty and carpets and order for home delivery or next-day collection at the shop via the retailer’s Click and Collect service.

The service allows customers to order products from johnlewis.com before 7pm and collect them at the branch after 2pm the following day or opt for home delivery.

John Lewis at Home Chichester will be open from Monday to Friday from 9am until 8pm, Saturday from 9am until 7pm and Sunday from 11am until 5pm (plus Sunday browse time from 10.30am till 11am).

A recruitment drive for the store earlier this year saw more than 1,300 people apply for 140 jobs.

THE Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales is warning that fines are on the way for those who filed a self-assessment tax return too late.

HMRC has introduced penalties of up to £1,600 to tackle the problem of late filing.

Fay Webster, ICAEW’s south east regional director, said: ‘HMRC is doing everything it can to raise awareness to prevent late-filers incurring fines.

‘Initially, HMRC will send out flyers with the penalty notice inviting taxpayers to phone the helpline if they think they do not need to be in the self-assessment system.

‘If they shouldn’t, HMRC will take them out and cancel any penalty notice they have issued.’

A HEALTH and wellbeing seminar for businesses is to be held at Portsmouth Football Club next month.

Keynote speakers Dame Carol Black will be sharing her ground-breaking work on the outcome and recommendations of the sickness absence review, and Dr Steve Boorman, author of The Boorman Review, will look at health and wellbeing and a business case for change.

It will take place on Wednesday, March 14 from 9am to 1.30pm, and includes a tour of Fratton Park stadium.

To book, email events.portsmouth@hampshirechamber.co.uk.

PLANS to introduce a 20mph limit in Chichester have been backed – but a leading campaigner has warned the fight for safer roads is not over.

The South Chichester County Local Committee wants to introduce the speed limit across the city, excluding A and B roads, and push forward with a public consultation.

But leading campaigner Sarah Sharp said this was not enough.

‘The 20mph limit is only being implemented on residential roads. It is taking away the chance to tackle the dangerous roads which are not included,’ she said.

‘Now we have to restart a campaign to introduce the limit in dangerous roads such as the Northgate roundabout.’

Mrs Sharp said she would like to see a 20mph speed limit introduced at other dangerous roads such as Oving Road and Whyke Road. The committee also approved its priority plan for various infrastructure schemes.

This included the introduction of the 20’s Plenty, subject to public consultation, a Birdham improvement package to support the local primary school and reduced speed limit of 20mph, the provision of new shelters in Chichester, footway improvement at Blackboy Lane/Clay Lane in Fishbourne, a cycle link from Winterbourne Road to Graylingwell and school safety zones to be implemented at Rumboldswhyke Infants School and West Dean Primary School.

A new route safety scheme from Eartham Lane (A285) to Duncton Hill, and a new footway by Manor Road in Selsey were among the other projects backed by the committee.

OPPORTUNISTIC thieves have taken advantage of the digital switchover by targeting the elderly.

Police have reported a number of distraction burglaries by crooks pretending to be television installers.

The digital switchover, in which the analogue signal is turned off, has already started in Hampshire and begins in West Sussex on February 29.

Superintendent Dave Miller, who works in neighbourhood policing for Sussex police, said: ‘It is predominantly the elderly and the vulnerable who may find the switchover difficult, we want to make sure our residents only let legitimate installers into their homes.’

A FORMER private members’ club in Chichester city centre could be turned into flats if planning permission is granted.

An application has been made to change the use of the Regnum Club at 45A South Street and for permission to build nine flats.

The scheme would comprise one, two and three-bedroom flats, and would require internal and external alterations to be made to the building.

But the alterations will be limited by the fact that part of the site is a Grade II listed building.

As part of the application there will be nine bicycle spaces made available

To comment on the application write to Chichester District Council quoting the application number CC/12/00106/FUL.

Comments should be received no later than March 12.

]]> 1.3550356 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:35:42 +0000 http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/royal_navy_unveils_new_3m_sea_survival_centre_1_3550352

THE navy has unveiled a new £3.25m sea survival training centre to teach sailors and Royal Marines how to abandon ships safely.

The centre on Horsea Island was officially named Ardent yesterday in memory of HMS Ardent which was sunk during the Falklands War with the loss of 22 men.

The training centre first opened at Horsea Lake almost 30 years ago following the lessons learnt from the 1982 conflict with Argentina, which claimed 258 British lives.

For years it was run from makeshift huts.

But last year, the navy brought in Havant-based architect Peter Galloway to design a new facility at the site.

It was opened by Falklands veteran Commodore Adrian Nance, a survivor from HMS Sheffield which sank following an Argentine missile strike which killed 20 sailors.

He said: ‘It’s important the navy continues to invest in the lessons it learnt 30 years ago.

‘Lots of people died for us to learn those lessons and it’s a tribute to those people that the navy has invested in this new building.’

The navy’s sea survival training sees 10,000 people a year leap into Horsea Lake in all weathers to practise clambering into up-turned life rafts while wearing survival suits.

The course is close to the heart of sea survival manager Russell ‘Eli’ Ellis, 61, of Portchester, who abandoned his ship, HMS Coventry, after she was attacked by Argentine bombers, killing 20.

He said: ‘Since the Falklands, the emphasis is on preparing ourselves adequately in case we have to abandon ship in a war. In the Falklands, the feeling was nothing would happen to us because we were fighting an inferior force.

‘But when the Sheffield was hit it woke everyone up and people realised we are not as good as we thought.

‘Back then, everyone was trained to abandon ship.

‘However we did not train in this type of facility. It was part of the basic training but you never really entered the water – you just sat in on demonstrations.

‘The training and the equipment we have now undoubtedly would save lives if we were in that situation again.’

Members of the HMS Ardent Association were invited to the opening event.

Richard Gough, 53, who was a Petty Officer aboard the ship during the Falklands, said: ‘The advance in equipment and training at this facility is fantastic. It’s great this building has been named Ardent.’

A CLANFIELD councillor is vying to become the new leader of East Hampshire District Council.

Tory councillor Ken Moon has taken over the running of the Petersfield-based authority on a temporary basis until a new leader can be elected.

As previously reported, the Tory leader, Patrick Burridge, resigned last week because of ill-health.

He had been in the job for the past 18 months.

Cllr Moon, who also represents Finchdean, was deputy leader until the resignation.

The majority Conservative group at the council will now elect a new leader and Cllr Moon says he will be standing for the post.

The leader of the majority group also takes on the mantle of council leader.

Cllr Moon said: ‘Naturally, I aspire to becoming the leader.

‘I have done my apprenticeship and will be throwing my hat in the ring for the forthcoming leadership debate.’

It is expected a new council leader will be in place by mid to late March.

Cllr Moon was emphatic that the transition period will not affect the day-to-day business of the council.

He added: ‘Council policies are agreed and in place and the council and Penns Place is open for business as usual.’

THERE was a very slim chance a man left floating in a shallow lake by firefighters could have recovered, a coroner has said.

But David Horsley, the coroner for Portsmouth and South East Hampshire, said the decision to leave Simon Burgess in the water at Walpole Park was not a significant factor in his death.

He has now called on emergency services to improve their training in case faster reactions could save lives in the future.

And Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) has pledged to review its policies and training.

Simon Burgess was pronounced dead after being pulled from the water at Gosport’s Walpole Park in March last year.

The 41-year-old, of White Lion Walk, was feeding the swans at the lake when it is thought he suffered an epileptic seizure. He was seen entering the water before ending up face-down and motionless.

A two-day inquest at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard that the first firefighters to reach the lake decided there were no visible signs of life and did not go in to get him.

Instead they waited 11 minutes for a specialist unit to arrive from Fareham.

Mr Horsley yesterday recorded an official verdict of accidental death.

He said: ‘I believe there might have been a chance, albeit a very slim one, that he might have recovered if he had been removed earlier.

‘I can’t say it would have been more likely than not in this case.

‘In this case the delay in arrival of the specialist team has not been a significant factor in this tragic death.

‘Therefore all this evidence leads me to the conclusion that Simon’s death was due to an accident.’

However Mr Horsley did say a speedier recovery could save someone’s life if a similar incident ever arose.

He has now called on the emergency services to review their training on how to deal with water incidents.

‘Looking at the evidence I did not feel it was open for me to conclude that a more speedy recovery would have saved his life,’ he added.

‘However a more speedy recovery could make a difference in someone else’s survival.

‘I’m going to request more effective training be given to personnel.

‘I am going to request they get together and re-examine the protocols jointly to ensure the protocols give the best possible guidance for situations like this where a life may hang in the balance.

‘I hope we will ensure Simon Burgess’s death has not been in vain.

‘Simon’s family and friends have suffered so much due to the loss of his life.’

Medical evidence from pathologist Dr Brett Lockyer revealed a person cannot normally survive after being underwater for between five and seven minutes.

But the inquest heard that under rare circumstances, such as in icy conditions, the survival time could be prolonged.

The inquest heard a police officer volunteered to enter the water to retrieve Mr Burgess but was advised not to by the firefighter in charge and his own control room.

A paramedic also suggested he should enter the water but did not after it was pointed out he had no equipment.

HFRS denied claims its firefighters had refused to enter the water for health and safety reasons.

It said firefighters would have waded in immediately if they thought they could save Mr Burgess’ life.

In a statement released after the inquest, a HFRS spokeswoman said: ‘As a learning organisation we take this very seriously and accept the coroner’s verdict.

‘This was a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Burgess at this difficult time.

‘The decisions taken at Walpole Lake had nothing to do with health and safety or the depth of the water.

‘On arrival at the scene, the officer and crews saw a body face-down and submerged in the water. That person was unresponsive and showing no visible signs of life.

‘Our officers and staff clearly stated if they saw any signs of life and the individual could be saved, they would have gone in to the water and followed rescue procedures.

‘HFRS fully supports the decisions and actions of its officers and crews on that day.’

Fire chief says service will look at improving policies

ASSISTANT chief fire officer Andrew Bowers said the fire service would now work with experts to improve firefighters’ knowledge of this kind of incident.

Mr Bowers said Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service had already looked into ways of improving water rescue policy after the Walpole Lake tragedy.

The fire service will now look at other points raised by the inquest to look at better ways of training crews.

Mr Bowers said: ‘The next step is to re-examine our policies.

‘We have begun to improve our policies anyway.

‘We will discuss it with our police colleagues and South Central Ambulance Service.

‘We will come to a conclusion between us in terms of what guidance we will give.’

Mr Bowers said setting down a time limit as to how long a person could be immersed in water before drowning could be too restrictive so a more general training option could be explored.

He said firefighters currently have access to two documents which give details of underwater survival times.

But he said the service would now consult with medical experts following the inquest to look at better ways of training fire crews in how to deal with these situations.

He added: ‘What we don’t want is members of the public thinking firefighters can’t rescue them.

‘Unfortunately as a result of this incident firefighters have been abused and accused of many things.

‘It was a tragic accident and our thoughts are with Mr Burgess’ family and friends.’

PORTSMOUTH South MP Mike Hancock is calling on the government to release the transition risk register for the Health Bill.

The bill is currently going through its final stages in Parliament, and Mr Hancock believes it is important the register – which outlines potential problems in the future if the changes are brought in – is released before the bill completes its passage.

The Information Commissioner ruled last November that the public interest in publishing the register was greater than keeping it secret.

But the government has said it will appeal the Information Commissioner’s judgement.

Many MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling for it to be published, alongside leaders of Britain’s doctors, GPs, nurses and midwives.

Mr Hancock said: ‘The Health Secretary should have the guts to publish the risk register today as it is more important that Parliament corrects any mistakes in the bill that the register shows up than it is kept secret.

‘My guess is that ultimately the government will have to publish it anyway.

‘So it would be far better to publish it before the bill completes its passage through parliament so that parliamentarians can see whether it needs changing in light of what the risk register says.’

PLANS to broadcast council meetings live on the internet have been branded a waste of money.

Hampshire County Council is spending £205,000 on setting up the new system for its council chamber in Winchester, and it is expected to be used for the first time during today’s budget meeting.

The council leader has defended the scheme, saying that it will provide greater transparency to the public, and the old audio system needed updating.

But Lib Dem member for Portchester, Cllr Roger Price said: ‘With the cuts that have been going on across the county – reductions in services, library hours being cut, youth services and so on, is allocating nearly a quarter of a million to broadcasting the best way to spend it?

‘Even if there was plenty of money floating around it would be a luxury to do, but at the moment we are going through hard times and services for the community we serve are being cut.

‘This is a total waste of money.’

Tory council leader, Cllr Ken Thornber, said: ‘The county council has a strong track record around transparency, and in line with the aims of the government’s Localism Act, by opening up some of our public meetings to a wider audience in this way, we hope that this will empower local residents and communities.

‘By streaming important meetings online as they happen, and providing archived footage afterwards, this will give people a greater understanding of the difficult decisions that need to be made in the current economic climate, and how the council is representing the interests of the county’s 1.28m residents to protect front-line services.

The cost includes £95,000 to replace the old audio system, £60,000 for the new visual system and cameras, as well as £50,000 for installation in the council chamber and one other committee room.

Cllr Thornber added: ‘Members have contributed £90,000 as a result of their underspend in their members’ budgets in 2011/12.’

But Cllr Price said: ‘If there was a members’ budgets underspend, that money could have been better spent elsewhere, even on a one-off capital expense.’

The meeting starts today at 10am. Go to hants.gov.uk to watch online.

PORTSMOUTH-BASED warship HMS Illustrious has been working with the Danish military during a four-day visit to Copenhagen.

During the stay the carrier hosted a Lynx helicopter from the Royal Danish Air Force for several hours of flight deck drills.

The ship had stopped at the Danish capital on her way north for a two-week Nato exercise inside the Arctic Circle.

The visit allowed Lusty to open her hatches to the Copenhagen public for a day and 4,500 visitors took the opportunity to see the ship’s hangar and flight deck and talk to sailors.

Further links were forged when 60 naval officers under training aboard the warship paid a visit to the Danish Naval Academy.

A CORONER has called for better training for all emergency services after the death of a man in a lake.

David Horsley said there was a ‘very slim chance’ that if Simon Burgess had been pulled from the water earlier he might have survived.

He ruled the decision by firefighters not to retrieve his body from Walpole Park lake in Gosport was not a significant factor in his death, which he ruled was accidental.

However, he said he would be writing to all emergency services to recommend changes to their policies following the incident in March last year.

Burgess, 41, of White Lion Walk, Gosport, had fallen into the lake and drowned after suffered a seizure, the Portsmouth inquest heard.

Eyewitnesses had criticised fire crews for ‘standing around doing nothing’ while his body floated in the water.

In a statement, Hampshire Fire and Rescue service said: ‘The inquest into the incident at Walpole Lake in March 2011 has now been concluded and the actual facts and clarity around the circumstances of the incident have been shared. As a learning organisation we take this very seriously and accept the coroner’s verdict.

‘This was a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Burgess at this difficult time.

‘Our officers and firefighters make difficult decisions and professional judgements every day, whatever the situation or incident. Their actions are based on training, balanced judgement and assessments based on the information and circumstances they are faced with in a dynamic situation.

‘Let us be clear, the decisions taken at the Walpole Lake incident had nothing to do with health and safety or the depth of the water. Our officers and staff made an informed assessment and judgement based on the circumstances they faced. On arrival at the scene, the officer and crews saw a body face down and submerged in the water, who we now know to be Mr Simon Burgess. That person was unresponsive and showing no visible signs of life. Based on this assessment, they prepared for the arrival of one of the Services specialist water rescue unit to undertake a dignified retrieval of the individual from the water.

‘Our officers and staff clearly stated, that if they saw any signs of life and the individual could be saved, they would have gone in to the water and followed rescue procedures.

‘Our officers and crews, followed our Service policy which is in line with national guidance. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service fully supports the decisions and actions of its officers and crews on that day.

‘After this incident and subsequent internal debrief, we reviewed our water rescue policy and made changes based on our findings. These changes are in response to identified gaps in the existing policy and suggested changes by our staff. This builds on the effective water rescue response capability the service has developed in recent years.

‘We will now implement our updated policy into the Service and support our officers and staff as they continue to work professionally and respond to emergency incidents in the local area and across the county, taking calculated risks to save lives.’

FIREFIGHTERS were called to a home on Wednesday evening after a blaze broke out in the kitchen.

It took one crew from Havant and one from Emsworth about an hour to douse the fire in a house in Thistledown Gardens, Emsworth.

It happened at 7pm yesterday, and the fire left the ground floor of the property severely damaged.

Both the ground and first floors of the home were also damaged by smoke.

The occupants had got out of the property by the time crews arrived and were not injured in the incident.

A PEDESTRIAN suffered minor injuries after being hit by a car.

The incident happened at 5.50pm today at the junction of London Road and Stubbington Avenue, North End.

Police officers and ambulance crews attended.

The driver was unharmed.

A MAJOR £452m contract to build four new fuel tankers to supply the Royal Navy has gone to a firm in South Korea.

The Ministry of Defence said no British shipbuilders submitted a final bid for the work.

It’s a bitter blow to 1,300 BAE Systems workers in Portsmouth who are fighting to hold on to their jobs once their work ends on the navy’s new aircraft carriers in 2014.

Prospect union official John Ferrett, who represents 300 BAE staff in Portsmouth, said: ‘It’s work we could have done with here in the UK. That no British companies put in for the work is an indictment on our capacity which has already reduced and could be reducing further. I think this could be the shape of things to come.’

The new Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) tankers are due to enter service in 2016 to replace existing naval supply vessels.

The MoD announced today that they will be built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering in South Korea.

The MoD’s procurement chief Bernard Gray said: ‘The competition for the contract sought to engage shipbuilders from across the globe. I believe the winning bidder’s solution will offer the UK the best value for money.’

British companies, including BAE Systems, had been involved in talks to produce the tankers but none submitted a final bid for the build contract.

A BAE spokeswoman said: ‘BAE Systems did not take part in the MARS competition once the MoD made it clear that they required a derivative of a commercial ship and, through an international competition, sought an available commercial design which we did not have.’

The MARS tanker will be able to simultaneously refuel an aircraft carrier and destroyer whilst undertaking helicopter resupply of other vessels.

They will support deployed amphibious, land and air forces close to the shore, will be able to operate helicopters and are planned to enter service from 2016, replacing existing Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) single hulled tankers.

At over 200 metres long, the four tankers will be approximately the same length as 14 double decker buses and can pump enough fuel to fill two Olympic sized swimming pools in an hour.

The MoD said the tankers are part of a multi-billion pound investment programme for the Royal Navy, which includes Type 45 destroyers, Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and Astute Class attack submarines, which employs thousands of people in the UK.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said: ‘Over the next decade, the Government will be investing billions of pounds in our maritime capabilities to ensure that our Royal Navy remains a formidable fighting force. This project will inject up to £150 million into UK industry and support and maintenance will also be carried out in the UK. The Government remains committed to building complex warships in UK shipyards.’

Commodore Bill Walworth, Head of the RFA, said: ‘We are delighted the RFA will be able to operate these world class vessels. These fleet replenishment tankers will be flexible ships, able to operate with the Royal Navy and Armed Forces in conflict, and are designed to allow for upgrades and emerging technologies meaning that they have been designed with the future in mind.’

Pompey have once again found themselves in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

But Friday, 17 February, 2012, may just be a landmark date for the right ones.

The Blues’ official descent into administration has again put the club at the top of the sports news agenda.

Round-the-clock news channels have been majoring on the development, Pompey have found themselves the focus of angry column inches and radio stations have been lamenting that joke of a south coast club, and questioning how it again finds itself in such trouble.

It’s nothing we’ve not heard before, of course, and nothing that wasn’t expected.

It seems a little information can be a dangerous thing when it comes to having an opinion of how the club came to be in its current predicament.

What did arrive as a brilliant bolt from the royal blue, however, was news from the High Court on the identity of the club’s latest administrator.

Yes, step forward and take a bow Mr Justice Alastair Norris, because his decision not to appoint Andrew Andronikou’s UHY Hacker Young in the position may be the best news the club has heard in a long time.

The decision to instead opt for Trevor Birch’s PKF has been greeted with real enthusiasm from the Fratton faithful.

Why? Because it would appear to break the link between debenture holder Balram Chainrai and the club’s administrators.

Pompey fans had been quick to air their concerns about the close proximity between the pair – a view echoed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

They believed UHY’s appointment, given the fact they oversaw the club’s last administration and that of parent company Convers Sports Initiatives, would not be correct.

The fact Chainrai offered £500,000 to Pompey to approve the administrator spoke of his desperation for control, as he seeks to recoup his £17m.

It didn’t happen, and instead we have seen Birch and Co arrive, as UHY packed up their briefcases and got out of PO4.

But it appears the man dubbed ‘Admin Andy’ by fans is leaving kicking and screaming after making his own complaints to accountancy authorities over PKF’s appointment.

Despite that, we hope and expect now for a fresh impetus at Fratton Park, one which alleviates fans’ fears of any kind of favouritism towards certain creditors.

And, to coin the popular phrase around these parts, the due diligence on Birch has unearthed plenty of reasons for Pompey fans to be cheerful. A credible football man with a long background in the game is arriving.

Birch has history as a player on the pitch and, off it, was credited with bringing Roman Abramovich to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea chief executive.

There’s no doubt the 54-year-old will have some horrible decisions to make in the coming days and weeks, but supporters will have the belief they are being made in the best interests of the club they love.

In the meantime, they will have to deal with more of the nonsense we’ve been hearing about punishments which should be meted to Pompey.

Most of the bad guys have long since left town, but that has not stopped the calls for death sentences to be handed out.

The fact it would be the victims who have already been looted and abused in the hangman’s noose, seems to be of little consequence to those baying for blood.

POLICE sealed off an area of Portsmouth today after a suspicious package was found in a university building.

The alert was sparked after the item was found in the St Michael’s building of University of Portsmouth at 1pm today.

University security staff evacuated 500 staff and students and police cordoned off the area near the Guildhall on White Swan Road.

But shortly after 2.30pm the cordon was taken down and the area opened again.

The modern, silver St Michael’s building, which is close to James Watson student halls of residence where 500 undergraduates live, is where the university’s science faculty is based.

More than a dozen firefighters were called to the scene. The special equipment truck and two pumps from Cosham and one pump from Southsea fire stations were also tasked to stand-by while Hampshire police dealt with the situation.

Barry Saunders, 65, from Medina Road, Cosham, said: ‘I was in the library, came out to get back in my car and all this was kicking off.

‘They said there was some sort of suspect package and you can’t take any risks with something like that. You’ve got to make sure it’s safety first so I didn’t mind having to wait. I don’t think a traffic warden would dare put a ticket on my car in these circumstances.’

Sam Clark, 19, from Winter Road, a biochemistry student at King Henry building, which was also cordoned off, said: ‘It all happened about 15 minutes before I was due to hand in some work so I’ve had to wait, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. I’m glad no-one’s hurt. I bet it was just some sloppy student who had left their bag there by mistake.’

A police spokesman said the package had been delivered and was intended for someone at the university but the labelling was not clear and gave cause for concern.

Inspector Phil Jones said: ‘I’d like to thank everyone for their patience. Luckily, there was nothing to worry about on this occasion. We took these measures to cordon off the area for everyone’s safety both at the university building and in the vicinity.’

Each week former trading standards officer Richard Thomson answers your questions.

Q I had a minor accident when I fell off a motor scooter during a holiday in Thailand. I was hospitalised for two days and when I got home claimed for the treatment costs from my holiday insurance. The insurer has flatly refused to pay out pointing to some small print in the policy. Can you help me please?

GB (e-mail)

A You sent me a copy of the policy whereupon I immediately made for the offending small print. Just as I expected, there was an exclusion clause saying that hazardous activities were not covered.

So restrictive were the exclusions that about all you could do on your holiday was walk from your hotel room to the beach and back.

The policy would cover hazardous activity provided you’d notified the insurance company in advance and paid an additional premium.

Normally if you had reached deadlock in a dispute with an insurer, I’d advise you to take the issue up with the Financial Services Ombudsman.

To be honest I can’t advise you take that step with your claim as your chances of success are about as great as finding a nudist colony at the North Pole.

It all boils down to making sure you read the policy carefully before you jet off and you have bought adequate cover for your needs.

It may appear unfair, but insurers are not motivated by benevolence. All they are concerned with is risk, and if you raise the risk stakes then they’ll expect you to tell them in advance so that they can slap you with a hefty hike in premium.

Q We had our house redecorated recently and one of the workman accidentally knocked over a can of paint on an unprotected area of carpet. His firm has agreed to pay compensation, but as the carpet wasn’t new they won’t give us the full replacement cost. Is this right?

PE (e-mail)

A I’ve no doubt that if someone working on your property carelessly causes damage then you’ll be in line for compensation.

But just because the firm’s decorator may have been negligent doesn’t automatically mean you can claim the cost of a brand new carpet to replace the old one.

You didn’t say how long you’d had the original carpet, but if a brand spanking new one puts you in a better position than you would have been with the old one, then you won’t be entitled to the total cost of the replacement.

This is because you would have had the benefit of a number of years wear in your old carpet, and to replace it with a new one would amount to betterment.

There may still be some circumstances where you might be justified in asking for full compensation though. One such circumstance might be if the carpet is fitted and it wasn’t possible to replace it with a carpet of similar age and wear and tear.

In that case you’d still be entitled to the full replacement cost.

Richard Thomson is a former trading standards officer with many years experience. If you have a question, e-mail him at richardjthomson1@sky.com and wherever possible he will try to provide practical assistance. Unfortunately he cannot guarantee to respond to every letter or e-mail. Richard Thomson welcomes letters from readers on consumer issues. Replies are intended to give general help or advice, not a complete statement of law.

SHOPPERS and staff have criticised plans to increase charges at two car parks in Havant

The owners of the Meridian Shopping Centre car parks, off Elm Lane and West Street, want to put up some charges by as much as 40 per cent.

It will be the first rise in five years and coincides with a £100,000 refurbishment.

But it comes as Havant Borough Council considers introducing waiting restrictions in nearby West Street, Staunton Road, Western Road and Brockhampton Road – meaning workers and shoppers will be forced to use the car park.

In the West Street car park, charges will go up from 60p to £1 an hour; from £1.60 to £2 for three to four hours and £3.50 to £4 for over four hours.

In the Meridian Centre car park the day charge increases from £3.50 to £5 from March 19.

Lauren Healy, 22, from Havant, said: ‘As a single mum, I think it’s ridiculous.

‘I would not be able to afford £5 a day. Sixty pence for an hour is reasonable and they shouldn’t put it up to £1.

‘I’ll have to walk instead which is going to take a long time. They did have to sort the lighting out because it is such a dark car park.

‘But I don’t think they should penalise the people who use it to pay for it.’

Sarah Budziszewski, 36, uses the West Street car park regularly as she works at Betfred, just opposite.

She said: ‘You would think that in a town like Havant they would keep car parking low to encourage people in.

‘I don’t have a choice, I have to pay it as I work here but others who do have a choice won’t come here.’

Rob Fryer, the centre manager, said the refurbishment will benefit all users.

‘We appreciate that times are difficult at present but feel the improvements will encourage regular customer use to the car park and town centre,’ said Mr Fryer.

‘With the increased lighting and introduction of CCTV, we’re promoting safety and putting a stop to the previous mindless incidents of vandalism and graffiti in this area.

‘It made it unattractive and intimidating to both potential and regular users.’

He added: ‘One of our long-term aims is to help support residents with their parking in the town centre area. I’ve already been approached to look at options for using our car park due to the lack of on street parking for them.’

The council is doing a review of town centre parking and will make a decision later in the year.

A BUS company has apologised to a mum and her young daughter after they were kicked off a bus – for being 20p short on the fare.

Kasi Brewer had collected her daughter from nursery and went to get the number 5 bus home from the Mountbatten Centre in Stamshaw.

But they were not allowed on by the driver because Kasi was 20p short of the full fare.

She said no other services arrived and was given no help when she walked round to the Hilsea bus depot.

They had to wait two hours in the cold before a friend could drive round to pick her up and take them back to their home in Fareham.

Kasi, 24, of Trinity Street, said: ‘I use First buses on an almost daily basis and generally don’t have a problem.

‘I got on the bus and realised I didn’t have enough change. I was 20p short and asked them to take me as far as they could. But he was very rude and told me to get off the bus.

‘No-one was willing to help me. I just wanted some advice or help.

‘I finally managed to get hold of someone to drive down from Fareham and collect me at about 8.30pm, with still no news on a number 5. My little girl was cold and tired.

‘It was lucky that she’d already had dinner otherwise she would have been hungry too.

‘By the time my lift arrived I was so angry and upset. I was shaking with rage and in floods of tears. I’m not bothered about myself, but my young daughter is an entirely different matter.’

Kasi says she has to use First buses on a regular basis to get to and from work in Portsmouth.

‘If I could afford to get a taxi I would,’ she added.

First only responded to Kasi’s complaint after they were contacted by The News. It said a failure on its website meant it didn’t receive the email.

The firm said the driver should have allowed her to use the bus and sorted out repayment of the 20p at a later date.

Chris Bainbridge, regional service delivery director for First on the south coast, said: ‘We acknowledge that Ms Brewer’s email to us was not acknowledged or responded to due to a failure on our website.

‘We offer our sincere apologies to Ms Brewer for this oversight.

‘We’re concerned that Ms Brewer states she was told she was unable to travel by a member of our driving team, all who have the facility to make alternative arrangements for customers who may not have the right amount of money to make their journey.

‘It is obvious from Ms Brewer’s email that she found herself in distressing circumstances on a cold evening and with a young child.

‘If First in anyway contributed to these events it is extremely regrettable.’

The company confirmed that two buses arrived at the Mountbatten Centre between 6pm and 6.40pm but that Kasi may have missed the service as she walked round to the Hilsea depot.

RESIDENTS called on a council to refuse plans for a new hotel and restaurant in Havant at a meeting last night.

Community leaders said the 80-bedroom Travelodge hotel and 300-cover restaurant would lead to congestion and noise pollution and was too large for Bosmere Field, a green space near the Langstone roundabout off the A27.

But Gary Medlow, managing director of Fasset Ltd, which runs Langstone Technology Park and is proposing the development, said a budget hotel was vital for the business park to survive in an increasingly competitive market.

Views for and against the development were expressed as residents, councillors and developers gathered at Havant’s Public Service Plaza to discuss plans before a formal planning application is submitted.

The meeting heard the hotel would be two-storey and there would be 155 parking spaces.

The restaurant would be a farmhouse-style ‘Cloverleaf’ restaurant, run by brewery Greene King.

Gareth Brown, from Langstone Village Association, said: ‘Without question noise pollution would be a major issue, particularly to the houses in that area.

‘The noise pollution which at the moment stops at 5pm or 6pm would go on until 11.30pm or midnight.’

He said the development would not benefit Havant town centre.

‘It needs hotels inside the centre,’ he said.

Angela Armstrong, chairwoman of Langstone Residents’ Association, said: ‘The feedback from our members is the scale is far too large for this location.’

But Mr Medlow said: ‘I truly believe a budget hotel is a much-needed business park asset as well as being good for our tourism and the local economy. The creation of 100-plus jobs cannot be sniffed at.’

He said the business park brought millions of pounds to Havant every year by employees visiting the shops.

‘You have got to be able to provide the necessary infrastructure for these very demanding companies,’ he said.

FOR one day only, Gosport’s Royal Navy sites at Fort Blockhouse and HMS Sultan are opening their doors to their hidden heritage as part of a fundraising day to save a submarine.

On Saturday, March 3 behind-the-scenes tours of Fort Rowner, Fort Grange, the submariner’s memorial chapel, the Wyllie paintings of Fort Blockhouse, HMS Sultan’s aircraft hangar and marine engineering museum will be available to the general public.

The aim is to help raise money for the historic sub HMS Alliance, which is based at the Royal Navy Museum in Gosport.

The navy museum’s Chris Munns said: ‘We are really delighted to have the support of HMS Sultan and Fort Blockhouse for this special mini navy open day in aid of Saving HMS Alliance.

‘Visitors can do both sites in one day or pick and choose the tours they want to do.’

HMS Dolphin was the home to the Royal Navy’s Submarine Service.

Now known as Fort Blockhouse, the hidden heritage tour will be led by a retired submariner.

Tickets are £5 per person and children are free.

They must be booked in advance from the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.

For more information call (023) 92510 354 ext 240 or visit submarine-museum.co.uk

IT WAS a flipping fantastic time for the children of Redlands Primary School on pancake day.

The 300 youngsters from the Fareham school took part in a series of races in a bid to win the coveted golden frying pans.

And as they took turns in negotiating the obstacle course – doing the slalom, skipping through hoops and jumping the bunny hops – they tossed the fake pancakes with glee, while being cheered on by their classmates.

But only three classes could emerge victorious in the relay races, organised by the Friends of Redlands PTA group, classes, five, six and 10.

Morgan Gascoigne, eight, said: ‘I’ve lost my voice from screaming so much.

‘I found it tricky to flip the pancakes. I tried it at home with daddy but I wasn’t very good, I kept throwing it too high.

‘This is one of my favourite events of the year.’

Megan Jones, six, from victorious class five, said: ‘It was amazing but it’s so difficult.

‘It was so fast, I thought I was going to fall over.’

Mathilda Howat, seven added: ‘It’s not about winning when you do the pancake races, it’s about taking part and having lots of fun.’

Joy Smith, chairwoman of the Friends, said: ‘The children get so excited and have so much fun – they go for it. And it’s a special day, we love doing it for the children.

‘The amount of enjoyment I get seeing them do it and competing is what makes it so great.

‘It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity with the children and raise money for them throughout the year so we can put other things on for them.’

Headteacher Kevin Harcombe said: ‘We do all the multicultural stuff which is important, but we tend to forget our own British traditions.

‘We have been doing this for the last few years now and the children make a really big thing about it.

‘I remember taking part in pancake races as a kid and I loved them. It’s one of those things which will die out if you don’t keep promoting it.’

THE county council is looking into the matter of the missing letter T in a new road sign.

The road sign on the A27 Eastern Way in Fareham has misspelt Portchester by omitting the first T.

It had been put up as part of a £2m remodelling of the nearby Quay Street roundabout in Fareham, alongside the building of a new Tesco.

Councillor Mel Kendal, who is in charge of transport matters at Hampshire County Council, said: ‘A spelling error on a sign put up by Tesco’s contractors has been reported to us.

‘Our highways engineers will be contacting them to ensure appropriate action is taken to address this, and any other issues relating to the works at the Quay Street roundabout.’

A FARMER who pursued a group of off-road motorcyclists after they rode on his land, killed one of them when his Land Rover Discovery toppled on to him after a collision, a court has heard.

Timothy Wolfe, 63, went after the group of five bikers when he saw them cross his field in October 2010, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Ian Lawrie QC said that Wolfe had had problems with off-road bikers before and was ‘upset and angry’ about them being on his land and he pursued them so he could ‘remonstrate’ with them.

He collided with one of the bikes, leading to the death of father-of-one Gary Greaves formerly from Portsmouth who later moved to Arundel, West Sussex.

Wolfe, from Sunwood Farm, Ditcham, near Petersfield, denies the manslaughter of Mr Greaves and causing actual bodily harm to another rider, Andrew Kirkpatrick, by wanton and furious driving.

The group had been taking part in an activity called green laning but had become lost. They had gone across the field of stubble owned by Wolfe to try to find another route, but found it blocked and so the men went back. They then turned on to a muddy track with Wolfe behind.

The farmer collided with Mr Kirkpatrick who in turn collided with his friend Mr Greaves, 48, on another trial bike, the court heard. The Land Rover toppled over on to Mr Greaves, pinning him under the vehicle.

The trial is expected to last eight days.

(Proceeding)

A 10-YEAR-OLD boy was caught stealing a wallet from a Portsmouth store.

The youngster was with friends in Commercial Road, on Monday.

He stole a wallet from the TK Maxx store and was caught by the store’s security, just after 3.30pm.

When security could not contact his parents, the matter was handed over to the police.

PCSO Lee Wright said the boy was given a youth restorative disposal order (YRDO), issued to first-time low level offenders aged from 10 to 17.

It requires the youngster to face up to the seriousness of their offence and offer an apology. It does not give the young person a criminal record.

PCSO Wright said: ‘Because it was his first offence and because it was low level I thought a YRDO would be the best way to deal with it. They can only be issued after being supported by the parents. The boy was showing remorse and said he will write a letter to say how sorry he is and he will never do it again.

‘This is quicker and better than taking someone into custody and taking a police officer off the street. The wallet stolen cost £3.99.’

The youngster from Somers Town said he took the wallet after a friend told him he stole one.

A SCHOOL that bears the name of one of the 19th century’s greatest authors stepped back into time to have a go mimicking the Victorians and their writing techniques.

Youngsters at Charles Dickens Juniors, in Buckland, donned their hoop skirts and top hats as they scribbled away with quill pen dipped in ink.

They wrote a ‘dear diary’ in the role of Oliver Twist – taking their inspiration from workshops run by the Groundlings Theatre, where Dickens’ mum’s waters broke before giving birth to him in the family home in Old Commercial Road, Portsmouth.

With the help of actors, the children were given a sense of schooling and life for young people in the Victorian period.

Headteacher Sandra Miller said: ‘It was a memorable experience for the children – it brought the Victorian period to life and they wrote fantastic diary entries. What really struck them was the fact that children their age went out to work.’

Charles Dickens Juniors is one of the schools signed up to The News’ literacy campaign, which was launched on Dickens’ 200th birthday.

THE financial challenges facing elderly people who need care and support are highlighted in a new film.

West Sussex County Council has put together a film which gives details of the newly launched Carewise West Sussex scheme.

The unique scheme is designed to give help and advice to people who need long term care and also to their families or representatives.

With nursing care fees reaching £80,000 a year many elderly people feel forced to sell their home to meet the soaring costs. Yet only a few seek specialist financial advice that could save their home.

Councillor Peter Catchpole, in charge of the Council’s Adults’ Services, said: ‘With a rapidly ageing population it is vital people make the right decisions at a critical time in their life.

‘This video is a useful introduction to the Carewise scheme and the help and advice it offers anyone who needs long term care.’

View the film at westsussex.gov.uk/video and click ‘people’.

ONE man is to be deported and two women are on bail following a raid on a care home.

UK Border Agency officers raided the St Ronan’s Care Home, in St Ronan’s Road, Southsea, at 8am yesterday following a tip-off.

After carrying out checks on staff they found three people who were suspected of having supplied counterfeit documentation to gain work.

A 36-year-old Malaysian man was arrested for immigration offences and was detained while he awaits deportation.

Two women, a 38-year-old Zimbabwean and a 29-year-old from Swaziland, are on immigration bail and will have to report to the UK Border Agency regularly while the agency deals with their cases.

Care home owner John Pattison, said: ‘We co-operated fully with the Border Agency throughout this entire process.

‘Consequently the home remains fully staffed at all times, therefore not affecting our residents’ care and well-being.’

Anyone who suspects illegal immigrants are being employed in businesses should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 21-YEAR-OLD man who was found with cannabis has been made to pay £350.

Lathan Summers, of Longfield Avenue, Fareham, was caught carrying a small quantity of the drug in Fareham.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a class B drug when he appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court.

A NEW training centre to help gas engineers update their qualifications has been launched.

It is being run by Williams & Co, and the new training centre is next to the firm’s city trade counter at OJ’s Industrial Park, off Burrfields Road in Portsmouth.

The CertifiTraining.com programme is being run with The Gas Safe Corporation.

Boiler manufacturer Main has donated the boilers and cylinders for delegates to work on, and will be able to use the centre to deliver free training to Main installers in the area.

Williams & Co managing director Ray Stafford said: ‘Our customers are nearly all one-man bands and it is difficult for them to take enough time off the tools to do all the gas exams that are required.

‘We have tried to make the courses as flexible as possible for them, for example having early 7am starts, so they can cover more in a day and therefore take fewer days to do the assessments.

‘The beauty of having the training company attached to the trade counter is that we can book installers in for training when it suits them, rather than them having to plan it in weeks or even months in advance.’

‘We sell training packages through all Williams branches, in the same way as we sell boilers and plumbing accessories.

‘Installers buy a card voucher with a unique serial number. Then all they have to do is call to arrange their course.’

Williams & Co chairman Mick Williams was the driving force behind the successful campaign for the Boiler Scrappage Scheme, announced by Labour Chancellor Alastair Darling in December 2009. It won him a Corgi award for his ‘contribution to plumbing and heating’.

A TRAINING programme to help firms make the most of business opportunities online is coming to Portsmouth as part of an initiative to boost business growth and job creation.

The Web Fuelled Business programme is being brought to the region by founding BBC Dragon and School for Startups founder Doug Richard in partnership with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Yell.

The all-day event will be held at the New Theatre Royal on Tuesday.

BUSINESS leaders need to ‘get mentoring’, according to Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage.

She has backed government plans to provide thousands of mentors to the small, medium and micro business community.

The scheme aims to recruit top businessmen and women to mentor the smaller businesses in their area, training around 15,000 volunteer mentors across the UK.

She said: ‘This mentoring scheme is a fantastic opportunity for local entrepreneurs who have “been there and done it” to help support budding business-people in our community, and with all the necessary training provided.’

Business owners and entrepreneurs who are interested in volunteering should visit getmentoring.org for more information.

A SPECIALIST exhaust business in Denmead has become one of the first in the UK to join forces with a national training organisation to create 2012 jobs in 2012.

European Exhaust & Catalyst Ltd (EEC) has signed up to Aspire Achieve Advance Group Limited’s 2012|2012 challenge.

The body is known as 3AAA, and runs the National IT Partnership (NITP) academy at Highbury College in Cosham.

Tim Green, 18, has been employed by EEC as an NITP apprentice, working at the company whilst studying at the college.

Paul Clark, the firm’s managing director, said: ‘Young people need all the help they can get in these challenging times and organisations such as 3AAA are taking the lead.

‘It is up to companies like ours to provide the opportunities for young people to gain real skills and make a valuable contribution to the wider economy.’

NITP academies provide apprentices with industry recognised IT qualifications, as well as practical experience.

To find out more about the campaign, see 3aaa.co.uk

A PRINTER cartridge company is offering job seekers the chance to have their CVs printed for free.

Cartridge World in Fareham is taking part in the national CV Sorted campaign by offering up to 10 copies of a CV printed with no charge up to Saturday, March 31.

Customers can either email or visit the store on West Street with their CV on a CD. The free CV printing service is limited to 10 A4 sheets per customer.

Customers can also visit the Cartridge World Job Page howtogetajobuk.tumblr.com which contains top tips and advice for job seekers.

WILDLIFE could be hit hard by the drought predicted for this summer, say experts.

The local branch of the RSPB says that wetland sites in Hampshire and West Sussex, such as Farlington Marshes, could be affected by the low rainfall over the autumn and winter.

As reported, a hosepipe ban could be introduced in the Portsmouth area unless there is significant rainfall over the coming weeks.

After two successive dry winters, groundwater levels in the Havant area, from which the city’s drinking water comes from, are lower than in the record-breaking hot summer of 1976.

Rob Cunningham, head of water policy at the RSPB, said: ‘The RSPB is in the process of assessing how vulnerable our nature reserves are to future drought.

‘We are taking action to ensure our reserves can hold more water when it does fall and making sure we use it efficiently.

‘A winter flood is good because it leaves pools and a high groundwater table for the spring.

‘We are very concerned that 2012 could be another disastrous nesting season.

Birds are affected by low rainfall as it reduces the amount of food available.

Insects and worms become harder to find as fields dry out. Birds rely on invertebrates to feed their young.

According to the Met Office, there is only a 15 per cent chance of the next three months being abnormally wet.

WORK has begun to renovate a tennis club.

The Wickham Community Tennis Club will open this April after work is carried out to renovate it into a fully-fledged club with two new floodlit courts.

The Lawn Tennis Association and the Parish Council provided over £110,000 in grants for the work.

A total of 140 people have already signed up to join the club when it opens.

Club treasurer Adrian Keen said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with how things are progressing.

‘We are determined to make this club the best-value community club in Hampshire and to offer the most affordable and best structured coaching programme available to the public.’

There is a club open day on Saturday, March 31 at 9am.

ANDREW Lewis was made to pay £235 for breaking a window at Pizza Hut.

Lewis, of Launceston Close, Gosport, smashed a window at the restaurant in Forton Road, Gosport.

He pleaded guilty to criminal damage when he appeared at Fareham Magistrates’ Court.

The 20-year-old was fined £200 and told to pay £35 in costs.

A CHARITY-RUN after-school and breakfast club which provides support for children with special needs and those who speak English as a second language has won a good Ofsted rating.

Schoolfriend Club, which operates from a classroom in Wimborne Juniors, Southsea, was applauded for providing interesting activities and treating children equally.

Inspector Fiona Robinson said: ‘Children behave well because staff are very good role models, with a consistent approach to managing behaviour.

‘Festivals, such as Bonfire Night and Easter, and themes including America and Holland enrich children’s understanding of other lifestyles, customs and cultures.

‘They learn to speak and write words in Dutch and sample food from other countries, which promotes children’s confidence and self-esteem.’

She added: ‘Children enjoy coming to the club and achieve well in their activities. Their communication, language and literacy skills are developed well through role play.’

A MAN accused of carrying out two burglaries has been remanded in custody by the courts.

Robert Spenceley is alleged to have broken into two flats at The Tower in Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays.

The 21-year-old did not enter any pleas to the two charges of burglary when he appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court.

District Judge Anthony Calloway ruled that the allegations are so serious the case must be heard at the crown court.

Spenceley, of Edinburgh Road, Landport, Portsmouth, was remanded in custody by the judge.

He is due to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court in April.

RESIDENTS have voiced their support as a planning application for a new supermarket has been approved.

A former garage and car sales plot in Eastney Road, Eastney, is to be transformed into a new Tesco Express store.

The ground floor of the current three-storey building will be revamped to house the shop, and an extension of the building into the current car park will also be built.

The application was supported by some residents in the hope that another convenience store would lower food prices in the area.

Paul Kemp, of Gritanwood Road, Eastney, said: ‘I drive to Tesco in Havant to do my weekly shopping as you have to pay for parking in the Tesco in town.

‘Therefore a Tesco in the immediate area to where I live would be brilliant, and it would encourage others in the local area to do more shopping in the Milton Road and Eastney Road area.

‘It would be great for the Co-op to have a bit of competition as well as the stock can be limited and over priced.’

Other residents welcomed the prospect of more choice when shopping for groceries.

Christine Ware, also of Gritanwood Road, Eastney, said: ‘I have lived in Eastney for 37 years and there was always a choice of grocers shops up to a few years ago. Now there is only the Co-op which has the monopoly to charge high prices because there are no other local shops.

‘As I am a pensioner, it would be lovely to have another shop close by to have a better choice and not have to travel to supermarkets.’

The application was approved by Portsmouth City Council’s planning committee with a number of conditions relating to the size and appearance of the store.

Deliveries and servicing was also restricted to between the hours of 7am and 11pm, and deliveries can only be made by vehicles up to 8.4m long.

Eastney and Craneswater councillor Terry Hall, who opposed the application, said: ‘I am happy that restrictions have been put in place, but I don’t think they go far enough.

‘It’s too small a site for such a large store in my opinion, and the delivery lorries will create a lot of noise.

‘A lot of people think it will help drive down prices in the area, but I don’t think it will produce that.’

Isn’t it good to see the old A3 finally being given back to nature?

Look at the photograph on page 16 and you’ll see that a stretch of Tarmac has now been removed and the area around the top of the Devil’s Punchbowl is going to be left to grow wild.

After all those years of bumper-to-bumper traffic as people headed to and from London, the road is now going to disappear beneath greenery as if it never even existed.

Meanwhile the cars and lorries that once used this route speed on their way via the new Hindhead Tunnel.

The Devil’s Punchbowl is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the whole of the south of England.

Now, with a busy road no longer around its rim, the area should be much more accessible for people to enjoy.

The other bonus, of course, is the tunnel itself.

An impressive engineering feat, it has succeeded in taking away the traffic that blighted Hindhead village and has cut journey times to the capital by an average of 20 minutes.

So there’s a benefit to nature by enabling the old A3 to be returned to its natural heathland state, effectively reuniting the Devil’s Punchbowl with Hindhead Common for the first time in many years.

But there’s also a huge economic benefit to this area by having a much-improved route to London. Such links have to be good for business.

The tunnel was a major project and, seven months after it opened to the first vehicles, it is certainly a success story.

The old bottleneck of the A3/A287 crossroads has been eliminated and 30,000 vehicles a day have been successfully moved away from the shoulder of the Devil’s Punchbowl and out of sight in the new tunnel.

As motorists head through the tunnel without delay, they should cast their minds back to the long waits they used to endure as they crawled their way via car-clogged Hindhead.

For them and the residents, thankfully that is now just a memory.

FIREFIGHTERS were called to Portsmouth Naval Base after a light fitting overheated.

The small electrical fire took place at 4.50pm yesterday in the joiner’s shop within the city dockyard.

Meanwhile, fire crews were called to a microwave fire in Osborn Road, Fareham, at 1.05pm. No one was injured.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to cut opening hours at Emsworth library have been avoided thanks to the dedication of staff.

Hampshire County Council was proposing to reduce opening times by two hours a week as part of a £450,000 money-saving review.

Staff at the library have reorganised their rotas so during quieter times there will now be fewer people on duty.

This frees up people to work at different times so the opening times can remain the same over the week.

Rosters have been reorganised based on borrowing patterns in the library to identify peak times and when it is likely to be less busy.

A six-month trial will start from April, after which time it will be reviewed.

Councillor Keith Chapman, in charge of libraries in Hampshire, said: ‘It is great to see such flexibility, resilience and willingness by library staff to make changes to help cope with the tough financial challenges that we’re facing.

‘We’re lucky to have the support of committed staff, and thanks to them, local residents can continue to enjoy unchanged opening hours at Emsworth library.’

As previously reported, other libraries in the area have been saved from the proposed cuts to opening hours, including Elson library in Gosport.

Original plans would have seen it close on Mondays and lose its late-night opening on Tuesdays.

Leigh Park library has kept its late-night opening times on a Thursday following public opposition.

But some libraries across The News area will still see reductions.

Havant’s library will close completely on Sundays, Portchester’s on Tuesdays and Stubbington’s on Wednesdays.

In total, 32 hours will be lost across all libraries.

For Lucy Bell, a simple phone call from her partner Ben was a special moment.

But then she would find herself tongue-tied. How can you talk about the little things in your life when he’s witnessing tragedy and facing the danger of roadside bombs?

An officer in the Royal Marines, Ben was on deployment in Iraq and Lucy would never know when she was going to be able to speak to him next.

She says: ‘It felt a bit like going from a modern lifestyle to being something like a World War Two wife, waiting to hear from him and sending letters and care packages.’

As Ben and his colleagues were busy with the immense challenges of their work, would sometimes be patrolling through the night and probably had to wait to use phones and computers, contact could be as infrequent as every couple of weeks.

‘And it was sometimes quite difficult to speak on the phone,’ says Lucy.

‘I would be so looking forward to talking to him and then get tongue-tied. All the things that you might start talking about, the petty things that have been bothering you, you feel you shouldn’t say because they’ve got far bigger worries.’

Being the wife or partner of a marine on deployment throws up all kinds of unforeseen challenges and can be a strange life, says Lucy.

And with service spouses in the forefront of people’s minds with the recent chart success of the Military Wives choir, Lucy decided it was a fitting subject for a play.

The 36-year-old mum has written Jo’s War, which focuses on both the mother and girlfriend of a soldier away on deployment.

It looks at the conflict between the mum, who is used to dealing with loved ones being sent to war zones and the girlfriend, who is new to the situation.

Lucy, who also writes a Tuesday column for The News under the name Lucinda Richardson, says: ‘In the play the main character starts off being nervous about military life because it is all very new to her. But by the end it has become a tribute to all the wives and girlfriends and the mothers who have been going through this life and their strength.

‘She comes to realise that life is about the long-term. That is what keeps military wives going. They might have a few difficult months, but they know they want to spend the rest of their life with the person they love. They think it’s worth putting up with a bit of loneliness short-term to be with their partner for many years ahead.’

Lucy’s play was the winner of a competition by Yorkshire theatre company Encore Drama. Jo’s War opened in Leeds in January and Encore will be bringing the production to Portsmouth’s Groundlings Theatre on March 3.

It isn’t based on Lucy’s life, but she has been able to draw inspiration from her own experiences as the girlfriend and then wife of a marine.

Ben was deployed to Iraq in 2006 when the couple had been together for about a year-and-a-half.

Lucy says one of the challenges was dealing with the debates in the media on the rights and wrongs of the war and she hopes the play will help people understand military families a bit better.

‘I understand that we had to have those debates, but it is very hard for the families.

‘I remember watching something with people saying their presence in Iraq was entirely cosmetic. When someone you love or even know personally is going out on patrol, taking huge risks and people are being killed, it’s quite hard to hear that in someone’s opinion they’re there as a token gesture.

‘People weren’t attacking the troops themselves but it’s very difficult to separate the two.’

Ben also went to Afghanistan in 2008 a couple of months after they were married. Now he is home and the couple are together in Portsmouth with their two young daughters.

Lucy says the play has plenty of light-hearted content and also looks at the positive aspects of having a loved one in the military.

‘I would hate people to think I’m whingeing. I’m very lucky my husband is okay and well,’ she says, adding: ‘There’s an awful lot of pride among the wives and we all look out for each other. If your husband is in the forces and you meet another person in the same position, they’ll watch your back.

‘It’s definitely a life with challenges. But the play aims to dispel some of the myths and stereotypes and show that people in the services community are just like anyone else.

‘Anybody who lived that life might find it hard initially, but they would get used to it because they would have to.’

It’s mainly the strangeness of the situation that she wants to get across.

‘It’s all the little things that other couples do. I’d watch someone’s husband putting the bins out and miss mine. And of course you can’t have an argument or go off in a sulk,’ she says, laughing.

‘You can’t think ‘‘right that’s annoyed me I’m not going to pick up the phone’’. It makes all those little day-to-day ups and downs out of the question.’

But there is joy and relief when a loved one returns.

‘I remember him calling to tell me he’d done his last patrol in Iraq and it was just like a weight lifting,’ recalls Lucy.

‘I went to work and suddenly I felt I could deal with things so much better.’

‘Of course that’s nothing to the difficulties of the soldiers themselves. But sometimes waiting and having time to think about everything can be a challenge.’

LUCY’S PLAY

Jo’s War is a story of the evolving relationship between a soldier’s girlfriend, Jo, and his mother, Sue.

Jo is a Guardian-reading career woman for whom falling in love with a soldier is something of an unfortunate accident.

Sue is a patriot of the old school who thinks the world’s gone ‘squeamish’.

They are thrown together by soldier Steve’s deployment with explosive results. Fittingly enough for a play about military separation, the audience never actually get to meet the soldier.

Jo’s War plays at Groundlings Theatre in Kent Street, Portsmouth on March 3 at 7.30 pm. Tickets are available on (023) 9273 7370 or at groundlings.co.uk

There will be a collection at the end for Help For Heroes.

SCRIPT EXTRACT

Sue looks at the calendar.

SUE A fortnight today ‘til he’s home!

JO Two weeks. That’s like a blink, a sneeze, a twitch after three months.

SUE (with excitement) Ten more shifts. Two more trips to Asda. I’ll never finish his

homecoming banner!

JO Fourteen more mornings ‘til he’s here – warming his hands on a coffee. Safe.

SUE He’ll be tanned. Tired but tanned.

JO His hair will be longer. Eyelashes blond.

SUE Calluses on his fingers. His washing all over the floor.

JO Only thirteen more nights reading too late.. The sheets cold.

(Jo looks at Sue with tentative empathy.)

JO How many tours have you been through with Steve?

SUE This is my third. There was Operation Telic 3 in Iraq, and the invasion before that.

JO I admire your courage.

SUE Why? My mother packed Dad off to Normandy before their honeymoon was out.

JO But it was different then. Everyone was in it together

IT’S a once-in-a-lifetime honour – children with 100 per cent attendance have put their names to 60 trees to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The patriotic four to 11-year-olds at Paulsgrove Primary planted rowan, cherry and silver birch saplings in their school field to pay tribute to the stately occasion.

They were joined by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Cllr Cheryl Buggy who put a royal oak tree from one of Her Majesty’s estates in the ground.

William Evans, six, said: ‘It’s a nice way to show the Queen how much we like her.

‘My tree will take many years to grow so when I’m older I will come back and visit it, because it will have my name on it and it will remind me of a special day.’

Tegan Hartley, 11, said: ‘I love my cherry tree and I feel so proud to have been chosen to honour the jubilee.

‘Her Majesty has been around a long time and she’s been good for our country so it is right that everyone celebrates with her.

‘I’m glad I made an effort with my attendance. There was one day when I wasn’t feeling great but I came in anyway – and it paid off.’

Megan Birch, nine, said: ‘I’ve never done something for the Queen before so I feel very proud.

‘It’s nice that the whole school is feeling patriotic. We may be a long way from Buckingham Palace but we are still supporting our Queen.’

Harry Chadwick, teaching assistant, said the children would be sending a picture of the tree planting event with all their signatures to Her Majesty.

He said: ‘We’ve got a double celebration today – 100 per cent attendance and Her Majesty’s Jubilee.

‘The children are all so thrilled and they deserve to be.’

The trees were donated by The Woodland Trust which is giving away six million trees to people across the UK to celebrate the anniversary.

INFANT school children put on their gardening gloves to plant new bushes at a country park.

Around 90 youngsters from Lee-on-the-Solent Infant School dug in to create a new hedgerow at the Alver Valley Country Park in Cherque Way.

The planting day was organised as part of a £17,500 community project run by the Lee-on-the-Solent Residents’ Association.

It was partly funded by the Veolia Environmental Trust which donated £16,000.

The six-month improvement project is due to be completed in the spring.

It aims to encourage more people to use the open spaces in the Alver Valley.

RUNNERS and rowers are being challenged to help clock up 500 miles and sign on to the organ donor register.

Watch manager Stuart Vince, of Eastleigh, and firefighter Phil Jackson, of Cosham fire station, will be running from Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital to Land’s End.

Then they will row back from Penzance to Gunwharf Quays.

Their hard work hopes to encourage more people to become organ donors and raise money for Portsmouth and Southampton hospitals.

Each day the pair will be averaging 26 miles for the marathon challenge, which is due to start on May 20.

Today the pair will be at the Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing Centre, in Northern Parade, Portsmouth.

They are asking people to cycle or row and have their miles added up to reach 500 – what the firefighters will be doing in their challenge.

They will also be encouraging people to sign on to the donor register.

The challenge has been inspired by Stuart after he donated one of his kidneys to family friend Michael Paxman.

The 19-year-old was over the moon when Stuart was found to be a match.

For more information, or to donate money to the firefighters’ cause, visit thebigdonorchallenge.co.uk.

Hot topics such as student riots, tuition fees, racism in football and gang warfare were debated during a school’s version of the iconic news show Question Time.

Casey Dugan, 14, chaired a panel of guests including Fareham MP Mark Hoban, Mohammed Ansar from the Muslim Council of Britain, Dr Sassan Hafizi from the University of Portsmouth and Hampshire Football Association’s Sacha Nicholas at Portchester Community School.

And she more than matched David Dimbleby with her calm but firm style which kept the 80-strong audience of 11 to 16-year-olds and the guests in check.

Casey, who aspires to read medicine at Oxbridge, says: ‘It was an amazing debate but my job was challenging at times as some of the questions were quite controversial. Animal cruelty and racism in football were particularly emotional issues and I did have to shout to calm things down – but it was great to hear such a wide range of opinions.

‘The word politics puts a lot of young people off, but events like Question Time make you realise just how much it is a part of everyday life.

‘And while it’s good to listen to the adults, it was really nice to give students a platform to voice their own points of view.’

Pippa Veal, 13, who helped organise the event and made leaflets to advertise it, admits the debate changed her view on a few things.

She says: ‘My first thoughts about racism on the pitch were that it was just tasteless banter.

‘But after hearing the debate I decided it was totally inappropriate in any circumstance.

‘It was also interesting to hear people’s views on animal rights – Mr Ansar believes all animals are sacred, but then there is the argument that animal testing saves lives.

‘I really enjoy politics and debating because it is always important to have both sides of an argument before arriving at a decision.’

Elle Sambrook, head of RE, who organised the event for the second year running, adds: ‘The students were terrific and challenged our guest panellists with some excellent questions.

‘It’s great to get young people engaged in politics and debate issues that effect them.

‘The government is always emphasising the importance of listening to young people and this was a terrific opportunity for our boys and girls to be heard.’

IT’S been seven months since the Hindhead Tunnel opened, and now finally the old A3 has been left to the wild.

For decades, bumper-to-bumper traffic went around the top of the Devil’s Punchbowl.

But now, as the above picture shows, it’s been given back to nature.

Most of the tarmac has been lifted and the area will be left to its own devices.

Senior project manager Paul Arnold said: ‘Restoring tranquillity to Hindhead village is a big part of the new tunnel’s legacy.

‘Local people have played such an important part throughout the successful delivery of this major improvement project, and I’d like to thank them for their patience, especially throughout this final section of roadworks.

‘I’m delighted that we are now able to hand them a road that will help to realise Hindhead’s potential – both as a place to live and work, and as the gateway to some of the most stunning natural scenery in southern England at the Devil’s Punch Bowl.

‘It is now over to local partners to make the very most of this opportunity for the people of Hindhead.’

Ray Cobbett, co-ordinator of Hampshire Friends of the Earth, said: ‘We completely support it.

‘It seems to us to be a really good use for the land. To be perfectly honest it’s a beautiful area. It should make a wonderful path for cyclists and walkers.’

He said he was glad it was being returned to nature rather than an emergency road if the tunnel became blocked – an idea considered by engineers.

‘This is a fairly sustainable development,’ he added, ‘although it will encourage more traffic.’

The land is now owned and maintained by the National Trust as part of the Hindhead Commons and the Devil’s Punchbowl Cafe property.

Hindhead Youth Hostel is inside the bowl. It is a natural nature reserve, filled with heathland, streams and woodland. The site has abundant wildlife including the lesser spotted woodpecker, redstart and the wood warbler.

The £371m Hindhead tunnel, which is the longest road tunnel under land in the UK, has cut journey times between Portsmouth and London by an average of 20 minutes.

]]> 1.3545924 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:03:43 +0000 http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/i_m_hoping_unread_books_will_make_me_look_intellectual_1_3545151

Did you see that list of 100 novels that everyone should read? I could only say I’d read 27 of them.

Maybe I haven’t spent enough time lying on beaches. More lazy holidays and I might have got through over 50.

Quite a few books on the list are on my shelves, but I admit that I haven’t actually got around to reading them yet.

They form part of a strategy that I hope will make me look intellectual when people come round.

They’re on display in front of my Twilight collection, the awesome Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and the excellent Chaos Walking trilogy from Patrick Ness.

Maybe I should have looked at the top 100 books list for teenagers. I bet I’d crack 80 on that.

Talking of things – and people – that annoy me, Education Secretary Michael Gove and his dictatorial approach to children being taken out of school for holidays is also on the list.

Apparently it is going to be announced that authorised absences for holidays will be stopped, because a child’s education is more important than a family holiday.

Yes and no. Education isn’t just about sitting in a classroom is it? Surely it’s about using the skills learned – like maths, geography and history – in context.

That’s what holidays can offer (especially when they’re 50 per cent cheaper if you go a few days before end of term).

If Mr Gove is so concerned, maybe he should insist schools quit showing movies on the last day of term?

It really, really gets my goat when I miss out on good deals. Here’s an example. Last week I was in Blockbuster taking out a couple of movies as buying them through Virgin on the telly costs twice as much and my Lovefilm account still doesn’t want to function after numerous phone calls and weeks of toing and froing.

So I am making the effort to get to Blockbusters. But this isn’t new. I have been utilising its services ever since I moved to Gosport, so that’s around seven years.

I’m not sure how much I have spent there, but it must add up to quite a bit in all that time when you include the rentals, popcorn, bucketloads of fizzy pop and quite a few secondhand DS games to boot.

So imagine my annoyance when, while standing at the counter paying over my hard-earned cash, I see a woman come in to register for her two weeks of FREE movies?

What has she done to deserve this gift? Nothing, except for not going there before.

I have been more or less loyal, have paid my late fees, have done everything I can to use the business and what do I get? I get the offer of being entered into a free draw.

Which, I hasten to add, I had to give my e-mail address for. I’ve already started to receive the endless marketing messages as as a result. But you’ve already got me, so why bother?

It’s not just Blockbuster though, is it? Telephone deals, bank deals, car insurance deals. So many companies are at it. Ignore the old customers and only look after the new is the latest policy, which doesn’t make much sense in our present economic mess.

Compare this to Boots and the Advantage card. Now that’s a decent deal. You spend money, you get points back, which equal money to spend in store.

That keeps me loyal because, even though some items are a few pence cheaper at the shop across the street, I know that in a month or so’s time, I will have earned myself a rather fine nail varnish or lipstick for my custom.

Will I go back to Blockbuster? Probably, but only until I find some other reliable way to deliver my choice of films into the living room for a reasonable price.

You can barely turn on the TV or open a newspaper these days without hearing complaints about the Big Six energy suppliers.

Between them British Gas, EDF, Eon, Npower, Scottish & Southern and Scottish Power supply something like 99 per cent of the gas and electricity used by British households.

So it’s no surprise that endlessly increasing prices – which have doubled the average cost of gas and electricity over the past six years, from about £600 to £1,250 – have created a hostile climate towards these giants.

Add to that claims about confusing tariffs and useless customer service and you have a situation which is leaving huge numbers of people thoroughly fed up.

But complaining can only get you so far, and the results of the latest Which? magazine consumer satisfaction survey point to one possible way forward for unhappy consumers.

The huge household names all languish at the foot of the independent consumer watchdog’s league table, which measures value for money, customer service, accuracy and clarity of bills and the amount they help you save energy.

But coming out on top are five smaller companies who have been quietly building reputations for themselves by trying to be as straightforward, consistent and green as possible.

These smaller companies can rarely claim to be the very cheapest in the market because of cut-price online fixed deals offered by the Big Six, but not widely taken up.

So they have taken advantage of this by offering one simple rate that is cheaper than the standard offerings of most of the Big Six.

They also claim to deliver better customer service and a more ethical approach which puts people before profits.

Streetwise has taken a look at each of the top five in the survey to give you an idea of what’s on offer.

· Ebico

Founded in 1998, Ebico today remains the only not-for-profit energy supplier in the UK.

It also operates the UK’s only single-rate gas and electricity tariffs with one flat rate and no standing charge, so its 50,000 customers only pay for what they use.

And that means you won’t pay more if you have a PAYG meter, or less if you pay by direct debit. So low income households, who are more likely to use key or card meters, aren’t penalised.

· Ovo Energy

A relatively new energy company, Ovo joined the market in September 2009.

It claims to offer simple, easy to understand tariffs with a strong commitment to customer service.

This supplier says it is committed to providing great value, customers not paying a premium to be green, protection from price hikes and hassle-free payments.

It also sends all bills by email as standard, though paper bills are also available.

· Ecotricity

Founded in 1996 Ecotricity can genuinely claim to have been ahead of the curve as far as green energy goes.

It now has more than 50,000 gas and electricity customers and is the only electricity company building new renewable energy sources, in the form of wind turbines.

In 2011, the amount of green energy in Ecotricity’s fuel mix was 41 per cent, compared with a UK average of 6.6 per cent.

It is recommended by the Soil Association, the Cooperative Bank and WWF-UK.

· The Utility Warehouse

With more than 233,000 customers, The Utility Warehouse is owned and operated by Telecom Plus PLC.

It doesn’t advertise and works like a discount club that offers a wide range of utilities services (such as home phone, internet, etc) on one monthly bill as well as customer offers such as a cashback card.

Instead of spending money on ad campaigns, Utility Warehouse relies on personal recommendation from satisfied customers.

Members can earn a monthly discount off their bill by referring a friend.

· Good Energy

This firm is the only UK supplier which sources all its electricity from renewables, as it has done for more than 10 years.

That means no fossil fuels, no nuclear and no carbon. The only electricity tariff it offers to domestic customers is certified renewable.

It has more than 26,000 customers, topped the Which? magazine customer satisfaction chart, and 1,700 of its customers are shareholders.

· For more information about prices or how to switch, visit which.co.uk/switch/energy-suppliers.

The recent High Court ruling that councils are breaking the law if they insist on having Christian prayers at meetings has further fuelled the debate over the position of religion in society.

The subtext to this debate is the interface between religion with politics. Faith schools have been in the front line of this discourse for years. School transport, admissions, inclusivity, the compulsory ‘broadly Christian act of worship’ and the connection between religion and state, have all been areas of contention.

The latest, the omission of RE in the English Baccalaurate (award for set of five GCSEs) has angered many.

Faith-based schools are part of the genetic make-up of our educational system. Churches and the religious have been running schools for generations. A significant historic investment, which continues today in many faith communities, has left a legacy that benefits thousands of students.

Most faith schools are oversubscribed, and – despite popular misconception – in the Catholic sector they are more culturally diverse than their council-controlled cousins.

Faith schools have a unique ethos that pervades every aspect of school life.

In a Catholic school this is based on the mission of the church and the teachings of Jesus Christ. This creates a values structure that is sought after by parents.

RE is part of the offer. For some students this will develop a deepening of faith, for others it will be the cultural reference point linking various disciplines.

It is the combination of faith and religion that allows young people to face an increasingly secular world, the richness of a multi-cultural society, challenges posed by pluralism.

Politicians and the religious have a responsibility to ensure students learn religious belief is varied. It can take the centre ground, or be at the margins and when mixed with an ideological political cause it can produce a lethal cocktail.

RUNNING around in the sports hall, having a game of basketball, giggling over board games – these children look and act their age.

But at home, the 30 11 to 16-year-olds at Oaklands Catholic School in Waterlooville take on the role of adults as they help care for relatives unable to fend for themselves.

Circumstances vary from parents with cancer, debilitating illnesses and depression to siblings with disabilities or special needs.

But every Tuesday for 45 minutes the boys and girls let their hair down at a special Young Carers lunchtime club where they enjoy each other’s company and the support of a trusted group of staff members.

It is a saving grace for many who are not official carers – which involves administering medication, doing the shopping and washing – and would have nowhere else to go.

Joe Brady, 14, helps look after his eight-year-old brother who suffers from behavioural problems and Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome – a genetic disease causing physical deformity.

He said: ‘I’ve always helped out because I want to – I love my brother. My friends accept that so if I can’t hang out with them that’s fine.

‘My parents work so hard but they get tired and I want to help. I don’t resent the it at all but it’s nice knowing you’re not the only one.

‘The club is one of the most important things in my life.’

Zoë Manley’s dad was forced into retirement because of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which causes very brittle muscles and bones, and makes his skin come apart.

The 14-year-old said: ‘Dad has a carer who visits daily and I help in any way I can tidying up and looking after my younger sisters, especially when mum’s at work.

‘But I worry a lot. I have my phone on constantly.’

She added: ‘I don’t feel “different” to other people when I’m at the club.

‘I get to be with my friends who share what I’m going through.’

Richard Jones, the school’s inclusion manager, set up the club less than two years ago and has already seen membership soar from two to 30 in that time.

He is now trying to raise £3,000 to give the children a weekend break filled with fun activities like kayaking and dancing at this year’s Young Carers Festival.

To make a donation call the school on (023) 9225 9214.

A BANNED driver who was caught back behind the wheel has been ordered to do unpaid work.

Mohammed Alom was spotted by police as he drove a Vauxhall Vectra in Station Road, Gosport.

The officers pulled him over after a check on the car revealed it was not insured.

The 30-year-old, who was banned for a previous driving offence, lied to the police, insisting he had a licence.

But a check on his details showed he was banned.

Alom, of Stoke Road, Gosport, admitted driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and obstructing a police officer when he appeared at Fareham Magistrates’ Court.

At the time Alom was serving a community order after being convicted of possessing cocaine and heroin.

The magistrates ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within a year.

He was banned from driving for another six months and told to pay £55 in court costs.

Alom also has to attend a Thinking Skills course run by the probation service.

A PENSIONER has been charged with attacking a woman at Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays.

Desmond Erridge is accused of assaulting the woman in October.

The 67-year-old denied a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm when he appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court.

District Judge Anthony Calloway ruled that the charge was so serious the case must be heard at the crown court.

Erridge, of Locksway Road, Milton, was released on bail.

The judge warned him not to try to contact the alleged victim or go to the street where she lives in Southsea before the trial. Erridge was told to attend Portsmouth Crown Court for a trial on the assault charge in April.

ZOE Williams has completed initial training in her bid to become a warfare officer in the Royal Navy.

The 19-year-old former pupil of Portsmouth High School joined the Royal Navy in May last year and embarked on a tough training regime.

She recently spent 10 weeks at sea in the amphibious assault ship HMS Bulwark which was operating predominately in UK waters and was involved in Nato war games off Scotland.

The time onboard gave the opportunity for Zoe and her colleagues to gain experience across departments in an operational warship.

Zoe, from Portsmouth, said: ‘The training has been a great experience and it’s difficult to believe this is going to be my job sometimes.’

Her parents, Dr Andrew Williams and Katherine Barclay, travelled to the Britannia Royal Naval College, in Dartmouth, in Devon for the passing-out parade where the salute was taken by Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the First Sea Lord.

Sub Lieutenant Williams now moves on to the foundation Initial Warfare Officer course at the college where she will continue to develop her skills before starting service at sea.

The navy said the course also has a significant emphasis on developing leadership skills throughout the training in addition to academic work.

HUNDREDS of schoolchildren transformed into their favourite book characters to kick off a year of reading for fun.

The fancy dress day at Copnor Juniors marks the launch of a major literacy push which coincides with The News’ literacy campaign Read All About It to boost reading across the area.

Headteacher Doug Brawley said: ‘It’s all about enjoying books and literature in any shape or form.

‘Reading is the key to unlocking knowledge, even in this day and age when you have the internet – as you still have to read what’s on the screen.’

Copnor, which is rated outstanding by Ofsted, has launched an ‘adopt a reader’ scheme where pupils pick a teacher to read with every day.

Molly Holyoak, 10, who reads regularly with teacher Paygen Gowans, said: ‘I never used to read at home, but now I do before bedtime every day.’

The school is also running recommended reads by teachers on its website, so children and their parents can decide which book to explore at home.

Teachers are videoing themselves in exotic places, reading extracts from books to encourage mums and dads to read to their children.

Literacy leader Janette McClintock started the ball rolling with George and the Dragon at Portchester Castle.

There is the Copnor Reading Challenge which rewards youngsters who fulfil reading goals at home with anything from colourful pen toppers to books on CD.

Mr Brawley said: ‘All you need is that one good read that will hook you to literature for life.’

For more details on our camaign visit portsmouth.co.uk/news/campaigns/read-all-about-it or contact aline.nassif@thenews.co.uk.

A PORTSMOUTH Royal Navy flyer was awarded the OBE for his work with aircraft carrier fast jets today.

Former Sea King pilot Captain Jock Alexander will receive the honour from the Queen at a Buckingham Palace ceremony.

‘This was totally unexpected,’ he said.

‘I’m proud and grateful but would stress that this was a team effort by a hugely talented group of officers who are passionate about naval aviation.’

Capt Alexander’s award is in recognition of two years he spent at Portsmouth’s Command headquarters, during which he played a crucial role in the development of the Royal Navy’s new generation of fixed wing jets.

The letter from the Palace said he was held in the highest regard across the international defence community for his professional integrity and expertise.

‘Your cheerful, unstinting and selfless dedication was exceptional and in the finest traditions of the service,’ it added.

Capt Alexander, who is originally from Kilmarnock, in Scotland, joined the navy 1977, earning his helicopter pilot’s wings seven years later.

In addition to his OBE, the 51-year-old received a Bronze Star Medal in 2008 – the fourth-highest combat award in the US armed forces – for a deployment to Iraq, during which he was involved in Op Charge of the Knights to retake Basra.

He has also been a member of the Royal Navy’s Alpine Skiing team, as well as playing rugby for RN & RM Scotland.

A BUILDER threatened to kill his wife and then assaulted his daughter after a row over what they were having for dinner.

Gary Bainbridge has been ordered to go on a course to tackle domestic violence after he lost his temper over the fact his wife was cooking Spanish chicken for his tea.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard the 52-year-old had been drinking when he flew into a rage.

Prosecutor Simon Foster said: ‘An argument apparently arose over what they were having for dinner.

‘He said it all started off over some Spanish chicken.’

The self-employed builder shouted at his wife Karen, 53, before grabbing a 40cm long bayonet knife from a cupboard and threatening to kill her.

When his daughter Laura, 23, tried to intervene he assaulted her.

Unyime Davies, defending, said Bainbridge was horrified by what he had done and added his wife of 30 years was standing by him.

‘He expresses remorse very clearly,’ she said.

‘His family were undergoing an extreme amount of stress at the time. The financial climate for any business at the moment is difficult, and the building trade is one of the first to be affected.’

She added: ‘Mr Bainbridge turned to drink in order to help him. He realises he had a problem with drink.’

Bainbridge, of Anthony Grove, Gosport, pleaded guilty to common assault and making a threat to kill following the row in January.

Sentencing him Recorder Stephen Lennard said: ‘You embarked on a dreadful piece of conduct against your wife and your daughter, threatening to kill your wife in the most graphic of terms and waving a very nasty-looking blade at your daughter.

‘It was despicable conduct and you should be thoroughly ashamed.

‘It’s very often only after a long history of abuse that a case finally comes to court.

‘I have no doubt that in the month or so since the offence you have had plenty of opportunity to consider where you are in your life.

‘If ever there was a wake-up call this was it. You have lost your good name.’

Bainbridge will have a year of supervision from the probation service to help him stay out of trouble and must attend a domestic abuse programme.

Recorder Lennard added: ‘You should be under no illusions that you do need help because if you don’t take it you are going to find yourself back in court again and I suspect you will not be given another chance.’

THE father of a man found face-down in a lake has confronted firefighters who stood by without rescuing him.

Simon Burgess was pronounced dead after being pulled from the water at Walpole Park in Gosport in March last year.

Now an inquest has heard firefighters decided there were no visible signs of life in the 41-year-old and did not go in to get him.

Instead they waited 11 minutes for a specialist unit to arrive from Fareham.

A police officer and paramedic both volunteered to wade into the water to rescue Mr Burgess, of White Lion Walk, but were told it was unsafe by the firefighter in charge.

Mr Burgess’ father David yesterday questioned senior fire officers about the decision.

He told them: ‘You could not prove beyond any doubt there was no life.’

The coroner’s court heard from pathologist Dr Brett Lockyer there was evidence to suggest Mr Burgess had suffered a seizure before ultimately drowning in the lake.

David Burgess said his son had suffered from epilepsy since he was 18 years old.

‘It seemed to come and go,’ he said. ‘In my opinion he had got slightly better.

‘The fits were more frequent but less intensive.’

Gosport watch manager Anthony Nicholls was the firefighter in charge.

He said: ‘At first I could not see anyone in the water and I had to ask members of the public to point him out to me.

‘There were no visible signs of life. I could only see a small part of him.

‘In my mind I’m thinking this person has been in water for maybe up to 15 minutes.

‘This was a body retrieval rather than a rescue.’

Gosport fire station manager Timothy Spencer-Peet observed the incident while his crew worked.

He said: ‘If there were signs of life we would have been in there and trying to retrieve him.

‘One of the remarks from one of the firefighters was if there had been any signs of life we would gone in and we would have made any effort to save that person by any means necessary.’

According to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, the 999 call came in at 12.17pm. It is thought Mr Burgess had been in the water for between five and 10 minutes by the time firefighters arrived.

PC Tony Jones was at the lake and said: ‘It didn’t sit right with me that nobody was going in to get the body.

‘Although there were no signs of life I didn’t feel happy with not doing anything.

‘I took my body armour off and my utility belt.

‘Mr Nicholls advised me not to go in as it is not safe to do so. He advised me firefighters would not go into water above the boot.’

(Proceeding)

TRAFFIC is now flowing as normal on all lanes of the northbound M275, after they were closed following a two-vehicle crash.

Police were called at 9.10pm and closed the road to deal with the incident.

An ambulance was also sent out, and paramedics treated two casualties, both with minor injuries.

RUSH hour traffic faced delays after a motorbike crashed on the A3M southbound between junctions two and three.

The bike was the only vehicle involved in the incident which happened at 5.50pm today.

The male biker was checked by paramedics at the scene for minor injuries.

Lane two was briefly closed while police cleared the incident and recovered the vehicle.

AN elderly woman was taken to hospital after being injured in a car accident.

The woman was a passenger who was in a two car accident in Merton Crescent, Portchester at 1.07pm today.

An elderly woman was taken to hospital in an ambulance with what were described at the time of the accident as life threatening injuries.

It is thought she may have suffered a medical episode whilst in the car and the driver then lost control of the vehicle.

Police have closed the road between Landsdowne Avenue and Merton Avenue while the vehicles are waiting to be recovered and while enquiries are carried out in the area.

The road has since been reopened.

David Haye and Dereck Chisora should be thrown out of boxing for a very long time.

Frankly, would any of us care if we never saw them in another ring?

The pair of them are an utter disgrace.

Their post-fight brawl after Chisora’s points defeat at the hands of Vitali Klitschko was one thing, but the gangster-like threats of ‘bottling’ and ‘shooting’, which accompanied it was even worse.

The British Boxing Board of Control need to take away Chisora’s licence and make sure Haye stays retired.

Even before that melee – in which a bottle was used – Chisora had committed one of the most disgusting offences I have ever seen in 30 years covering the sport.

He spewed water into the face of Vitali’s brother Wladimir during the pre-fight formalities.

How the younger Klitschko brother kept his temper and dignity in the face of this is beyond me, but he did.

Earlier, Chisora had slapped his opponent at the weigh-in in some pathetic show of phoney bravado.

Sadly, all of this overshadowed his admirably gutsy effort in pushing Vitali harder than some lop-sided cards suggested.

His loopy behaviour went way beyond the normal cut and thrust of the hype which surrounds a big fight.

Even modern era champions well versed in boxing hoopla – some of it tasteless – never sank as low as this.

Apart from Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear, of course, for which he was banned.

David Haye is reported to have ‘gone into hiding.’ He should stay there.

Having been hired to cover the fight for TV, what was he even doing trying to hijack the press conference and trying to whip up interest in a fight between himself and Vitali?

After all, the former champion is a largely discredited figure after his lamentable effort against Wladimir last year.

Haye’s loutish behaviour on Saturday made sure that any potential huge pay day for him in Germany this summer just went up in smoke.

As the Klitschko’s manager Bernd Bonte told him: ‘You are out, out, out.’

And yet, while the two British heavyweights deserve all that’s coming to them, we can do without the lazy cliches about the affair dragging the name of the sport through the mud.

The only people Haye and Chisora brought shame on were themselves.

Most fighters are down-to-earth characters who get no publicity and precious little money.

And yet they fight with courage, bravery and dignity, trying to eke out a living.

It is a privilege and pleasure to cover them. They are the real heart and soul of boxing.

Meanwhile, you can only guess what the bemused Germans made of the antics of our two Brits abroad.

I was reminded of the epic Fawlty Towers episode when the hapless Basil keeps mentioning the war to his increasingly bemused and angry German visitors.

As their stay descends into farce, one of the guests shakes his head and says: ‘However did they win?’

WHEN physiotherapist Lisa Brown hired Ziggy Sobolewski for a simple building project, little did she know it would be the start of a two-year nightmare.

Her refusal to pay him the final £7,000 for his substandard work resulted in a bizarre campaign of intimidation that even saw her arrested over false claims that she hired a Kosovan hitman to kill a local councillor.

Ms Brown had hired Mr Sobolewski in February 2010 to refurbish a former driving school in South Street, Gosport, to convert it into a private rehabilitation clinic.

But when she became unhappy with the work, Mr Sobolewski launched his campaign of harassment, which included going into the clinic in April 2010 to strip out many of the fixtures and fittings.

In May 2010, police arrested Ms Brown at her Hill Head home on suspicion of hiring an assassin to kill Sean Woodward, the leader of Fareham Borough Council and her former business partner.

Mr Woodward told police he had received the information from Mr Sobolewski. She was later released without charge.

Ms Brown also told a hearing at Portsmouth County Court that Mr Sobolewski would often appear outside her home and workplace or call her repeatedly on her mobile phone demanding the money, as well as contacting business associates with ‘malicious rumours’ about her.

She added that Mr Sobolewski had told her he was ‘in with the Russian Mafia’ and could make people ‘disappear’.

Ms Brown said: ‘He’s a rogue trader. Dealing with Ziggy Sobolewski has been a complete nightmare which at one point we never thought would end.

‘He has totally and utterly devastated me in my professional and private life.’

Ms Brown has now won £150,000 from Mr Sobolewski after a judgment made at Portsmouth County Court.

Recorder David Blunt ordered him to pay Ms Brown £28,226.47 in damages, £13,000 for the harassment and her lost earnings, and £110,000 in costs.

Independent building inspector Martin Reynolds examined the property in May 2010 and identified 139 items which were defective or outstanding from the original specifications. He described the work as ‘of a low DIY standard’.

A story in The News about the row between Ms Brown and Mr Sobolewski in May 2010 was used in the case as evidence.

Ms Brown said: ‘This judgment is a complete vindication of the position that I took and my message to anyone else going through something like this is to stand up to people like him – don’t let them bully and intimidate you.’

When contacted by The News Mr Sobolewski said he had ‘suffered’ because of the court case but responded to any questions by only saying: ‘It’s outrageous.’

HELP IS AT HAND

AS PART of Lisa Brown’s case against Ziggy Sobolewski, she contacted trading standards.

Ms Brown fell victim to the rogue trader, even though he had been recommended to her by a client.

Trading standards can offer advice to customers who have fallen foul of similar rogues. It also investigates safety and standards as well as fair trading practices.

Websites have also been set up which can help customers identify reputable tradesmen and feature reviews from clients.

For more information about Hampshire’s trading standards department, contact 08454 040506 or go to hants.gov.uk/ tradingstandards.htm

THE birth of a new midwifery training centre in Portsmouth was celebrated as it officially opened its doors to students.

Students at Bournemouth University will now study at its new state-of-the-art Midwifery Training Facility at St Mary’s Health Campus, Portsmouth.

The unit was previously based on the same site in Finchdean House, but the Victorian building was dated, cramped and unable to accommodate a growing student population.

So the university was delighted when the opportunity arose to move into a refurbished part of the former St Mary’s Hospital as part of Portsmouth Primary Care Trust’s £18m project to turn it into St Mary’s Community Campus.

The new midwifery facility boasts the latest industry-standard equipment and hi-tech audio visual kit which enables students to train in a professional environment.

It also has two large lecture rooms, a computer lab, many meeting rooms and a three-bed practical skills room set up to resemble a hospital.

First year midwifery student, Trudy Nelson, 20, of Wymering Road, North End, said: ‘It’s so much better than the old building.

‘There’s much more space which means our class can come to sessions together, which wasn’t happening before.

‘And working with the hospital equipment has really helped my confidence in dealing with patients on placements because I know what to expect.’

Along with the three beds in the skills room, there is also a £7,000 birthing bed, a birthing couch, a profiling bed and a £8,500 resuscitaire, a machine for newborn babies.

Cameras are fitted inside the room so that students can be filmed for training and assessment, which they will be able to take away with them on a memory stick to review their performance.

Professor Gail Thomas, Dean of Health and Social Care and Applied Sciences at Bournemouth University, and herself a midwife, is delighted that these new facilities are available in Portsmouth.

She said: ‘It is important that all of our students have the opportunity to learn in conducive environments.

‘The developments at Portsmouth will provide our student midwives with high quality skills laboratories, lecture and seminar rooms and general learning space.

‘I’m pleased with the outcome of the hard work of the trust, the university’s estates and the school’s resources team and I’m sure the students would agree.’

THIEVES stole £1,250 from a pensioner after taking his wallet as he shopped in a supermarket.

The 84-year-old was in the Gosport branch of Morrisons, in Walpole Road, when two men stood by him.

One of them started a conversation with him before they both walked off at about 12pm on Wednesday.

The elderly man got to the checkout and found his wallet, which contained £250 in cash, was missing from his front coat pocket.

When he then went to the bank to cancel his cards, it emerged £1,000 had been taken from his account at the Natwest cashpoint at the nearby Asda supermarket in Dock Road at around 12.15pm.

Police have now released this CCTV image of one of the suspects in a bid to find them.

PC Terence Burke, from the Gosport targeted patrol team, said: ‘This is a despicable crime targeting an elderly gentleman while doing his shopping.

‘Unfortunately the man had his PIN details in his wallet. I’d like to remind people to always keep them separate from your cards and to carry wallets and purses in an inside pocket.’

The suspect is white, 6ft tall and aged in his mid-20s. He had short dark hair, was slim, and wore a green zip-up jacket with a white fur trim hood.

He spoke with a foreign accent. The other man was of a similar description but wore dark clothes.

Information to PC Burke on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

IT IS often seen as the preserve of chatty females and older generations with time on their hands.

But boys at a primary school in Portsmouth have set up their own book club – proving they too love to read and share their ideas about literature.

Stamshaw Juniors’ Boys’ Book Club is the brainchild of year six pupils Lewis Morrissey and William Roberts.

And it has proved so popular their female peers have set up a Girls’ Book Club, with weekly gatherings where books are discussed and reviewed for school library users to reference.

Lewis, 11, said: ‘We all love our sports but there are a lot of boys who also enjoy reading.

‘We thought it would be a good idea to form a book club as it would motivate us to read more and open each other’s eyes to books we might like.’

He added: ‘I hope we’ve started something that will inspire generations of boys.’

The 14-strong club is now so in demand the boys will be launching splinter groups next term.

William, 10, said: ‘What’s great about the book club is that it has attracted boys of all ages and reading abilities, who bring lots of different ideas to the table.

‘We’re reading more books than ever before!’

Holly Margetts, 10, co-founder of the girls’ club, added: ‘It’s a great idea and we owe a big thanks to the boys.

‘The best part for me is writing up reviews – sharing the books with other pupils.’

Stamshaw is one of several schools that have signed up to The News’ literacy campaign Read All About It to boost reading across the area.

Teachers make literacy a priority, with daily readings from set classroom books, the use of films to engage youngsters in literature, and encouraging pupils to have two books on the go – one recommended and one of their choice.

While many schools struggle to narrow the gap between boys and girls in the reading department, 11-year-old boys at Stamshaw are only three per cent behind girls.

Headteacher Simon Cattermole said: ‘We don’t acknowledge there should be a gap between boys and girls as that would set us up for a fall – and there isn’t.

‘There’s a perception boys don’t read but our pupils are doing a great job of challenging that. I’m proud of them.’

For details on how to join The News campaign visit portsmouth.co.uk/news/campaigns/read-all-about-it.

Or email aline.nassif@thenews.co.uk.

THE latest drive to raise money for The Rowans Hospice is here – giving readers a chance to win a car.

To ensure the success of Dorothy’s Dream – a service which gives terminally-ill people the chance to spend their final days at home with their loved ones – £1m needs to be raised.

So far the Purbrook hospice has raised £765,000 for the pilot scheme, and is hoping to boost this with its latest fundraiser.

People are invited to enter a raffle draw for £1 and be in with a chance to win a three-door Citroen C1.

The car has been donated by Richmond Citroen, in Portsmouth.

Its managing director Michael Nobes said: ‘I’m always happy to help out with a good cause.

‘The Rowans does such a good job for everybody. The Rowans is always happy to do its part in the community.’

The fundraising idea came from hospice volunteer Penny Taw.

The 62-year-old said: ‘There always needs to be money coming in for Dorothy’s Dream.

‘My family have had Citroen and Hyundai cars and so I went to see Mr Nobes to see if he could donate a car.

‘After about 15 minutes of me saying how great the hospice is, he asked me what I wanted. And I asked if he could give a car that could be raffled off.

‘I was pleased they agreed so quickly.’

Since the hospice at home service started in September, more than 100 people have benefited.

Ann Cooper, head of fundraising at the hospice, said: ‘This is a good initiative for us and a different way for us to be raising the money.

‘The generosity shown has been fantastic for us. Because the car has been donated, all ticket money will come directly to Dorothy’s Dream.’

The raffle draw takes place on April 1.

Tickets can be bought from hospice stores in the area and at the following locations:

n Monday, February 27 to Sunday, March 4: The Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant.

n Monday, March 5 to Sunday, March 11: Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouh.

n Monday, March 12 to Sunday, March 18: Port Solent, Portsmouth.

Donations of £5 can be made to the appeal by texting Dream to 70800. You will be charged £5 plus one message at the standard network rate.

POLICE want to speak to this man after cash was stolen from a service station.

This CCTV image has been released following the theft at the Portsbridge Service Station, Cosham.

Police say a man selected a packet of crisps and approached the cashier to pay for them.

As the cashier opened the till to give him his change, he leaned across the counter and grabbed a bundle of notes.

PC David Tester said: ‘I am appealing for witnesses who may have seen the offender running away, or who are able to identify the man in the CCTV.

‘There were other customers using the filling station at the time, who may have witnessed what happened.’

The theft took place between 5.45pm and 6pm on Wednesday, February 1, but the details have only just been released.

The man is said to have run from the shop towards the Highbury Estate with about £50 in cash.

The man police want to speak to is aged in his early 50s, about 5ft 6in and stocky.

He was wearing a baseball hat and dark jacket.

Anyone with any information should contact Fratton police station on 101 or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

]]> 1.3544233 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:17:47 +0000 http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/underwater_artwork_1_3544207

DOZENS of colourful sculptures inspired by the sounds of the Historic Dockyard wowed more than 300 visitors to Buckland Community Centre.

Commotion in the Ocean, which displayed artworks by 90 Newbridge Junior and Manor Infant schoolkids, was a big hit.

The free event, which formed part of the Sea Life Roadshow, organised by The National Museum of the Royal Navy, aimed to give people a flavour of the attractions at the dockyard.

Jo Valentine, the museum’s community engagement officer, said: ‘The day was a fantastic success and everyone was blown away by the artwork. The children had some great ideas and it was lovely to see a range of imaginative interpretations.’

A DRINK-DRIVER has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Mark Male was more than twice the legal limit when he was caught in Cambridge Road, Gosport.

A breathalyser test revealed he had 90 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Male, 26, of Guildford Road, Kingston, Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared at Fareham Magistrates’ Court.

He was told to do 80 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for three years.

The magistrates made him pay £85 in court costs.

BURGLARS stole electronic equipment from a home during an overnight raid.

Between 1am and 8am on Thursday a home in Twyford Avenue, Stamshaw, Portsmouth, was broken into.

Police say the offender got into the house through the back garden, and they also believe they may have been in other gardens in the same road.

Once inside the burglar took a digital camera, a Toshiba laptop, an ISM long service medal and a gold necklace with an orchid pendant.

PC Kathryn Smithers said: ‘I would like to speak to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area during the time of the burglary.

‘Are any residents in the surrounding area aware of anyone having been in their gardens between 1am and 8am on February 16?

‘Have any of the stolen items been found discarded in the local area? I would urge anyone with any information to get in touch as soon as possible.’

Anyone with any information should contact Fratton police station on 101 or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

DRIVERS will be forced to avoid a section of a busy road for four weeks because of roadworks.

Junction improvements mean northbound traffic will not be able to use Kingston Road in Portsmouth from Hanway Road to New Road from 9.30am to 3.30pm,

While the work is carried out traffic will be diverted along Hanway Road, in Buckland.

This is to allow Colas, Portsmouth City Council’s highways contractor, to improve the junction of Kingston Road and New Road.

The contractor said it will be moving traffic islands and the pedestrian crossing away from the junction and hopes this will improve safety for pedestrians and enable drivers to negotiate the junction more easily.

It will also be installing modern traffic lights and a new crossing to make it better for pedestrians and drivers.

Southbound traffic will not be affected but traffic from New Road will not be able to turn right into Kingston Road. Businesses will be open as normal and Colas insists pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Site supervisor Gary Kenny said: ‘We’re sorry for the inconvenience the works may cause. During the earlier phase of this work we used temporary traffic lights to maintain two-way flow, but they weren’t sufficient to cope with the volume of traffic.

‘Using a diversion instead should work a lot more smoothly. We’d like to thank people for their patience and understanding during this work.’

THE closure of a well-used motorway footbridge has led to complaints from residents.

The Bude Close footbridge over the M27 in Paulsgrove, which connects Falmouth Road and Hillsley Road, will be blocked off for eight weeks.

Work is being carried out by the Highways Agency to replace the old concrete bridge deck with a new steel one.

But some people have said the closure, which was due to begin on February 4 but was postponed due to bad weather, forces them to make a much longer journey.

The work has resulted in overnight motorway closures, including for the next three Saturdays from 9am to 9pm, as the bridge is dismantled and replaced.

Bernard Worrall, 83, of Falmouth Road, said he thought the planned closure would cause more disruption than was necessary.

‘It gives some youngsters a long trek to get to school,’ he said. ‘And it seems like they’re taking their time – I don’t see why the bad weather should make a difference.

‘It gives me a lot further to walk to the shop and I’ve got asbestosis so walking long distances leaves me feeling very out of breath.’

Sally Robinson, of Hillsley Road, said she was worried about children who might have to pass through the nearby underpass.

She said: ‘I dread to think of youngsters walking down there when it’s dark, or at any time really. I hope they hurry up and finish it soon.’

Ward councillor David Horne said he hadn’t yet received any complaints about the closure.

‘It’s a well-used route for people living in the area when going to the shops,’ he said.

‘The closure is going to cause some disruptions, but people will have to be patient.

‘We campaigned long and hard for that footbridge, and for it to be covered and lit, so it’s important it’s well-maintained.’

Steve Cobb, Highways Agency structures manager said: ‘The existing concrete bridge deck has reached the end of its serviceable life, so we’re replacing it with a new steel footbridge that will last for decades to come. We’ve planned the work carefully to keep delays to a minimum for road users and local people alike.’

More information about the other motorway closures will be announced as work continues. Anyone with questions can call the Highways Agency on 0300 123 5000 or visit highways.gov.uk.

A FREE banana giveaway will take place in Portsmouth’s Commercial Road to mark the beginning of Fairtrade Fortnight.

Portsmouth Fairtrade Forum will also hand out copies of the 2012 Guide to Fairtrade in Portsmouth to passers-by on Monday.

It is one of hundreds of events taking place across the country in a bid to encourage more people to buy Fairtrade produce, which pays its growers and farmers a reasonable price for their goods.

The group has also organised a Middle Eastern Evening as part of the fortnight, with food, stalls, and live music.

And there will be two guest speakers from Zaytoun – a community interest project in Palestine which sells Fairtrade olive oil – at the event, olive farmer Riziq Abu Nasser from Palestine and Zaytoun’s director in Palestine, Taysir Arbasi.

This second event takes place on Thursday, March 1, between 7pm and 9.30pm, at The Hub, University of Portsmouth, on Burnaby Road.

Tickets cost £5 from Visitor Information Centres or University catering outlets, or call Sue on (023) 9225 0267

See portsmouthfairtrade.org.uk for more events.

ELECTRIC vehicle charging points will be available in Gunwharf Quays’ car park from tomorrow.

The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Cheryl Buggy will officially open the Polar charging bays which allow EV owners to charge up their vehicles while visiting the centre.

The bays are on the upper level of the car park, in the blue section near to the exit, and can be used by Polar network members.

The south coast already has more than 80 charging bays within an hour’s drive of Portsmouth and in the next 12 months that figure will increase to more than 150.

David Martell, chief executive of Chargemaster Plc, said: ‘We are delighted Portsmouth is moving forward with Polar, allowing electric vehicle owners in this area the opportunity to take advantage of low carbon motoring, whilst enjoying Gunwharf Quays and neighbouring facilities.’

See polarnetwork.com for more information.

FIREFIGHTERS were called to a car crash after reports of a smell of leaking fuel.

The two vehicles involved collided at the junction of Meon Road and Milton Road, Milton, at 8.15pm yesterday.

One fire crew from Southsea dealt with the spillage and made sure the road was safe.

Police were also called out. No one was injured.

Sitting in the office at his Bishopswood residence in Fareham, surrounded by books and looking out of the bay window on to a neatly-trimmed garden, the Bishop of Portsmouth reflects.

After a pause to find the right words, the Right Reverend Christopher Foster says: ‘Faith was always part of my background. I was brought up in a Christian family.

‘But even at the time when I was a regular church-goer, I would’ve laughed if you’d said I would one day be ordained. And similarly when I was ordained, I never thought I would be a bishop.’

Reaching such a high-ranking position in the Anglican church was not an ambition he ever held.

He reveals: ‘That was never the reason I got into it. I felt a calling from God, and that was why I wanted to be ordained.

‘For some people a calling can be described as a one-off, a moment of clarity, but for me it was very much an ongoing process that niggled away inside me. It was a feeling that just wouldn’t go away, and as the years went on it just seemed to make more and more sense.’

Today he is the bishop he never thought he would become. And 18 months after he took on the role in Portsmouth (following a spell as Bishop of Hertford), he has no regrets.

Bishop Christopher, 58, says: ‘I didn’t know what to expect from Portsmouth before I came here.

‘All those feelings I had when I started at Southgate (when he was a vicar for the first time with his own parish in London) came flooding back to me.

‘I was excited, but it was nerve-racking too.’

He adds: ‘At the time, I didn’t know anything about the city, except that it had a famous football club and a strong identity, and all of a sudden I was going to have to represent it.

‘There was an expectation that I would be an ambassador for the area, a spokesperson even, and that was very daunting.

‘But now I know so much more about it and I have quickly grown strongly attached to the area.’

Bishop Christopher says he learned a lot from being a vicar.

‘When I started in Southgate it was very exciting to have my own parish, but it was also very challenging because I was on my own all of a sudden and had lots of responsibilities that I didn’t have before.

‘I learned so much from that parish. Mostly, just how important being a priest is, and how important it is to serve and support the wider community, not just churchgoers.’

He says he has learned that there are three important aspects to being a bishop.

‘The first is being a vicar to the vicars by providing them with pastoral and professional support. The second is the public role that you take on as a bishop by attending significant events in the history of the parishes in your diocese.

‘And finally, the third aspect of being a bishop is engaging with the wider community, which is a hugely privileged aspect of the role.

‘It is demanding in the sense that you have to be the voice of the people, and that is exactly why you have to engage with the community and get to know them the best you possibly can.’

To mark his 18 months in the post, Bishop Christopher made a speech to the Diocesan Synod in Portsmouth at the weekend. The meeting, as reported in The News on Saturday, was held to decide policy and discuss issues.

Bishop Christopher also used it to set out his vision of how wants the diocese to move forward.

He says: ‘There is a stronger sense of identity in this diocese than people sometimes suggest. It holds an extraordinary variety of places and people, from city to rural countryside. There is an astonishing range of circumstance, employment, countryside and coast all within a very small geographical area.

‘But the common identity of people here is far stronger than the other four dioceses in which I have served.’

He adds: ‘More than once people have said that this diocese can punch beyond its weight. Although I am not wholly at ease with the boxing metaphor, I know what they mean. But our calling is not to outdo or beat anyone else.

‘We are to play our part in the work of all the people of God, the whole church, in proclaiming the kingdom and living its emerging reality.’

To do this, Bishop Christopher has urged worshippers to give more money and time to the church.

He also criticises competitive consumerism that can become selfish. But he praises the good work of Christians, asking them to go and speak about their beliefs to others.

Bishop Christopher says he’s proud to be Bishop of Portsmouth and looks forward to working with the whole community.

He says: ‘Every time I make a speech as a bishop, or am asked to act as a bishop, I am reminded of how I never imagined I could be here.

‘It’s a great feeling.’

The RSPB is calling for volunteers from West Sussex and Hampshire to help show members of the public the peregrine falcons at Chichester Cathedral.

The charity’s Date with Nature project has grown in success each year, delighting visitors who come to watch the birds of prey as they raise their young.

This year, the RSPB will be based at the cathedral from April 13 through to July.

As well as pointing out the birds as they perch on the corners of the spire and fly in and out overhead, visitors will be shown live footage direct from the peregrines’ nest.

This will be the 12th consecutive year the birds have bred on the building and RSPB staff and volunteers will be on hand to tell people stories about the history and their lives.

Molly Dailide, of RSPB South East, said: ‘Volunteering at RSPB events is a great way to get involved with our conservation work. You don’t need to be an expert – just passionate about wildlife and good with people.’

The conservation charity is looking for people of all ages and backgrounds to help with the project this year.

Training will be provided, so no previous experience is necessary.

To volunteer call Molly on 07713 392175 or email molly.dailide@rspb.org.uk before March 11.

POLICE are hunting a woman in her 60s after a horse rider says she was abused.

The 20-year-old victim says she was on her horse riding around The Heath in Petersfield when a older woman approached and started verbally abusing her. She told police the woman then swung her dog leads hitting the horse which caused him to bolt sideways

The incident took place on January 21 but details have only been released. The woman police want to speak is 5ft 3ins with grey hair and wore a dark woolly jumper.

THE annual Festival of Harbour Walks will once again take place in Chichester.

From May 22 to 25, organisers say the festival will be extra special this year as it celebrates 30 years.

A three-day walk of the harbour was first arranged in 1982 and has continued in various forms every year since then.

Some of the regular walkers have participated over 20 times.

To make this year special, the festival has teamed up with The Friends of Chichester Harbour, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

All walkers will have the opportunity to raise sponsorship while taking part.

The walks include one day around Langstone Harbour and three days around Chichester Harbour covering 48 miles in all.

Each day includes a break for tea and cake and some include visits to local sailing clubs.

Walkers can book just one or all four days.

Experienced guides with an extensive knowledge of their area lead the walks making each day informative and enjoyable.

Sue Gilson, one of last year’s walkers, said: ‘It was a fantastic experience and a great way to see all the harbours have to offer.’

Log onto conservancy.co.uk or call 01243 513275 for more information.

DRINK-DRIVER Mark Peach has been told to pay £500.

The 34-year-old was stopped by the police as he drove a Peugeot in Grange Road, Gosport.

A roadside breathalyser test revealed he had 66 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – almost double the legal limit of 35mg.

Peach was arrested and charged with drink-driving.

He pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Fareham Magistrates’ Court.

The court fined Peach, of Brune Lane, Lee-on-the-Solent £400 and told him to pay £100 in costs.

He was disqualified from getting behind the wheel for 18 months.