Old Bedhampton's tranquility is saved - for now | Verity Lush

Residents of Bedhampton have been rallying together for years in order to protect a piece of land that is a unique spot within the urban sprawl of neighbouring towns and cities.

A time when you could walk your dogs on lanes, not pavements, when you could listen to the church bells and little else on a Sunday morning, and a time when more existed than a convenience culture and three cars per household.

The land south of Lower Road in the Bedhampton has been mooted for developed and – for now – it has been saved.

The local council voted unanimously to protect it; one of the very last remaining dots of tranquility in the locale.

This decision was based on various aspects following careful investigation and deliberation.

In short, the winding blind bends and lack of pavements are simply not conducive to young families and buggies.

There is nowhere to push one for starters, without the risk of losing an elbow – or worse – to passing vehicles.

The thought of small children walking along there is horrifying.

This is not to mention the extreme harm to the environment, the birds and local nature.

Part of the plan was to rip down some conifers because they are mature, and to destroy 14 metres of nest and nature-filled hedgerow.

Imagine what wildlife would be destroyed in that process? Indeed, the insinuation that we can disregard things just because they’re old is perhaps indicative of our society as a whole in this day and age.

Housing is needed – that is not up for debate.

But, thankfully, the decisions regarding what land should be used are most definitely up for discussion, and the wonder of a community pulling together and shining through is a beacon of light in what are currently proving to be interesting times indeed.

Panic-buyers will be smug as hell with sparkly clean bums

Much as I haven’t rushed out and panic-bought toilet roll I empathise with those who have.

It has been blindingly obvious for the past eight weeks that we all at some point face the very real risk of being isolated.

If you read what is happening in Italy, from actual Italians, you’ll be smug as hell you bought the bog roll once you’re on lockdown and not allowed near a shop.

Smile sweetly at your neighbours through your locked windows, safe in the knowledge that while you might be stuck indoors like them, at least your bottom is sparkly clean.

And surely there is no need to point out that loo roll is a key to basic hygiene? Now more important than ever.​​​​​​​

We’re heading for disaster unless Boris shows courage

So the WHO has declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. And yet, as I sit and write this, our government has still only advised us to wash our hands.

Boris is rubbing shoulders with an infectee one minute, then hobnobbing with the 93-year-old Queen, the next.

I’m sure his pregnant partner is chuffed to bits.

By the time this goes to print perhaps there will be more of a plan in place than us all warbling Happy Birthday, scrubbing our paws for all we’re worth, and learning nothing from Italy, whose trajectory we are currently following.

If Boris doesn’t grow a pair and clamp down on this – given we aren’t even screening travellers from Italy – what is the point of him?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​