The Christchurch
Directory
The independent directory of local businesses serving the Christchurch residents of Christchurch, Fairmile, Iford, Purewell, Somerford, Mudeford, Friars Cliff & Burton
Delivered FREE around the town
October/November 2015
In this issue: Win a pair of tickets to see Evita at the Regent Centre Food Hygiene Rating System to become more visible in Christchurch LawSpot with Harold G Walker Web pages for Dorset veterans launched New Forest Walking Festival Vintage Brass: Beating her own drum Martin Lewis: Credit Scoring Dorset Police: Help to prevent vehicle crime Adventures of Nellie
Christchurch Priory by Richard Lock
www.richardlockphotography.co.uk
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Call 01202 366455
01202 366455
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I am an independent Ambassador for Tropic Skin Care, a natural, vegan skincare and cosmetics company co-owned by Apprentice ďŹ nalist Susan Ma and Lord Alan Sugar. What began as one product being sold at Greenwich Market in 2004, is now a multi award-winning range sold by over 3,000 Ambassadors across the UK. Contact me to book your very own Tropic Pamper Experience, and enjoy free skincare consultations for you and your friends, a free spa facial and free Tropic products‌ An evening in with the girls has never looked so beautiful!
Call Geraldine on 07445 323998
Dog lovers wanted: Enjoy the company of a canine guest! Open your home to a friendly dog for his holiday. Whilst owners are away dogs get the love, exercise and companionship of your loving home. To find out more about becoming one of our carers contact us now!
AWARD WINNING HOME DOG BOARDING
Give a dog a holiday! Where happy dogs holiday
Katy Dalton
Phone: 01425 673 928 / 07739 174 014 Email: bh@waggingtailsuk.co.uk
www.waggingtailsuk.co.uk/bh/carers A franchise owned and operated under licence by K. Dalton Limited like us facebook.com/WaggingTailsBH
follow us twitter.com/WaggingTailsUK
Christchurch
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The Christchurch Directory Welcome...
Edition 108
Published by:
Debbie & Stephen Corney at Dorset Publications
Telephone:
01202 894397
Email:
info@thechristchurchdirectory.co.uk
Copy deadline for the November 2015 edition: 23rd October 2015
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, Muderford, Somerford, Stanpit, Friars Cliff, Purewell & Burton! Autumn already! Boy it has been a fast year... I must slow the clock down or add another day to each week. Wouldn’t that be good. Well this month Nellie, the Dorset Publications Campervan, took us to Wimborne Market and we became traders for the day! You can read all about it on pages 28-29. In case you didn’t know, we have expanded, and The Christchurch Directory now reaches a total readership of 20,000! As always we are here to bring you news articles, puzzles and competitions as well as our very loyal advertisers who would love to hear from you. Please grab a cuppa, have a read and do mention The Christchurch Directory when making any calls and bookings. This makes a huge difference and makes all our work worth while. We have chiropractors, dentist and denture services, men’s clothing, pet services, property maintenance, garage doors, hearing aid specialists, residential care homes, carpets and flooring, hot tubs, education, garden services, blinds and shutters, solicitors, oven cleaners, windows, doors and conservatories... and much more! This month you can also win a pair of tickets to see Evita at the Regent Centre, so don’t miss out on that and do send in those wordsearches. If you know of any clubs or societies needing help in advertising, or have a local story to tell, please let us know as we provide this service for FREE! If you have a business and would like to promote, we would love to help you too, please give one of us a call. Wishing you all a great month of October and November. 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
Design Inspired By You
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 Please come and see us at our showroom Mon - Sat: 9am - 5:30pm, Sunday: by appointment
Unit 1, Enterprise Park, Blackmoor Road, Ebblake Industrial Estate, Verwood, Dorset, BH31 6YS
www.customcreations.furniture Christchurch
m
Sliding Wardrobes | Hinged Wardrobes Home Office | Lounge Units | Storage Units
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o tte fr 0 Fi re g 0 itu . tin rn fit 5 & Fu 9 T ÂŁ5inc. VA
BESPOKE FITTED FURNITURE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
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Community News
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Food Hygiene Rating System to become more visible in Christchurch and East Dorset The Food Hygiene Rating System (FHRS) which tells people how seriously a business takes its food hygiene standards, is about to be more visible in Christchurch and East Dorset. An application by Christchurch and East Dorset Councils to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for a ‘Business Display Grant’ has been successful. Funds of approximately £1800 have been allocated to the councils for a project which will involve auditing the display of the FHRS stickers in food businesses and identifying the businesses who are not displaying stickers prominently. The stickers, which should be displayed at the front of the business, show the hygiene rating from 0 to 5, with 5 meaning that the business has achieved excellent hygiene standards. Steve Duckett, Head of Health & Housing at Christchurch and East Dorset Councils, said: “While businesses which achieve ratings of 4 or 5 are usually keen to display the stickers, those with lower ratings tend to keep the rating to themselves. “The grant from the FSA will allow us to meet with the operators of these food businesses to explain the benefits to their business in
displaying the sticker and then monitoring the effect of this meeting. “The councils’ food and safety team will do everything we can to help the businesses with lower ratings to understand where they are failing so they can improve. This is an example of a project where there are obvious benefits for both businesses, who could increase turnover by achieving a good food hygiene rating and displaying this prominently, and for the public who are given more information about where they choose to buy or eat food.” The Business Display Grant is an initiative by the FSA to support its stated policy objective of making the FHRS a mandatory scheme in England as it already is in Wales.
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TOTAL STOCK DISPOSAL
OTAL-
GRAND SALE!
£975,000 STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DISPOSAL Alstons, Actona, Alfrank, Ashwood, Baker Bedford, Call Salotti, Celebrity, Charlton, Corndell, Fine Bedding Co., G Plan, Himolla, Kingstown, Marinelli, Morris, Nathan, Parker Knoll, Sherborne, Stuart Jones, Sutcliffe, Rauch, Dorma, Dreamworks, Harrison, Myers, Relyon, Salus, Sealy, Staples, Axminster, Cormar, Ulster, Christy, Denby, Fogarty, Judge, Kenwood, Morphy Richards, Philips, Prestige, Russell Hobbs, Salter, Stellar, Swan, Tefal, Vax etc..
MASSIVE 3 DAY PUBLIC SALE! STARTS FRIDAY 9th OCTOBER at 9.30 AM At our Winton & Wimborne Stores
It has been our privilege to serve many special customers since our family business was founded almost 110 years ago. Now, to clear excess stock and improve the showrooms for the future, we will proceed with a massive clearing and remerchandising project at our Winton and Wimborne stores. We must clear both stores without delay, so that this major work may commence. The stores are presently closed while we reduce prices & prepare the displays for the launch of our £975,000 STOCK DISPOSAL GRAND FURNITURE & HOMEWARES SALE. EVERY SINGLE PRICE WILL BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED! THIS WILL BE OUR BIGGEST EVER SALE! We must urgently sell all our furniture and accessories including: Suites (fabric & leather), sofas, sofa beds, armchairs, recliners (classic & modern), dining tables & chairs, wall units, bookcases, sideboards, coffee tables, beds, bedframes, mattresses, wardrobes, dressing tables, chests, carpets, rugs, curtains, blinds, towels, bedding, small electrical appliances, cookware, glassware, tableware, cutlery, china, lighting, mirrors, pictures etc. Absolutely Everything Must Be Sold Out a.s.a.p!
426 - 434 Wimborne Rd., 20 East Street, WINTON BH9 2EZ WIMBORNE BH21 1DT © G R 2015
Christchurch
Community News
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Web pages for Dorset armed forces veterans’ launched Dorset authorities and the military have unveiled new web pages which aim to make life easier for ex-service personnel and their families. The pages, which can be found at www. dorsetforyou.com/veterans-support offer a wealth of information for armed forces veterans. Housing, employment, health, pensions and welfare are just some of the issues that organisations across Dorset can help with. The pages have been prepared by members of the Dorset Military Civilian Integration Sponsor Group (DMCISG) which comprises local councils, organisations and the military. John Yerbury, a former Commando Engineer, War Pensioner and member of the Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committee and a member of the DMCISG, initiated the project. He said: “The transition back to civilian life isn’t always easy for veterans and, although there is plenty of information available on the web, it can involve hours of searching. “Whether it’s learning a new skill, obtaining childcare support, receiving housing assistance or finding out where to go for financial guidance, our aim is for the pages to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for the needs of all veterans and their families.” Lt Col (Retd) Stewart Burman MBE from the DMCISG said: “We hope that, by bringing links to the information together on the Dorsetforyou.com website, the transition into civilian life
can be more straightforward for exservice personnel in the county.” The DMCISG supports the principles of the Dorset Armed Forces Community Covenant, which is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces community. Debbie Ward, Chief Executive of Dorset County Council, said: “Through the Armed Forces Community Covenant, the group is working together to maximise the economic and social benefits of the Armed Forces’ presence in the county. “The Community Covenant presents an opportunity for the organisations to combine knowledge, experience and expertise for the benefit of our Armed Forces members, past and present.” Debbie continued: “These web pages underline our commitment to meeting the aims of the Covenant and the veterans who make up an important part of Dorset’s community.” Visit the pages at www.dorsetforyou. com/veterans-support
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www.partytubhire.co.uk
Christchurch
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ADVERTISEMENT11
Cloudy2Clear Windows – Service With A Smile! It’s been a crazy few months for Cloudy2Clear Windows. The company which specialises in repairing windows which are steamed up, broken or damaged by replacing the panes – not the frames has grown rapidly as homeowners take advantage of their services. Manager Mike Bath feels that it’s all about service. ‘Our product is simple. If your double glazing is 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 5 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that obviously helps.
Many tradespeople have struggled since last year and I honestly feel that during the good times a minority perhaps didn’t focus on customer care as much as they should have done. 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. I often get comments back from customers on how they really didn’t expect that sort of service which, in a way, is very sad for the service industry as a whole.’ Cloudy2Clear service Christchurch and the surrounding area & 0LNH LV ÀQGLQJ WKDW KLV 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.’ So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Mike a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!
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Community News
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New Forest Walking Festival In his welcome to this year’s walking festival, Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, Chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority, said, “The autumn is a splendid time of year for a walk around the National Park, with fiery foliage providing the perfect backdrop for exploring the gentle, flat landscape of the New Forest.
Wild Foods of the Forest Wild Heritage, 25th October
“Led by the New Forest National Park Authority and partner organisations, the Walking Festival includes many of the area’s best walks. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover more about the National Park, with guidance from friendly and knowledgeable walk leaders to help walkers of all ages unlock the secrets of the Forest.
Use all your senses to explore the wonders of the New Forest on a wild play walk.
“Most of the guided walks are accessible by public transport, and many walks are free or discounted if you arrive by bus, train, bike or on foot. “We hope that the expanded range of walks in this year’s festival show that you don’t need a car to go for a tranquil walk in the New Forest.”
Family Adventures Elf Cups and Fairy Rings Wild Heritage, 24th October
Join Wild Heritage on a foray into the mysterious world of fungi in the New Forest.
Activities include making leaf gathering parcels and a forager’s charm.
Wild Play Walk New Forest National Park Authority 26th October Elf Cups and Fairy Rings Wild Heritage, 27th October
This is a beginner’s guide to discover the secret world of New Forest mushrooms and toadstools, with lots of exciting activities and challenges to try out.
Wild Play Walk New Forest National Park Authority 1st November
Ashurst Woods is the perfect location for families to discover more about the changing autumn scenery with games, challenges and story-telling.
For more information about the festival, details about all of the different walks and to book your place, go online to: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk /info/20175/walking_festival
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GIBB menswear
Now here in Christchurch!!
We are an established Menswear Retailer now offering our services to Christchurch. We sell “Classic Menswear” and with our Autumn collections now in consisting of Knitwear and Coats etc, plus also Accessories, like Pyjamas, Socks and braces too.. Our Hire Department is also in store so if you re in need of a Dinner Suit, a Lounge suit or planning your Wedding outfits for the coming year, we do it all! So come and visit us in Bargates and see for yourself the great service we can offer you!
62a Bargates Christchurch, BH23 1QL
Christchurch
Tel: 01202 489621 www.gibbmenswear.co.uk
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Wildlife News
Talking about Wildlife...
Making wildlife welcome in the winter As the evenings draw in and the temperatures get cooler, the last thing you may be thinking about is spending some time in the garden. However, now is the time to think about helping out wildlife, as they will need a bit of extra care in the colder months! The most obvious step is making sure the birds have enough food to get them through the cold days and nights. Food with lots of fat content are best, so you may like to invest in some ‘fat balls’, some good quality bird food and perhaps even plant some berry-rich plants for them to feast upon. Water is really important too – you can often get bird feeders with space for food and drink – or just leave out a shallow dish for them. Beware if you have cats and are leaving food and drink at ground level! Hibernating animals will also be looking for somewhere to stay for the winter, so leaving your garden a bit ‘messy’ can provide the perfect home for hedgehogs. Piles of dead leaves and twigs are ideal. Wintering insects also use hedgerows for protection and a source of food – for example, self-clinging ivy provides both these elements for a safe and healthy winter. Even if you have a small outside space, there’s
something you can do. Make the most of a balcony or a windowsill by placing water and seeds on it, and many a passing bird will be grateful! Enjoy some colour in your garden all year by planting winter and spring bulbs and plants such as English Bluebells (Hyancynthiodes non-scripta) or Primroses (Primula vulgaris) for a burst of colour before next summer. To celebrate Wild About Gardens Week this year from 26th October – 1st November, Dorset Wildlife Trust will be at RSPB Arne Reserve on Saturday 31st October from 10am – 4pm, giving free gardening advice and showing you ways to encourage a range of wildlife (including hedgehogs!) into your garden. Find out more online at: www.wildaboutgardensweek.org.uk By Sally Welbourn Robin on a feeder Photo: Terry Fisher
Electric Garage Doors
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Sale Offer Automatic Insulated Aluminium Fitted Roller Garage Door • So simple to operate • Fully automatic • Simple key fob operation • Fully insulated • No maintenance • Reduced draughts • Space saving • Full range of colours • Single / double doors made in our own factory
From
£699
No De po Requi sit red
Covering all parts of Dorset
01202 283131
Open 7 days a week • info@skandoor.co.uk
www.skandoor.co.uk Christchurch
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Community News
Vintage Brass - Beating her own drum! Janice Miller, percussionist with Vintage Brass, lives in, rehearses and performs in Southbourne… playing too in Bournemouth, Christchurch, New Milton and Wimborne! Besides ‘her own drum’ she tackles a whole range of percussion instruments and stands out as the only female percussionist (so far) in Vintage Brass. She’s superbly well qualified to do so: first banging a drum at six years’ old, starting piano at age nine, singing in the Bournemouth Festival at ten and going on to play treble recorder and violin – proving her dedication by paying a shilling a week to buy her first, £4,10.00 violin. Teaching music took Janice to an Army School in Germany, and back in the UK, she ran the Souhampton Schools’ Music Festival, managing eight school choirs. Joining Vintage Brass in 2012, she responded to a call for new percussion players, and with her wealth of musical experience, quickly got to grips with the many instruments in what’s known irreverently as ‘The Concussion Section’ or ‘The Kitchen’, nicknames deriving from the domestic items like sandpaper blocks or boiler tubes used by players
to make the unusual sounds sometimes demanded by a piece of music. Since moving back to Southbourne, Janice has extended her musical activity to hand bells and to bell ringing for Christchurch Priory on Monday nights – following a long afternoon’s rehearsal with Vintage Brass. (Regular sea swimming on Southbourne Beach may give the clue to her energy and stamina!) A regular attendee at BSO concerts, she takes a seat behind the orchestra to pick up tips from the timpanist and other percussionists. She has a special love of brass band music, and having given a solo performance of ‘Sleigh Bells’ on the xylophone at her first Christmas concert, she hasn’t looked back.
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Up to 40% less than a new fitted kitchen
ST R NO YLE AN NEW W S & GE AV C O AI OL F LA OU BL RS E
with made to measure replacement doors
Transform your tired kitchen in just a few days from start to finish Have you always wanted the kitchen of your dreams, but can’t quite justify paying the expensive price tag that comes with it? Now you can by just swapping the doors and worktops.
• Huge choice of Doors, Worktops, Appliances, Sinks & Taps • From doors to complete kitchens • Free Estimating and planning • Installed in 1-2 days by professionals
Visit our showrooms; 185 Lower Blandford Road, Broadstone, Poole BH18 8DH. Tel 01202 695856 17 Bargates, Christchurch. BH23 1QD. Tel 01202 483129
www.dreamdoors.co.uk Christchurch
View our credentials at
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Lucy’s recipe corner Recipe
Yummy banana bread
Get the oven on ďŹ rst so that it heats up to 350°F (175°C) and grease up or line a small oblong loaf tin.
INGREDIENTS
2 or 3 ripe, peeled bananas 1/3 cup of melted butter 1 beaten egg 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1 teaspoon of baking soda A pinch of salt 1 ½ cups of all-purpose our ½ a cup of sugar
Mash up the bananas in a mixing bowl and stir in the butter once smooth. Mix in the baking soda, salt, sugar, beaten egg and vanilla. Mix in the our. Pour the mixture into your loaf tin and bake for around an hour. You can tell if it’s cooked by sliding a knife or skewer into the middle and if it comes out clean you’re done. Let the loaf cool on a rack and serve when slightly warm. Perfect with some custard!
DRIVERS BEWARE: Thieves Want Your Valuables!
REMOVE YOUR VALUABLES
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SECURE YOUR VEHICLE
LOCK IT! www.dorset.police.uk A5 Vehicle crime car leaflet FINAL.indd 1
#RemoveItLockIt 14/07/2015 12:16:52
www.dorset.police.uk A5 Vehicle crime car leaflet FINAL.indd 2
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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
www.ashleytreesurgeons.co.uk
Or telephone Barry Evans on for a FREE quotation
www.anewfloor.co.uk
Wood Carpet Vinyl Offering a vast range of finishes, designs, colours and textures we will work with you to create a flooring solution that delivers on style & function
8 Chatsworth Road, Poole, Dorset BH14 0QL Tel: 07773772103 Email: mail@anewfloor.co.uk
www.anewfloor.co.uk
w 20 SP CH be ith % o EC RI fo Jo ff IA ST re an an L M 25 na e OF AS D w xam FE ec h R em en ina : t b i be o o r 2 ok n 01 ed 5!
We have over 20 years experience and all our work is carried out by fully insured, fully qualified staff
8 Chatsworth Road, Poole, Dorset BH14 0QL Tel: 07773772103 Email: mail@anewfloor.co.uk
Awarded British Dental Association’s (BDA) Good Practice Scheme for the last ten years - a very rare national achievement and we’re extremely proud of it! Contact us for your FREE Implant consultation Family & general dentistry | Dental Phobia Clinic 0% interest & monthly payment plans | Cosmetic dentistry Teeth whitening & air polishing | Free on-site parking Hoburne Dental Practice, 104 Saffron Drive, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 4TG.
Tel: 01425 277245 or www.hoburne-dental.co.uk Not just dental care, but caring dental. Come and see for yourselves.
Christchurch
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Early detection of mouth cancer saves lives In the UK, more than 6,700 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer last year. The disease has grown by a third in the last decade – and remains one of very few cancers that are predicted to increase further in the coming years. Although there are risk factors heavily linked to the disease, mouth cancer can affect anybody – that’s why it’s so important that we all know what to look out for. Take action - Don’t leave that ulcer unattended for more than three weeks. Don’t ignore that unusual lump or swelling or red and white patches in your mouth. Early detection could save your life. At Beechwood Dental in Bournemouth we routinely screen existing patients for mouth cancer and every new patient receives a thorough mouth cancer examination as standard.
During Mouth Cancer Action Month in November Beechwood Dental is offering free mouth cancer examinations - please visit www.beechwooddental.co.uk for details. (Booking is essential.)
Wrinkle reducing treatments from £150 for 3 areas Botox & filler clinics on Friday afternoons
Early diagnosis saves lives, improving survival chances from half of cases to more than 90%. Know the risk factors • Smoking - One in five people in the UK smoke and the habit is still considered the leading cause of mouth cancer. • Alcohol - Drinking to excess can increase mouth cancer risks by four times. As alcohol aids the absorption of tobacco into the mouth, those who smoke and drink to excess are up to 30 times more likely to develop the disease. • HPV virus - The human papillomavirus, transmitted via oral sex, is increasingly being linked to mouth cancer. • Poor diet - Around half of cases are thought to be linked to an unhealthy diet. • Chewing or smokeless tobacco This type of tobacco is more dangerous than smoking.
For more information, please visit www.mouthcancer.org or www.mouthcancerfoundation.org
Love your smile
Call us now to book
Beechwood Dental 8 Beechwood Avenue, Boscombe Manor, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH5 1LX
Dazzle this Christmas whitening now £195! (was £295) Gift vouchers available Offer ends 31.01.16
01202 397 074 www.beechwooddental.co.uk
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Queensmead 1 Bronte Avenue, Christchurch, BH23 2LX
Thinking of moving into a care home? We’re here to help Situated in the heart of the Christchurch community, Queensmead provides quality residential care in a home-from-home atmosphere. To request a brochure, arrange a visit or find out more, contact the Queensmead manager, Janine May on
Whether you’re looking for a short respite stay or a new home, we offer a warm welcome, compassionate care, comfort and peace of mind.
01202 485176
queensmead@care-south.co.uk
www.care-south.co.uk Care South is a leading provider of residential and home care across the south of England.
RESIDENTIAL
|
DEMENTIA
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RESPITE
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NURSING
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Registered Charity No. 1014697
ASSISTED LIVING
HOME CARE
0 £1
PR
F T ER OF COS ADV IS ON TH TI F LA N O AL TIO ST C IN ODU
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Help at the touch of a button
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Bournemouth Careline provide a tailor-made service, using a wide range of telecare equipment, to help support people and to to maintaint their independence. We have equipment to support with: • Dementia • Medication management • Falls management • Environmental safety and security Contact us of a free demonstration on 01202 452795
Christchurch
Careline & Telecare
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..providing the answers
to your legal questions
Every month the solicitors and lawyers at Harold G Walker will be providing answers to your questions about the law. I am being made redundant and my employer has asked me to sign a Settlement Agreement, is this normal? A Settlement Agreement (formerly known as a Compromise Agreement) is an agreement whereby an employee agrees not to pursue certain statutory employment tribunal claims against an employer. In return for agreeing to waive all actual or potential statutory and common law claims against the employer the employee receives a termination payment. Increasingly , even in relatively straightforward dismissals where there no apparent or obvious dispute, employers are still utilising Settlement Agreements. Dee Woodcock Employment Law
Commercial Rent Reviews We are frequently asked whether there is any restriction upon what a Landlord can charge on a rent review in a commercial Lease. The general answer is “Yes” as most Leases have provisions governing how the rent can be reviewed during the term. Some Leases do link the reviewed rent to inflation but these are less common than those governing increases to the “market rent”. Usually, Leases state that in calculating market rent certain facts are ignored including any goodwill attached to the business and whether the Tenant is successful or not. It assumes the Tenant’s obligations have been met, looks at the wording of the Lease and based on those presumptions, the market rent is set at what is considered obtainable if the Landlord was looking for a new Tenant. The Tenant must be aware of the actual
This is because it helps to facilitate a clean departure and help the employer avoid the risk of an employee bringing a claim after they have left. This request to sign a Settlement Agreement is therefore not unusual and you would normally receive a termination payment in excess of what you would ordinarily be entitled to in order to incentivise you to sign the Agreement. In addition your employer will also pay for you to take independent legal advice on the terms of the Agreement, so that you can be assured as to the exact terms that you are signing up to, as well as receiving advice as to whether you have any statutory or common law claims worth pursuing. If you are unhappy with any terms, you may be able to negotiate amendments to those terms. At Harold G Walker, we regularly advise employees regarding the terms of Settlement Agreements, as well as assist employers with the preparation of such Agreements.
procedures, however, as although the Lease will provide for independent determination in case of dispute how and when this is done is a matter for careful examination. Some Leases state that if a Landlord suggests a figure and the Tenant does not object correctly, then that figure is fixed as the market rent and the Tenant has to accept it. It is vitally important to seek legal advice on the grant of a new Lease as the manner of how the rent is reviewed can have serious implications on the viability of the business carried on at the Premises and the ability to transfer the Lease in future. Simon Nethercott Commercial
Send your questions by email to LawSpot@hgwalker.co.uk
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.
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24 24
Money Saving Tips
Martin
LEWIS &UHGLW 6FRULQJ Dean Martin may have crooned, “You’re nobody till somebody loves you”, but in today’s financial world, you’re nobody till somebody scores you. The more creditworthy you are, the better deals you can get, whether it be mortgages, contract mobile phones, bank accounts, monthly car insurance or even how you pay for your energy bill. So it’s time to add ‘manage my credit file’ to your to-do list especially if you’re about to make a big application. To help, here are 8 things you need to know about credit scoring. 1. You don’t have a universal credit rating - there’s no blacklist. Each lender scores you differently and secretly to see if you meet its requirements as a profitable customer. Those whose history shows they’re unlikely to repay are unlikely to be profitable, but good risks can be rejected too, if the lender thinks you won’t make it money. 2. Boosting your credit score’s like going on Tinder You can try a host of things to make yourself more attractive to lenders, but there’s no universal fix. Say two women both use dating app Tinder - one might always swipe no to men with beards, the other might love them. Equally, different lenders look for different things. Yet most people like someone who doesn’t smell, so here are some simple cosmetic changes that work for most: a) Evidence of stability’s good. Put a landline, not mobile, on applications. b) Don’t withdraw cash on credit cards or get payday loans. They’re expensive and evidence of poor money management. c) Never miss or be late on repayments. Use a direct debit, even if just for the minimum (then repay more on top). d) Check for address errors. An old active but unused mobile registered to an old address could cause a mortgage rejection. e) Time it right. Major problems like CCJs, defaults or bankruptcy stay on your file for six years. Applications for products stay on for one year. If they’ll soon lapse, consider waiting to apply. 3. Find out for free what cards and loans you’ll be accepted for. Most of the credit score boosting techniques take time to filter through. If you need credit now, instead the key is to find which provider is most likely to accept you. My free loan and credit card eligibility calculators at moneysavingexpert.com/eligibility show your % odds of acceptance (and unlike applying don’t impact your creditworthiness), so you can home in on the right card or loan, minimising applications. They can be hugely powerful. Kelly messaged me to say: “Used the balance transfer eligibility calc and got 35mths 0%, shifted £11,500 from up to 29.9% APR” - saving £4,600 interest.
4. Get on the electoral roll. Register at www.gov.uk. Don’t worry about getting lots of junk mail you can opt out of the ‘open register’ element, which stops this. 5. Check your file. Even small errors on your files at the three credit reference agencies - Experian, Equifax and Callcredit - kibosh applications. Check them all line by line at least once a year - you’ve a legal right for £2. Yet to check them all for free, use noddle.co.uk for Callcredit and sign up to both Experian.co.uk and equifax.co.uk for free month long trials of their outrageously expensive credit monitoring services – then once you’ve got your file, cancel asap. And don’t feel the need to pay to ‘find your credit score’. These are just a loose indication at best. Each lender scores differently and uses far more info than just your credit file. 6. Avoid lots of applications in a short space of time. Almost every card or loan application leaves a file footprint. Too many of these, especially close together, hurt future applications. The system’s anti-shopping around, as if you’re offered a worse rate than that advertised, you’ll want to apply elsewhere. So space out and prioritise applications. Due a new mortgage? Don’t apply for minor things like cashback credit cards a week before. 7. Get unfair defaults removed. If there’s a default on your file that isn’t fair, for example, if you didn’t pay a catalogue loan as it failed to deliver the goods, it’s important to get it removed. First complain to the lender and if that fails, write to the credit reference agency to ask it to add a short Notice of Correction to your credit file. For example, “It was for a swimsuit from a catalogue firm and it never arrived.” This will slow down applications, as most credit companies will review these manually, but a slow yes is better than a “no”. Finally, complain to www.financial–ombudsman.org.uk. 8. Use a bizarre trick to (re)build your creditworthiness. Rejection’s likely if your history makes you look a bad credit citizen, yet lenders can reject those who’ve never had credit due to lack of data. The answer’s to get a credit card, just to do about £50 a month of normal spending on it (never withdraw cash), then repay IN FULL by direct debit each month so there’s no interest. After six months to a year, you’ll start to look a better credit citizen. The catch 22 is ‘how do you get a credit card if you’ve poor credit?’ The answer’s specialist credit rebuild cards - I’ve a full list of cards and help to find which you’re most likely to be accepted for at www.mse.me/creditrebuild.
@MoneySavingExpert
25
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Christchurch
Adventures of Nellie
26 26
The Adventures of Nellie The Dorset Publications Camper Van Nellie took us to Wimborne Market! Not very adventurous I hear you say... Well, when you have a bedroom full of boys’ toys, books, DVDs, teddy bears, electronics etc etc etc, Wimborne Market can become very exciting for an eleven year old, and Nellie was not going to disappoint him. Hayden has wanted to “sell” his old belongings for quite some time. Being a bit cautious and one of those Mums that say, “Oh you can’t sell that – Grandma bought you it!” I thought it was time to let Hayden do what he wanted with his belongings, after all, they are his, not mine. So, I would help him try and sell some of them, then he could buy a game for his computer that he so wanted... and same ME some money! In fact it turned out to be me that paid for the stall. Stephen had said he would, but suddenly when it was time to pay on the day, Stephen didn’t have any cash with him. Has that ever happened to you? I’ve never really been to Wimborne Market before. It was all a bit nerve racking. Would we sell anything? Stephen had booked a stall inside, just in case it rained but we could easily have been outside as it was a beautiful day and Nellie could really
One of the packed market halls
Hayden manning his “stall” have been part of the day at the car boot section. She would have loved that! Still, we took the boxes and set up our ‘delightful’ stand. It was pretty basic actually with no table cloth or anything but “stuff” and a few home made labels stating 50p, £1 and £2, carefully placed on the right items that Hayden had worked out. So, we were ready! Being in the marketing kind of trade I told Hayden that our target market would be Grandparents who wanted toys at their house ready for the grandchildren when they visited. I couldn’t have been more right! Of course that is always the case... Having been all nervous with an ‘out of place’ sort of feeling, we soon got into the swing of things. The first item to go was an Action Man sat on a motor bike. When the lady snapped our hand off and couldn’t get the money out quick enough to pay Hayden his £2, I knew we had under charged! Later when I looked on the internet (something we should have done BEFORE going to the market) we saw a very similar Action Man and bike for £60! This one was in good condition too. You know you can get some real bargains at Wimborne Market - I know that now!
27 27 We met some wonderful people. One man of over 80 told us his life story and I am hoping we cheered him up and he did have a good time at his son’s house in London the following day. Another lady found a book of the Gruffalo and very happily bought it for her 32 year old son who loves the story! She did ask if we had any others and at the time we couldn’t see any. Half an hour later Stephen found another Gruffalo book at the bottom of the box. Hayden and I set off to see if we could find her again. Now for those who don’t know, Wimborne Market is big! There’s everything there from bric-a-brac and antiques, to pet food, scented candles, furniture, records, jewellery, clothes, carpets, plants, fruit and veg… absolutely everything. I didn’t think we had a chance of finding her, but suddenly Hayden shouted, “There she is Mummy!” It was only at this point I realised we were doing something not very British. After all, you don’t chase people in the street to sell them something do you? Not even if it is only 50p! But, when it comes to your children you find yourself doing things, that otherwise you wouldn’t dream of. We did say “Hello” again to the lady who looked a bit shocked, but did buy the 50p book. Do you think we could we be ‘done’ for harassment? Anyway Hayden was 50p better off...and a book lighter. I do hope the 32 year old son appreciates the books!
Nellie smiling at leaving a little lighter...
Christchurch
Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables on offer Something else that was funny, or should I say embarrassing. I ordered a sausage sandwich and was given a number to present when it was ready. Number 98. I waited, went back and the lady shouted out “86!”, with a sausage sandwich clutched in her hand. I stood there patiently looking at her and all the people around. “86!” she shouted loudly again, looking impatient. I smiled. Noone came. I then suggested, as I had 98, that I could take that one, and then when my number came up, they could have that sausage sandwich. “98?!” the woman cooking at the back quizzed .... “That’s 86, Love!” she declared. I smiled again, took the sandwich and walked away with my head held in the air trying to not look too humiliated. I won’t make that mistake again! Classic. The morning was actually a great success. Hayden gained £27 and we were two empty boxes better off. Result. DVDs, toys and books all gone to good homes where they can be enjoyed. We definitely want to go again. This time we will do a bit more research first, but to be honest, it was a great morning and the real purpose was to move “stuff” out of the house and give Hayden a bit of money to get his new games with. I was more than happy and Nellie left with a big smile on her bonnet. Where will Nellie go next…? By Debbie Corney
28 28
Puzzle Corner
Crossword
Across 6 Coiffure (7) 7 Eject or deport (5) 9 Support (4) 10 Displaying raging destructive violence (10) 11 Patellae (8) 13 Perch (6) 15 Utilizes (4) 17 A type of semiconductor (5) 18 Ripped (4) 19 Machines for lifting heavy objects (6) 20 Trains (8) 23 Record player (10) 26 Inactive (4) 27 Utilize again (5) 28 Permitted (7)
Down 1 Disappoints (10) 2 Dross (6) 3 Stalk (4) 4 An Atlantic coast state (8) 5 A vaulted recess on a building (4)
6 A wading bird (5) 8 An easy victory (slang) (7) 12 Trial (5) 14 Questions or conferences (10) 16 Suffocate (7)
17 Couturier (8) 21 Breathe in (6) 22 Afflicted (5) 24 Person, place or thing (4) 25 Biblical first man (4)
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32 32 Sun 1 Nov 7pm £12 Conc: £10 Under 16s: £6
What’s On at Regent Centre
FOR QUEEN & COUNTRY
Christchurch Festival of Parade, Music, Film & Verse Christchurch & District Band, Charity Players, La Nova Singers Mon 2 Nov 2.30pm & Tues 3 & Thur 5 2.30pm & 7.30pm Drew Barrymore in MISS YOU ALREADY (12A)
HIGH STREET, CHRISTCHURCH
Tel: 01202 499199 www.regentcentre.co.uk Fri 16 Oct 8pm £12 Concs £10 – Show seat only
Mon 2 Nov 7.30pm £2 GodFirst Church Film TESTAMENT OF YOUTH (12A) Wed 4 Nov 7.30pm £20 Conc £18 “Amazing” - Elaine Paige
THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY
Mrs Robinson, Bridge over Troubled Water, Cecilia etc
SON YAMBU – Authentic Cuban Son
Fri 6, Mon 9, Tue 10 & Wed 11 Nov 2.30pm & 7.30pm Matt Damon is THE MARTIAN (12A)
Sat 17 Oct 5.55pm £22 Conc £20 Live by satellite on screen
An Evening with THE FUNKY LITTLE CHOIR
Salsa Dance workshop 6.30pm – 7.30pm Add £3 to show seat
Met Opera NY: OTELLO - Verdi Sun 18 Oct 7.30pm £18 Conc £16
Sat 7 Nov 7.30pm £10 Concs £8 Sun 8 Nov 7.30pm £14 Conc £12
SWING UNLIMITED BIG BAND
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Mon 19 Oct 7.30pm £16 Conc £14 Live by satellite on screen
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ENO: THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
Royal Ballet: Viscera
Tues 20 Oct 2.30pm & 7.30pm MISS JULIE (12A)
Afternoon of a Faun/Carmen & Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux. 4 short Ballets
Wed 21 Oct 7pm £13 Conc £12 Live by satellite on screen
Fri 13 Nov 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sat 14 7.30pm, Mon 16, Tue 17 Wed 18 Nov 2.30pm & 7.30pm SUFFRAGETTE (12A) Helena Bonham Carter, Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep
RSC: HENRY V Fri 23 Oct 7.30pm£17.50Conc£16.50
BILLY FURY YEARS Sat 24 Oct 7.30pm £24 Conc £22 Hosted by David Gillard
An Audience with LESLEY GARRETT Mon 26 Oct 7.30pm, Tue 27 & Wed 28 11am & 7.30pm , Thur 29 7.30pm A WALK IN THE WOODS (12A) Thur 29 Oct 2.30pm£10.50 Child £9.50 Family of 4 £36 Age 2-7
MARTY MacDONALD’S FARM TV’s Justin Fletcher Fri 30 Oct 7.30pm £20
FOSTER & ALLEN
Sun 15 Nov 7.30pm £18
ABBAMANIA Fri 20 Nov 7.30pm £17.50 Under 16s £5
JIVE TALKIN’ Present THE BEE GEES Sat 21 Nov 11am £2 GodFirst Church BIG HERO 6 (PG) Sun 22 Nov 7.30pm £16 Conc £14
WEST END & BROADWAY SONGBOOK With students of Big Little Theatre School
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The Christchurch Directory Prize Wordsearch
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This month, the prize is a pair of tickets to see Evita at the Regent Centre on Wednesday 25th November at 7.30pm, so please complete this page by 20th November 2015 and send to:
Oct/Nov Prize Wordsearch Name: The Christchurch Directory, Address: 1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, BH22 0JR Telephone:
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34 34
Gardening Tips
on your
PLOT
Benefits of Garlic As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler the focus on your vegetable plot starts to turn from growing and harvesting, into clearing and tidying. Time spent on clearing and preparing your beds now will pay dividends next year. Make the most of the autumn sunshine to get compost dug into bare beds and you’ll have saved yourself hours of work on those chilly Spring days. Jobs for October:Make sure that plenty of sun can get to your pumpkins in order to get them ripe in time for Halloween. Plant garlic, shallots Japanese onions.
and
Leaving dead seed heads etc. on your flower borders will provide valuable food and shelter for garden wildlife over winter, as will leaving an undisturbed log or two. Build a rough shelter in a quiet corner and you might get a hedgehog move in! If you get lots of fallen leaves on your plot don’t waste them. Make a bin from chicken wire attached to 4 posts. Fill this with the leaves and they will rot down to give you sweet-smelling black leaf mould in one to two years time.
October is a good month for taking stock of how things have gone this year and starting to make plans for what you will grow in the future. Removing spent crops exposes slugs and other such pests to birds and other garden friendly wildlife. It also gives you the chance to look after your soil and assess how the space will be used next. Crop rotation is important so if the space is to remain bare over winter it may be wise to make notes about what grew where this season. Add matter from your compost heap to newly cleared areas, either digging it in, or leaving a layer on the top where the worms will gradually incorporate it into the deeper soil over winter. If the soil is heavy leaving it bare will enable frosts to help break it up. Our soil is lighter and benefits from being covered over - we use flattened cardboard boxes which protect from the rain and also help keep the weeds at bay. You may think that it’s all too late in the year to be planting, but there are some crops that definitely need to be thought of now, and others that, given an early start now, will benefit next Spring. If you’ve not grown garlic before, then do try it - it’s easy to grow, can help protect other crops from pests,
and with just a small amount of space you can grow enough to see you through the whole year! Now is definitely the time to order your garlic bulbs and they can be planted anytime between now and Christmas, but preferably not when the soil is too wet. Rather than planting all the garlic together it may pay to spread it around the plot as the strong smell can be an aid in keeping pests such as the carrot root fly away from other crops. Each garlic bulb should be separated into individual cloves and the cloves are planted with the pointed end uppermost, just below the surface, leaving about 4 inches between each one. They like well drained soil and you’ll be pleasantly surprised in the long winter days to see their green tips creeping upwards. Each clove matures into a whole new bulb. The traditional time for harvesting garlic is in June, on the longest day of the year and if properly dried and stored it will keep right through the winter. Would you like some fresh, tender, young, peas early in the Spring next year? Look out for hardy varieties that can be planted now. They can be overwintered and are able to withstand the frosts, though protection with a cloche will be appreciated. We will be starting ours in pots to keep in the polytunnel over winter ready for early planting next season.
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36 36
Consumer Tips
James
WALKER 7UDLQ WLFNHWV RYHUFKDUJLQJ DQG ZKDW \RX FDQ GR DERXW LW A Channel 4 documentary earlier this year highlighted just how confusing and complex the UK’s train ticket pricing structure is – and how many passengers are routinely overcharged. Of course, any system that mixes regulated and unregulated pricing schemes, combined with a complex network of competing operators will be a breeding ground for confusion, and a potential opportunity for the unscrupulous to make a quick quid. So what can you do if you feel you’ve paid too much for your ticket, and who can you complain to? Not getting the cheapest fare? The convoluted system of ticket rules and different rail operators means that the ‘cheapest’ ticket you are offered either online or at the station ticket kiosk may not actually be the lowest possible price for that journey. One way around this is by splitting your fare up into separate parts, which can be cheaper than buying just one ticket for the whole journey. Our partners at MoneySavingExpert.com offer a ticket-splitting tool called Tickety Split. This allows you to work out whether or not your planned journey would be cheaper being broken up into more than one purchase. Paying when you don’t have to Another issue I’ve discovered is when we at resolver.co.uk looked into rail fares you end up paying when you don’t have to. For example, Children under 10 can travel free within Greater London, yet when you buy a child’s ticket from a station outside zone 6, they will often give the option of ‘bundling’ in a travelcard for an extra cost – extra cost for travel that ought to be free. In our example, we found that a child’s return ticket from Winchester into Waterloo cost an extra £2.35 when you added a one-day travelcard. Train companies do not make you aware of this loophole, and are happy instead to sell you a ticket. And it’s not just an issue that’s limited to travel in and around London – we found several examples of such unnecessary charges around other cities around the UK, too. The official rules and what sort of redress you’re entitled to When you take a train, you purchase a ticket under the National Rail Conditions of Carriage and these are referenced on the ticket. It is important to realise our information covers your basic rights. Some train companies (also known as TOCs) may offer you improved compensation. If your train is more than an hour late then you are definitely entitled to compensation. As a minimum you are entitled to a refund of 20% of your single ticket and 10% of your return ticket.
However, you can find the compensation can actually be as high as 50% for more than a 30-minute delay. If something does go wrong always remember to ask. The bad news is your compensation will be in the form of National Rail vouchers, so you will be back on the trains again! You can choose any train company to use these with but they cannot be used for online train ticket purchases. Keep persisting and some companies will change these vouchers to a cheque refund. If you are not satisfied If you are not satisfied with the resolution then you have the right to escalate your case to Travel Focus (covering outside of London) or London Travelwatch (for London). What about incidental costs? If your train is delayed and you cannot get to your final destination, you can claim for hotel or taxi costs. However, you should make the stationmaster or train conductor aware of the situation. Be sure to take down their name in case you need to prove you gave them advanced warning. Season tickets The majority of customer journeys are with season tickets and the refunds are calculated based on the delay. For a weekly ticket if the delay is greater than 1 hour you are entitled to 20% of the ticket price divided by 7. For monthly tickets it depends on the train company. If they operate the Passenger Charter scheme then your discount will be applied when you repurchase a ticket, if they fail to meet their charter levels. The alternative is the “delay and repay” scheme where you receive compensation every time the train is more than 30 minutes late. However, you need to make a claim. Get out of jail free (for train companies) There are certain situations where compensation is not due. Train companies can avoid paying any compensation under the following circumstances: • Vandalism, suicide or trespassers on the line • Line closure by Police of fire services • Exceptional weather conditions • Unused train tickets If you don’t use the train ticket Advance tickets are not refundable unless the train was delayed Season tickets of more than one month you can get a refund on a pro-rata basis Consumer Champion – the man who helps you resolve your consumer complaints! www.resolver.co.uk/
37
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38
Index of advertisers
Your quick guide to everyone and everything in your Directory... Bedrooms Custom Creations..................... 5 Flair Interiors............................29 Blinds, Curtains & Shutters Ashley Blinds............................. 3 Tuscany Blinds..........................37 Builders & Carpenters Ian Jones...................................28 Carpets & Flooring Andy Newman Flooring............19 Flooring Elegance.....................31 Chimney Sweeps Oliver Chimney Sweeps.............37 Chiropractors Paul Harris................................23 Community News Adventures of Nellie.................26 Consumer Tips: Train prices......36 Dorset Police: Vehicle crime......18 Dorset Wildlife Trust...................14 Food Hygiene Rating System to be more visible in Christchurch.... 6 LawSpot....................................22 Lucy’s Recipe: Yummy Banana Cake....18 Martin Lewis: Credit Scoring.....24 New Forest Walking Festival.....12 On your plot: Benefits of garlic....36 Vintage Brass: Beating her own drum....16 Web pages for veterans launched.... 8 What’s On at Regent Centre.....32 Dentists Beechwood Dental Practice......20 Hoburne Dental Practice..........19
Drainage Services First Choice Drainage............... 2
Lofts Loft Services..............................35
Driveways Distinctive Custom Driveways....23
Mens Clothing Gibb Menswear........................13
Education Ballard School...........................25
Oven Cleaners Oven King................................. 3
Electricians Dorset Electrical & Fire Alarms....43
Pet Services Muddyford Mutts.................... 31 My Dog Days............................13 Wagging Tails........................... 3
Fire & Security Services Dorset Fire & Security...............13 Furniture Sturtons & Tappers................... 7 Garage Doors Skandoor...................................15 Garden Services
Plumbing & Heating Engineers Bournemouth Plumbing Solutions....23 First Choice Plumbing............... 2 J C Gas......................................35 Property Maintenance Ian Jones...................................28 Rob Young Property Services....23
(See also Tree Surgeons)
David Burgess Garden Design....37 Rob Young Garden Services......23 Health, Care & Beauty Bournemouth Careline.............21 Tropic Skincare......................... 3 Hearing Aids & Services Kellear Hearing.........................22 Hot Tub Hire Party Tub Hire........................... 9
Denture Services Dorset Denture Clinic................31
Kitchens Custom Creations..................... 5 Dream Doors............................17 Flair Interiors............................29
Domestic Cleaning Time for You.............................. 9
Locksmiths Cross Keys Locksmiths..............35
Puzzles & Competitions Crossword.................................28 Kids Page..................................10 Prize Wordsearch......................33 Sudoku......................................28 Residential Care Homes Care South: Queensmead.........21 Solicitors Harold G Walker.......................48 Tree Surgeons Ashley Tree Surgeons................19 Broadoak Tree Care..................30 Windows, Doors & Conservatories Allglaze..................................... 9 Cloudy2Clear Windows.............11 Dorset Windows.......................30
39
Christchurch
Your Team of Specialists in Christchurch Toni Oxborough Family Law
Arthur Scaife Christchurch
Arthur Scaife Conveyancing
Arthur Scaife Conveyancing Cath Porter
Dee Woodcock Employment
Daniel Curnock Family Wills & Probate
Laura Molloy Broadstone
Home visits available on request for Wills, Probate & LPA’s Broadstone: 01202 692448 Verwood: 01202 823308
Harold G Walker Your Friend Friend--in in--Law hgwalker.co.uk
Christchurch: 01202 482202 Wimborne: 01202 881454
The Christchurch Directory 1 Moorlands Rise, West Moors, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0JR