Latest news with #Marnhull
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hodder strikes sensational 165 to help Swanage to nail-biting win
SWANAGE'S 'star' all-rounder Ben Hodder played an extraordinary innings of 165 not out off just 140 balls - this included 31 boundaries, seven of which were maximums, to help his team record an incredible nail-biting victory in the last over. After losing the toss on a beautiful, sun-kissed afternoon at Days Park - unsurprisingly, Mark Stacey's side found themselves in the field against Marnhull in their latest Premier Division 2 encounter. The visitors got-off to a 'flying-start' - making use of the first 10-over Powerplay, however, when Stacy introduced his two main slower bowlers Charlie Dyke and Pete Richards - the hosts were able to build some pressure (especially, as they both not only bowled with fantastic control, but also, claimed vital wickets). The hosts were, then, hampered by the loss of a key bowler - who damaged his finger going for a catch. Despite this, Swanage's other change-bowlers - James Harding and Harry Long, also, bowled with great consistency too. Harding took a brace of wickets as the visitors recorded 345-7 from their 60 overs. In reply to this mammoth score, the hosts recovered from the loss of an early wicket with a half-century stand between Stacey & Hodder and despite Stacey being brilliantly caught for a quick-fire 32, the momentum of the innings was maintained by Tom Wells - who smashed 48 with a strike-rate of over 100. Hodder was, then, joined by Dan Salmon - who played some ferocious shots (particularly square of the wicket). These three cameo-innings had kept the hosts in with a chance - especially, because they only had 50 overs in which to reach this huge total and despite losing two quick wickets Hodder remained. He was, then joined by Matt Beard and at this point 140 runs were still needed off 14 overs. But together they managed to hit the required two boundaries an over and keep-up with the required run-rate. Until it got the stage where the hosts needed 11 runs off the final seven balls, at which point, Hodder hit the biggest six of his innings. Beard then scored his 35th run to simply get Hodder back on strike, and fittingly, he drove the next ball straight back past the bowler to complete a truly phenomenal innings/run-chase. Also on Saturday, the 2nd XI travelled to their Marnhull counterparts in Division 4. The visitors batted first and recovered from a poor start (32-3), with a half-century partnership between Ben Allatt & Sam Wells. However, when they were both dismissed in quick-succession for 51 and 24 respectively the game remained in-the-balance at 107-5. Despite this, Michael Barry and Mike Nash firstly consolidated the innings and, then flourished towards the final overs with an important stand of 77, until Nash, who also made 24 was dismissed. But Barry remained undefeated on a run-a-ball 63 - which included smashing the last ball of the innings to the boundary (his 9th) to enable the visitors to reach the respectable total of 216-7 off their 40 overs. In reply, the hosts got off to a brilliant start reaching 103-0. Despite this, the game changed with the introduction of Andrew Hancock's off spin. He not only broke this partnership but also bowled with fantastic changes of pace. He went on to complete an incredible five wicket-haul and along with the returning Ryan Stearn & Wells helped restrict the hosts to 151 all out - after being 138-2 at one stage. This puts the team in a positive frame-of-mind for this weekend's top-of-the-table clash against Winton at Days Park. As well as that, the 3rdXI were involved in (another) nail-biting finish on the Nursery Ground at Days Park in Division 5. The hosts batted first made a very respectable 237-6 from their 40 overs. With the stand-out performers being Chris Wood (61), Geoff Willcocks (64 not out), Tony Fowle & Josh Gould. In reply, Poole kept-up with the run-rate, despite some excellent bowling by Mark Savage & Alan Marks - who claimed three and two wickets respectively. Unfortunately for the hosts, one of Poole's up and coming young 'stars' came out and hit the last ball of the match for six to register a three-wicket win - in what was an exceptional game of cricket.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Dorset village development given go-ahead by inspector
Up to 120 new homes can be built in a village after a planning inspector gave them the homes and a new development for Marnhull, Dorset, including a food store with a cafe, offices and two flats, were given permission following an inquiry in shop complex will be built on land west of Church Hill, and the homes, which got outline permission, can be built on land off Butts Close and Schoolhouse Paul Crocker won a second appeal to build in Marnhull in less than a year, having won a first to build 67 homes there in July. Planning inspector Jonathan Bore said the schemes will "provide much needed housing, including affordable housing" and that they will bring "exceptionally important" benefits to the village. He approved the most recent plans following an inquiry held between 8 April and 17 April and a site visit. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
The Guardian
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Residents of village that inspired Thomas Hardy fight back against expansion
Thomas Hardy described his fictional village of Marlott as being in an 'engirdled and secluded region, for the most part untrodden as yet by tourist or landscape-painter, though within a four hours' journey from London'. But the Victorian realist would now barely recognise Marnhull, the real-life village in Dorset upon which Marlott was based, and would likely be surprised to know his name is repeatedly invoked in official submissions arguing against its ongoing expansion. Nestled in the Blackmore Vale, the opening backdrop for Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Marnhull is a patchwork of hamlets with a hotchpotch of architectural styles, from Tudor manors and thatched cottages to postwar developments. In recent months, an acrimonious row has broken out over plans to build up to 120 homes, which residents fear will merely be 'phase one' of an ongoing, wider expansion of the picturesque village. The situation has underlined some of the tensions rising out of the Labour government's drive to build more houses. Dorset council refused permission for the development in July 2024, but the landowner successfully appealed against this after an inquiry by the national planning inspectorate, which had to take Labour's new housing requirements into account. The strength of feeling was so forceful in Marnhull that the parish council took the unusual step of taking part in the inquiry as a 'rule 6 party' – an interested group granted the right to actively participate in the inquiry process. It is striking how many times Hardy is referenced in the parish council's submissions as evidence of the village's important heritage status. Stephen Boyce, a Marnhull resident and heritage consultant, submitted 40 pages of argument with dozens of references to the romantic poet and novelist, known for works including Far from the Madding Crowd and Jude the Obscure. Boyce, who has held senior roles at the National Lottery Heritage Fund and consulted for the National Trust, says: 'The development demonstrates no awareness of the important cultural value of the site in question, in particular its associations with the work of Dorset's most famous literary figure, Thomas Hardy. These historic connections make a notable contribution to the character, significance and quality of Marnhull's heritage.' The scheme would also include a commercial plot being developed – provisionally named Tess Square in a nod to the eponymous character of Hardy's renowned novel – as well as a large car park near St Gregory's church – where Tess's baby, Sorrow, was buried. Boyce says: 'The proposed development particularly impinges on the locations and buildings most closely associated with Tess.' He points out that in addition to the church, the Pure Drop Inn in the novel is based on Marnhull's Crown Inn. Residents of Butts Close backing on to the field earmarked for development are devastated by the proposals. Anne Hartley, 59, and her husband, Mike, 61, enjoy an uninterrupted view across the vale from their back garden, which will vanish if and when the development is built. Anne Hartley says: 'You used to be able to walk quite easily down some of the little country roads and the lanes you've got here, but now you're diving into shrubs to get out of the way of cars. 'If you put another 120 houses you're going to get more and more and more. And you're going to lose that tranquility that so many people have moved here to get.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion In his decision to allow the appeal, the planning inspector, Jonathan Bore, says that under new requirements introduced by Labour, Dorset council must build 3,219 homes a year – nearly double the 1,739 required under the previous government. He appears to criticise Dorset council for failing to put in place a policy for housing allocations across the county. Bore says: 'The position is one of very high identified housing need. There is no up-to-date spatial strategy that responds to this position, no up-to-date policy that establishes the amounts of development to be apportioned to different locations in the light of this need, and no prospect that a new local plan will be adopted until 2027.' Marnhull parish council said it was 'surprised and clearly disappointed' by the planning inspectorate decision. It said in a statement: 'We took the unusual step of participating in the inquiry as a rule 6 party as the village was overwhelmingly opposed to what is perceived as a disproportionately large development in a rural village with significant impact on heritage, existing local businesses and highways safety. 'We summarised our case in documents submitted to the inquiry but ultimately our concerns were outweighed by Dorset council's significant shortfall in building housing to meet the new government targets and by the lack of a current Dorset council development plan.' A spokesperson for Dorset council said it had agreed a supply of housing before the recent government changes, which is valid until the end of October under transitional arrangements. The council said the increased demands for housing under the new framework, coupled with requirements to mitigate potential pollution from new developments meant it was searching for new sites. It said: 'Dorset council is preparing a new local plan, and consultation will be taking place on site options this summer, taking account of the latest housing and mitigation requirements. In the meantime the council continues to work positively to support the delivery of sustainable development.'
