Home   News   Article NEW Milton’s recreation ground is hosting another season of monthly free summer concerts The town council-organised Sunday 2pm to 4pm Summer Afternoons of Live Music events will see four bands take it in turns to appear at the performance pavilion on the green off Whitefield and Old Milton roads The season kicks off on 1st June with the Christchurch Royal British Legion Band soul and disco classics from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s Pop/rock covers band The Wiseguys performs on 3rd August before popular tribute act Total Madness concludes the season on 7th September Home   Sport   Article New Milton CC kicked off their Southern Premier Cricket League campaign emphatically with a dominant 146-run victory over Liphook & Ripsley at Fernhill It was the perfect start for New Milton (322-5) against Liphook & Ripsley (176-8) as they look forward to life in a new division after a challenging season last time out. New Milton CC captain Ed Bartlett said: “Batting first we piled on an imposing 322 for five from their 50 overs thanks to a record-breaking innings from South African overseas star Thaakier Davids laced with powerful strokeplay and remarkable consistency set a new benchmark at the club and across the division.” Davids narrowly fell short of what would have been a brilliant achievement but he needed to hit his last ball for six to reach the double-century mark but could only find the boundary on the bounce and he reached the next milestone in just 22 balls before finishing the knock with a 22-run over The top-scorer was well supported by Josh Parsons helping lay the foundation for our mammoth total Bartlett continued: “Viewing from the sidelines was nerve-racking at 11-2 after five overs it was a question of how far can we take it “I turned up at the start of the game with words from my groundsman saying it looks like a bowl first wicket I was far more inclined to bat first; luckily “I suppose the good thing about this was that the pressure of making the most of a toss decision was taken off us immediately “The ball really did move around quite a lot in the first few overs I felt it was one of the best wickets the New Milton groundstaff have produced in many years Liphook & Ripsley struggled to build momentum against our disciplined bowling attack Despite a spirited 53 not out from captain George Neave and a brisk 45 from Rob Nicklin Liphook could only muster 176 for eight in their 50 overs The New Milton bowlers delivered with precision who claimed three for 19 in a superb 10-over spell making his debut for New Milton in the league having moved to Fernhill with his Brother Teddy from Ferndown Wayfarers provided great control and picked up two for 24 from his full quota “Having come into the match on the back of two warm-up wins,” said Bartlett “We couldn’t have asked for a stronger start to the season With our top-order firing and bowlers in fine rhythm we will look to carry this momentum forward in the weeks ahead “We have two of our toughest games coming up in the next two weeks with both teams having been relegated from the division above last season Police found a cache of weapons and ammunition when they raided the home of 62-year-old New Milton man was handed a five-year prison sentence when he appeared at Southampton Crown Court He told officers after his arrest that “everyone should be able to use Prosecutor Kelly Brocklehurst told the court that officers searched Wiseman’s home on 21st December 2021 after a National Crime Agency investigation They found a haul of items including manuals and tools relating to weapons as well as firearm components and ammunition The collection was “very much an interest in engineering” adding Wiseman was “frank” with police in interview The components Wiseman had collected meant he had “got far” in creating a .22 revolver with plans also found at his home for making a pistol A video of the gun being fired was released by the NCA after the case with a spokesperson explaining the build had been completed by an expert to prove the viability of what Wiseman had begun manufacturing The court heard Wiseman had been given a three-year prison sentence in 1997 for possession of a shortened shotgun without a certificate He was subsequently banned for life from keeping weapons Ed Wild told the court Wiseman was remorseful and would lose his job and home if he was sent to prison He urged Judge Nigel Peters KC to keep the sentence as short as he could given Wiseman’s early guilty pleas and the current conditions of prisons He added Wiseman had not been part of an organised group to manufacture weapons and there was no expectation of a financial advantage from assembling the guns There had been a “genuine misunderstanding” about the terms of his prohibition At a previous hearing Wiseman admitted attempting to manufacture a weapon possessing a firearm without a certificate and possessing ammunition without a certificate and when prohibited Judge Peters KC said: “You clearly have a major interest in this field You said ‘everyone should be able to use and have possession of While there had been no suggesting of trading the items Judge Peters KC also noted the offences had been hanging over Wiseman since 2021 and said upon Wiseman’s release a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order would be in place A drug dealer from New Milton wept as he was handed a four-year prison sentence after being caught by police twice in six months was first stopped by officers on 20th May 2021 as he drove a van in the town which had a “strong smell of cannabis” Prosecutor Martin Booth told Southampton Crown Court how a search of the van revealed two mobile phones and £865 in cash which Tams claimed was a recent benefits payment While the defendant was initially “fairly calm” Mr Booth said he became “agitated and hostile” when police asked to conduct a drugs wipe before he was taken to the floor and arrested on suspicion of dealing cannabis he admitted to officers he had packets of cannabis down his trousers Tams said officers had “a vendetta” against him and claimed the drugs were for his personal use One of the mobiles – described as a “burner phone” – was examined by a drugs expert who said it contained “marketing messages” inviting people to buy cannabis from Tams in New Milton The defendant was released on bail while officers continued their investigation but on 16th November Tams was stopped by officers as he travelled in a BMW Mr Booth said the car attracted the attention of the police as it drove slowly through the town with a defective headlight and on closer inspection officers noticed it had a strong smell of cannabis and officers found two mobile phones belonging to Tams who said he had bought them after his others were seized The court heard that on arrival at the police station Tams confirmed he had cannabis hidden in his underwear as well as a large clear bag containing 20 smaller bags filled with a white powder Tams denied in interview he was involved in drug dealing but messages on his phones indicated he was selling both cannabis and cocaine on the streets he said Tams’ refusal to give his address to officers meant no search of his home was ever carried out Analysis of the 20 bags he had concealed on him were each found to contain 0.4 grams of cocaine Mr Booth added the defendant also was in possession of one small bag of cannabis worth about £30 The court heard Tams’ bank accounts revealed “a large number of third party deposits” between November 2000 and November 2021 which totalled just over £12,000 Mr Booth said this was “consistent with someone who has been dealing drugs for some time” Tams has previous convictions for possession with intent to supply class B drugs He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three counts of possession with intent to supply class A and B drugs Lucy Taylor said: “He originally got into dealing drugs as he was himself a heavy user – it began with drug debts and escalated from there His most significant mitigation is what he has done in the four years since his arrest; he has remained out of trouble and obtained stable accommodation which was lacking at the time of the offences He had the chance of employment if he was not jailed and was rebuilding a relationship with his son She said the case had been “a shake-up” for him adding: “He is in a much better position and is a more responsible man solely due to his determination and hard work “He accepts dealing drugs was wrong and detrimental to those who bought drugs from him.” She also urged Judge Christopher Parker KC to impose a suspended sentence telling Tams: “You are the author of your own troubles There has to be a custodial sentence due to the nature and seriousness of the offences “You were plainly going about your business dealing cannabis and just that in itself should have been a tremendous warning shot across your bows but you then upped the level of your offending and were found in possession of cocaine “These courts every single day of every single week see people’s lives ruined by drugs There is no escaping the fact that drugs cause utter misery – and now it is affecting you too.” Commenting on his previous convictions for dealing and then you were caught driving under the influence You were taking a risk with other people’s lives and safety He told Tams he had carefully read letters of support from his family who “want him to do better” and said his conduct since was to his credit but he added his PTSD diagnosis “did not excuse your selling drugs to vulnerable people” has been honoured by the Hampshire Cricket Board (HCB) for his tireless support and dedication to the club The HCB compiled a list of 13 nominees for their Volunteer of the Month award with 49-year-old Wooster taking the top honour and fellow clubmate Jamie Gawler earning the runner-up position recently took on the role of chairman while also serving as one of the ground staff and the U9 coach said: “I had nominated Jamie Gawler as the Volunteer of the Month as he does a huge amount of work around the club I initially saw that Jamie was a runner-up so I clicked on the link to look at the other nominations I was very surprised to see my name at the top and I felt quite emotional and very humbled that people thought so much of me is that all of the volunteers at the club do so much and I couldn’t do it without their help and support and the support I get from my family and especially my wife The HCB statement read: “Dan has been an invaluable asset to the club He has worked tirelessly to organise the ground staff and secure new equipment and labour for ground improvements Dan successfully negotiated a new 25-year lease with the local council and secured club sponsorships He also finds time to train the U9 and U11 teams during winter training “Dan’s dedication to the club is unmatched and the club wouldn’t be what it is today without his unwavering commitment.” Three other local volunteers made the initial 13-person list: New Milton Cricket Club’s Jamie Gawler and Hythe & Dibden Cricket Club’s Ian Prentice The HCB nominations statement read: “Jamie [Gawler] is an invaluable force at New Milton ensuring the club is always ready for the season “Archie [Dunn] volunteered to coach the Paultons U9s quickly becoming a key figure in their development and giving his time and energy to the club despite having no children himself “Ian [Prentice] has gone above and beyond in his role as Hythe & Dibden vice-chairman dedicating countless hours with his family to refurbish club facilities ensuring the club is in excellent shape for 2025.” Wooster first became connected with New Milton CC around 2005 when his brother-in-law Wooster added: “I became much more involved in 2011 when I became the U9 coach coaching both Joseph and Edward until U15s I have been very much involved in the club becoming the fourth-team captain around 2015 “I stepped down due to work commitments around 2018/19 and started helping out with the groundkeeping under the watchful and professional eye of Andy Beck approached me and asked me if I would consider the role of club chair.” Taylor had led the club since 2009/10 after taking over from John Wolfe and he felt it was time for him to hand over the reins to someone else “I felt immensely humbled that he thought that I would be suitable for this most prestigious role and accepted after talking it through with my family” After a short stint learning the ropes under Taylor as vice chair during which he helped create a new club website helped with the grounds maintenance while creating a groundsman group consisting of himself Gawler and Joseph Wooster to take over from Richard Dawson who needed a break from head groundsman role and becoming A LARGE landmark greenhouse along a main New Milton route has been levelled The glasshouse at Double H Nurseries in Gore Road has been demolished after it had started to look a bit “scruffy” Nursery managing director Andy Burton said he has had a raft of comments from locals asking what happened to the 10,000sqm structure “The glasshouse was built in the 1970s,” he told the A&T “So it’s been in place for around 50 years Normally you would expect a structure like that to last for 25 to 30 years “Unfortunately the time came to get rid of it – it was a bit tatty and was perhaps becoming a bit unsafe so we emptied it out and we haven’t really used it for a couple of years now.” Mr Burton said the glasshouse will be replaced eventually but this may take a couple of years He added: “I’ve had a few people ask me what happened to it and say that it has been a bit of a landmark for them growing up in the area.” A MOTORIST from New Milton was banned from the roads for six months after driving while disqualified and without insurance admitted committing the offences in a black Audi A3 on Bradford Road He also pleaded guilty to failing to provide a sample for testing for Class A drugs while in police custody the defendant was ordered by Poole magistrates to complete 26 days of rehabilitation activity and 50 hours of unpaid work Teamwork inspiring creativity was credited with bringing about a new graffiti mural at the front of a New Milton youth building Music and stalls aimed to evoke a festival atmosphere as New Milton Youth Trust celebrated the official unveiling of the artwork at its venue on the recreation ground It was the culmination of a five-month project carried out alongside Bournemouth-based MBN Arts which uses creative arts to build young people’s confidence Also supported by Hampshire Cultural Trust it saw youngsters learn spray painting skills and the history of graffiti with 10 members working together with MBN Arts’ Mike Ness and Jack Kellythorn It reflects some of the youth sessions’ activities One element retained from the previous display was a flag with the ‘425’ logo harking back to the old skate park previously based in front of the building The numbers reflect New Milton’s old area code from a time when people had to remember their friend’s home telephone numbers Trust senior youth work manager Laura Myhill explained: “Many local skaters are recognised by ‘425’ “There have been two young deaths recently and people put the ‘425’ flag on their [social media] profile “Now it’s all different – youngsters don’t knock on people’s doors “This is why we go to schools to talk about social media Stalls at the unveiling included those run by youngsters learning their entrepreneurial skills Tracy Jose also raised awareness of Changes are Made (CAM) a charity she launched in memory of her grandson prevent and deter young people from carrying or using knives or serious violence “The New Milton Youth Trust building is so important to many of these young people,” he said “This project was a huge achievement for each of them and something they co-created together “This project can hopefully inspire other local young people to attend and engage at the New Milton Youth Trust building where they deliver their essential support for the young people within this community.” The New Milton Youth Trust supports children and young people aged 0-25 and their families and projects in schools and with other partners LOCALS who have gone the extra mile in helping others in New Milton have been honoured at a prize-giving hosted by the town council at New Milton Memorial Centre included presentations and entertainment from a community choir More than 130 members of the public attended the event which began with youngsters receiving mayor’s commendations These recognised achievements in something admirable or exceptional within their peer groups Cllr Alvin Reid was unable to attend due to illness so deputy mayor Cllr Madalaine Craze handed out the night’s accolades or excelling in extracurricular activities such as historical research or as part of the Army Cadet Force Certificates and gift vouchers to spend as they wished were presented to Finn Tibbert-Wykvliet Those unable to attend and subsequently invited to receive their awards at the town’s annual assembly on Wednesday 7th May are William Branton New Milton Citizen of the Year nominees were then recognised for their dedication and support to the local community Certificates were presented to Sue Larking for her work as chair of New Milton Residents’ Association Terry Mangles for litter picking in Barton and Alan Watson for promoting the town and charity fundraising for many years as president of the Lions Club of New Milton & District and before that in roles with the memorial centre and residents’ association Darren Wiles was also honoured for using his metal detector to help find lost items including jewellery and phones Mandy Hayes was named 2025 community champion for leading many community initiatives including the Pick-up Poo squad and most recently the launch of the Friends of New Milton Station She received an engraved glass plaque and certificate Mandy said afterwards: “Community champion is quite an accolade and behind this title and the beautiful glass trophy lies a whole army of people “I would like to thank all the teams I have the pleasure of working with who inspire me and keep me motivated.” Brian and Jan Coy also received a plaque and certificate as joint citizens of the year for their work with Bashley’s Open Sight Club for the blind and visually impaired Brian told the audience the “friendly and active” social club needed more volunteers Those interested can email volunteering@opensight.org.uk or call 023 8064 1244 for more information raised at mayoral events including the annual carol service which contributes handmade items to the community and combats loneliness was Cllr Reid’s chosen charity for the year The Parkinsons Singing Buddies Choir gave their first live performance led by music therapy teacher Fiona Pritchard A POPULAR New Milton venue has reiterated its interest in long-running hopes to be transformed into a thriving hub there have been discussions about expanding New Milton Memorial Centre on Whitefield Road to create a community and cultural hub for the area Included as an aspiration in the New Milton Neighbourhood Plan this would see it become a central venue for educational A wide range of facilities could be incorporated in addition to those in the existing building provision for arts and community activities and events There has been little word about the project in recent years but Cllr Alan O’Sullivan shared an update from the centre to a recent town council meeting This told how the full replacement of its roof and appointment of a new general manager were all “part of our journey towards being a cultural and community hub for the town” But the roof work had left the centre short of funds compounded by Little Acorns nursery leaving for new premises on Old Milton Road had had sole use of part of the venue’s upstairs for many years “We are in negotiation with New Life Church to give them security of use of our upstairs rooms in return for a cash injection; this partnership may take the form of a 25-year lease on some rooms,” the statement said “This would allow us to upgrade certain aspects of the centre.” are becoming a more regular feature at the centre under the band New Milton Hub It is hoped these will help build back its reserves The next scheduled event is a VE80 concert on Saturday 3rd May the centre continues to host community clubs and services It will also continue to be a venue for occasional meetings by organisations including the town council New Milton Residents’ Association and the RNLI People can also make private bookings for parties or memorial services “We will still provide space for the Royal British Legion poppy appeal and annual town Remembrance Service,” the statement continued “We will be sharing more of this vision at our annual general meeting on Wednesday 30th April from 7pm.” a very early artist’s impression of how the new hub could look showed an extension opening out onto the north-east side of the recreation ground THERE’S fresh hope in the long-running saga to restore New Milton’s first building Plans to bring the town’s disused station master’s house into community use have repeatedly hit the buffers since former town mayor the late Keith Craze spearheaded a project to convert the site into a heritage centre in 2018 But the Friends of New Milton Station (FNMS) have now officially launched its campaign for No.1 New Milton with hopes to raise £40,000 in seed funding The town council has kick-started the fundraiser with £10,000 awarded in community infrastructure levy (CIL) cash The group ultimately wants to see the station master’s house garden and disused building on the south side restored and brought into community use planning application and working drawings with full costings Once the full cost of the renovation works is known A heritage centre remains one of the potential uses future uses for the site together with Julia Stamper and other committee members She stressed a decision on the site’s final use would be subject to a public consultation Donations of £25 or more will secure a name on the Founder’s Wall artwork to be displayed at the house Mandy said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the community to join together and create an asset for our town that everyone can enjoy “The station is not only the gateway to our town “We are asking for everyone to get involved – businesses organisations and the good people of New Milton.” previous delaying factors for No.1 New Milton included the Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainty over funding Last year it looked to have been derailed for good after it was discovered around £300,000 was needed to address significant drainage issues FNMS will work on the project with award-winning community interest company Hampshire Community Rail Partnership which has previously helped bring 10 railway buildings into community use It is currently working on the Romsey station house and the Friends are confident it can help create something special in New Milton Mandy and Julia presented their plan to a recent town council amenities meeting which heard £100,000 previously invested into the project by Network Rail had been used for electrical work and external decoration Mandy advised the initial project was expected to take 18 to 24 months stressing other tasks could be carried out alongside the lease process which could take six to nine months who has previously been involved with No.1 New Milton plans as Milton Heritage Society treasurer He was joined by fellow councillor Valya Schooling and mayor Cllr Alvin Reid in calling for public organisational and financial backing from the council It was unanimously agreed to recommend the finance and general purposes committee approve £10,000 of CIL funding The building was the home of the station master and family from the station’s 1888 opening until the last one retired in 2007 The exterior retains many original features such as fingerplates who has been on the New Milton Neighbourhood Plan working group for eight years pointed out the hyper local vision identified the station master’s house as a heritage feature The residents’ association vice-chair told the A&T: “I think we’ve got a great opportunity to save it and turn it into a fantastic community asset for the town “The support from the community to save the station master’s house has been wonderful and we look forward to opening it in the not too distant future.” For more information visit newmilton.org.uk/crowdfunder A PATRIOTIC concert and a major community event with a vintage feel form the centrepiece of New Milton’s VE Day 80th anniversary commemorations The Lions Club of New Milton & District is marking the milestone over the weekend of Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May in the lead-up to Victory in Europe Day on the 8th Organisers say Saturday’s concert launch at New Milton Memorial Centre will evoke a Last Night of the Proms-style atmosphere Sunday’s activities and entertainment on the recreation ground will be broken up by a national remembrance of the fallen Tickets are said to have been selling well for the VE80 Anniversary Commemorative Concert at the Whitefield Road centre where the Band of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary will perform and it is hoped the Proms-inspired second half will encourage much audience participation and flag waving with profits going to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and the centre’s refurbishment fund Book in person or call 01425 629451 or visit ticketsource.co.uk/nm-memorial-centre The Lions Club VE80 Get Together runs on the green A packed line-up of live entertainment from the performance pavilion will include The Ffinellas from 11.20am with songs from the 1940s There will also be sets from the Military Wives Choir at 12.20pm and 2.15pm and the Wessex Military Band at 1.15pm and 3.15pm Fun for children and the young at heart will be provided by three hourly performances of a traditional Punch and Judy show from 1.15pm A brief ceremony around 1pm will remember those lost during the Second World War Forming part of the national commemorative events this will include the lighting of the ‘Lamp of Peace’ Large numbers of community and commercial stalls will cover the green Friends of New Milton Station and community radio station The Tower will also be present Visitors can learn about the war’s impact on the town through a display laid out in Milton Heritage Society’s marquee New Milton Sands WI will also offer a taste of wartime rationing A large display of military vehicles will include some from Greentrack Events with more of the 1940s feel provided by its NAFFI marquee There will also be a bar in an old fire engine A funfair will offer vintage traditional activities along with those more modern; and a children’s entertainer will be on walkabout Lions Club president Alan Watson said: “The Lions Club has staged events commemorating many anniversaries but this event and the VJ80 event later in the year will hold special significance for many in our town who will have lost loved ones during the conflict while echoing the extreme joy and happiness that was felt back in 1945 that at least the war in Europe had come to an end after six hard years of conflict.” Boots has uncovered a rare ARP Wardens First Aid Kit which will be displayed in the heritage society marquee along with other memorabilia loaned by residents Those who have any such wartime mementoes they could loan to the Lions Club for the day should call Mr Watson on 01425 563472 Home   People   Article I came across New Milton with a vibrant high street including a butcher I thought ‘how nice; this will be good for me’ The bank staff were telling us to use the machines and go online like end-of-year interest statements for tax purposes Paying in/collecting cash or foreign currency for holidays I often get a message (another window is trying to open I am advised to change passwords; this is not easy and is annoying The nearest banks are Lymington or Christchurch (at the moment) they are both 20 minutes away For most older people that is a lot longer by bus The high street is no longer vibrant and welcoming no longer provides the ease and comforts for pleasant living Wessex League Division One champions New Milton Town completed a first-ever league double over Lymington Town on Saturday as the curtain came down on a memorable season for the Brickmakers The Brickmakers were ruthless in the first 45 minutes taking a four-goal lead thanks to goals from Ronan Moore with an own goal thrown in for good measure while it truly was party time with just over 20 minutes left with keeper Ollie Bull scoring a penalty we want to say a massive thank you to these fans” “We’ve seen an incredible rise in numbers coming through the gates at home games and the support away from home has been unbelievable especially considering the distances and time people take to follow the team “The fact we’ve sold out coaches of fans at this level of football is madness It’s 100% played a huge part in getting us over the line Maybury made seven changes from last weekend’s win at home to East Cowes it took only four minutes for Moore to head his side into the lead beating the Lymington Town goalkeeper to the ball from Toby Bailey’s deep delivery into the box Noel McCarthy-Gardiner’s lofted effort on the bounce just missed the target soon after keeper Bull made a flying save to tip the ball away after an effort from close range with number seven Ben morris unleashing a spectacular and unstoppable half-volley into the top corner from just outside the box The equaliser failed to change the game in Lymington’s favour as McCarthy Gardiner’s cutback was deflected into his net by an unfortunate Lymington defender McCarthy-Gardiner was a constant threat on the right-hand side who finished the move off with a shot in off the post Jack Broad stepped up to net his first of the season The central midfielder placed his left-footed effort from 12 yards into the bottom corner to the delight of every Brickmakers fan at the game The only meaningful moment to report from the second period was when Brad Snelling was brought down in the box past the hour mark A second penalty of the day was awarded to the away side You would have thought Stone would be given the chance to net his 30th goal of the campaign Goalkeeper Bull made the trip from his half to assume responsibility for the spot kick and he made no mistake in rifling the ball into the bottom corner of the net The referee brought proceedings to a close early on a day when New Milton Town had broken yet another record scoring in each league game for the first time in the club’s history and finishing the season as only one of two clubs in steps 1-6 to have achieved that feat this season Billy Maybury had also made his 50th appearance for the club Maybury’s team looks forward to kicking off next season in the Wessex League Premier Division Pre-season friendlies beginning in July will be announced soon A PROLIFIC New Milton shoplifter was given detailed instructions on how not to steal from stores when being sentenced in court was banned from a string of shops after stealing over £400 of goods Appearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court Cullen was handed an interim criminal behaviour order which states he must place items he wants to buy in a store in a basket or trolley provided until they have been paid for The basket or trolley must then be left behind He had previously pleaded guilty to five counts of shoplifting between Monday 10th and Thursday 20th March The court heard he targeted his local Superdrug as well as the Co-op branches on Salisbury Road in Totton and on Brookley Road in Brockenhurst once each Items valued at a total of £229.90 were taken from the New Milton store and another £171.50 of goods was taken from the Totton store requiring that he undergo rehabilitation activity fined £80 and told to pay a £114 surcharge to help fund victim support services The stores ban relates to all of Hampshire’s Morrisons and Morrisons Daily stores Cullen must also immediately leave any store Failing to comply with any of the CBO’s conditions could see him being arrested and further prosecuted The sentencing was welcomed by PC Paul Broomfield from the Totton & New Forest Heart neighbourhood policing team He believed this offered stores further protection from anymore thefts and losses at Cullen’s hands “Cullen has continually targeted shops across the district showing no willingness to comply with the law in the process,” PC Broomfield said “We regularly target and prosecute shoplifters securing this interim CBO provides additional restrictions which help us prevent and disrupt any potential further offending perpetrated by him Repeat offences in particular can create an environment of fear for many retail workers He added: “Local policing teams put in a lot of work to support businesses and also work with support services for those whose offending cycle is driven by other factors such as drug and alcohol dependency.” Shop owners and staff members are urged to continue reporting any shopliftings to officers online via hampshire.police.uk or by calling 101 Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously via crimestoppers-uk.org or on 0800 555 111 A force spokesperson said: “With your information including arresting and charging suspects and convicting offenders at court OLDER New Milton residents will be the worst affected by the impending closure of Santander’s high street branch The Station Road site is among 95 set to shut nationwide this year in a move the banking giant said would “better serve the changing needs of its customers” It is expected the local branch will be replaced by a “community” banking desk to provide face-to-face services once a week The branch closures will also put some 750 roles New Milton mayor Cllr Alvin Reid said older locals are among those who will most keenly feel the loss “Clearly we’ve got an older population here and one that is not used to online banking and is not necessarily computer literate,” he told the A&T “They’re really used to face-to-face banking and I think they could be impacted more greatly by this than in other parts of the country “It would be nice to see some of these banks work together to rent out a building in the town they could each use one day of the week “They could all agree to split rent and rates and it would be good PR for them as they are closing branches.” Santander UK said it will be introducing new community bankers to provide “face-to-face support” for customers in locations where it is closing branches The bank said it is also investing in more work cafés working spaces and “dedicated events” sites A spokesperson for the bank said: “As customer behaviour changes we are ensuring that our branches remain fit for the future Our new combination of full-service branches counter-free branches and reduced hours branches aims to provide the right balance between digital banking and face-to-face money management and guidance we must move with customers and balance our investment across all the places where we interact with customers to deliver the very best for them now and in the future “Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision and we spend a great deal of time assessing where and when we do this and how to minimise the impact it may have on our customers we believe that the introduction of our new community bankers and the exciting plans we have for our remaining network of 349 branches and work cafés alongside the rapid and innovative improvements to our award-winning mobile banking app will provide the right balance of digital banking and human interaction when required.” It’s the latest banking blow to hit the town, with Lloyds to close on 13th May, Halifax having shut in April last year and Barclays leaving the town in 2021 POLICE want to trace this person in connection with claims of shoplifting at Morrisons in New Milton Alcohol and steaks were among items worth around £100 stolen from the store some time between 6.35pm and 6.50pm on Saturday staff were subsequently able to recover the items at the door A spokesperson added: “The man we’d like to speak to in connection with this incident is described as white “We believe the man pictured can help us with our investigation and would urge him saw anything suspicious in the area at the time dash cam or doorbell camera footage which could aid our investigation or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 Police are keen to trace this person after an incident in New Milton Follow us on Facebook Subscribe to the Newsletter The New Blackmore Vale Magazine Salisbury &Avon Magazine The Purbeck Gazette More than 60 players turned out at New Milton Rugby Club for an exhibition game to raise money for club stalwart David Gill Hundreds watched what turned out to be a superb afternoon of rugby with some big hits and great tries who has cancer and untreatable Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) was there to present the Daddy Gill Cup to the Under-35s skipper Dylan Colein-Gill While the youngsters ran away with it in the last quarter The Over-35s – which included some in their 60th year – rolled back the years and scored some spectacular tries Tyrone Holden and Dan Oliver all crossing the line Club chairman Any Frend put in a decent shift at lock scrum-half Matt Wale and his son Jack went head-to-head and several who hadn’t played for years dusted off their boots The youngsters – of whom there were many – scored tries through Ross Richardson Club president Phil Hoyle said: “It was a fantastic day with so many players and supporters turning out for David “It just showed what love and respect there is for him It also shows what rude health the club is in and we are already looking ahead to the next season.” AT least one person needed hospital treatment after a chemical emergency at a New Milton holiday park Paramedics and firefighters rushed to Hoburne Bashley Holiday Park amid reports of a gas caused by a number of chemicals having been mixed The incident happened at the park’s swimming pool around 10am yesterday (Tuesday) South Central Ambulance Service’s hazardous area response team attended along with a paramedic team leader in a rapid response vehicle Two people were treated at the scene while the fire crews dispersed the gas An SCAS spokesperson told the A&T only one casualty was understood to have gone to hospital A Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Firefighters were called to a holiday park on Sway Road at 10am after a number of chemicals were mixed together “Crews used ventilation fans to remove the subsequent gas before monitoring the air to check the levels were safe “The incident was handed back to onsite staff before the stop message came in at 1.26pm.” Police were informed of the incident by SCAS around 11.25am according to a Hampshire force spokesperson who said their attendance was not required The A&T has contacted Hoburne Holidays for a comment An online post by Hoburne Bashley this morning confirmed its main club complex has reopened but the indoor pool remained closed “We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience,” the post said NEW Milton councillors lost in their attempt to buy a bungalow on five acres of land to create extra playing fields next to the town’s cricket club next to Fernhill Sports Ground where New Milton Cricket Club is based It includes land earmarked for formal open space in the New Forest District Council Local Plan the town council held private discussions over the site The Salisbury-based auctioneers promote the property as in need of refurbishment or replacing includes paddocks and several outbuildings “in varying degrees of disrepair” Councillors had agreed to make “an appropriate offer” to purchase the site for recreational purposes funded by a PWLB (Public Works Loan Board) as appropriate a recent finance and general purposes committee private session heard the sellers would not be accepting the council’s offer Town clerk Graham Flexman told the A&T the council had been outbid on its maximum offer of £600,000 so it made eminent sense to purchase this site for playing fields,” he said “The town council has offered up to £600,000 We have to justify the amount to our ratepayers Other opportunities might arise in the future.” F&GP members had recommended the town council take no further action at this time Mr Flexman added he understood the site had since been sold THE Wimborne Minster and New Milton branches of Santander will close later this year This comes after Santander announced it is set to close 95 branches across the UK The bank said these closures are needed due to an increasing number of people switching to online banking rather than in-person The Wimborne Minster branch will close on Monday Santander says all locations where branches will close will be covered by new Santander community bankers providing face-to-face money management and general support for customers The bank has seen a rapid movement of customers choosing to do their banking digitally with a 63% increase in digital transactions since 2019 while financial transactions completed in branches reduced by 61% in the same period READ MORE: Daniel Whiteside charged with shoplifting from New Milton One Stop READ MORE: Serious facial injuries for man assaulted in Wimborne Minster A spokesperson for Santander UK said: “As customer behaviour changes “Our new combination of full-service branches We are very disappointed that the New Milton branch of Santander is to close in July 2025 We have used this branch and the staff are amazing also we have recommended this branch to friends who will also be disappointed Please confirm whereabouts the hubs will be located I wasn’t happy about Spanish takeover of Abbey and have no intension of using a “hub” typical big business arrogance which I shall be rewarding by closing my account later today Home   Lifestyle   Article AFTER almost 40 years of gigging and five albums together ABB are set to play a farewell concert at New Milton’s Forest Arts The group started life in 1988 as The Average Blues Band Over the years the band has released five acclaimed albums of original songs and nearly hit the top 30 in 2000 with their single You Ran My Heart Away They have also performed two live sessions for BBC’s Paul Jones Blues Show and appeared at many of the nationwide blues and R&B festivals ITV’s Homes Under The Hammer also used one of their instrumentals as a theme tune and four of the original five members still on board surely ABB is one of the longest running bands in the UK.” In 2006 the group lost its original drummer Geoff Jasper In the 1990s ABB incorporated a brass section John said: “Through good times and bad the band kept going but their aim was to present a professional show.” and two decided it was time to retire from live performance So a farewell show has been planned to mark the ABB story with a number of prominent guests set to join them including the original brass section The ABB farewell concert takes place at Forest Arts on Friday 13th June at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8 in advance or £10 on the door. To book visit: https://www.forest-arts.co.uk or call 01425 612393.