Frettens recommended as one of region’s leading firms in The Legal 500

Frettens Solicitors has again been named as one of the region’s leading law firms in The Legal 500.

The independent guide to law firms was published this week.

It is generally recognised as the largest and most in-depth survey of the UK legal market.

Inclusion is based on client feedback and the complexity of cases handled.

As well as being recommended as a firm, six of Frettens’ teams and a total of 17 lawyers were listed in the guide.

Anna Curtis, Will Bartley, Kerri Hunter and Kerry Martin were recognised for the first time.

Karen Edwards was, once again, recognised as a rising star in Corporate & Commercial Law, in the year she was appointed head of the team.

Matt Fretten, Managing Partner, said: “To be recommended in the Legal 500 again is great.

“In the legal sector, I know that LinkedIn posts will be shared, press releases drafted, and backs slapped, but the wonderful comments from clients, after the year they have had, mean the most to us.

“It has been a challenging year for many of our clients.

“For them to take time out not only to respond to the survey, but to say such wonderful things about the service they have received, makes you really appreciate the relationships we have with them, and the work our team have put in to deliver that level of service.”

Frettens has offices in Christchurch and Ringwood.

Full details of The Legal 500 entries can be found here.

+++

Family business now diverting 70 per cent of trade waste from landfill

A five branch retail business with outlets in Ferndown, Poole and Christchurch is pledging to do as much as possible to reduce its impact on the environment.

Carpet Barn and The Bed Store, which employs about 50 people, is currently diverting more than two thirds of trade waste away from landfill.

Darren Ironside, one of the Directors, said: “Flooring waste uplifted from our customer’s properties is segregated at our own facilities, before carpet and underlay waste is baled and collected for producing energy.

“This clearly effectively fully recycles the waste, avoiding unnecessary landfill.

“‘Old mattresses also have traditionally posed a significant burden at landfill sites, and typically a mattress can use around 23 cubic feet of landfill.

“‘Now we arrange for them to be collected where they are then stripped  down and separated into their recyclable constituents, including springs, polyurethane foam, cotton and sisal fibre for re-use.

“It’s all part of our vision of a better future for all.

“Also, we’re gradually replacing our vehicle fleet with hybrid and fully electric versions, aiming to fully complete the process by the end of 2023.”

The family owned business, which was founded in 1983, offers an uplift and disposal service for old floor coverings and can take away used, unwanted, mattresses.

Darren added that the company is always interested in hearing from anyone with new ideas or suggestions on what more can be done.

+++

New project to rethink BCP town centres

A new project, BCP Future Lab, is asking local people to rethink the future of the three town centres – Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

It’s the initiative of the R3 Group, comprising representatives from the retail, leisure, and hospitality sector.

The project will take a long term view of how the town centres need to rethink themselves for the post-pandemic world.

It will focus on town centre renewal by using the views of local people to inspire, plan and design town centres as destinations for social prosperity.

Since early August, 15 libraries across the conurbation have been hosting ‘ideas stations’ – a suggestion box, blank action sheets and information posters about how to get involved.

All ideas submitted have been taken forward to a series of workshops, currently underway.

The best ideas from those aged 16 to 30 years old will be considered for £5,000 bursary funding to help develop them into real world proposals.

Towards the end of this year, and into the start of 2022, the ideas will be used to develop themes and principles that can be applied across the BCP area.

They will also be used to identify deliverable projects that can be actioned immediately as well as long term urban strategies.

The R3 Group has commissioned Bournemouth-based design and planning practice Feria Urbanism to organise and run the research project.

Jennie Savage, Creative Director, Feria Urbanism, said: “We all day dream about how we would re-design our local town centre.

“The improvements we would make and the changes we would like to see.

“Let’s be honest, most of us are closet urban designers and town planners and have pretty strong views on how we would make improvements.”

The libraries taking part are Bournemouth Library, Christchurch Library & Learning Centre, Poole Central Library, Tuckton, Boscombe, Southbourne, Parkstone, Hamworthy, Westbourne, Winton, Charminster, Rossmore, Canford Cliffs, Springbourne and Broadstone.

More info at bcpfuturelab.org.

The project can also be followed on social media using #BCPFutureLab