Hook Parish Council

Hook Parish Council: Monthly Bulletins 2001

December 2001

The Parish Council web site now has a new address, http://hook.gov.uk, and a fresh new look designed for us by our web master Councillor Jane Bonnin. Our aim is to provide a wide range of information to residents on the web site including dates of meetings, Focus Bulletins and minutes of past meetings. There are links to the web sites of a wide range of village organisations. We are about to include the Parish Income and Expenditure accounts on the site so that residents can see how the Parish element of their Council Tax bill is being spent.

Early in October a massive amount of graffitti appeared in the village almost overnight. The culprit has been apprehended and Hampshire Highways have successfully removed most of the mess though some areas, particularly the railway bridge, are proving hard to tackle. Much of the remaining damage is to private property and we will be providing advice to the owners concerned so that they can take appropriate action.

The Deputy Clerk has carried out a review for the Amenities Committee of all the play areas and maintainence will be carried out. Costings are being obtained for replacement of the main equipment in the Elizabeth Hall Play area and matting will be tried out in the muddy play area in Wellworth Park.

Hampshire Highways have told us that they expect to start work on the Dorchester Arms junction early in 2002. As part of the programme they intend to reduce the speed limit on the length of road between the Hanover International Hotel and the Railway bridge on the A30 from 50mph to 40mph. The Parish Council is supporting this change which is designed to gradually slow traffic down from 70mph to 30mph as it approaches the village.

Over the last year or so we have had a number of discussions with the Police about the level of Police presence in Hook. Although there is much detailed work still to be done Hampshire Constabulary has decided that P.C. Leighton Thomas will move to live in the Police House in Bramshott Drive. They will then demolish their building in London Road and replace it with a new Police Station which will be a centre for all Police Officers covering Hook, Hartley Wintney, Odiham and villages up to the Berkshire border. The result will be a much greater Police presence in the area with officers coming in and out from their new base. The intention would be that part of the building would be available for Parish Council and Community use. We would hope it would be possible, for example, for villagers to be able to come and look at Planning Applications of interest to them at nominated times in the evening and at weekends to avoid the need to take time off work and go down to Fleet.

Starting with this issue we are including contact details in Focus for our County and District Councillors. Over the next few months they will each contribute a piece about their areas of special interest. The first item is in Focus this month and is by County Councillor, and Rotherwick District Councillor, Jonathan Glen.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is Wednesday 19th December at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter

November 2001

Following objections from residents and the Parish Council, Vodafone has been refused permission to upgrade their telephone mast in the station car park to provide the latest generation of technology as the mast would be close to housing. Hart, with Parish Council support, propose to approve an application for an installation by Cellnet in Osborne Way. Both we and Hart are aware of some objections from residents, but this installation would share the mast that already exists in Osborne Way which is on an industrial estate, well away from housing and with minimum possible impact on the street scene. A high proportion of our population use mobile phones so the masts to serve them have to go somewhere and we take the view that Osborne Way is the least unsuitable site in Hook.

Some of the foot paths in the woods round Hook are in good condition, but others could be improved by some minor work to the surface of the paths or repairs to stiles. We would welcome the help of a volunteer walker to keep us informed of footpath problems that need action and to help us concentrate the limited money that is available on those paths that people value the most. If you would like to help please contact Deputy Parish Clerk Anne Atkins on 768687.

Hart District Council recently held a public meeting at Robert Mays to obtain local views on the future of the RAF Odiham site if the RAF decide to move their helicopter base elsewhere. The meeting had a strong preference for persuading the RAF to remain, or if they do decide to leave a hope that another military unit would take their place. A number of other ideas involving commercial use of the airfield for testing or aircraft repairs were also discussed. Your Parish Council put forward the suggestion that, if the RAF were to leave, the use of some of this existing Brown Field site for housing would be a better idea than building houses on local Green Field sites. 

The footpath through Hartletts Park will be closed on Saturday 3rd November which coincides as usual with the annual Hook Schools Bonfire and Firework Display. The closure is for safety reasons and also to ensure that the path does not become a public Right of Way. Please remove all cars from the Community Centre car park by 4pm as rocket sticks and other bits of firework will be landing in that area.

Sadly Michael Clark has decided that for personal reasons he can no longer continue as a Parish Councillor. We much appreciate all he has done over the six years he has been a Councillor and will miss his sound commonsense approach to Parish issues. Michael’s resignation creates a vacancy for a new Councillor to serve until May 2003, so please watch the Parish notice boards for further information.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 21st November at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter

October 2001

Plans have been received for the demolition of Pinecroft and Hazelcroft in Station Road and their replacement by twelve two and three bedroom town houses. It would be particularly sad to lose Hazelcroft, which is one of few remaining old houses in the village centre. Apart from this, the proposals are totally out of keeping with the area and include two 11 metre high three-storey blocks of housing reducing the amenity value of the area and impacting particularly on Kew Villa and Gower Crescent. Parking, road access, and the impact on the Station Road street scene are also issues. The Parish Council and numerous residents are opposing the scheme. Objections should be sent at once to Environmental Services, Hart District Council, Harlington Way, Fleet, quoting Land at Pinecroft and Hazelcroft, Station Road, Hook and references 01/01083/FUL and 01/01084/FUL.

Our meeting on 19th September included a very useful session with Douglas Hill from Hampshire Highways. Officers at Hampshire and the Chairmen of the Committees concerned are recommending to Council that traffic signals be installed at the Dorchester Arms junction. The proposed layout includes pedestrian crossings on Hook Common Road and on the A30 by the pub itself. After more detailed design work it proved impossible to design a small roundabout within safety standards and it became clear that the compulsory purchase procedure to acquire the necessary land to build a large roundabout would take much too long. We hope that the lights will be installed in the spring.

The experimental traffic calming layout in Old Reading Road has been chalked on the carriageway and Highways are now waiting for the cones and other temporary equipment to become available from a scheme elsewhere. Highways are also considering changes to the Newnham Road traffic-calming scheme to make it more effective. The "Kill Your Speed" signs in Griffin Way proved very effective for the first few months, but drivers have become accustomed to them so they will now be moved onto the A 30 between the village centre and Griffin Way. Following recent complaints about the speed of traffic in Sheldon’s Lane Highways carried out a survey, which showed that the proportion of drivers exceeding the limit was not sufficient to justify a Police Campaign. However the number and position of the "No Through Road" signs in the area will be checked to ensure that all the correct roads are covered. 50 mph repeater signs are planned for the section between Hook and the Hook Garden Centre on the B3349.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 17th October 2001 at the Community Hall at 8pm. This is an additional meeting not previously on the timetable.

Antony Hunter

September 2001

Our interviewing panel was very pleased with the high standard of candidates for Deputy Parish Clerk and we are delighted to confirm that Anne Atkins has accepted the post. Anne, husband Steven, and children Gregory,8, and Kathryn,6, have lived in Hook for ten years. In addition to deputising for David Ridley, Anne will be taking over the management of Amenity issues.

One2One recently applied for approval for a telephone mast and control cabin on the grass verge of the roundabout where the A30 crosses the B3349 at Griffin Way. The Parish Council view was that this would be far too close to housing, visually highly intrusive, and would reduce visibility for drivers. 197 residents in the area were of a similar view and wrote letters of objection to Hart. The application has been refused unanimously by Hart Development Control Committee for the reasons given above and in view of the high level of public concern.

Yet another mast application has arrived. This one is from Vodafone who wish to replace their existing mast in the station car park with a new mast and a new control cabin. Although Vodafone’s agents admit verbally that they could put the new equipment in Osborne Way, which would allow the area in the station to revert to open space, they say that they prefer to have their own site. The Parish Council is asking for the application to be refused and that Vodafone move to Osborne Way. If you share that view please write immediately to Environmental Services, Hart District Council, Harlington Way, Fleet GU51 4AE quoting Hook Railway Station and reference 01/010348/42 TEL.

All Planning Applications in Hook are sent to the Parish Council for comment. The length of time we have for comment is exactly the same as is allowed for residents. Although our Planning Committee meets fortnightly we often have to comment on applications and send in our views within just a few days. It is important that anyone who receives a letter from Hart about an application and has concerns contacts the Parish Clerk or myself, as Chairman of the Planning Committee, right away or comes along to our next Planning Meeting if they want to influence the Parish view. Hart, not the Parish, makes the decision on applications, but if Officers at Hart and the Parish have different opinions as to whether an application should be approved the case goes to Committee on which District Councillor Fergus Kirkham is our representative. Because of the pressure on housing in Hook your Planning Committee reviews around two hundred applications a year most of which are for extensions. Many of these are for conservatories which are a relatively simple extension with designs often provided by the installation company. Experience tells us that if a more complex extension is being considered the best design ideas and best expectation of planning approval is achieved by consulting a qualified architect, preferably with local knowledge.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 19th September at the Community Hall at 8pm. One of the items on the agenda will be a discussion with Douglas Hill from Hampshire Highways. The list of local Highway issues to be raised with him will be published on the Parish Council Notice Boards as part of the agenda.

Antony Hunter

July / August 2001

The Parish Council Annual Report and our website included a questionnaire asking villagers to let us know which topics they rated as most important. Although the number of replies was quite small, representing less than 1% of homes in Hook, the priorities identified were quite clear. Road Safety gained 22% of support, Traffic Calming 21%, Cycleways 16%, Parks and Gardens 13% and Playgrounds and Youth Facilities 11% each. Whilst Road Safety and Traffic Calming are Hampshire Highways responsibilities we do have a good working relationship with them and they try to respond to our needs, but obtaining funding for improvements is always a problem and road schemes tend to be expensive. For example the Dorchester Arms improvements will cost between £190,000 and £370,000 depending on which solution is finally chosen. Highways are now working on the design of a scheme to slow traffic in Reading Road to which the Parish will make a contribution, and we are also asking them to design improvements to the current Newnham Road scheme. At the inexpensive end of the scale the "Kill Your Speed" signs in Griffin Way do seem to have had an impact, though there is some evidence that drivers are now familiar with them and take less notice. We are suggesting to Highways that these signs are moved to a different road in Hook every few months.

Grass cutting in Wellworth Park got underway later than we would have liked this year because the contractor employed by Hart went out of business. The Parish has now taken on responsibility but it took a bit of time to get the necessary quotes and award the contract.

Planning Permission has existed for eight years for a 3,300 sq. metre extension to the Old Mutual building at Bartley Wood Business Park but the new owner of the site has applied to replace this permission with a separate 5,150 sq. metre building claiming that the staff will largely walk or cycle to work or use the "three separate rail services" and the "comprehensive and frequent bus services calling at Hook Bus Station"! We have submitted a lengthy document to Hart asking them to refuse the application on the basis of inadequate parking, the lack of realism of the claim that people will use public transport and the fact that Griffin Way is already solid with traffic at peak times. Regrettably there is nothing that can be done to revoke the original planning permission and the developer is highly unlikely to just let it expire at the end of this year.

Our advertisement for Deputy Clerk in Focus and the Basingstoke Gazette attracted four applications from Hook residents, interviewing is now taking place and we will announce the name of the successful candidate in September Focus.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 18th July at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter

June 2001

May marks the start of the new municipal year and the election by your Councillors of the Chairmen of the various committees. Tony Taylor is Chairman of the Parish Council with Antony Hunter as Vice-Chairman and Chairman of Planning. Our grateful thanks go to Peter Jennions for chairing the Council so effectively for the last three years. The Amenities Committee is now chaired by Allen Saltmarsh and we thank Colin Brown for his past chairmanship of that committee. Gillian Morgan continues as Chair of the Garden and Cemetery Committee. Following the sad loss to the Parish of David Deadman, David Ridley is now in the process of taking over Parish Clerk responsibilities and you will see elsewhere in Focus that we are looking for a Deputy to work with him. An up to date telephone number list is at the foot of this page so do please contact David, or any of the Parish Councillors, if you would like to know more about this post.

The Amenities Committee are about to start design work on a new play area near Hop Garden Road. This scheme is being funded by a developer as one of the conditions of the planning permission for the site. We are keen to involve several parents with young children who live in that area in the design work . If you can help please ring David Ridley on 768573.

We have just learnt that One2One are actively considering an alternative site instead of the proposed site at the Railway Station which caused such late night difficulties during the winter. However Vodafone's application for a new and larger mast at the Railway Station, which would have been closer to housing than their present mast, has been refused permission.

A new tenant has recently taken over the Old Foundry site in London Road and is currently using it for the storage of refrigerated vehicles. We have received a number of complaints about the noise made by workers on the site as well as the noise from the air conditioning units on the vehicles. Environmental Health have investigated and been assured by the tenant that refrigerated lorries will not be on site on a regular basis. 

Our comments on Hart's modifications to the local plan that will run to 2006 have now been sent in. Although no development is planned between Hook and Rotherwick during the life of the plan we are urging that a formal gap should remain a part of the plan The plan includes development for housing at Holt Lane and the Foundry site as previously announced, but the only newly confirmed site for development is planned to be at Hitches Lane Fleet. The next step is for Hart to consider all the comments and to formally adopt the plan by the autumn.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 6th June at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter

May 2001

As Focus goes to press comes the very sad news that David Deadman has lost his battle against cancer and passed away suddenly, but peacefully, on Wednesday 18th April. Our thoughts are with Valerie and all his family. A full appreciation of David will be in Focus next month. 

The Hampshire Wildlife Trust came to our last meeting to talk about their plans for restoring overgrown areas of Hook Common by felling much of the silver birch which has seeded itself over the years and caused huge areas of the common to become inaccessible. Visibility around the cricket club and tennis court would be improved and highland cattle and new forest ponies put out to graze. Improved ditching along Hook Road would also help deter fly tipping.

Almost fifty villagers attended the Annual Village meeting on Tuesday 10th April. Sergeant Dixon, of the Hampshire Police, told the meeting that a proposal is being considered to build a new police station in Hook on the site of the existing Police House. The building would be the base of ten officers who would be responsible for Odiham, Hartley Wintney, Crondall and Mattingley as well as Hook itself. A Police staffed counter and a meeting room for community use would be included. The plan, which would much improve overall policing in Hook, is at a relatively early stage but could be completed within two years.

The speed limit between the Dorchester Arms and Hook was reduced to 30 mph during the roadworks, although most traffic travelled at over 40 mph, but it has now reverted to 50 mph which is the normal speed for that type of road. We are following up a suggestion that hatched road markings would reduce the speed of traffic entering Hook. The developers for Holt Lane have not yet produced the necessary design brief or hydrological survey, so the start of any work on site is still some time away. We understand that a number of developers are showing interest in building housing on the Old Foundry site, but no formal planning application has yet been made.

It is clear from responses received from several departments that the Government has no current intention of making mobile phone masts subject to full planning permission. However Debra Shipley, a Birmingham MP, is leading a cross party campaign to require mobile phone companies to prove that their installations are safe which is a change from the current procedure which requires objectors to prove that a proposal would be unsafe.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 2nd May at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter

April 2001

We have received a number of complaints about selfish dog owners who are allowing their pets to foul footpaths, and even the tennis courts near the Community Centre, without carrying a "poop scoop" to clear up the mess. Please keep an eye out for those responsible for this antisocial and unhygienic activity which is an offence that can be punished by a heavy fine. But if you and your pet are responsible please take care of this problem yourself!

We are in the process of obtaining quotes for several maintenance projects to be carried out in the centre of the village early in the new financial year. These include repairs to the brickwork in the car park outside the Chemist and refurbishment of the seats outside Budgens. We are budgeting to install bollards on the footpath between the side of Morris Dentist’s in the village centre and Band Hall Place to stop cars parking on the grass verge. There are still areas in Grand Parade where cars park on areas that cannot take the strain of car parking, so we are costing installation of further block paving so as to separate these areas from the car park

In the meantime, following our pressure, the block work and grassed area near the pedestrian crossing in Station Road has been reinstated at the expense of Southern Electric following the emergency work they had to carry out several months ago. The missing Belisha Beacon in Station Road has been reinstalled by Hampshire Highways.

Hart District Council Planners have had a meeting with agents acting for One 2 One to discuss the partly installed mast in the Station Car Park. The meeting was inconclusive and One 2 One are now considering their position. They have confirmed that no further work is currently planned. Meridian television are working on a follow up item which will be shown shortly on Meridian Tonight.

The Parish Council Annual report will be distributed to every house in Hook in early April and the Annual Village Meeting will take place in Elizabeth Hall on Tuesday 10th April at 8pm. In addition to brief reports from our Committee Chairmen and from our District and County Councillors we expect to have information on the future of local policing and time for an open discussion session. Do come along!

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 4th April 2001 at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter

March 2001

By the time this issue of Focus is published villagers will have seen the reports on Meridian Tonight and in The Gazette and The Observer of the attempt by One2One to erect a mobile phone mast in the station car park at 1 am on Sunday 11th February without proper Planning Permission. Protest action throughout the night by residents of Bramshott Drive with the support of District and Parish Councillors caused the work to be abandoned at 4.30 am. Hart District Council have written to Railtrack and One2One pointing out that there is no permission for a mast and we await their reaction.

Almost 600 people attended the Dorchester Arms exhibition and the questionnaires that have been returned to Hampshire County Council will be analysed after the closing date of 31st March. Many thanks to all the retailers who displayed posters. The Parish Council discussed the three options and decided to support the installation of the small roundabout on the basis that it is capable of being installed quite quickly without the need to buy extra land. We felt that although the larger roundabout was a more perfect solution the procedures for buying the common land required would take much too long. Concern was expressed that if traffic lights were installed drivers would speed up so as not to miss a green light. It was felt that the traffic light option was the one most likely to cause drivers to divert Hook to Basingstoke journeys via Newnham Road. Hampshire’s preference will be known at the end of May.

The footpath in Wellworth Park has been badly flooded in recent weeks. A drain has now been dug to carry away the water and when the land dries out a soakaway is likely to be installed.

A wide range of Highway issues were discussed with Douglas Hill from Hampshire Highways.and we have his support for "Kill Your Speed" signs on Griffin Way. Plans are to be drawn up for a trial traffic calming scheme in Reading Road which will be based on narrowing the road at either end and installing a traffic priority system.

At present Hart District Council decisions are made by committees but a Government policy change means that, after public consultation, Hart must pick one of three new ways of managing the District’s affairs.

1. A directly elected mayor who would appoint a cabinet from elected District councillors.
2. A leader elected by the councillors themselves.
3. A directly elected mayor supported by a paid manager.

The Parish Council decided to support the second option as being more democratic and less expensive than the other two choices. For more information and to make your choice please visit www.hart.gov.uk/hartdc or read the information on the Parish Council notice boards.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 7th March at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter

February 2001

By the time Focus is published the exhibition of plans for the Dorchester Arms junction will have taken place. Hampshire County Council have developed three ideas for public consultation. The traffic light solution would involve minor changes to the central islands with lights installed to control both the junction and a pedestrian crossing. Alternatively a roundabout could be installed along with a reduction in the road width to one lane on the approaches to the junction. The third option would be a larger roundabout. At the exhibition Hampshire demonstrated that although the first two options could be installed within the existing road junction, the larger roundabout would require the acquisition of some common land and part of the Dorchester Arms Car Park, which could delay the whole process by at least a further year. The Parish Council believe that the traffic light option could well encourage drivers to accelerate, rather than slow down if they see a green light. Our view tends towards a roundabout option, but our final opinion will be decided after the Exhibition. This is an important opportunity to improve road safety at this notorious junction. If you did not have the chance to complete a comment card at the exhibition please write to Mr Syd Sadro (Project Manager) Hampshire County Council Environment Grouping, The Castle, Winchester SO23 8UD

Several times a year Mr Douglas Hill from the Area Surveyors office of the County Council attends our Parish Council meeting to discuss matters of concern to Hook. At our next meeting topics we will be discussing with him will include : Traffic Calming in Reading Road, " Kill Your Speed" signs in Griffin Way, Flooding at the junction of Station Road and London Road and obstruction being caused to pedestrians and drivers by certain advertising boards in the centre of the village. All these topics have been raised with us by many villagers so do come along!

Following on from our advertising interviews have been held for the post of Deputy Parish Clerk. The interviewing committee was delighted with the quality of all the candidates and Mr David Ridley has now been appointed. David, his wife Julie, and their two children have lived in Hook for over fifteen years. In addition to deputising for David Deadman he will take prime responsibility for managing amenity projects in liaison with the Chairman of the Amenity Committee. The supervision of developer funded schemes in Holt Lane will be a key part of his work when the house building moves from planning to implementation.

The next meeting of the Parish Council, including the meeting with Douglas Hill from Area Surveyors, is on Wednesday 7th February 2001 at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter

January 2001

Over recent weeks there have been a number of instances of garden rubbish being dumped on amenity land in John Morgan Close and Mitchells Field. Dumping of garden rubbish is a criminal offence under the Environment Protection Act, just like fly tipping and littering. Letters have been sent to all residents in the area concerned asking for their cooperation in spotting and if necessary reporting those responsible. Other areas where similar problems have occurred include Reading Road and Hook Way. Apart from making the village untidy the cost of removing rubbish is being met by all of us as Hook Council tax payers. Please either dispose of rubbish in your wheelybin or at the Springwell Lane tip. Compost bins at prices from £16.95, delivered to your door, can be obtained by ringing Hart District Council on 01252 622122

Hampshire County Council will be holding an exhibition of plans for the Dorchester Arms junction in the smaller hall at Elizabeth Hall on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th January. Timings will be confirmed on Parish Council notice boards but are expected to be during Friday evening and daytime on Saturday. This is an important step for Hook so do please take the opportunity to come along. The Parish Council hope to have someone in attendance at the exhibition so as to help assess public reaction to the plans.

The recent severe weather has caused regular flooding at the junction of Station Road and London Road. When this problem has previously been aired with the Highway department they have explained that it can only be cured by digging up Station Road from the roundabout right back to the Wimpey building. In the past they have felt that flooding was too rare an event to justify the cost but we will now be taking the topic up with them again.

Finally a reminder that the Highways department often do not know if a street light is out of order unless somone rings them to let them know. An answerphone takes messages on 0800 50 60 60. Please leave a messsage including the name of the street concerned and the column number.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 17th January 2001 at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter