IS THIS TOLLING THE DEATH KNELL OF OUR ANCIENT CHURCHES?

As a local councillor I pride myself on a level of consistency when representing the local community. My words and actions may not always find universal favour, but I hope that I am respected for my ability to be objective and fair. In the day job as a hotel and restaurant inspector it is imperative to be objective; personal preference does not come into it. Rather, it is the ability to stand back and look at the evidence and make a judgement on that basis.

It is a sad reflection of our modern-day society that the only time that local residents show an interest in the business of their local council is when they are dissatisfied; and boy can they kick up a fuss. Rightly so, as it is their taxpayers’ money that funds both elected members, and the officers who take decisions.

When it comes to local planning, it can be almost impossible for those living and working in the communities most likely to be affected to be objective. Although not as simple as it once was, an elected member of a ward can ‘call in’ a decision by the planning officer, for consideration by elected area members at their monthly meeting, although nowadays the Chair of the Area Committee veto this. However, should it go to committee, and the recommendation is to overturn the officer’s decision, the backstop position is for referral to the Regulation Committee, comprised of elected members from across the district, and which effectively acts as judge and jury. With me so far?

Whilst the threat of planning appeal decisions and the lack of a 5-year land supply hangs over our heads like some ghostly spectre, there is an increasing level of frustration and discontent at the inconsistency of decisions being made.

This has recently been the case in Ashill, one of the villages I represent. Recently, approval was refused for an application for just three properties, despite it gaining universal support across the community. The reasons given were the unsustainability of the village, and the proposed development’s ‘negative impact on the local environmental amenity’. So far so good, except that a few months prior to this decision, a much larger development was given approval. Apparently, the benefits of having an additional 25 properties in the heart of the village, without any proven local need, far outweighs any adverse impact. Should we ignore then SSDC’s Environmental Strategy, being compiled in haste, in favour of the additional car journeys this will necessitate? Walking along the A358 to get to Ilminster indicates a death wish.

A key reason for approval was the apparent sustainability of the village. There is admittedly a primary school, but no shop, doctor, or any other amenity, a bus that runs just 5 times per week, a pub which is closed and has been up for sale for some time, and a church.

Ah yes, the church. Built in the 10th century, and according to the National Planning Policy Framework, we must have ‘special regard for preserving the setting, which is the essential part’ of this ancient historic Grade 2* listed building’s character.

Hence, collective astonishment earlier this month as those present witnessed the approval of a further 10 properties, in a field adjacent to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

SSDC’s own website states, ‘The historic environment is an essential part of South Somerset's rich cultural heritage; contributing to the sense of identity and quality of life in the district, the local economy and the well-being of our residents and visitors. Whether in the form of individual buildings, archaeological sites, historic market towns or landscapes, the conservation of this heritage and sustaining it for the benefit of future generations is an important aspect of the role we play on behalf of the community. The components of the historic environment are known as 'Heritage Assets'. These are buildings, monuments, sites, areas or landscapes identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions.’

In the face of this extraordinary decision should we be fearful for the future of our ancient heritage sites? We should be afraid, very afraid.

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

It seems ironic that having spent time at South Somerset District Council’s offices in Yeovil attending the Scrutiny task and finish group, looking at the overarching themes and focus for the new Environment Strategy, that one of the issues raised was waste and re-cycling; shortly after the session I stopped by the council’s onsite restaurant, Chambers, for a quick bit to eat, only to witness the two ladies who work there outside the building picking up .... litter! Whilst I believe that we should embrace the ‘save the planet’ agenda, I could not help but think that before we start laying down the law for others, we should put our own house in order first.

When it comes to re-cycling, we seem to have learnt nothing at all from being in Europe. I am hard pressed to think of a less efficient way to re-cycle than having lorries going from door to door, and I fail to understand why we do not pressure supermarkets into doing more.    

Putting my thoughts on that issue aside, the key points raised by those involved in the ‘engagement’ activity we undertook included emphasis on increasing healthy activity, for which read walking or cycling to work. I admit that I am not much one for exercise, and certainly not outdoors in the middle of winter. In my own case though my challenges are twofold; I am often lugging around a large amount of luggage, which it would be difficult to transport either on foot or by bicycle, and given that my working day is regularly in the region of 12 hours, time is of the essence when getting from one activity to another. It is just not feasible for me to take extra time to either wait for public transport (if it existed) or get to my destination by a healthier, slower, mode of transport.

As part of the green agenda, the topic of energy was also raised. Despite the desire to reduce our energy consumption, and where possible generate our own, there is apparently no legislation in place to require developers to install solar panels or electric charging points for vehicles. In my experience very few builders will be willing the install such measures of their own fee will, citing the additional cost to build.

And finally, now that I am on my soapbox, children have put local shopping at top of their agenda when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint. It would seem to me, as a child of the 50s, we have come full circle, before plastic bags and large supermarkets, when we all shopped locally, buying local produce in season, and got our pocket money through the refunds we received when returning empty lemonade bottles. We only have ourselves to blame for the demise of our local shops; and only we can change that.

WINE TO GO WITH FISH AND CHIPS

Now that the fine weather is here and the ‘season’ has started, popular seaside holiday destinations will have been dusting off the cobwebs, stocking up on sticks of rock and buckets and spades, and generally gearing themselves up for a roaring trade this summer. With the remaining uncertainty over Brexit and our country’s leadership, it is natural that many of us will want to stay close to home.

Here in the South West we are blessed with a wide variety of delightful rural and coastal places to visit with some stunning scenery, and the prospect of a ‘fish and chip supper’ at the end of the day; greedy, aggressive, greedy seagulls permitting!

Interestingly, the meal that most people worldwide associate with us Brits did not originate here at all. According to the well-respected food writer Claudia Roden, the idea of fried fish was brought here by Portuguese Marrano Jewish refugees in the 16th century and apparently Joseph Malin, a Jewish immigrant, was the first to sell fried fish and potatoes together in his shop in London’s East End around 1860.

Modern lifestyles being what they are, long gone are the days I remember from my childhood when Friday was always ‘fish and chips’ night.One of the things I recall from my childhood is that fish and chips was always wrapped in newspaper, until the health and safety brigade poked their noses in. Given our new level of environmental awareness perhaps it is something that should be re-introduced.

I have never been much of a fan of mushy peas, but I do confess to a liking for a slice of thick white buttered bread, with which to make a chip butty!

The natural choice of beverage to wash it all down with is a good strong cup of ‘builder’s’ tea. Nowadays though, in addition to the local corner chippy, fish and chips, or versions of it, can found in virtually every pub and ‘posh’ restaurant, preferably served with lovely thick, proper hand cut, triple cooked chips (check out The Scallop Shell in Bath). It is then that I want something else to tickle my taste buds, a nice glass of wine, or two, to accompany my meal.

Whilst there are no hard and fast rules, wines work best with fried foods if they are crisp, with good acidity, and refreshing on the palate. White wine is most likely to fit the bill here, although a quality rosé will not disappoint; just avoid those cheap and cheerful ones on the market that tend to be overly sweet.

Sparkling wine is always a good match, as it cuts nicely through the oiliness and, however humble the meal, Champagne seems to elevate it to the height of sophistication. If funds allow, I do feel strongly that we should be supporting our local industries and, although quite pricey, there are some stunning sparkling wines now being made close to home.

On a budget? Well, we live in the South West so why not a dry perry or cider to wash it all down with.

If your preference is not for bubbles, then a crisp, dry Sauvignon Blanc will do the job nicely; the citrus notes and its acidity provide the perfect foil that will stand up to tartare sauce too.

I am not really a fan of Chardonnay, but a simple unoaked one, or a Chenin Blanc, will go well with the mushy peas.

I am however a huge fan of sherry and in Spain, where deep-fried fish may well be one of the tapas on offer, a salty, tangy, fino or manzanilla is a match made in heaven. The very special Manzanilla Sanlucar de Barrameda is well worth seeking out. The special humid maritime climate of this historic Andalucian coastal town yields a distinctive refreshing, sea-scented Manzanilla Sherry.

The use of beer in the batter for frying cod and other white fish is quite ‘on trend’, especially in those areas blessed with an independent brewery, so why not have a glass of the beer that has been used in the batter?

Last but not least, especially for the kids, a bottle of classic fizzy pop such as lemonade or a good old-fashioned cream soda (or Irn Bru if you live north of the border), can be one of the best accompaniments to a traditional fish supper.

And finally, to dispel a myth, whilst fish and chips may not be considered ‘healthy’ food there are several studies that show that they are in fact much lower in fat and calories than those other favourite late night takeaways….burgers and pizzas.

Article published in the Wine & Dine Section of The Visitor Magazine - July 2019

98 YEAR OLD RAF VETERAN BILL LAWSON

Since going to watch veterans skydive for the Taxi Charity, I have become a supporter of the charity. I am also a Rotarian and, by chance, when entertaining my 'old boys' for lunch one day, the subject of the upcoming visit to Berlin to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Berlin airlift and my longstanding Rotary colleague Bill Lawson, now aged 98, mentioned that he had been in the RAF. 

From then on the arrangements were taken in hand and I was given the opportunity of accompanying Bill, as although still in sound frame of mind, with all his marbles intact, Bill is a bit wobbly on his pins.

From the moment of our arrival at Waterloo, and an overnight stay at the Union Jack Club, we were taken in hand and, thanks to the charity, and Dick and Frances who pulled it all together, we were able to enjoy VIP treatment throughout. 

On reaching Berlin, four London taxis met us and took us to the British Embassy for tea. The next three days were a hectic round of visiting the main sights, Brandenburg Gate (where we were the main attraction!), Checkpoint Charlie, and the Berlin Wall.

For all of us though, the key highlights were the extent to which we were hosted by the German government. Talk about pull out all the stops! At the main evening reception there was so much military brass present, they could have started up their own band! 

The food was really superb and the drink flowed, ensuring a great, if emotional, time was had by all. 

The main memorial service was held in the open air at Tegel Airport, and was very moving for all of us who had made the journey. The level of gratitude shown by Berliners towards what had been achieved during the airlift was very humbling. 

It was certainly a trip of a lifetime... In another five years, how many veterans will be alive to remember it?

Linda Piggott-Vijeh

#BerlinAirlift #BillLawson

Original article can be found here: https://www.taxicharity.org/post/on-reaching-berlin-four-london-taxis-met-us-and-took-us-to-the-british-embassy-for-tea-linda

WHAT’S AGE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

I have recently been attempting to re-mortgage my home, a two-bedroom apartment in a listed building, in a very desirable Somerset village.

At the age of 64, single, with no dependants (apart from a rather naughty cat) with equity in the property, and a good credit rating, it has been proving rather difficult.

My current income does not appear to be a problem, and I have had no difficulty in meeting my mortgage commitments over the last 12 years, since moving in; what seems to be the stumbling block is my age and the lender’s obsession with my income post retirement, despite my assurance that I have no plans to retire any time soon. I work purely to fund the lifestyle to which I have happily become accustomed, one of self-indulgence balanced by significant charitable giving.

On pondering my dilemma, and having carried out minor research, I ascertained that were I in my 40s the question of ‘future’ income would not be raised. I get it that lenders will want to establish a person’s ability to keep up with mortgage payments, but I would argue that given the unstable economic environment that we have suffered for some years now, no-one’s job, and the income that goes with it, is safe. Long gone are the jobs for life on offer when I first entered into the workplace. In this hire and fire society, when organisations, whether public or private, are busily ‘transforming’ (for which read ‘redundancy’), there is very little stability in any industry.

With the average lifespan for a woman in the UK now 82.9, I have a good few years of toil left in me yet, and should I die prematurely then a lender would recoup their money on the subsequent sale of the property. In addition, had the government not kept shifting the pension goal posts for women my age I would be in the happy position of having received my pension for the last 4½ years, which at a rough estimate would have been over £30,000, instead of having to wait another year.

I spend much of my life promoting equality and the Equality Act 2010 states that ‘age discrimination’ is allowed in certain circumstances, but that it must be ‘objectively justified’, and ‘show good reason’. It seems that financial institutions, and the government consider themselves exempt from the laws that others have to adhere by. 

Time someone took some action to rectify this gross misjustice.

EVERYONE IS IN CHARGE OF THEIR OWN HAPPINESS

One of the top priorities of the new Somerset Health & Wellbeing Strategy, ‘Improving Lives’, is that ‘Somerset residents feel happy’.

During discussions, one board member said that a member of their family had stated that ‘everyone is in charge of their own happiness’.

A rather simplistic statement on the surface but we must beware of making such off-the-cuff remarks.

Happiness, and a whole raft of other emotions, is very subjective. What might make one person happy may have the opposite effect on others.

As a Samaritan and supporter of MIND in Somerset, I am all too aware of the huge part that mental well-being plays in every aspect of our lives; the decisions we make about who we live with, where we live, how we live, what we do for work and play.

How do we measure happiness though? Can we, or should we? Are our expectations too high to begin with?

Aspirational desires for organisations are laudable, and whilst it is right to have specific targets against which one can measure achievement, we must remember that statistics are just that, numbers on a page. Behind each one lies an individual, thinking, feeling, unpredictable human being, and all too often health professionals still mention ‘mental health’ as an afterthought.

No matter what is going on around us, or what our personal circumstances are, it is the resilience that good mental health brings that will ensure we have the best chance to achieve happiness, or as close to it as we can get without outside interference.

Some people seem able to get through the most traumatic experiences seemingly unscathed, on the surface at least, whilst others can fall to pieces over something perceived as minor. One of the most important things I have learnt as a Samaritan, is that it is not what I think and feel about a situation that counts, it is how the caller feels.

We all make choices in life and the impact of those choices, good and bad, can be far reaching, especially when it involves the relationships we have with others.

In addressing many of the social problems we face the solution is usually ‘education’. I firmly believe in education, but I hate being told what to do. The ‘nanny state’ approach of much of what is circulated is unlikely to appeal to the target group it is aimed at; the neediest. Our time and attention should be focused on gaining an understanding of the reasons behind the underlying behaviour.

Isolation can be a significant cause of unhappiness but the relentless move towards digitalisation only serves to exacerbate this; not everyone has the skills or inclination to work remotely. There is no substitute for personal contact. Mental health must be at the top of the agenda for all of us as it is pivotal to our survival.

WHEN THE POWER GOES TO YOUR HEAD IN THE KITCHEN

I have spent much of my life either working with or for some of the world’s most powerful people. An ‘interesting’ experience to say the least.

What really sets people apart is the way in which they deal with those in a less powerful position than themselves. I have worked from some real stinkers (having my own dubious method of dealing with them, never upset the person who is preparing your food), but what stands out are the few for whom I came to have the utmost respect.

As chef to the British Ambassador to the United Nations in New York I had the privilege of working for Sir. David Hannay. In his office environment he was thought to be a hard taskmaster but in terms of his domestic staff one could not have wished for a more considerate employer; his family were the same, never late for meals, eating anything put in front of them and always keeping us informed of any changes. Sadly, this level of consideration is rare in many working environments today, particularly in the hospitality industry.

It is a tough, constantly changing business, fraught with problems.

The trade is reliant on customers, all of whom have different expectations and who often like to give their egos an airing when dining out.

The industry is also often a haven for those who choose not to go into a more academic career. Yes, in a professional kitchen high standards of discipline are essential to achieve the standard required, but how this is achieved is perhaps not quite conventional by modern day standards, if the chef memoirs that sell like hot cakes are anything to go by.

Eighteen hour days and temperamental chefs are still the norm and some chefs have built their reputation on their aggressive behaviour. Mostly this is tolerated by those who want to bask in the glory of having worked under them, or fed by them.

The problem is that this can all too easily go to their heads. What would be considered unacceptable behaviour elsewhere is allowed to continue unchecked and unchallenged. This is not healthy for anyone in their orbit, and can lead to habits that eventually cause them to self-destruct, leaving chaos in their wake.

I am frequently asked to cook for charitable events and happily volunteer my services to raise money for a good cause and, if my finances allow, donate the food and wine.

What I find extraordinary however, is the number of occasions I hear of high profile chefs who are all too willing to have their name linked to an event to gain free publicity but who then make huge demands. Let’s face it, it is only food and either you can cook or you can’t. It is of course a delight to be presented with an attractive plate of food but the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating.

Those who, having made such a fuss, then cancel at the last minute, are selfish beyond belief. Barring a real emergency, this is unacceptable. In in their shoes, having made the commitment, I would consider it my obligation to make due recompense.

Respect is the key word here, and it can only be earned, not demanded as of right.