Friday club

Dear Editor,

This letter is regarding the Ludgershall market starting up on a Friday morning at the Memorial Hall. Until the pandemic started we had a thriving Friday morning club in this hall, open to all for teas, coffees etc. with monthly raffles and a Christmas dinner for all at The Queens Head pub. Subsequent to the lockdown easing, we found that the new charges for using the hall has become too prohibitive and we are moving to the Church Hall in Ludgershall for our Friday meetings. I enclose a quote from Councillor Allan regarding the Friday market in which she said: “I’d like it to go as big as possible.” She said: “maybe have it indoors as well as outdoors and make it a big thing on a Friday morning; do teas, coffees and everything else. It could be a place where everyone can come down and have a chat and buy something.”

Seems to me that is exactly what the Friday club did prior to the lockdown! Have they got rid of us in order to start up themselves?

Brian Sprigg, Ludgershall

Are you waiting for someone to die?

Dear Editor,

It has been many months since the railway bridge which joins Mylen Road to Milway Road has been closed for repairs. I dare say many motorists have been annoyed and put out by these works. Maybe you could share a thought for the residents of these roads.

Over the past 20 or so years this sleepy little road which was created in the 1900s for pony and trap has undergone a huge transformation. Firstly, Junction Road, a known thoroughfare for traffic, was closed changing that road into a quiet haven, the redirected traffic I would suggest mainly coming through Mylen Road.

Secondly, the allotments behind Mylen Road were taken back by the council and replaced by a housing estate creating more cars and therefore more traffic. Next we have the demolition of the builders merchant to be replaced by 43 dwellings with only 42 parking spaces. Now there are rumours afoot that when the leases for the trading estate on Mylen Road come to an end this area too will be made into housing.

We all need somewhere to live but why oh why build houses on such a thin road creating such a bottle neck on a road meant for pony and trap?

Moreover, the speed of the traffic is dangerous resulting in parents having to act as lollipop ladies so their children can cross the road safely. Cars parked in the road are at the owner’s risk. I have lost more wing mirrors than I can count and my beautiful car was written off by a driver who smashed into it and drove off in the middle of the night who drove off without leaving their details. This cost me on my insurance as well as upset me personally.

Requests for speed humps etc have been declined because ambulances use this road but they have managed while the bridge has been closed. Many people fear if something is not done about the traffic it will end fatally.

I understand that under the town’s new master plan a cycle route is to be created from town to the railway station. With the link through the railways station carpark to Mylen Road this makes a good case for extending the cycle route along Mylen Road, through King George Road to the Drove, continuing along Eardley Avenue to link up with the pathway which leads to Portway Industrial estate. What a great way to get people out of their cars.

Unfortunately for us, we only a have a short time of tranquility left before the railway bridge plans to reopen. Our main fear is that nothing will be done to address this busy and dangerous road until someone dies.

The Junction Road solution, Speed humps or a one-way system could provide the answer.

Marie Dyke, Andover

Keep an eye out

Dear Editor,

We are three hedgehog friends who live in Swallowfields. Most evenings we meet in a back garden to have our supper, a drink and a chat.

The last few years have been tough for us, we have sadly lost lots of family and friends so we are lucky to have each other. The last week though has been particularly tough, three of our friends have died on Cricketers Way.

We enjoy living alongside you. Some of you kindly leave us food and water in your gardens and some even build us houses, a big thank you. In return we help keep your gardens lovely, eating the things you don’t like, slugs yum yum!

We know that by adventuring out and about in the evenings and at night means we are not easy to see but please could you keep an eye out for us when you are driving around and if it’s safe to do so stop or go round us so we can all make it home to our beds safely.

Thank you and take care.

Mrs Tiggy Winkle, Mr Pickles and Spike

C/O Catherine Shearn, Andover

Easter Egg fun

Dear Editor,

Your readers might be forgiven for thinking that the story of the rector’s Easter egg (Back Through The Pages, April 26) was an April fool, but it really happened, and on Easter Day!

There was a sequel not recorded in the Andover Advertiser. In order to preserve the egg, my father asked a friend to blow the contents; but when the shell was pierced, it shattered revealing a normal sized egg inside.  

The shell was very thin and fragile, full marks to the hen for not only forming the outer shell, but also being able to lay it in one piece.

David Heelas, Upper Clatford, Andover

Surprise meeting

Dear Editor,

In 1956-57 Kelly’s summer fair, I was two-three years old at that time and a little mischievous. I ran away from my mother, into a beer tent, running between the legs of a man with my mother close behind. My mother caught me and the man unfortunately fell on top of her. My mother was surprised to see that it was Prince Philip. She apologised. His reply was: “Madam, it’s entirely my fault, I should have known that a mother would have been trying to catch her son.”

Stephen Goddard, Lot et Garonne, France

Thanks

Dear Editor,

I would like to highlight the help that the staff and doctors at the Adelaide Medical Centre, specifically Dr Jessica Mongan, gave me on Wednesday May 7 after I sustained an injury indoors that has incapacitated me ever since.

Whilst writing, I would also like to mention this last fortnight Aman Bale and her husband have ensured I have had hot nutritious meals, whilst  Ian Carr and Jill Bentall have supplied transport for the hospital appointments. I’m indebted and grateful to them all.

Manuela Wahnon, Andover

Nature reserves

Dear Editor,

Recently on the news was the story of a fire that has completely destroyed a 120-acre nature reserve in Devonshire, and also, a nature reserve in Dorset has been severely damaged by two fires only days apart, due to people having illegal campfires and barbecues.

I went for a walk recently in Pamber Forest, a 500-acre nature reserve, it’s connected to Lord’s Wood and Silchester Common which adds at least another 100 acres to it.

Under the pine trees in the northern part, I found the remains of a large campfire and about 30 empty beer bottles, some broken.

The forest is a nature reserve. I’ve been walking these once a week, weather permitting. I’ve seen so many rare birds, butterflies, moths, reptiles and animals. Yet, there are people gathering in there at night, lighting campfires under pine trees. Pines are very flammable!

Also, I was told of a dog bitten by an Adder. The dog should not have been running loose, so it was the dog walker’s fault.

The Hampshire and IOW Wildlife Trust state - “When out with your dog, please keep them on a lead or under control at all times, especially in spring, due to ground nesting birds.”

Recently, as I attempted to photograph a male stonechat, I was attacked by an out-of-control loose dog. Its lady owner said: “He won’t hurt, he’s playing!”

A dog that attacks other people and won’t come when called, should be on a lead! People are spoiling our nature reserves.

A D Carter, Sherborne St John, Basingstoke