Hook Parish Council

Hook Parish Council: Monthly Bulletins 2005

December  2005

Our hope and indeed firm expectation, was that this month’s article would include news that the one hour band was to be reinstated in our Car Park and that the night charge had been removed. Sadly, despite a strong case put forward by our District Councillor with support from Odiham and Hartley Wintney, Hart Cabinet deferred a decision until December, requesting the Officers to provide further information, particularly as to the impact that our desired changes would have on income. The discussion lasted in excess of two hours. It seems to us that there is a view within Hart that all car parks should have the same tariff structure. The current structure appears to meet the needs of people parking in the more urban areas where there are opportunities for longer shopping trips and evening activities. Such opportunities do not exist in Hook, Hartley Wintney and Odiham, which need a different tariff structure to suit the different needs of their Car Park customers. The public are permitted to listen to the debate, which will resume in the Council Chamber at Hart on Thursday 1st December at 7pm.

The road works in Elms Road have inevitably caused some disruption around the junction with the A30 because of the extent of the resurfacing that was needed. When a new estate is built the developer is responsible for constructing the roads to approved standards prior to the Local Authority taking on responsibility for maintenance. Up until the mid 1970s Elms Road, which was not constructed to modern standards, was an unmade road. Over the last thirty years, since it acquired a hard surface, it has suffered wear and tear way beyond that originally intended, particularly on the section between the A30 and Nightingale Gardens. A reminder that Elms Road, and surrounding roads, is access only and that through traffic is prohibited! Kerbing work is now underway in Newnham Road: resurfacing of that road is due to start around Monday 5th December

The developer who applied for permission to build on the site of The Bungalow in London Road has withdrawn his original appeal against Hart’s refusal of Planning Permission. However he has lodged a fresh appeal against Hart’s failure to make a decision by September 2005 on the revised application to build 11 units which he made in April 2005. In the meantime he has given notice that he intends to demolish the existing bungalow that currently occupies the site. Given that the appeal is not likely to be heard for a year and that, whatever the outcome, the site will be empty for up to two years we have asked Hart to stipulate that a 1.8m high close boarded fence is put up between the site and the A30.

Nominations for the vacant seat on the Parish Council close as Focus goes to press and the names of the candidate(s) will be posted on the Parish Council notice board shortly. If the seat is contested, the Election will be held on Thursday 15th December. As usual our Polling Station will be at Elizabeth Hall between 8am and 9pm.

Antony Hunter

November  2005

Those who attended the Annual Village Meeting will recall that the most controversial question on the agenda related to the increase in Reading Road Car Park charges. Hart’s decision to remove the opportunity to buy a ticket to park for one hour has meant that anyone wishing to visit the doctor, dentist or to make more than a swift visit to a shop or a school is now required to pay £1 to park for two hours rather than 30p to park for one hour under the old tariff. Following considerable adverse reaction to the new charges we have been lobbying our District Councillors to reintroduce the option of paying for one hour, removing the new charge for parking before 9am and removing the new charge for evening parking. It’s clear that, as we feared, the impact of the changes has been to increase the number of cars parked in residential roads round the centre of Hook whilst the car park remains underused. Hart Cabinet will revisit the topic of car park charges in early November and we are pressing for the new tariff to reflect the needs of users so as to encourage cars back into the car park and off the surrounding residential roads.

October Parish Council meeting included our quarterly meeting with Highways. Plans to reconstruct sections of Elms Road have been delayed but it is now likely that work will commence towards the end of October. The plans to reduce the speed limit in Reading Road from the junction with the A30 to the B3349 from 40mph to 30mph are progressing and expectations are that the reduction will not only reduce traffic speeds but also reduce the number of cars rat running at peak times. The new traffic scheme on the A30 at Water End has reduced speeds significantly from 72mph to 62mph. The Police are happy with the new layout but a safety audit will be carried out shortly. Highways are investigating concerns about speeds on Holt Lane because use of the lower end of the lane, which has no pavement, by pedestrians and dog owners is increasing as Holt Park becomes occupied. The woods at the far end are proving attractive to children and families and many believe there is a potential road safety problem. Regular flooding occurs at the bus stop near Geoffreys House as a result of inadequate work by Thames Water. Highways are pressing Thames Water to sort out the problem but will do a temporary repair in the meantime.

Antony Hunter

October  2005

All homes will shortly receive by post a special edition of Hampshire Now which contains three options for the number of houses that might be built in Hart over the next twenty years. Two of the options would build 3,200 houses, representing about the same annual rate that has been built in recent years, on land already earmarked for housing and on previously used (brownfield) land, whilst the third option would build 5,600 houses 2,400 of which would be built on Greenfield sites. Included in the document is a questionnaire which you are strongly requested to return. The Government allows very little discussion on this topic so it is really important to take this opportunity of expressing a view.

We have recently received a Planning Application to build two houses in the garden of The Holt. This site has quite a history as originally application was made for four houses in the garden and seven in the orchard. Eventually permission was granted for five in the orchard. If this application were to be granted, the total number of houses at seven would be a big improvement on the original application for eleven. We do have a concern about the height and mass of these two proposed houses and the impact they would have on one particular neighbour. Whilst the proposed development and the five already granted are unwelcome we have to recognise that the development at Holt Park has moved the boundary of Hook, so it follows that an application of this sort is far more likely to be granted on appeal, if refused by Hart, than would have been the case ten years ago.

As Focus goes to press a revised application has been received for The Bungalow which will have been discussed by the Parish Council on 21st September. We dropped letters to those who objected to the previous plans and arranged for the plans to be on display at the Parish Council Office on Saturday 17th September. Because this is an amended application the time for comment will have expired by the time Focus is published.

An aerial survey of Hook was undertaken in the summer and we have bought a copy. The information will be particularly useful in assessing Planning Applications as it will allow us to assess the impact of a proposal on neighbours much more easily.

The Christmas Cracker could not take place last year but it will return on Friday 2nd December from 5.30pm until 8.30pm. Sue Gibson and her team are well ahead with plans for the event and the Parish Council is providing new Christmas lights above the chemist and Grand Parade including the winning designs from the schools' competition held in September. Station Road will be legally closed from the A30 to Bell Meadow Road from 4pm until 9pm but passes will be provided to residents on that section of road to allow them to return home at low speed under supervision of Marshals. Volunteer Marshals prepared to help for an hour or more are essential to the smooth running of the event. Please offer to help by contacting Sue on 07962 118994.

The Police have now moved in to the new beat office at Dickson House. Anyone wishing to talk to an officer is welcome to drop in on Wednesdays from 4.30pm until 7pm or on Saturdays from 10am until 2pm. These times may be reviewed after Hart Voluntary Action move into the ground floor and depending on how popular these "surgeries" become.

Antony Hunter

September  2005

We were delighted to welcome around sixty people to the Community Event on 16th July at which Sentinel Housing, Hart Voluntary Action and Neighbourhood Watch provided information desks. The organisations concerned and those who spoke to them all felt the event provided a useful communication opportunity. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Parish Council stands were designed as specific consultation displays. The Wildlife Trust’s plan to fence the main sections of the common, whilst preserving access for walkers and riders so as to allow grazing, was very well received. A number of helpful and supportive comments were made about the Parish Plan, both at the meeting and by the formal closing date of 31st July, which are now being incorporated into the final version. The plan is still on our web site for those who have not yet had a chance to read it.

The Police are currently moving their Beat Office into Dickson House in London Road. Hart Voluntary Action move in on 20th September and will operate from the front half of the ground floor and manage the reception desk. Hook will benefit because the Police will be more visible in the Community as they come and go and we understand they plan to run surgery sessions so that it will be possible to talk to an officer face to face.

The public footpaths around Shirlen’s Copse, the wood off Great Sheldon’s Coppice between Mead Hatch Gate and Washbrook, are popular with dog walkers. The copse itself is private property and there is no public right of way into it or through it. However as a result of vandalism by trespassers and lack of maintenance by the owners, certain of the trees may have become unstable.

All premises are required to apply for an amended or new licence if they wish to continue to sell alcohol after November. Licences will be granted by Hart District Council rather than by Magistrates, as was the case in the past. The new licensing regime allows applicants to apply for much longer and more varied hours, but there is much greater scope for residents, the Police and Environmental Health to ask for a licence to be reviewed if antisocial behaviour takes place. Licence Applications are being posted on the Parish Council notice board near Casa Flora as we receive them. As mentioned on the notices, comments should be sent to Hart with a copy to the Parish Council Office.

There have been a number of serious road accidents on the A30 at Water End, Nately Scures, recently including several fatalities. The stretch of road is in Newnham, rather than Hook, but is widely used by Hook residents so we have been taking an interest in plans to make the road safer. Highways have implemented the swiftest and cheapest solution by narrowing the road to one lane in both directions and providing turning lanes. Early indications are that some drivers are being taken by surprise despite the warning signs, so clearly this will take some time to settle down. We will be obtaining an update from Highways at our next meeting with them in October.

A number of pedestrians, particularly mothers taking children to and from school, have expressed concern that some vehicles entering and leaving the Total Garage in London Road do not appreciate that they are effectively crossing a pavement. The unusual kerb layout is probably the cause. Highways have painted dotted white lines across the entrances to make it clearer to drivers that pedestrians have the right of way. We would welcome feedback on this change.

Antony Hunter

July / August 2005

A Community Event will take place on Saturday 16th July. The draft Parish Plan will be on display at the Community Centre from 10am to 4pm and Parish Councillors will be on hand to discuss your comments. The plan will also be on the Parish Council web site from 17th July prior to the final version being submitted to Hart in the autumn. Our aim is that the plan will be adopted by Hart as part of the planning guidance process, so protecting our environment and laying down standards to be met by any development, however small. Hampshire Wildlife Trust will also be at the event to explain and discuss their proposals to fence parts of Hook Common. An article by Hampshire Wildlife Trust appears elsewhere in Focus. Neighbourhood Watch will have a stand providing an opportunity for people who live in roads that are not yet covered by the scheme to find out more about this very successful programme. Sentinel Housing Association and Hart Voluntary Action will also be attending.

July will mark the move of our local Police into Dickson House in London Road. An article by Inspector Sarah Jackson appears elsewhere in Focus. A key result of the change is that Police officers will be more visible within the community as they travel in and out of their new base.

It would help if parents would encourage their cycle riding children to park their bikes safely rather than leave them lying on the pavement where they cause a hazard to pedestrians pushchairs and the elderly! Cycle stands are provided outside Trees and in Grand Parade and will soon be installed at the Community Centre and the Skate park.

Hart are about to start a consultation process to help decide on the future organisation of the Refuse Collection service. At present 25% of our rubbish is recycled but central government targets require this figure to rise to 33% next year and eventually to 50%. The aim of the consultation is to gauge public opinion as to how the target can be met. Local Authorities that do not meet the targets will suffer a hefty fine which would inevitably result in an increase in Council Tax.

Hampshire County Council are starting a consultation on a proposal to reduce the speed limit on the B3349 between Hook and Mattingley from 50 mph to 40 mph for safety reasons

Our District Councillors have taken on board the problems that have been created by the new charging structure at Reading Road (Crossways) car park. No decision to amend the tariff has yet been made and any change would require Hart Cabinet approval but we have received a highly sympathetic hearing and are optimistic that changes to the pricing structure will be take place.

Antony Hunter

June  2005

We were pleased to see a larger attendance at this year’s Annual Village Meeting. Feedback from those who came has been very favourable. The various displays and the opportunity to talk informally with organisations such as the Police and Highways were well received, as was the opportunity to submit questions in advance. The most controversial question on the agenda related to the increase in Car Park charges. The removal of a price for one hour’s parking means that anyone wishing to visit the doctor, dentist or to make more than a swift visit to a shop or a school is now required to pay £1 to park for two hours rather than 30p to park for one hour under the old tariff. We are aware of considerable adverse reaction to the new charges and our District Councillors are addressing the topic with Hart. It’s clear that the impact of the change is to increase the number of cars parked in the roads round the centre of Hook which is a situation that is in the interests of no one.

Few can have failed to notice the larger Police activity about Hook in recent weeks. Their objective is to talk informally to people about their views so bringing our Police closer to the Community. The project has also given Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators the opportunity to see the Police at work. Police Officers have also been giving talks in all our schools.

The Parish Plan is progressing well and we will have a display on Saturday 16th July at the Community Centre to provide an opportunity for everyone to come and look at the proposals and comment on them. Hampshire Wildlife Trust will share the event with us because they are proposing to fence parts of Hook Common so as to balance the needs of animals and walkers.

South East Water has mounted a publicity campaign to encourage people to use water sensibly. They say that following a dry winter underground water resources are well below average for this time of year.

We have a responsibility to provide parking at the Community Centre for disabled badge holders and the yellow markings on the disabled spaces have recently been renewed, which we hope will deter able people from selfishly parking in those areas. In the short term, registration numbers will be logged and a note will be placed on the windscreen of those who park in disabled spaces without showing a disabled badge, but it may be necessary to introduce clamping.

Highways recently carried out speed checks in Newnham Road at our request and they advise us that traffic is travelling at acceptable speeds in relation to the speed limit. A recent check on traffic speeds in Reading Road has shown that speeds have now reduced to the level at which a reduction in the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph can be justified. Highways are now starting the necessary consultations, including contact with the Police, but it is likely to be some months before the lower limit could come into force.

Antony Hunter

May 2005

Many have commented favourably on the increased Police presence in and around Hook in recent weeks, which is part of their concerted campaign against vehicle crime and burglaries in North Hampshire for which people from outside the County are believed to be responsible. We expect to be able to give you some tangible information as to the results of this initiative later in the year.

The Hook Parish Plan is moving ahead and is now in draft form. After some more editing work it will be available on the Parish Council Web site for public comment and we plan a display day in early July which will provide an opportunity to talk with the team that has put the plan together as well as a chance to provide written comment.

Careless drivers continue to damage the bollards in Grand Parade which we installed to protect both the mosaic and pedestrians. Once again they need reseating which costs £250 each time we have to do it. After much research we have decided to install two bollards with very deep foundations known as "Guardsmen". There is no doubt that in the event of an attack by the bumper of a 4 x 4 the "Guardsman" will win. Although the cost will be almost £1,000 the "Guardsmen" will be a cost effective solution given the current rate of damage to the ordinary bollards which have already been re-seated twice.

An application to demolish The Bungalow in London Road and build 13 dwelling units on the site was refused by Hart following objections by the Parish Council and numerous residents. The Developer has since appealed and the appeal will be heard towards the end of the year. However as Focus goes to press we know that a new application to build 12 units on the site has just been received by Hart and will be with us shortly. The Parish Council Planning Committee will consider the application when we receive it but it is most important that residents who have an opinion on the Application write to Hart and express their view because letters sent in respect of the previous proposal cannot be carried over to the new application.

At the very far end of Osborn Way is a large industrial site much of which has been empty for some years, whilst the remainder has been used by Case to store diggers pending their eventual delivery to buyers. These yellow diggers have been easily seen from the train as it reaches Hook from London. The owners of the site have now applied for outline Planning Permission to redevelop it by building new industrial units. The site naturally has existing permission for industrial use but our serious concern is that any redevelopment would produce much more traffic and put massive pressure on the junction of Osborn Way and Station Road. Station Road at that point is always busy being a main access to both Tesco and the Station itself. Access from a new roundabout on Griffin Way South would be a much better solution. However any developer scheme for redevelopment will probably take some time to become a firm proposal.

The Parish Council now has both a Complaints Procedure and Financial Regulations in place. Copies can be viewed at the Parish Council Office at the Community Centre between 9am and 12 noon Monday to Friday or at other times by prior arrangement.

Antony Hunter

April 2005

Don’t forget the Annual Village Meeting on Thursday 21st April at 8pm at the Elizabeth Hall. The informal start to the evening will include exhibitions by the Elizabeth Hall Development Committee, the Parish Council, the Police, Hart and Highways. Parish and District Councillors will be on hand for an informal chat. Feedback from those who attended last year was that insufficient time was allowed for questions so this year there will be no formal presentations and your questions will be the priority at the meeting itself which will start about 8.45. It will help us to make sure we cover the issues of greatest importance and research them where necessary if questions are submitted by 14th April, either by email to clerk@hook.gov.uk or by letter to the Parish Council Office. Written questions submitted on arrival and oral questions at the meeting will be covered if time permits. Please do come along!

The results of the Village Questionnaire showed a number of people would like Hook to have a permanent library. Although ranked quite low, at 26th out of 42 in the list of facilities that would make Hook a good place to live, we have taken this idea up with Hampshire County Council who tell us that they have no plans and no budget to increase the number of conventional libraries that they provide. The number of readers using the Mobile Library in the Reading Road car park, which will call on Wednesdays from 1st April, is encouraging but Hampshire tell us that usage of the other Mobile, which makes short stops in various locations, is low though they have not yet been able to provide us with figures. The new timetable for the Mobile Libraries is published elsewhere in Focus but Hampshire decided some time ago to analyse all the stops on their entire mobile network during 2005. It is important that we take every opportunity to use the Mobile service.

Some 90 people attended the recent presentation by District Councillors Jonathan Glen and Stephen Gorys on the South East England Regional Assembly’s plans for development in the South East. The plan forecasts in excess of 5,000 new houses every year until 2025 in the area bordered by Slough, Basingstoke, Newbury and Reading despite the fact that road, rail and educational facilities are already stretched to breaking point.

The prospect of such a vast number of new houses is serious enough but more serious still is the fact that although the plan mentions the need for infrastructure improvements, no funding is allocated to enable radical improvements to be made before any houses are built. The most serious problem of all is that our area is already close to using the maximum amount of water that is available. Waste disposal and sewage treatment facilities are out of capacity and the quality of our rivers is under threat.

The meeting, with just one dissenter, overwhelmingly condemned the way in which SEERA are pushing ahead on a tight timescale, providing limited information and without proper consultation as totally undemocratic. SEERA will shortly deliver a leaflet to every house: do please take a few minutes to write a letter, however brief, to SEERA, Berkeley House, Cross Lanes, Guildford GU1 1UN before 15th April.

Hampshire Police will shortly, with the help of Neighbourhood Watch, be delivering a leaflet to every house providing information on how to contact the Police in different sets of circumstance. As part of the communication exercise the Police will be carrying out liaison work with schools and households. The Police station is scheduled to open in June.

Hart District Council is holding a Graffiti Busting Week from 18th to 22nd April in Partnership with Parishes, Hampshire Youth Service and the Police. Although there have been no new major incidents recently it would help the clean up campaign if outstanding cases could be reported to Hart by telephone on 01252 774476.

Antony Hunter

March 2005

We are using a different formula for the 2005 Annual Village Meeting on 21st April at the Elizabeth Hall at 8pm. The evening will start with a display of exhibits to walk around, particularly the plans for the new Elizabeth Hall. The Police and Highways will also have information stands. Last year’s minutes are now posted on the Web and copies will be available at the meeting but they will not be read out. There will be no presentations by Parish or District Councillors so the time at the formal meeting, which will commence around 8.45, will be spent on answering your questions. We ask that questions be submitted in advance, either by email to clerk@hook.gov.uk or by letter to the Parish Office by 14th April so that we can research the answers where necessary, allocate each question to the person best qualified to answer it, and ensure that we concentrate on issues that cause the most interest. Questions that arrive after that date or are not submitted in advance will be covered at the end if time remains available.

Feedback from those who attended the Village Questionnaire results presentation was that both the event and the research were very worthwhile. Around 14% of homes completed the survey and the average age of those who responded at 50 is close to the average age of adults in Hook. This is a good response rate for this type of research and is large enough for the data to be reliable. 83% of those who replied were either Very (27%) or Fairly (56%) Satisfied with Hook as a place to live. Medical and Veterinary Services and Education were all regarded as highly important and had high satisfaction levels. Among facilities provided by the Parish Council Parks and Open Spaces were regarded as highly important and with high satisfaction levels indicating that we should continue to put resource into those facilities. Most of the areas about which respondents had concerns are not within our direct control but are topics where we have to influence others to take action. These include antisocial behaviour, graffiti, vandalism and a more visible Police presence. The Police station is under construction again so it should not be long before the Police are more visible, as Officers come and go between Hook and the neighbouring communities.

Following a recent item in Focus six residents have asked us to arrange to provide Allotments and we have a duty under the Allotments Act 1908 to use our "best endeavours" to do so. In line with the national post war drop in the demand for allotments, the original Hook allotments ceased to be available in the 1960s and were redeveloped as Grand Parade. There is no alternative land available for allotments in Hook but Basingstoke and Deane have agreed that Hook residents may rent allotments from them at Churchill Way. Leaflets are available from the Parish Office.

Julie Ridley, who has provided excellent secretarial and administrative support to us in a range of, theoretically part time, roles for the last six years has decided to move on and concentrate on her other part time role. We are very grateful to Julie and wish her well in her new full time post. We are delighted to welcome Marian Bright as our new Parish Administrator as from 1st March.

Antony Hunter

February 2005

Although the recent referendum in connection with the setting up of a Regional Assembly for the North East attracted national press publicity it is not widely known that the Government set up a non-elected South East Regional Assembly in 2000. The Assembly consisting of 111 members nominated by local councils, environmental, business and economic groups, reports to the office of the Deputy Prime Minster. A key responsibility of the Assembly is to prepare the South East Plan covering all aspects of life in the South East. County and District Councillor Jonathan Glen will describe the role of the Assembly and the Plan at an open meeting to be held at the Community Centre in Ravenscroft on Thursday 17th February starting at 8pm. Residents in Hook, Odiham and Hartley Wintney are all being invited.

The landscaping at the corner of Grand Parade has now been reinstated and we hope that the higher kerb and widened entrance will successfully protect the planting from vehicles. We are now trying to find a more durable type of bollard to place along the edge of the main garden area as the existing ones have been steadily losing the battle against the bumpers of four-by-four jeeps.

The first phase of eighty four houses at Holt Park is now complete and largely occupied but the twenty-six "affordable" houses and apartments in phase one have still to be constructed because Housing Associations, Hart and George Wimpey have yet to reach a joint point of view on a range of issues. We are keen to see the piece of land involved, which is at the very north of the site and part of the original Planning Permission, developed as soon as possible before it becomes an eyesore. Until it is developed the play and recreation areas close by which are funded by George Wimpey cannot be installed for safety reasons. The Planning permission for Holt Park included a shuttle bus service to link the development with Hook Centre, the station and Tesco but although the bus should already be running Hampshire County Council have yet to find an operator for the service. We are continuing to work with those involved to resolve these outstanding issues.

The Annual Village Meeting will be on Thursday 21st April at The Elizabeth Hall at 8pm. As mentioned in January Focus we will be trying out a new formula for this year’s meeting. More information and details of how to submit a question in advance of the meeting will follow in March and April issues of Focus.

The Elizabeth Hall Redevelopment Committee has successfully obtained outline Planning Permission for the new building and is now moving towards selecting Project Managers who will appoint a Design and Build Company so as to progress the project to the next stage. As always expected the next phase will require Parish Council funding so the Redevelopment Committee, with unchanged membership, has now become a Parish Council Working Party. An update on progress will be provided in the Parish Council Annual Report and at the Annual Village meeting.

We are delighted to welcome Tim Colman as our new Parish Councillor. Tim was elected unopposed. 

Antony Hunter

January 2005

We have now received the results of the Questionnaire that was distributed with the Parish Council Annual Report in the spring. An encouraging 376 surveys were returned representing almost 14% of homes. The average age of respondents is in line with the average age of adults in Hook. Given the number of surveys returned and the age match we can be confident that the results are representative of our collective views. The survey was generously designed and analysed for us without charge by leading market research group N O P World. The results will be presented at an open meeting at the Elizabeth Hall on Tuesday 25th January at 8pm so do come along to find out about the aspects of life in Hook that people care about most and their levels of satisfaction! The results of the survey will provide key input to the Hook Village Plan which we need to complete by the middle of 2005 so that we can demonstrate a local policy covering essential aspects such as future development and the preservation of open spaces.

We are planning a new formula for the 2005 Annual Village Meeting. The evening will start with a display of key local projects, particularly the plans for the new Elizabeth Hall. Last year’s minutes will be posted on the Web and copies will be available but they will not be read out at the meeting itself. There will be no presentations by Parish or District Councillors so the time at the meeting itself will be spent on answering your questions. We will ask for questions to be submitted in advance so that we can research the answers where necessary, allocate each question to the person best qualified to answer it, and ensure that we concentrate on issues that cause the most concern. Questions that are not submitted in advance will be covered at the end if time remains available.

Sadly the pond on the corner of Carleton Close has suffered once again from fly tipping. Apart from grass cuttings and general junk a substantial quantity of tree prunings, all far too large to have been taken there in a domestic wheelbarrow, have recently been dumped. These have now been removed at tax payer’s expense. We have anecdotal evidence from a number of sources as to the identity of the culprit but need a witness who actually saw the material being dumped if we are to prosecute. Please give us a ring if you can help and keep an eye out to help us spot any future offence taking place. The area will shortly be strimmed and we hope to develop the Wildlife pond idea in the spring with the help of Hampshire Wildlife Trust.

In recent years the Parish Council Garden and Cemetery Committee, meeting twice a year, has made decisions on all cemetery issues. We have decided to abolish this separate Committee. In future cemetery topics will be discussed by the Amenities Committee which meets monthly.

In mid 2004 an application to demolish The Bungalow in London Road was refused by Hart following objections by residents as well as the Parish Council. We have had no further news since then but the developer has now appealed. It is crucial that we fight and win this appeal. Letters need to be with Planning Inspectorate by 31st December. 

Antony Hunter