PROBLEMS CONCERNING SCAM CALLS ?

Telephone lines are being used with seemingly nefarious intent. This day alone one received calls from 01353771878 and from 02033224594, each call seemed fraudulent. Why one wonders does the telephone service allow such use of their facility. One merely has to feed these numbers on line, to discover that one isn’t alone to find cause for concern. Why therefore doesn’t the telephone company investigate the bona fides of such numbers?

Last week one  had a phone call allegedly from my computer on line service provider. Not for a moment could one disagree with their suggestion that our area’s computers ran far slower than other computers at the centre of the village, a most convincing tale was told, and yes of course one would welcome a refund of two months line rental by way of compensation.

Could one provide detail as to where credit should be made ? One had been very convinced by all our conversation, until one was asked that, for clearly the Service Provider would know well enough from where it debited our monthly subscription, so know where to refund money. Unfortunately though, such detail could be used to either debit or credit an account, and not for a moment did I believe my credit their intent.

Then of course two or three other times a day one is advised by others of their inclination to re-finance me for this that or the other reason. Not for one moment do I feel that I alone am being singled out with fraudulent intent, but one reads of others who fall for such scams.  J.B.P.   18.10.17

Tisbury  Parish including Upper Chicksgrove Also West Tisbury Parish

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One moved into the UPPER CHICKSGROVE area of Tisbury Parish in 1980, however our family had sent cousin Finetta (Downe) to Tisbury via Dinton by 4^th.May 1674. As a new comer I wasn't minded to seek election to any local Council here , though one had previously twice stood for election as an Independent to the New Forest District Council, after eight years residence in that location.

One had three daughters, all fortuitously soon at Salisbury Girl's Grammar School. Possibly locals may not be aware that in those days ,Tisbury persons were ineligible for Salisbury Grammar Schools. However my old spirit being undulled,one contested such ineligibility, and despite there being no vacancy at the girls grammar school, the school was required on appeal, to accommodate yet another girl, because there were vacancies at the Boys Grammar, and equality of the sexes was then of prime import. It was after our entry, that Tisbury persons were deemed eligible for selection to the Salisbury Grammar Schools. Certainly before then some Catholic children could be sent by the Council to Catholic Private Schools such as St.Mary's at Shaftesbury. I did actually offer to let our girls go there , rather than to a Salisbury Grammar School, but the Council thought that an expensive option.

Attendance at Salisbury wasn't that straight forward, for there was soon the suggestion that both its Grammar Schools be abolished. Thus one was busy assisting others in their fight for the retention of both schools. Though one left most of the enterprise to them, one assisted, becoming too Secretary and Treasurer of the PTA. At South Wilts.

Having never lost interest in local governance, there came a time one wondered whether to have a stab at candidacy for Salisbury District Council, however saw no actual vacancy, nor considered myself in any way better suited to attempt either Tisbury seat, than those who then represented us. That was as well, for decision was next made to abolish the District Council and have but County and Parish Councils. The probability of my failure apart , it was as well one hadn't stood for election as an Independent, for one next heard that none of those elected in our area was considered suited to hold 'office' at Trowbridge, though the Council chair was herself elevated to become a member of the House of Lords.

Tisbury Village, has Parish Councils for each of its two constituent parishes . People did volunteer their services as Councillors, but seemingly too few do so now. I recall a while back, that a then sitting Parish Councillor and I, made complaint to the then District Council that Tisbury Parish Council had too many Parish Councillors. Despite a letter from the Parish Council disputing the suggestion, The District reduced the number of our seats by two. This, please be reminded reduced our Councillorship to but eleven persons , even so last May we had no election for Parish Councillors, because we were short of four or was it five candidates. One has really lost track of West Tisbury, for that Parish Council hasn't had an election for years.

         Is either Tisbury Parish Council now representative of its area electorate ?

Despite the good intent of those offering their services as Parish Councillors in either Parish, one suspects Tisbury Village area', should be a conjoined Parish, with fewer Parish Councillors than severally it now has.

Should that first happen, then possibly an over all elected Parish Council , might better decide upon the way ahead for the village of Tisbury, for some do not see things as others currently do.

Unfortunately West Tisbury seems reluctant to amalgamate its Parish with ours, could this be because currently Tisbury Parish Council ratepayers alone, pay for facilities enjoyed too by West Tisbury ?

One noted the disparity of votes cast at Tisbury's Parish Council election in May four years ago. That indicated that some of our Councillors were more favoured than others. That's perfectly understandable, however one is asked to elect a full Council, not nominate personal favourites. Clearly one should either vote for a full council, or not vote at all. What happened distorted all the candidates' good intent. However its only fair to acknowledge that many other Wiltshire Parishes also failed to hold an election this last May, because there were too few candidates to precipitate an election.

One does not know whether there are still vacancies on Tisbury Parish Council. If now there are none, one wonders why those who may have filled vacancies didn't offer their services from the off. Something that one does register is that the Tisbury Business Association seems to thrive, so further wonder why more such' public spirited' persons failed to stand for election to the Parish Council.

Living as one does out in the 'sticks', I have little idea who some of our current Parish Councillors are, for their names are unfamiliar . Nor do I know most of the

'Tis Plan Steering Group, July 2017', nor how one came by them , but one is grateful for everyone's helpful intent.

One wonders, concerning the             ' Neighbourhood plan for Tisbury and West Tisbury.'

but thank all those who have done so much work concerning it. I certainly went to one of its 'open days.' however the only person there whom I knew, seemed too busy to engage in any conversation with me. I do not recall receiving a specific questionnaire one heard tell of. However do recall that several years back the then Chair of Tisbury Parish Council was surprised to hear that Upper Chicksgrove was within Tisbury Parish. Since then we did elect an Upper Chicksgrove resident as a Parish Councillor, however she resigned early on, because I understand , Tisbury Parish Council seemed less than inclusive of Upper Chicksgrove.

Some years ago a different questionnaire was distributed by Tisbury volunteers, I helped with its distribution and collection, but having done so, left ones fellow volunteers to it, because one wasn't invited to even see , or process the returns. The distribution of the questionnaire in large brown envelopes was comprehensive, the only answers I saw were , but as a published resume, produced by some of the remaining committee members.

Did not that questionnaire advise that 'Tisbury 'had no wish for a new car park at the bottom of the High Street, nor wished to see the old Parmiter site used for accommodation rather than employment ? If such was so, one may wonder why any pursued the car park idea before abandoning the project, or still persist in the idea of using the old Parmiter site for accommodation, despite that expressed contrary wish of Tisbury residents.

There was too the matter of that 'new' housing estate off Hindon Lane, Tisbury. Of course Tisbury acquired a financial 'Nest Egg' from that Developer, but some of the money was used for the construction of a Cricket Pavilion in an adjoined Parish. I've no idea who owns that structure, nor why Tisbury paid for much of it.

What then of the former Tisbury Middle School , once taken over by a private school. I recall attending a meeting hosted by the County Council. I too, having been invited to make comment by the County, the then chair of the Tisbury Parish Council, objected that my expressed opinion was contrary to that of the Parish Council, and that I spoke at a meeting I had no business attending.

A Private School became the occupant of the former Tisbury Middle School premises for a period of time, but Tisbury shared use of its School Hall with them.

Eventually the school left and its premises were re-acquired by the County for community use, not only for Tisbury, but too for surrounding Parishes.

The current road access to that former Tisbury school seems appallingly dangerous , passing as it does through a housing estate if approached from central Tisbury. Mind you one might approach it via the Wyndham Place area, (should the 'proposed' gate remain open

 The Wyndham name being adopted for a particular piece of development ,wasn't appreciated by the owners of other houses named Wyndhams in the Tisbury and Chicksgrove Parishes, whose addresses soon attracted unwelcome correspondence of a financial nature, which harassment the Police were advised of.

Why is Tisbury Parish Council seemingly so out of touch with the electorate? I do not believe'Tisbury Village as a whole', needs so many Parish Councillors , nor need of two Parish Clerks.

One duly notes that Hindon and Compton Chamberlain have modern Halls, so one wonders why 'Tisbury' has such a 'hotch potch' of Halls . Goodness only knows what is to become of the old library premises? Is that too to cost the Parish money ?

One wonders too what rates local shops pay ? Its convenient to have such facilities, but one sees Tisbury persons shopping in Shaftesbury and Salisbury, whilst subsidising the Council rates of Tisbury Shop premises.

Living as my wife and I do in Tisbury Parish, in an on- road semi detached cottage some two miles off the Village Centre, I do not see it as my mission in life to spend £ 45.98 every week of the year ( £6.56 per day, ) to fund both County and Parish Councils . To add insult to injury newer homes are charged on the value of such houses on 1^st.April 1991. Thus too rather grander landed properties , now restored , pay lower rates than we do, especially those who have their rates discounted because of sole occupation, or due to other financial considerations. No doubt those of us not so benefiting, pay for such discounts ? If readers will excuse me mentioning such a thing, none of the housing in Upper Chicksgrove is connected to the near by sewerage system, so no such costs are not included in Council bills.

Upper Chicksgrove had surveyors at work in a farm yard a couple of weeks ago. One fears the worst , for all the buildings in both the upper and lower farm yards were connected to a modern drainage system a year or so back. It will be interesting to see what may happen there anon. One did ask the owner of the farm in a letter dated the 19^th July last year, but received no written reply. I recall someone else explaining to me a year or so back that he had opened a commercial car repair business in the Farm Yard. He however left, though another now repairs cars there, and others do I know not what. Do these Farm buildings pay rates?

Quarry Lane Upper Chicksgrove has a former Quarry the other side of the railway line. Stone comes in, stone goes out, some stone is still excavated. Such enterprise was seemingly encouraged by the Parish Council, however an associated planning permission failed at County Council level. So what happens now , apart from the stone that still goes in and out?

Then of course there is access to that railway line, all of which is via a stone bridge over the Nadder River, which is at last under repair. Upper Chicksgrove is of course 'separated' from Tisbury village by both the burial ground and the sewage works. Not that our community is connected to the Sewage system, nor to Tisbury's high speed Internet access, though we are expected to pay for its use.

Possibly Upper Chicksgrove should be amalgamated with Lower Chicksgrove. There was talk a while back of it being included in the Parish of West Tisbury, possibly that was a joke !

One realises that Tisbury , and other Parish Councillors try their best, however maybe the electorate here and in other Parishes feels disconnected from Parish affairs, so do not stand for election, vote, or attend Council meetings. This never used to be the way things were. Has this anything to do with the loss of our District Council ? JBP. 7th August 2017.

THE COST OF ACCOMMODATION.

One was chatting to a working man this morning who mentioned that he paid £700 rent for his house. Well one had to ask, and his answer was,  that was the rent he paid per month. Naturally one knows not the house, none the less can but  think of another house , situated in a prime position of a Thames side village, the rent of which my late mother as a widow became beneficiary of. At first it’s gross controlled rent was £60pa.exclusive of rates ,being as it was negotiated during the depression of the thirties, and maintained by wartime security of tenure provisions. Apart from that newly built terrace house, there was too free use of a shared maintained four acre garden, along with a private gardens attached to the house, and use of a garage.

When such controlled tenancies were set aside, the prior tenants of the house, had no wish to pay the new gross rent of £300 pa exclusive ,  as prescribed by Chartered Surveyors, (without use of the four acres) they  left the property. Thus it was that in the nineteen  sixties the house was sold for in the region of £5000 Leasehold, with a thirty shilling a year ground rent. However of a sudden by order of the Government’s new legislation, the freehold had next to be sold to the tenant for £15.plus Lawyer’s and Valuer’s costs. One has always thought this legislation bordered on legislative dishonesty, but it was occasioned on account of  the hoard of Victorian leasehold tenancies then about to expire in areas such as Brighton. ‘Landlords’ lost out , whilst most tenants were financially advantaged, especially those who had recently bought cheaply, the tail ends of tenancies about to fall in. If that was bad luck for the original property owners, what  of the good fortune of the lady who’d purchased the freehold of ‘our’ house. Well her children presently offer  ‘our’ end of  terrace house and two garages which I provided, and garden etc. for sale at a little under a million pounds freehold, The house has a recently converted loft space with Velux windows and a newly built lobby area to the back door. I hope their sale is successful, none the less feel that ‘we’ the original builders lost out on father’s expectations.

Ones own sob story apart, one feels that Governments, are little short of incompetent in their dealings. Maybe rent controls should be brought back. I know that I couldn’t afford to pay £700 a month to rent a house, anymore than one can afford to pay well over £2000 a year for the rates of our current rurally located, on a side road property. Here all our neighbours except two, get ‘discounts’ either for single occupancy, or because their now modernised houses are still assessed at their original valuations. I appreciate the money councils spend has to come from somewhere, but very much object to part financing the discounts available to others, who are better able than I to finance their own living costs, and one can but wonder why currently now grander properties are newly assessed to pay lower rates than we do. One cant do anything about that until one sells our house. It really is time for the re-valuations of property, promised but defaulted upon by government.

I don’t suppose that only the big house opposite and our good selves solely pay for the discounts of others, and to be fair when either my wife or I kick the bucket, our house too will be discounted by 10% ( over £200 pa.) having but a single person occupancy. Then of course the rest of you can make up the deficit when paying your rates.

TISBURY PARISH COUNCIL.

Living as one does two miles off central Tisbury, one wonders why our part co-opted Tisbury Parish Council  think it appropriate to scatter our money around as they seem to, and heaven only knows which Council will be paying the running costs of the old Nadder Middle School premises.

Both County and Parish Councils, are due elections soon, and one notes that some long serving Parish Councillors may resign their elected office. Possibly the idea is that once again others be co-opted to fill such vacancies. Personally I’d rather now let any vacancies remain unfilled until after forthcoming elections, because already too many of the Parish Councillors hold their office, by co-option, some having inherited the office of former ‘co-optees.’

DOWN BY THE STATION.

Something else one is concerned about is the current proposal to spend was it five thousand pounds a year to hire an area of ground below the railway station, which area would be used for car parking, presumably after rate payers have paid a small fortune to surface the area .I do not see any such need, so believe Tisbury Parishioners , should again be consulted, before Parish Councillors are minded to so spend our money even on a leasehold basis. Alternatively maybe the Tisbury Business Association might wish  to hire the land itself. ?

Some years ago the Parish’s opinion was against the idea of buying that piece of land opposite the station. Our opinions were clearly expressed in the questionnaire all houses in Tisbury were invited to complete .After its delivery to each house  by a voluntary group (Here I would declare my interest in the questionnaire, for I was among the original volunteers to formulate some of the questions, then distribute, and collect the answers  in their anonymous impressive plain brown envelopes ) These once collected were handed in , to be processed by a sub committee. However having not been invited to assess the completed questionnaires, my work done I left the committee to their deliberations. When the opinions expressed in the questionnaire were published, one of the things it advised was that Tisbury had no wish to BUY this car park area opposite the station. So it concerns me now to hear that some are minded that Tisbury pays the owner of the land £5,000 a year to RENT it.

 Did one read that the ground is the property of a Mr. Johnson and if so is this the same man who once sold me  2 Bennett Mews, leasehold, for the occupation of my late mother  A house which later I sold on.? J.B.P.

6th January 2017.