Hook Parish Council

Hook Parish Council: Monthly Bulletins 2002

December  2002

Hook and Rotherwick District Councillor, and Hart District Council Chairman, Jonathan Glen formally opened the new multicourt next to the Community Centre on 31st October. As it was half term week over twenty children, who were spending the morning at "The Base", were able to attend. Jonathan Glen scored a basketball goal at his first attempt and then took up the challenge of a game of ping pong. The multicourt provides a five-a-side football pitch as well as a basketball court and is already proving very popular. Funding and support for the venture has come from Hart District Council, Hook Community Association, First 4 Sport and "The Base" in addition to the Parish Council.

Work on the A30 outside the Crooked Billet to narrow the carriageway in conjunction with the Holt Park Development is now almost complete and the new footpath and reseeding of the grass verges at the northern end of Holt Lane is nearly finished. Scottish and Southern, who were permitted to work on Sundays, have now completed the task of putting the overhead cables underground across the site. Work on the show houses and information centre is underway and these are expected to open in January. At the same time work is going on to build the permanent entrance to the estate which will now be used by all delivery vehicles, so that the smaller entrance near Holt Way is now only being used for access by cars owned by contractors working on the site. Once the permanent entrance and access road is complete access to the lower end of Holt Lane will be via a new junction on the Holt Park Estate.

The play area in Hartletts Park is one of the most popular in Hook, but much of it is made of wood which has been deteriorating over the last few years and splinters are now all too common. We are in the process of obtaining quotes and drawings from four contractors and consulting parents and children on the various possible ways of refurbishing the area.

Following dismissal of the Planning Appeal on the Pinecroft and Hazelcroft site we understand that Crest Nicholson have decided not to put in a fresh application. We believe that another developer is interested, but any future application will need to take full account of the decision made by the Planning Inspector who considered the Crest Nicholson appeal.

Antony Hunter

November  2002

Our regular meetings with the Police are very important and we were glad to welcome newly appointed Sergeant Halfacre, along with P.C. Steve White, to our October meeting. Neighbourhood Watch coordinator Sue Gibson joined the meeting. Final plans for the new Hook Police Station are moving ahead. The aim, subject to planning and final Police finance approval, is to demolish the existing Police House on the A30 in early 2003 and to build the new Police Office for use from summer 2003. Hook will then be the centre of rural policing for the area that includes Mattingley, Odiham, Crondall and Hartley Wintney and will be a base for around ten officers, which will mean that the Police will be much more visible in Hook. Whilst the building work is underway, the Police residence in Bramshott Drive will provide a small temporary office. We also discussed the current disturbing level of vandalism in Hook, particularly in Community and Recreation and Play areas, and were glad to hear that the Police are building a database of events which will help them to predict the places and times where Police cover is required. These recent problems have not been in Neighbourhood Watch areas. Neighbourhood Watch now has 69 coordinators and 1,500 homes in the scheme so more than half of Hook is now covered. We all need to keep our eyes and ears open across the whole of Hook and report any concerns so as to help the Police to help us.

The scheme to demolish Pinecroft and Hazelcroft in Station Road and build twelve dwellings on the site was twice refused by Hart. The developer appealed on both schemes and those appeals have been dismissed. The Government appointed Planning Inspector was not too concerned about the number of dwellings or about the access but dismissed the appeal because he was concerned about the adverse impact the development would have on existing houses in Station Road, and in particular on houses in Gower Crescent. This is excellent news and the residents concerned certainly succeeded in making their point to the Inspector!

The Barratt appeal on the larger Foundry site, which will be heard at a public inquiry on 29th and 30th October is not a direct comparison, but the issues of impact on neighbours, traffic and parking are strong points in both cases.

The term of office of the entire Parish Council of twelve members runs out next May. In 1999 fifteen residents stood for the twelve seats, which gave residents a choice and encouraged new people to stand which is essential for the future of Hook. Three current members, including myself, were not members of the Council that was in office in 1998. A few of the present members may not stand again, so please do not assume that there are no opportunities! Nomination forms will need to be completed early in 2003, so if you are interested in finding out more please give one of us a ring, or just drop in to a Parish Council or Committee meeting and look and listen and think about the contribution you could make. Anyone can attend our meetings and arrive and leave at any time.

George Wimpey are making progress on the footpath and kerb work at the northern end of Holt Lane and have now started to build the show homes at Holt Park

Finally a reminder that the footpath through Hartletts Park will be closed on Saturday 9th November to coincide with the Hook School’s bonfire and fireworks. Please remove all cars from the Community Centre car park by 4.00pm, when the barrier at the entrance will be closed.

Antony Hunter

October  2002

Hampshire Highways attended our September meeting and we reviewed a number of initiatives with them. The traffic calming experiment in Reading Road has successfully reduced speeds and Highways are willing to cover the entire cost of a permanent scheme, and would then reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph. However a number of residents living in the centre of the scheme have concerns about the design of that section and feel that, particularly in peak hours, some drivers are racing for a particular gap. Further research will therefore take place before the scheme is made permanent. There has been concern for some time about the number of drivers using Sheldons Lane and the Northern section of Old Reading Road as a short cut and a traffic survey will be carried out over the next few weeks to count the number of vehicles involved and then consider any appropriate action. We also discussed the Newnham Road scheme and it was agreed that it may be advisable to make changes to the build-out near Carleton Close.

Sadly, once again this summer there has been mindless vandalism in the village. In the most recent incident three teenagers removed a newly installed seat from its foundations on the practice basketball court at the rear of the Community Hall and dumped it elsewhere in Hook. We hope, with the help of the Police, CCTV and a witness, who says that one of the culprits has a goatee beard, to be able to trace those responsible.

Detailed Planning Permission has now been granted for the first 110 houses at Holt Park. Building work will start in November and an on-site sales office will open at the same time. The layout and design of the houses marks a breakaway from traditional estate design, and access roads have been deliberately kept narrow and winding with substantial use of block paving in order to force traffic to move slowly. In the meantime work has started on altering the junction from the A 30. Wood from the trees that have been felled to form the access to Holt Park will be recycled into chippings for use on the footpaths in the Country Park.

The Planning Inspectorate has allowed the Appeal by T Mobile, formerly One-to-One, and granted permission for a slimline mast on the B3349 junction with the A30. The Inspector formed the view that the installation would not be harmful to the character of the area. He also concluded that although the Osborne Way mast would provide coverage to south Hook it could not provide coverage to north Hook for this operator. He considered the health issues, but decided that the installation met Government guidelines and that additional possible health concerns were not of sufficient weight to justify withholding approval.

Following Hart’s refusal of an amended planning application on the Foundry site Barratt’s ppeal will now definitely be held at The Civic Offices, Harlington Way, Fleet on 29th and 30th October starting at 10am. The Inquiry is open to the public.

The Hook School’s bonfire and fireworks will be held on Saturday 9th November and as usual the footpath through Hartletts Park will be closed, so as to ensure the route does not become a public right of way and because used fireworks will fall in the area. Please remove all cars from the Community Centre car park by 4pm when the barrier at the entrance will be closed.

Antony Hunter

September 2002

Work has started on new facilities near the Community Hall. The first phase involves installing a hard surface in place of the grassed area behind The Base which will improve vehicle and disabled access to the rear of the building. Two practice basketball hoops will be provided. The second phase, which will be carried out in September, involves the conversion of one of the four hard tennis courts to a five a side football pitch which will also have facilities for playing basketball. 

For a number of years we have had concerns about the condition of the War Memorial. Sections of stonework on the memorial itself and on the surrounding paving have deteriorated and much of the lettering has faded or become discoloured. We had hoped to restore the memorial before Remembrance Sunday this November but the small number of specialist contractors who do this type of work are all fully booked. The grassed area and flowerbeds are being tidied up now and the work on the memorial and garden fencing is being booked to be carried out in 2003.

Prior to commencing building houses at Holt Lane contractors are currently working on installing underground power cables which will replace the overhead pylons between The Cottages and the railway. The temporary disruption to the electricity supply that this involves can only take place in the summer when demand for electricity is low. The work is expected to take until the end of September and, because electricity is an essential service, the contractors are permitted to work on Sundays. Work to construct the access road to the new estate, which will be known as Holt Park, will be starting shortly and eventually access to the southern end of Holt Lane will be from a new junction on Holt Park. The building of the houses themselves is expected to start in November and will not involve Sunday working.

Hart District Council have refused permission for the revised application to build twelve houses on the site of Pinecroft and Hazelcroft in Station Road and the developer has lodged an appeal against the refusal of both this application and the original one.

Barratts appeal in connection with The Foundry site will be heard at a Public inquiry on 24th October.

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

Antony Hunter

July / August 2002

Hart District Council Chairman Jonathan Glen formally opened the new Elizabeth Hall play area on 31st May supported by a small army of children. The area is monitored by a CCTV camera both to protect it from vandalism and to discourage antisocial activity in the evenings.

The two pelican crossings are now in full use, though reinstatement of some of the verges is not yet complete. When a pedestrian pushes the button cameras on the crossing look for a gap in the traffic, and then switch the traffic lights to red. If there is no gap in the traffic the lights switch to red automatically after thirty seconds. Crossing the road by the butchers may take a little longer at peak times, but the massive improvement in road safety makes the short delay well worth the very small wait.

One2One have appealed against refusal of Planning Permission for the mast on the B3349 roundabout. The Parish Council and Hart District Council are opposing the appeal but letters from residents are really important so as to ensure that the government inspector appreciates the strength of local feeling. The mast would be visually intrusive and represent a possible health risk. Operators are required to share masts wherever possible but One2One have failed to give any reason why they cannot share the existing mast in Osborne Way. Letters should be sent to The Planning Inspectorate Room 3/08B, Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN to arrive no later than Wednesday 10th July.

Berkeley Homes have just advised us that the Holt Lane site has been taken over by Wimpey who will manage the development from now onwards. We had a good working relationship with the Berkeley team who always did their best to meet local concerns and, following an extensive discussion with Wimpey feel sure we will be able to develop a similar relationship with them. Apart from the change from Berkeley style houses to Wimpey style houses the plans for the development will continue unchanged. Wimpey expect to construct the access to the site from Holt Lane in August and September and to start building houses in November commencing at the northern end of the site.

Hedges around Hook are growing busily and in some cases the growth is obstructing pedestrians. If your hedge is in this category do please give it a haircut!

Antony Hunter

June 2002

At the Hart Local Elections Jonathan Glen and Andrew Henderson were re-elected to the District Council and are joined by Sean Haffey who was elected for the first time. All three now represent Hook and Rotherwick and we look forward to working with them in the interests of residents. Sean and Colleen and their two sons have lived in Hook since 1994. Hook owes much to Fergus Kirkham, who was not re-elected in May. Fergus has provided strong support and advice to the Parish and to many residents, particularly on Planning issues, in the eight years he has represented us.

The Village Garden and Cemetery was, and is, intended to be a quiet place for reflection and the memory of loved ones and was never intended as a through route to school. After complaints about noise and disturbance from a number of villagers the through route was recently closed by locking the gates near the school. Following a request at the Annual Village Meeting we have reconsidered the situation but have decided that use of the Garden and Cemetery should remain as originally intended.

The Dorchester Arms Junction now has traffic lights, at long last, after years of serious accidents going back to 1911, and pressure by Parish, District and County Councillors in support of residents. The formal opening ceremony took place in the rain on Monday 13th May attended by the Hampshire County Council team, District and Parish Council representatives, and local residents. The phasing of the lights may need adjusting once traffic flows have settled down. By the time Focus is distributed the two new Pelican crossings outside the butchers and in Griffin Way should also be complete.

There were some moments of local concern that a phone mast might be about to be installed when a concrete base appeared near the edge of the road at the A30 / B3349 roundabout in mid May. After some hasty checks we discovered that Hart are in the process of installing pollution monitoring equipment and a small cabin will soon be on site. The results of the air quality monitoring will be available on the Hart web site : www.hart.gov.uk.

The planned refit of the Elizabeth Hall Play area has now begun. Safety and general improvements to the play areas in Hartletts Park, John Morgan Close and Wellworth Park are also under way. Drainage improvements to the Wellworth Park play area will take place in June. We have received a number of complaints about the collapse of the wall between Wellworths and Wellworth Park and the gradual spread of building materials into the Park. The wall is Wellworth’s property and we are presssing them to rebuild it with all speed.

The hydrological survey of Holt Lane has now been provided showing how sewerage and rain water will be processed. The report shows that the cause of past flooding in Holt Lane during heavy rainfall has been the limited capacity of the piped culverts, silting up of the drainage ditch, and lack of maintenance. All these problems will be tackled as part of the development work.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 5th June at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter

May 2002

The Hart District Council Elections take place on Thursday 2nd May. Polling is at the Elizabeth Hall from 8am to 9pm. All the seats in the Council are up for election and some of the Ward boundaries have been changed. This means that Hook, currently represented by Andrew Henderson and Fergus Kirkham, will merge with Rotherwick, currently represented by Jonathan Glen to become a three seat Ward and electors will be able to vote for up to three candidates. The Parish Council much values its working relationship with our District Councillors and we hope that electors will take the opportunity to vote. The Parish Council seats will all be up for re-election in 2003.

It has long been established custom for a Parish Councillor to declare an interest and leave the room rather than take part in the discussion of an issue that impacts him or her personally more than any other villagers. A planning application by a neighbour would be the most common example. This custom has now been replaced by a formal code laid down by central government which means that Parish Councillors are subject to the same code as, for example, Birmingham City Council. Members are required to disclose their financial and other interests in connection with the village and the register is available for public inspection at Hart or by contacting Parish Clerk David Ridley on 768573.

The Dorchester Arms work is on schedule and is expected to be finished in May. The contractors will then move on to install the Pelican Crossings outside the butchers in the centre of the village and north of Ravenscroft on Griffin Way South. Although resurfacing in the centre of the village has been completed work is still be to done to install rumble paving round the centre of the mini roundabout in the middle of the village. By early June these three longstanding road safety problems will be resolved.

We continue to receive comments on the Reading Road traffic calming experiment. Alterations to the build out near the A30 are being designed so as to move it beyond the entrance to the car park and the junction with the B3349 will also be altered. A traffic survey carried out before the experiment was installed showed that a significant proportion of traffic was travelling in excess of 40mph on the central section of the road between John Morgan Close and Goose Lane. A survey carried out after three months shows that speeds have reduced by between 4mph and 8mph. Our aim, and that of Hampshire Highways, is to use the experiment to reduce speeds and eventually justify a reduction in the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph.

This report may reach you in time to remind you that the Annual Village meeting will take place in Elizabeth Hall on Tuesday 30th April 2002 starting at 8pm. The site plan for Holt Lane will be on display from 7.30pm.

Antony Hunter

April  2002

Four new dog bins are being installed in the Hartletts Park area and the Parish Council, in conjunction with Hart Dog Warden Lynn Byfield, is mounting an awareness campaign to encourage dog owners to clean up properly after their pet. Lynn will be visiting schools, preschool groups and clubs during April. Dog excrement is a significant health hazard to children which is one of the key reasons that owners who fail to clean up can be fined up to £1,000. Nose to Tail and the Ark Veterinary surgery have joined in the campaign and will have a supply of woopsie bags to give away. Once the free supplies run out bags can be bought from the pet shop.

The March Parish Council meeting included a session on current highway issues. Installation of traffic lights at the Dorchester Arms junction is now underway and most of the work will be carried out without the need for significant delays to traffic. The new pelican crossings outside the butchers and on Griffin Way South will be installed in late May. At some point during the contract resurfacing work will be carried out in the centre of Hook on two Sundays.

Highways share our view that some changes are needed to the Reading Road traffic calming scheme and it is likely that the pinch point near the A30 will be moved to beyond the entrance to the car park and that the turning onto the B3349 will be made less sharp.

Barratts have been required to produce an assessment to show how traffic would change if they were granted permission for the Foundry site and until they complete the study and submit it to Hart the application is effectively on hold.

Almost two hundred people came to look at the exhibition of the Holt Lane plans and the Parish Council’s comments have now gone to Hart. As previously mentioned outline permission was granted in November 2000 which means that the development will go ahead. We have asked that the design of the junction with the A30 at the top of Holt Lane be reconsidered and believe that a roundabout should be installed. Many residents have expressed concern about the likely increase in rat running through Pantile Drive and we have asked that either suitable measures be taken at once or, at the very least, that a traffic survey be carried out now so that any changes can be properly measured once the first phase of Holt Lane has been developed. We are still pressing for the results of a proper hydrological survey so as to be sure that all the necessary steps are taken to protect the country park along the River Whitewater and the river itself.

The Annual Village Meeting will take place on Tuesday 30th April at the Elizabeth Hall starting at 8pm. This is your opportunity to hear about Parish Council activities and to ask questions so we are hoping for a good turnout.

The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Wednesday 3rd April at the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter

March 2002

A number of residents have provided us with feedback on the traffic calming experiment in Reading Road. Opinions vary from those who believe the scheme is unnecessary to those who feel that much more radical action is needed even to the extent of closing the road completely. Most opinions seem to be in favour of a scheme, but with a feeling that the design of the experiment needs some changes We will be discussing the experiment and other highway issues with Douglas Hill from Hampshire Highways at our next Parish Council Meeting on 6th March. Villagers are always welcome to attend our meetings , and we hope to see some of you at the highways session.

Hart District Council are in the process of refusing permission for One2One to install a mobile phone mast on the A30 junction with the B3349 on the basis that fundamentally the application is no different from the one that was made last year. Hopefully One2One will now apply to share the existing mast in Osborne Way. Hart are in the process of considering the Barratt application for development of the Foundry site. Hampshire County Council have been consulted and have required Barratts to submit an assessment of the likely traffic impact of their proposals.

Berkeley Homes, who will be developing the Holt Lane site on which outline planning permission was granted in November 2000, are in the process of applying for detailed planning permission for the first phase of the development which will be at the northern end of the site. Arrangements have been made for the plans to be on public display in the Community Hall in Ravenscroft between 6pm and 7.30pm on Thursday 28th February. Representatives of Berkeley Homes and the Parish Council will be present to answer questions.

Work on the installation of traffic signals at the Dorchester Arms junction starts on 25th February and is expected to take two months. The same contractors will also be installing the Pelican crossings in Griffin Way South and outside the butchers in the village centre.

We recognise that the Elizabeth Hall play area is in need of a major refit, so following research into the equipment produced by various manufacturers ideas were on view for several weeks in the Elizabeth Hall. We are grateful for the helpful feedback from mothers and the children themselves. Deputy Parish Clerk Anne Atkins and the Amenities Committee are now working to obtain firm quotes for a suitable scheme which recognises the fact that it would be popular with children to have different styles of play equipment in our various play areas.

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

Antony Hunter

February 2002

The Old Foundry site on the A30 is zoned for residential use and Barratts have now applied for permission for a mix of apartments and town houses on the site making a total of sixty dwellings. Around a hundred residents came to the Community Hall at short notice to look at the plans which were discussed at the Parish Council meeting the following evening. Although Government guidelines require higher density on this sort of site we agree with villagers that the height of the buildings, number of dwellings and likely number of cars are more than should be allowed and we are requesting Hart refuse the application.

Hampshire Highways have almost completed installing the traffic calming experiment in Old Reading Road. In recent years we have had numerous complaints about both the speed of the traffic and the fact that many of the vehicles should not be using the road at all since it is an access only route. Once the trial has been underway for a few months we will be reviewing the results in discussion with Highways and a joint decision for the future will then be made.

A number of residents seriously considered standing for the vacant Parish Council seat but only one finally decided to stand. Nigel Carpenter was elected unopposed and we are delighted to welcome him to the Parish Council. Nigel has lived in Hook for 16 years and his two married children and two grandchildren also live in Hook. He has been an active member of Hook Action Group.

At their meeting on 16th January Hart District Council Development Control Committee unanimously refused planning permission for the demolition of Pinecroft and Hazelcroft in Station Road and the construction of 12 houses. Strong local public opinion was an important factor in helping councillors to decide that the buildings would be too tall with too many houses for the size of the site.

In July 2001, following 197 letters of objection from residents, Hart refused an application from One2One for a mobile phone mast on the junction of the B3349 and the A30. One2One have reapplied for the same site with minor changes to the details. Operators are required to share masts whenever possible but One2One have produced no evidence of any efforts thay have made to share either the Orange mast in Osborne Way or the Cellnet mast at the Coach House garden centre. Residents are objecting again and the Parish Council is requesting Hart to refuse the application and require One2One to remove the equipment that they have left lying at the Railway Station since last winter. 

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

Antony Hunter

January 2002

More than the necessary ten residents have requested that a by-election be held to fill the vacancy on the Parish Council created by the resignation of Michael Clark. Nominations must be submitted to Hart District Council by 11th January 2002 and, if the election is contested, polling day will be on Thursday 7th February. We hope that a number of people will stand so as to give villagers a choice of candidates. If you would like to know more about the role of being a Parish Councillor do please give one of us a ring. Nomination forms can be obtained from Hart on 01252 622122 ext 4557 or by ringing David Ridley on 768573 or Anne Atkins on 768687.

So far two sections of footpath have been identified as needing repair. One is behind Goose Green where the surface is uneven and two narrow bridges are in poor condition. The other, which is a favourite of dog walkers, is north of Mead Hatchgate where the path crossing the stream has become extremely muddy. Hampshire Highways will provide the materials for the work but have asked us to raise half a dozen volunteers to do the work. If you would like to help please ring Anne Atkins on 768687

We recently had an informal meeting with Barratt Homes who are about to apply for Planning Permission to construct a mix of 25 flats and 35 townhouses on the Old Foundry site. Current intentions are that the flats will be on the London Road frontage and the majority of the houses, constructed in terraced form, grouped round a central courtyard. Barratts have offered to attend a public meeting once the application has gone in so as to give villagers a chance to look at the plans and ask them questions. This is likely to take place between mid January and mid February so please keep an eye on the notice boards in Grand Parade, on the footpath from the A30 to the schools, and outside the Community Hall for the date and time.

October Focus mentioned an application to demolish Pinecroft and Hazelcroft in Station Road and build twelve townhouses on the site. Following objections from a number of residents and the Parish Council, Hart suggested to the developer that he change the plans so as to apply for smaller and lower dwellings but he has declined to make any significant changes. Hart’s Development Control Committee will consider the application in late December and our District Councillor Fergus Kirkham will be proposing that the application is refused.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Wednesday 16th January 2002 in the Community Hall at 8pm.

Antony Hunter