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The Christchurch The independent directory of local businesses serving the residents of Christchurch, Fairmile, Iford, Purewell, Somerford, Mudeford, Friars Cliff & Burton

Delivered FREE to 12,000 homes & businesses in the BH23 area!

March 2017

Directory

WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE ALL THE AVAILABLE SPACE IN YOUR HOME?

BESPOKE FITTED FURNITURE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES Custom Creations is a family run business with over 40 years experience

CALL US NOW ON

01202 823231

TO ARRANGE YOUR FREE, NO OBLIGATION DESIGN CONSULTATION

www.customcreations.furniture

Unit 1, Enterprise Park, Blackmoor Road, Ebblake Industrial Estate, Verwood, BH31 6YS

OFFICE & SHOWROOM OPEN SIX DAYS A WEEK

Monday to Friday – 9am to 5pm Saturday – 9am to 12pm 12 Victory Close, Woolsbridge Industrial Estate Three Legged Cross BH21 6SZ

New showroom now open! Visit us or call 01202 825225 for your free, no obligation quotation

www.dorsetwindows.co.uk

To advertise in The Christchurch Directory, please call: 01202 894397

From the 6th February MAKE IT SEW dressmaking alterations and fabrics (formerly at Christchurch Emporium) Will be moving to: 248 Barrack Road Christchurch

Call Jane or Liz on

07707 443826

Your local handyman with over 25 years experience Handyman Services

Carpentry

Plumbing

Basic Electrical

For more information visit our website www.the-home-doctor.co.uk

01202 798 748 Please mention The Christchurch Directory when responding to adverts

Welcome...

The Christchurch Directory Edition 123

Published by:

Debbie & Stephen Corney at Dorset Directories Ltd

Telephone:

01202 894397

Email:

info@thechristchurchdirectory.co.uk

Copy deadline for the April 2017 edition: 13th March 2017

Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that data in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The Christchurch Directory does not officially endorse any advertising material included within the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form, without prior permission of the publisher.

Dear Christchurch, Bargates, Fairmile, Iford, Burton, Mudeford, Somerford, Stanpit, Friars Cliff & Purewell! Spring is on its way! Lighter evenings, warmer weather, and the promise of an array of flowers to brighten up the day. Most of us love March and April, new beginnings, fresh air and spring cleaning of course. Time to clear out the old, make way for the new, renovate, build a loft conversion, fit a new carpet, revamp the kitchen, feed the lawn, plant those bulbs and generally make the environment around us a better place to live in. Maybe there is someone inside our little magazine who could help give you more time for yourself? Then you can go for a walk, read a good book or plan your summer holiday, leaving all the work to the experts. Sounds good to me. The local trades people here would love to hear from you so please give them a call. Nellie is back on the road! She enthusiastically took us to “Monkey World” this month and excitedly adopted a 30 year old male orang-utan called Tuan. We had a monkey of a time, despite the very cold weather and were thoroughly entertained for several hours. If you have never visited then Nellie highly recommends it. Your spirits are somehow lifted when you leave. It must be all that playful swinging! The lucky winner of the wordsearch last month was Trixie Domoney. Well done and we do hope you enjoy seeing Peter Alliss at the Regent Centre. Don’t forget that if you have a local club, society or group in the area and would love some free promotion, we are the people to call. If you have a business and would like to be more recognised locally, then we are definitely the people to call. We have excellent reviews and are more than happy to help you. Wishing you a youthful month of March and may the flowers bloom! All the Best,

Debbie & Stephen Corney

Useful Numbers Local Police Southern Electricity Transco Gas Emergency Christchurch. Hospital

101 08457 708090 0800 111999 01202 486361

Train Enquires Christchurch Council Sembcorp Water Christchurch Library

08457 484950 01202 495000 01202 590059 01202 485938

To advertise in The Christchurch Directory, please call: 01202 894397

AB Alpine Bistro

ER FREE COFFEE VOUCH

Present this voucher, to receive 1 FREE Cup of Coffee! *Voucher can only be redeemed once. Offer ends 31st August 2017.

Snowtrax | Christchurch | BH23 6AW

alpine activity centre

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Community News

Charity auction night for local animal rescue organisation With monthly vet bills alone of around ÂŁ6,000 and no government funding, Waggy Tails Rescue rely on the success of their local shops, collections and fundraising events in order to continue their work. Since the charity started in 1994, we have successfully rehomed on average 200 dogs a year and we would really like to continue this excellent work to provide our fantastic rescues with forever homes. We have organised a Charity Auction Night for Friday 19th May 2017. We have been very generously supported by Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa who have agreed to host the event for us. The evening will be free to attend and will see a number of wonderful items auctioned off for all the family. Items up for grabs include family days out to local attractions, meals at local pubs and restaurants, signed sporting memorabilia, hampers and much more. I have been amazed by the response of those who have donated including The Royal Collection Trust at Buckingham Palace. We will also be holding a Grand Raffle on the night which will also include fantastic prizes. Bidding starts at 7.30pm.

We would love to see as many people in attendance as possible. As well as raising much needed funds, we really want people to find out more about what we do, and how they can help in a variety of ways. If anyone would like more information, they can contact me on 07432 488666 or by email at fundraising@waggytails.org.uk or follow us on Facebook for regular updates. If any local businesses would like to contribute to the event, I would be more than happy to hear from them. Paul Chapman

Polly

To advertise in The Christchurch Directory, please call: 01202 894397

Mr Peter Willy ] Mrs Janine Johnson ] .S "MJTUBJS #VOUJOH Mr Jonathan Gollings ] Mrs Joanna Dorsett

Only accredited phobia practice in Dorset Dental Implants Invisible Braces Somnowell Anti-snoring devices 3D CT Scanner Cosmetic and general dentistry Teeth Whitening Dental Hygienist services

We also offer the following Dental Plans Â˜ĂŒiĂ€iĂƒĂŒÂ‡vĂ€ii wÂ˜>Â˜Vi >Ă›>ÂˆÂ?>LÂ?i Ă€ÂœĂ•Â˜` yÂœÂœĂ€ ĂœÂˆĂŒÂ… ÂˆĂƒ>LÂ?i` >VViĂƒĂƒ Modern facilities

Hoburne Dental Practice, 104 Saffron Drive, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 4TG.

Tel: 01425 277245 o r www.hoburne-dental.co.uk

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Community News

LOOKING FOR A NURSERY? Call 01202 490506 For more details or arrange a viewing www.burtondaynursery.co.uk

Lovely well established nursery on the outskirts of Christchurch. Lots of outdoor space and a dedicated baby unit with garden. For a free consulta�on please contact us: Tel :

Ltd

Tradi�onal & Contemporary Solu�ons Create the perfect space for outdoor living…

Tuscany are proud suppliers of Award Winning

Email :

01202 848 628

info@tuscanyblinds.com

Specialists in Planta�on Shu�ers, Awnings & Shaped Conservatories

www.tuscanyblinds.com

Weinor Awning Systems

Free Electric motor with every Awning

20% Oﬀ

Planta�on Shu�ers T’s & C’s Apply

To advertise in The Christchurch Directory, please call: 01202 894397

Hope for better rented housing in 2017 Nationwide expert Belvoir views prospects with optimism for year ahead. Two Dorset based offices of property specialists, Belvoir, will be part of a nationwide drive to integrate the private rented sector more positively into the government’s housing plans for 2017. Despite government changes and fresh challenges in the ‘buyto-let’ market, the future for rented property will continue to be one of the best bets for the country’s growing number of tenants as well as landlords, says the company. “We’re starting the new year with more optimism than we’ve had for some time,” says Jeremy Clarke, owner of the Belvoir office on Bargates in Christchurch. “Although the market is likely to be slowed down by the threat of stricter ‘buy-to-let’ rules - including tougher affordability checks for buy to let mortgages and the withdrawal of tax relief on mortgage interest – we are still reporting an increase in demand for houses to rent. Luke Marchbanks, who owns Belvoir Bournemouth on Castle Lane West, adds: “If you are a cash investor, or perhaps an ‘accidental landlord’ who has inherited a property with no mortgage repayments, you can expect a very healthy return on your investment – far better than you could achieve from mainstream savings products. “So, a priority in 2017 will be to carry on sourcing more local, good quality rental accommodation to satisfy both landlord and tenant client demand across the board.” Recent figures suggest an encouraging rise in the number of rental properties coming onto the UK market in nearly 60 per cent of UK towns and cities. And although rents are rising modestly they are, nevertheless, rising. In fact, Belvoir predicts a 15 per cent rise over the next three years. Some 86% of tenants, nationally – that’s around 6 million households - are renting because they cannot scrape together the deposit to buy a property. And a Labour-backed inquiry into the nation’s housing crisis revealed that almost two-thirds of UK tenants don’t expect to afford a mortgage in the next five years either. That includes all walks of life – from professionals with families to students and migrant workers. They are struggling to buy so, in the next 12 months, they will follow the European model and rent instead. Meanwhile, government housebuilding targets have let them down again. A House of Lords committee called for 300,000 new homes to be built in England each year - but in 2015-16 just under 190,000 new properties were added to the housing stock.

“That’s why a closer dialogue is needed with Westminster,” says Belvoir’s managing director, Dorian Gonsalves. “The private rented sector plugs a serious gap and provides essential good quality, affordable housing for a modern generation of tenants while opening up new opportunities for people who can invest in ‘buy-to-let’ properties.” In 2017 Belvoir will continue to work with decision makers and strive to help create new incentives for the increased supply of rented housing stock. This will benefit millions of private tenants in a rental sector that could become healthier than ever in the next 12 months. “But, more than ever, new property investors will need to have a very clear strategy, in terms of what they expect from rental returns and capital growth,” adds Jeremy. “Renting in 2017 is expected to be an increasingly real alternative to home ownership but landlords need to buy property at the right price and thoroughly research its marketability. “This is where local market knowledge becomes an allimportant key – and it’s where the expertise of a specialist agent like Belvoir can make a real difference in guiding investors through a maze of opportunities and potential pitfalls. “We anticipate more self-managing landlords will answer the new challenges and changes in legislation by turning towards professional agents with local and regional understanding, insight and experience, who they can trust to handle the increasing burden of new rules and red tape.” Dorian Gonsalves says: “It’s against this mixed background that our collective of over 300 offices throughout the entire country is hoping to make our influential voice heard more clearly at national government level this year because Belvoir is a major brand and a respected representative of this key sector in UK housing. “We are optimistic that we can improve prospects for tenants as well as landlords and I’m confident that the Belvoir network will continue to build on this during another positive year of successful growth.”

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Community News

10 10

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ADVERTORIAL

Cloudy2Clear Announce Trusted Trader Partnership Consumer champions Which? have now joined the thousands of customers who recognise that Cloudy2Clear Windows really are a business that you can TRUST. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has received the coveted ‘Which Trusted Trader’ status after going through a rigorous accreditation process entirely focussed on customer service. Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing

company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps. Whilst a number of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle. Locally Cloudy2Clear service the &KULVWFKXUFK area

DQG Panager Justin Friel agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’ So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Justin a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!

Cloudy2Clear GUARANTEE All Customers That An Average Quote Will Take No Longer Than 20 Mins!!!

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12 12

Wildlife News

Talking about Wildlife...

Step into Spring What signals spring has arrived for you? Seeing a snowdrop perhaps? Or hearing the birds singing during the lighter evenings? The changing season from winter to spring is perhaps one of the most enjoyable of the year as it brings colour, and sounds and sights we all relish after the long dark, cold days of winter. We are encouraging all of our supporters this year to get outside and experience wildlife first hand, and spring is a good place to start. DWT has over 44 nature reserves in Dorset which are teeming with wildlife thanks to proper management of the habitat, so you have a very good chance of seeing a favourite species, or perhaps a new one! Here’s a list of species we challenge you to spot this spring. You don’t need to go far to see many of them – you may see them in your garden, parks, on a road side or on one of our nature reserves. 1. Bluebells – Perhaps one of our most famous and unmistakable woodland flowers – look for long and narrow, drooping leaf fronds and bending flower stems heavy with the nodding blue bells that give this flower its name. Can be seen in woodland and hedgerows. Visible from April – May.

Male Orange Tip

Photo: Ken Dolbear ��

Bluebells

Photo: Ken Dolbear ��

2. Cuckoo – Arriving in April, the cuckoo can be seen in many different habitats from woodland to heathland and coastal areas. Their familiar ‘cuck-oo’ call heralds the start of spring. Almost as soon as they have laid their eggs in June or July, they leave for Africa, so there’s a small window to see these birds. 3. Orange tip butterﬂy – Another sign that spring is arriving is seeing the orange tip butterfly emerges from April until July. They are found in hedgerows, farmland, gardens and parks. The female does not have the orange colour but can be identified by a ‘mossy grey’ pattern on the underside of her hindwings. 4. Cowslips – A cousin of the primrose, the cowslip is also an early spring flower. They’re a rarer sight across the UK due to habitat decline, but they can be found in traditional meadows, ancient woodlands and hedgerows in early spring in Dorset, coloured bright yellow with nodding heads! DWT would love to hear about any of your sightings this spring. Contact us on @Dorsetwildlife or facebook/DorsetWildlife with your photos and stories! Find out more about our nature reserves in Dorset at www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/ reserves. Sally Welbourn Communications Oﬃcer

To advertise in The Christchurch Directory, please call: 01202 894397

Call either Dennis, Stuart or Debbie on

01202 487587

for honest, professional advice on all your property needs whether selling or buying.

Free No Obligation Market Appraisals Competitive Commission Rates Local & National Advertising Extremely Experienced Team

MICHAEL ADAM ESTATE AGENTS

237 Fairmile Road Christchurch, BH23 2LQ

Tel: 01202 487587

www.michaeladam.co.uk Please mention The Christchurch Directory when responding to adverts

CAMERAS & BINOCULARS WANTED

By Private Collector ANY Age, Format, Quantity or Quality - Collections Of ANY Size - Lenses Of All Types - Clockwork Cine ALSO Wanted 8mm, 16mm, 35mm - BEST PRICES PAID - WILL COLLECT - ANY DISTANCE CONSIDERED Please Call Keith On

01202 862886

      

Boilers, Radiators & Central Heating Bathroom Design & Installation Power Flushing Service & Maintenance Leaking Taps, Etc. Solar Hot Water Friendly, Expert Advice 301918

24HR EMERGENCY CALLOUT

T: 01202 280487 M: 07779 246417 20 Pinewood Road, St Ives, Ringwood, Dorset, BH24 2PA

In need of foot care? RITA HALLAM M.INST.CH.P HCPC REGISTERED OVER 39 YEARS EXPERIENCE HIGH STANDARDS AND FRIENDLY APPROACH TREATMENTS FOR ALL AGES • TOENAIL CUTTING • CORNS & CALLUS REMOVED • INGROWING TOE NAILS • ALL IN ONE TREATMENTS AVAILABLE (CHIROPODY + PEDICURE) • ALL TREATMENTS INCLUDE A FOOT MASSAGE • TOENAIL RECONSTRUCTION

BU FOOT

T: 01202 948075

TON CARE

M: 07774 434848

96 STONY LANE CHRISTCHURCH www.burtonfootcare.co.uk BH23 7LE  burtonfootcare@outlook.com

To advertise in The Christchurch Directory, please call: 01202 894397

ASHLEY

TREE SURGEONS  TREE SURGERY BS3998  TREE SURVEYS BS5837  ALL TYPES OF FENCING - SUPPLIED/ERECTED  HARD LANDSCAPING  STUMP GRINDING  HEDGE CUTTING  LOLER INSPECTIONS  MINI DIGGER & DUMPER HIRE  MUCH, MUCH MORE

Instantly add elegance & beauty to your home with Just Shutters

www.ashleytreesurgeons.co.uk

Or telephone Barry Evans on for a FREE quotation

We have over 20 years experience and all our work is carried out by fully insured, fully qualified staff

Do you need a hand to relax? Recently qualiﬁed male masseur with the latest massage techniques invites ladies & gentlemen to relax and be pampered in a cosy perfumed studio.

JUST SHUTTERS | MAKING YOUR HOME SHINE Understanding that your house is your home is at the very heart of our thinking, from design consultation that focuses on your style and needs, through to fitting where we ensure that your house is treated like a home, not like a building site! Call us today on 01202 240769

Can also visit care homes if needed. Fully insured. Call 07783 433792 for more details.

Just Shutters | 59 Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth, Dorset BH6 3QU e. information@justshutters.co.uk

justshutters.co.uk

T2653 JS 2017 FEB when South Link 61.5x185.indd 1 11:01 Please mention The Christchurch Directory responding to16/02/2017 adverts

Community News

16 16

Chairman’s wife in daring dive for Macmillan Caring Locally Committed to raising funds for a new Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital, Carolyn Emsley is braving a sponsored skydive on 8th April 2017.

In the next few years, Macmillan Caring Locally intends to rebuild the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital. Having already committed £5million from its reserves and a Capital Appeal Director to lead an appeal for funds, an estimated £4million is still needed to see the project through to completion. Kicking off the fundraising campaign, Carolyn Emsley will be testing her mettle in the name of charity with a sponsored skydive on 8th of April. Carolyn is the wife of Michael Emsley, the new Chairman of Macmillan Caring Locally and a former Director and General Manager of the Daily Echo. Through her daring jump, Carolyn hopes to raise awareness and funds for the charity which provides enhanced care to patients with advanced, progressive, or incurable illnesses such as cancer. A testament to her charity fundraising commitment, Carolyn will be braving the skies one week after their Golden wedding anniversary.

Michael Emsley, Chairman of Macmillan Caring Locally, comments:

“I’m not good with heights so I am very proud to have Carolyn bravely volunteer for the skydive. We don’t anticipate Carolyn raising £4million for the new Macmillan Unit alone, nevertheless, we will welcome and appreciate donations of any size. I look forward to cheering her on from the safety of the ground in April.’’ The new building in Christchurch will help to improve the work of Macmillan’s dedicated inpatient nurses, specialist palliative care nurses who visit patients, doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, family support team and the Royal Bournemouth Hospital palliative care team. If you wish to donate to Carolyn’s Skydive, please go to the fundraising page: www. justgiving.com/Michael-Emsley. To find out more about Macmillan Caring Locally visit their website at: www.macmillanlocal.org

Carolyn Emsley, comments: “I have wanted to do something along these lines for some time. With plans drawn up for the new Macmillan Unit, it’s the perfect opportunity to do something fun and exhilarating for the charity. I want to raise as much as I can for the project and ask everyone to give whatever they can. A big thank you too to everyone who has supported me so far!’’

Carolyn & Mike Emsley

To advertise in The Christchurch Directory, please call: 01202 894397

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Homefield Grange

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The luxurious 5 star home provides residential, nursing and dementia care for 64 residents. The home features large spacious lounges, dining rooms, garden room, library, cinema & shop. We maintain strong links with the local community and our Activities Co-ordinator provides residents with the choice of a huge variety of creative and fun activities. Choosing the right Care Home is one of the most important decisions you can make for \RXUVHOI RU \RXU ORYHG RQHV DQG LW FDQ EH RQH RI WKH PRVW GLÉ?FXOW +HUH DW +RPHČ´HOG *UDQJH we aim to give you the opportunity to become part of our extended family, where help and care is available at any time, day or night.

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Homefield Grange L u x u ry C a r e H o m e

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Salisbury Road, Christchurch BH23 7AR T: 01202 238700 ( +RPHČ´HOG *UDQJH#PPFJ FR XN when ZZZ PPFJFDUHKRPHV FR XN responding to adverts

Community News

18 18

Introducing the Jubilee Wine Circle The Jubilee Wine Circle is a great place for a bit of fun centered around wine. We try lots of different wines especially new ones to see what we like and don’t like. We also encourage wine making. We have two qualified judges in the circle as well as a host of members who have been making wine for years so if you fancy making wine there are lots of people who can help. Recently we have had tremendous successes at the South West Federation Show and the Wales & West Federation Show, the latter being a large national show where we won two prizes. But it’s not all about competing in shows! Last year we had an evening of Chinese wine and cookery to celebrate Chinese New Year. We also had a great Christmas Dinner complete with port to finish. We also had a banjo band and a whole host of different talks, quizzes and generally fun evenings. We meet at the Stapehill Village Hall on the first Friday of every month at 8pm. So if you like the idea of a sociable evening with a general focus on wine then please contact the Chairman using the details below and you’ll be made very welcome. Chairman: Neil Barton Tel: 01202 861077 Email: neillbarton@gmail.com

To advertise in The Christchurch Directory, please call: 01202 894397

Please mention The Christchurch Directory when responding to adverts

Bay Window:

3 part with Georgian bar: £975 3 part without Georgian bar: £925

All our prices are displayed online Visit our website and get your quote:

Providing the answers

to your legal questions

A Developer is interested in purchasing a piece of my garden, they have given me an Option to sign. What is this and should I sign it?

Alternatively, you can ask the Developer to enter into a Contract, conditional upon the plot getting the Planning Consent it requires. This protects you as the Seller and ensures the Developer buys the land at the agreed price if the right Planning Permission is obtained.

The simple answer is don’t sign any such Agreement without seeking specialist legal advice. An Option, gives the Developer an option to buy the land at a given price and within a given period. Almost invariably, they will wish to obtain Planning Consent before being committed and you will need to establish exactly how long they will have to do so. Except in rare cases, the creation of an Option will prevent you selling the property or re-mortgaging. In a falling market, there is also the possibility that the Developer will endeavour to re-negotiate the price at the last minute.

For Further information please contact a member of our Commercial team. Simon Nethercott

We are planning to buy a holiday home but have been told that we will find it difficult to get insurance as it is in a flood risk area. Will the Government Flood Re Scheme help me?

Until recently, high value homes were outside of the scheme, but the ruling has been overturned so as not to disadvantage “asset rich, income poor’’ families.

Flood Re is an agreement between the government and the insurance market aiming to provide affordable flood insurance and place a cap on flood insurance premiums. The policy obligates the government to invest in flood defences in exchange the insurance industry are to provide flood insurance to homes at risk. However, there is currently no limit on insurance premiums resulting in many homes which are at risk of flooding paying very high rates. UK Households pay on average an extra £10.81 through their home insurance premiums which is passed to a collective Floods Re fund to be used to meet the costs of flood damage.

Where part of the garden is being sold, it is also important to establish the terms of any ultimate Transfer Deed to cover rights for the passage of services and any required covenants. There is a lot to consider, so it is advisable to seek legal advice from a specialist Solicitor.

Homes built after 1st January 2009 and nondomestic properties will not be eligible. These exemptions pose a problem for developers, landlords, tenants and new-build home owners. The motivation behind the exemption is to stop developers taking risks on properties that may potentially flood. For further information please contact a member of our Conveyancing team who will be happy to help Merylin Martin you.

Law Spot is brought to you by Harold G Walker Your Friend-in-Law.

There is no guarantee that your question will be used and you will not get a personal response. The answers in this feature are for guidance purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.

To advertise in The Christchurch Directory, call: 01202 894397 enquiries@hgwalker.co.uk | 01202 881454please | www.hgwalker.co.uk

Please mention The Christchurch Directory when responding to adverts

Puzzle Corner

24 24

Crossword

Across 1 Climbing tall hills (14) 10 Furies (5) 11 Acquit (9) 12 Ultimately (7) 13 Punches of sweetened milk and eggs (7) 14 A sloping edge on a cutting tool (5) 16 Nosebleed (9) 19 Bankrupt (9) 20 Hollowed out (5) 22 A rope for a sail (7) 25 Instructions on food preparation (7) 27 Barrier (9) 28 Swampy lake (5) 29 Slides used with o/head projectors (14) Down 2 Coordinates (9) 3 Relating to the nose (5) 4 Welder's fuel (9) 5 Hangman's knot (5) 6 Industrious (9)

7 A Rocky Mountain state (5) 8 Suppositions (7) 9 Pre-built (6) 15 Bedtime song (9) 17 Interpose (9)

18 Plant adapted for limited water (9) 19 Live or dwell (7) 21 A ďŹ eld event (6) 23 Insect stage (5) 24 A literary genre (5) 26 Boxlike (5)

Barrack Road, Christchurch

WANT TO TRY BOWLS?

OPEN DAYS

Sunday May 7th 10am to 4pm Monday May 8th 6pm to 8pm Come along and have a go FREE A mixed club with teams in local leagues Coaching is on Monday evenings The Club has a bar, car parking and disabled facilities are available For more information, phone Richard, Club Secretary, on 01202 419402

ifordbridgebc.blogspot.co.uk To advertise in The Christchurch Directory, please call: 01202 894397

EST. 2001

At Stour Chiropractic Clinic we like to take care of you. Our mission is to maintain a dedicated and caring team committed to providing exceptional patient services and chiropractic care. “I had seen so many doctors, orthopaedic surgeons, spine specialists. NO ONE helped me until I came to Stour Chiropractic Clinic. Seventeen years of pain, slowly and surely eliminated.” Helen, Highcliffe

“Very happy with the overall service. The atmosphere is friendly and I feel comfortable in coming here. I don’t plan on going anywhere else!!’ Rebecca, Christchurch “It’s an excellent alternative to the NHS diagnosis which can often take time. I always feel better after my treatment.” Anna, Ringwood “Feeling brilliant!” Chris, Christchurch

Whether it’s a bad knee, elbow, back or neck, we will do our utmost to make sure everything is working properly. We aim to get to the origin of the problem, correct it and to get you back on the road to better health.

SPRING SPECIAL OFFER WITH DR NICOLA HAPPÉ, DC *£20.00 OFF New Patient Consulatation & Chiropractic Treatment. Offer Includes: Consultation, Neurological and Orthopaedic Examination, Report of Findings AND Chiropractic Treatment *Offer valid from 01/03/17 and on production of this advertisement at time of appointment. Offer supersedes all others by Stour Chiropractic Clinic.

STOUR CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC

59 Bargates, Christchurch BH23 1QE

www.stourchiroclinic.co.uk

Don’t Suffer – Let us Help 0 1 2 0 2 4 8 4 1 6 4 Please mention The Christchurch Directory when responding to adverts

Adventures of Nellie

26 26

The Adventures of Nellie The Dorset Directories Camper Van Nellie is back! Having had quite a rest for a couple of months and a new ‘ticker’ (alias alternator) fitted, Nellie was raring to go. In fact she was chattering at the bit and came screeching to a halt when she suddenly had the idea to take us to “Monkey World” near Wool in the Purbecks. We were there many years ago when Hayden was just a baby in the pram. Oh boy that seems a long time ago. Saturday morning. There were flurries of snow! Really, was Nellie going to take us out in that? Yes, is the short answer. When Nellie decides on something wild horses would not stop her, certainly not a teeny-weeny drop of snow. She even has a snow mode for emergencies! Ever known anyone like that? Hayden was none too impressed, but boys of 13 are not always easy to please as we know. Nellie was very persuasive and since I was driving Hayden came along, a ‘little’ reluctantly. It was freezing! I can’t blame many of the monkeys for hiding in their shelters, but there were some out and about for us to see. The whole complex has expanded so much. I couldn’t believe it. What a

The playful lemurs run around at your feet

Nellie arrives at Monkey World great place to visit, whether young or old. Nellie would have loved to try the fantastic climbing frames and hang off the ropes that were intended for the children, but we did manage to stop her. Ladies of a ‘certain age’… there is certainly no holding them back at times! Must be seeing those playful monkeys and baby Orang-utans that did it. They are so cute! One larger chimpanzee got suddenly fed up with something, angrily showed her teeth, picked up some earth and ran off, throwing the soil furiously in the air while screaming loudly. It was very dramatic, a bit like Nellie when she gets overheated (told you about women of a ‘certain age’…) and starts steaming at the bonnet. It was probably a female chimp, or am I being unfair? Men, don’t answer, it is best not to as it could be taken against you. As if we would ever do that! Monkey World is an ape rescue centre, and does a terrific job in saving and protecting over 250 primates of more than 20 different species. It is in fact the largest rescue centre in the world set in a 65 acre park! And it is right here in the South.

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27 27 My Gran all the way back in 1950 had wanted to buy a tiny marmoset monkey. In the local ‘Hull Daily Mail’ one was advertised, so Gran enthusiastically parted with a lot of money. Needless to say is was a hoax and she never saw the monkey. (Even in those days you had to be careful.) I remember as a child being disappointed that she never had one. Monkey World salvages such pets which have been neglected, kept in unnatural conditions and generally mistreated. All of the primates have had difficult circumstances to endure and are now in a safe haven. How wonderful. Nellie was very taken with this and decided to adopt a monkey herself! That didn’t mean take one home of course (though we did buy a great toy look-a like that now sits proudly on Nellie’s back seat), but it does mean that the money we gave helps with all that is needed to rescue and rehabilitate the primates. We received our photo of “Tuan The orang-utan” this morning in the post! Nellie was so excited. Tuan is a rather large 30 year old orang-utan and has a love story that rather appealed to Nellie. Tuan was found roaming the streets in Taichung City. He had obviously been brought up with humans and once settled

Tuan, Nellie’s adopted Orangutan

Nellie with her toy “Tuan” lookalike a year and a half later (after all his medical tests were complete) in Monkey World, he was introduced to Amy who was never interested in him. Ahhh I hear you say… but wait… RoRo however had been watching Tuan through the mesh and once the doors were opened, she literally fell into Tuan’s arms and he wouldn’t let go! ‘Somehow’ they now have a wonderful son called Gordon who loved to swing on the ropes and slap his dad on the head when he was young, but these days being older, lives in his own enclosure. RoRo still lives with Tuan, but Tuan in fact has another special lady in his life, Lucky, who totally won his heart. They are inseparable. Tuan himself is a bit of a character and loves to make people laugh by blowing raspberries and clapping his hands. You can see the appeal. Nellie highly recommends a visit to Monkey World. Hayden really enjoyed it too! Now Nellie has adopted Tuan, she can visit as often as she likes for a whole year. For £35 we think that is great value for money AND she helped the monkeys! Please visit the website www.monkeyworld.org or call free phone 0800 456600 with any enquiries, and do mention Nellie! Where will she takes us next? By Debbie Corney

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28 28

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Food & Drink

Lemon Meringue Pie

A delicious and tangy lemon filled pie topped with crispy, chewy meringue â€“ a perfect after dinner indulgence thatâ€™s sure to satisfy the sweetest tooth!

Ingredients for 8 servings Pastry 150g plain flour Pinch salt 75g Butter Cold water to mix

Oven: Pre-heat to fan 170C/190C/Gas 5 Prepare the pastry following conventional method and use to

Filling 50g cornflour 300ml cold water 75g caster sugar Zest and juice of 3 lemons 2 medium egg yolks

remaining water, lemon zest and juice, stir in the cornflour

Meringue 2 medium egg whites 100g caster sugar

line a 20cm greased flan dish. Bake blind, remove from oven then reduce the oven temperature to fan 130c, conventional 150c, gas 2. To make the filling, first blend the cornflour with a little water to make a smooth paste. In a small pan, heat the paste and stir until you bring to the boil. Cook the lemony mixture for 2 minutes then remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly before adding the sugar and egg yolks. When cool, tip into the partly cooked pastry case. Whisk the egg whites until very stiff then gradually add in half of the sugar. Then gently fold the rest of the sugar. Spread the meringue mix over the lemon and swirl and bake for a further 35 minutes to crisp the meringue. Allow to cool before serving.

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Community News

30 30

1st Burton Girls’ Brigade 1st Burton Girls’ Brigade is part of an international uniformed organisation. The company was set up in Burton in 1977 by Mrs Veronica Richards when she moved to the village. I was one of the founding members and took over from her as Captain in 1984. The company will be celebrating its 40th Birthday later this

year. We are always pleased to receive new members from anywhere in the local area. We meet on Monday evenings from 5.15pm at Burton Green United Reformed Church, Salisbury Road, Burton. All school aged girls are welcome to join us, we do lots of activities including games, craft, cooking and trips. For more information please contact our Captain - Mrs Roz Gale on 01202 487412.

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What’s On at Regent Centre

32 32

Christmas Cracker at the Regent The Regent in Christchurch has just announced its results for the Christmas and New Year period and there has been a box office bonanza at the Centre with the New Milton based Glad Rag Production Company breaking their own box office record. Christmas Spectacular 2016 in December, attracted an extra 886 patrons over Christmas Spectacular 2015, which represents a truly spectacular 26% increase in audience levels year on year. Meanwhile, Highcliffe Charity Players’ audience levels for their New Year Pantomime, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs in January 2017, were also stellar, no doubt boosted during the run by the visit of their patron, star of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Guy Henry. Snow White pulled one over on Goldilocks & the Three Bears, HCP’s January 2016 pantomime, with a rocket propelled 7% increase in the number of seats sold. – See Editorial note below. Adding to the bumper box office bonanza at the Regent was the New Year’s Eve Party film. Mamma Mia (PG) not only sold out all of its seats to 484 Super Troupers but there was also a waiting list at the box office, making it the hottest ticket in town that night! The good news has just continued to flow in at the Regent with the announcement in January that the Centre was one of only seven independent cinemas in the whole of Europe to be nominated by the Event Cinema Association for the award of Best Independent Cinema for quality and customer satisfaction for Event Cinema and live satellite broadcast screenings. The nomination was a great compliment to the Regent and came off the back of achieving the highest admissions in the UK for the 2015/16 Season of live satellite screenings from the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet and also for being ranked as No 1 Cinema in UK and Ireland for admissions to Andre Rieu’s 2016 Maastricht Concert screening. The Awards Ceremony was held at the QE II Centre in London on 3 February and the Regent General Manager, Felicity Porter, was there to hear the Centre being highly commended for its continuing contribution to Event Cinema in the UK.

The Regent’s new What’s On Guide, covering events up until June, has just come out and already the hot favourite for Oscar glory, La La Land (12A), has been playing to full houses and a number of live shows, including Georgie Fame in March and Rob Beckett in April, have also sold out! Regent General Manager, Felicity Porter said: “This has been the best ever start to a New Year for the Regent. We are all so pleased that the hard work of the volunteers, staff and Board Members has been recognised and rewarded. I also want to thank our loyal patrons who have supported us through the years for live theatre, films, concerts and event cinema. We already have exciting plans in place to build on this success and make 2017 a year to remember!”

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This month, the prize is a pair of tickets to see The Fureys at the Regent Centre on Thursday 4th May 2017 at 7.30pm, so please complete this page by 30th March and send to:

March Prize Wordsearch Name: The Christchurch Directory, Address: 1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, BH22 0JR Telephone:

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Gardening Tips

34 34

On Your Plot Getting the upper hand Spring should really be on its way by the end of this month and there’ll be plenty of jobs to keep you busy on your plot. There’s nothing quite like sowing seeds and the thrill of watching those first tiny seedlings appearing just a week or two later. Weather permitting the soil should be warm enough to be sowing outdoors in March. Your new seedlings will need all the help that you can give them if they are to ﬂourish so don’t forget the weeding and pest control too!

Jobs for March :-

• Prepare beds for sowing by raking level when the soil is dry enough. • Get a supply of containers and fill with compost ready for sowing (supermarket plastic trays containers are handy to reuse for this!) • Make sure you have all the seeds you need and sort them into the order that you’ll sow them in. • Plant first early potatoes later in the month. • Keep on top of the weeding and pest control. • Sow carrots, peas, parsnips, lettuce and radishes

There’s no doubt that the weather during the first part of the year lived up to our expectations of a month of extremes - with mild temperatures and homes and gardens hammered by incredible rainfall. Hopefully March should see the weather settling down and Spring truly starting to emerge. Most seed packets give you some guidelines as to which month/or months are best to sow in but personally I think that it’d be a lot more helpful if they gave a little information about the temperature required, not to mention just how long germination is likely to take. Soil temperatures of at least 6°C are needed for most seeds - if you don’t want to guess at this you can get a soil thermometer to check. Don’t forget that by using products such as fleece, or cloches, over your beds you can raise the temperature. Some seeds, such as parsnips, are notoriously slow to germinate taking up to 3 weeks for seedlings to appear - a good idea with slow starters like these is to sow quick growing crops such as radishes on either side of the row. This will

help mark the rows out until your parsnips appear and the radishes will quickly be grown and ready to harvest. Take note also of the depth that the different seeds should be sown at - too shallow and they’ll either blow away or be eaten by the birds, too deep and you may bury them alive! Try to space seeds evenly, though if you sow too many you can thin out the weaker seedlings after they appear. Do remember that with many crops it is better to sow just a few and then sow again in a few weeks time to avoid having too many ready to harvest all at once. Salad crops such as lettuce will bolt if left too long, and other vegetables which may have a short harvesting period can be enjoyed for much longer if you save the seed and sow a few in succession every few weeks. As the soil warms up for your new crops so it also warms up nicely for the weeds about now! For many people part of the attraction of growing your own is eating chemical free produce and organic methods of pest control will therefore be preferred. Little and often is best - take a quick walk around the veg patch each morning and hand pick any emerging weeds. Hoeing also works well and if you are careful not to let weeds set seed you’ll avoid a long-term problem. Of course the situation isn’t helped by the fact that your patch is likely to have large amounts of bare soil on it between widely spaced rows at this time of year. Some crops, such as potatoes will obligingly grow to ultimately block out the light and deter weeds, but if you’re really having problems then think about putting down a thick, organic, mulch to cover the bare soil. Slugs will also emerge to attack your young seedlings - there’s no end of organic ways to do battle from hand picking at night and beer traps to watering in nematodes. Strike early and gain the upper hand!

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36 36

Money Saving Tips

Martin

LEWIS 0RUWJDJHV

The biggest single personal ﬁnancial risk in 2017 is that mortgage rates will rise rapidly. This isn’t primarily about UK base rates, set by the bank of England, it’s far more about the City’s long term prediction of interest rates – which new cheap ﬁxed and long term variable rate deals are set based upon. Mortgage rates are near all-time historic lows and have been for a couple of years, and we’ve got used to that. Yet there is a plausible chance that 2017 is the year that will change. We’ve already seen some cheap deals such as HSBC’s 0.99% twoyear fix being pulled. The five-year swap rates have increased from 0.35% back in September to 0.9% now – and we’re already seeing longer fixes start to get more expensive on the back of this. Of course, there’s no certainty here. Yet UK rates are so cheap that even if things reversed and they dropped again, the likely gain to mortgage holders would be limited. But if they did rise, the cost could be huge. The savings available right now can be huge, like Kperat’s who emailed: “Fixed at 1.24% for 2 yrs, reduced term to 13 yrs without paying much more a month. Will be saving about £20,000 even after fees. Thanks.” So, this is my clarion call for ALL mortgage holders, to check NOW if you’re on the cheapest deal, and, if not sort, it. Here’s what to do to find your cheapest deal. How much could I save? If like many people, you’re on your lender’s

standard variable rate (SVR) – the default rate most fixes and trackers revert to when the intro deal ends – then the savings can be huge. Most SVRs are at 4% or higher. Yet the cheapest two-year fix is just 1.2% (you’ll need a top credit score and it’s got a big fee). Five-year fixes start at around 1.8%. All, of course, depend on how much of your home’s value you’re borrowing. So, someone moving a £150,000 mortgage from 4% SVR to a two-year fix at 1.2% would save £4,000+ over two years, even after fees. Quickly ﬁnd what deals are available For an easy benchmark of what’s available in your circumstances, start with a comparison site that includes all deals, including ‘direct only’, which aren’t offered by brokers. Full market comparisons include my own www.MoneySavingExpert.com/ mortgagebestbuys, and www.totallymoney. com’s mortgage tool. Finding a cheap deal isn’t the end – you need to get accepted The days when lenders would fling out deals to all and sundry are long gone. Getting accepted is now the challenge. There are two key elements to this: • Is your credit score good enough? Your credit history is a huge part of whether you’ll be accepted for any type of credit, including a mortgage. So take precautions. Avoid any applications that leave a footprint on your file – @MoneySavingExpert such as credit cards, contract mobile

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37 phones or monthly car insurance – in

Martin the few months before applying for

LEWIS

your mortgage. Never withdraw cash on credit cards or take payday loans. For full help on this, join my free Credit Club 0RUWJDJHV www.mse.me/CreditClub, which gives your credit score, affordability score and tells you what needs improving. • Are the repayments aﬀordable? For the past couple of years, lenders haven’t just checked if you can afford the monthly repayments at the current rate, but they also stress test affordability if rates were 6% or 7%. Crucially, this doesn’t only apply to new mortgages, it’s also for re-mortgages too (which is ridiculous and, on an aside, I am campaigning against this). So, if this is a problem, it’s important to reel in your spending months before applying. Lenders will want evidence of income, big bills, expenses and even eating out. Use a mortgage broker to match your situation to a top mortgage. The information about what different lenders are looking for isn’t available to the general public. But it’s something that most mortgage brokers have - and, of course, their job is to find you the best product. So, they’re a good way to work out what the best deal available to you is. Yet do ask if the broker will check all deals available to them and not just a panel of lenders. Also, check how much it will cost and use a qualified one. Some phone-only brokers such as www.LandC.co.uk are fee-free. If you want face-to-face help, ask friends for a local recommendation or find one via www. unbiased.co.uk or www.VouchedFor.com. Don’t ignore the fees The smaller your mortgage, the bigger the impact of fees. A good way to compare

mortgages is to divide the fee across the discount or fixed period. So, a £1,200 fee on a two-year (i.e., 24-month) deal is £50 a month. Then add that to the monthly repayment. I designed a “Total Cost” tool that does this automatically for you within the www.MoneySavingExpert.com/ mortgagebestbuys comparison. Fix or variable rate? A fix’s advantage is you get price and budgeting certainty that the rate won’t move for a set time, whereas variable deals move with the UK interest rate (and sometimes just on the provider’s whim). Generally, you pay a little more to fix, but not much. Ask yourself how much you think rates will rise over the period. If safety’s what’s important to you, err on the side of fixing, and fixing for longer. Right now, with fixed deals being outrageously cheap, it’s great time to do it. Got savings? They could get you a better mortgage For this, you need to find your current loan-to-value (LTV) – the proportion of the value of your home you’re borrowing, so £80k on a £100k property is 80% LTV. At every 5% LTV threshold, from 95% down to 60%, deals tend to get better, so a little extra can have a big impact on your rate. For example, if you’ve a £150,000 home, and want a £137,000 re-mortgage, that’s a 91% LTV, and the top five-year fix is 3.98%. Yet use £2,000 of savings to reduce the borrowing, and you’d be at 90% LTV – where the top five-year fix is 2.54%, saving c. £1,100/year in payments.

@MoneySavingExpert

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Index of advertisers

Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Directory... Bars, Hotels & Restaurants Alpine Bistro @ Snowtrax......... 5

Bedrooms Custom Creations..................... 2 Flair Interiors............................29

Martin Lewis: Mortgages.........36 On your plot: Getting the upper hand..........34 Tastes so good: Lemon Meringue Pie..............28 What’s On at Regent Centre.....32

Day Nurseries Burton Day Nursery.................. 8

Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Ashley Blinds............................. 3 Broadview Shading Solutions.... 5 Just Shutters.............................15 Tuscany Blinds.......................... 8

Dentists Hoburne Dental Practice.......... 7

Book Writing Course Mike’s Online Academy............35

Denture Services Dorset Denture Clinic................14

Bowls Clubs Iford Bridge Bowling Club.........24

Dressmaking & Alterations Make It Sew.............................. 3

Cameras Rocky Rock Cameras.................14

Estate Agents Michael Adam..........................13

Carpets & Flooring Peter Newman Flooring............35

Health & Fitness Burton Foot Care......................14 Soft Handz Massage.................15

Chiropractors Paul Harris................................13 Stour Chiropractic Clinic...........25

Kitchens Brian’s Kitchens........................ 7 Flair Interiors............................29

Community News Adventures of Nellie.................26 Burton Girl’s Brigade................30 Chairman’s wife in daring dive for Macmillan charity............16 Charity auction for local animal rescue organisation............... 6 Dorset Wildlife Trust: Step into Spring......................12 Jubilee Wine Circle....................18 LawSpot....................................22

Letting Agents Belvoir...................................... 9

Oven Cleaners Oven King.................................35

Pet Services Muddyford Mutts.....................24

Plumbers B’mouth Plumbing Solutions....14

Property Maintenance The Home Doctor Handyman.... 3

Puzzles & Competitions Crossword.................................24 Kids Page..................................10 Prize Wordsearch......................33 Wiggle Word.............................30

Residential Care Homes Homefield Grange....................17

Solicitors Harold G Walker.......................40

Tree Surgeons Apex Tree Surgeons..................19 Ashley Tree Surgeons................15

Loft Conversions & Services Loft Services..............................13

Windows, Doors & Conservatories Allglaze.....................................31 Cloudy2Clear Windows.............11 Dorset Windows....................... 2 Pure Windows..........................20

Meal Deliveries Custom Lunches........................23

Worktops Portman Stone..........................39

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The Christchurch Directory 1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, BH22 0JR