Weekly round-up: Five local stories you may have missed

A five-story round-up from Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Berkshire and Oxfordshire highlights vehicle damage to a rare chalk stream and reported sewer discharges into a Dorset stream.

This round-up gathers five locally reported stories from the past week across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. They span environment, infrastructure, education and local finance. Each item was among the most read regional pieces this week. The items were reported by local sources and include statements from residents, utilities and local authorities. Key reports: - A section of the River Meon in Hampshire, a rare chalk stream, is legally classed as an unclassified road and is used by 4x4 vehicles; residents and experts have called for the byway to be closed because they say vehicles are damaging the habitat, while some users say access should remain. - In Cerne Abbas, Dorset, Wessex Water discharged sewer water into a stream that feeds the River Cerne; the company said it was removing rain and groundwater and that the Environment Agency allows such discharges when groundwater levels are exceptionally high. - A walker in Whiteley Bank climbed a tree to avoid a cow that appeared to be protecting its calf; Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and the animal’s owner later guided the cow and calf back to their field and the man climbed down after more than an hour. - Magdalen College School in Oxford announced it will admit girls into years three and four from 2027 and into year seven from 2030; the school was founded in 1480 and its sixth form began accepting girls 15 years ago. - West Berkshire Council has asked the government for a £30m emergency loan to help balance its finances; the council said reduced funding leaves less money for local services, and the government said its multi-year financial settlement is fairer and targeted. Summary: These reports touch on environmental pressure, local infrastructure limits, a countryside safety incident, changes in a long-standing school’s admissions, and municipal financial strain. Some matters have stated next steps: local calls for the Meon byway to be closed, Wessex Water describing the discharge as allowed in exceptional groundwater conditions, the council applying for exceptional financial support, and the school publishing a timetable for co-education. Undetermined at this time are the outcomes of calls for the byway closure and any formal reviews of the sewer discharges.