Hook Parish Council

Hook Parish Council: Monthly Bulletins 2007

December 2007

McCarthy and Stone, who are well known as developers of accommodation for the elderly, are preparing a planning application to demolish 25 to 31 Sheldons Road and build 41 units on the site. They exhibited their draft scheme to the public on 6th November. The main concerns mentioned at the well attended event concerned the bulk and mass of the proposed building which in places was designed to have three stories. The result would be a building with an overbearing impact on the other side of Sheldons Road and also, because of the lie of the land, on houses in Middle Mead. Concern was also expressed that, although people living in communities designed for the elderly tend to have fewer cars, one parking space per three units would not be sufficient. A planning application has yet to be submitted.

Some sixty residents attended an exhibition organised by Sentinel Housing who wish to build eighty-six units for the elderly on a Greenfield site off Owens Farm Lane. The first the Parish Council knew of the idea was just a week before Sentinel’s public exhibition. Whilst very sympathetic to the needs of elderly residents of Hook the gathering totally condemned the proposal for a wide range of reasons. The site, which is outside the Hook settlement boundary, is very remote with no facilities within realistic walking distance so hardly suitable for the elderly. The density of the eighty-six proposed dwellings is far too high and at almost fifty to the hectare is even denser than Holt Park. Access would be along Hop Garden Road, which was deliberately built as a narrow road with traffic calming and so hardly a suitable route to serve additional housing. At present there is no planning application on which comments can be made but if one is submitted we will arrange for the plans to be on show on a Saturday morning. In the meantime we are making our views known to Sentinel and to Hart District Council. Sentinel already own Gregory House in Elms Road which is within easy reach of all the facilities in central Hook so we hope they will take the logical route of providing modern accommodation for the elderly on that site.

The local press has carried comment about the six soldiers who died in 1940 attempting to defuse to defuse a wartime bomb by the railway in Nately Scures. South West Trains have agreed to the installation of a commemorative plaque in the Hook station ticket office which will be unveiled on Sunday 16th December at 11am.

We have had many favourable comments about the improvements to the footpath that runs from the back gate of the schools and into Hartletts Park. The previous sea of mud has now been replaced by a hard surface.

We would all agree that the recent level of antisocial behaviour has been totally unacceptable but on Halloween unacceptability reached a new peak when a number of youths smashed the window of a police car parked in Griffin Way South and pushed it into the railings above the underpass with the intention that it fall onto the footpath below. This is probably best described as "Criminal Damage with intent to Endanger Life." As a result of swift police action one youth was arrested and charged within four days. Two further arrests have followed. The police action continues and letters have been sent to parents of some ten other young persons known to have been in the immediate vicinity to arrange interview appointments.

Some thirty people attended the short service at the War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday. Hampshire Constabulary joined us and laid a wreath for the first time. Following consultation we have decided that the installation of low level posts and rails would make the setting of the memorial more complete.

Our gardening contractor, Goslings, has made a superb job of the new landscaping by Casa Flora which has been generously sponsored by Bell Cornwell.

Antony Hunter

November 2007

Footpath reconstruction work has just begun in Station Road and will take around six weeks to complete.  During that time traffic outside peak hours will be controlled by lights.  The work will include removal of the hedge between Berry Court and Raven Road which has severely inconvenienced pedestrians because the various owners have failed to maintain it.  Resurfacing of Station Road itself is scheduled to take place on four Sundays namely 11th 18th 25th November and 2nd December and on those days the road will be completely closed between Rectory Road and Griffin Way.  Diversions will be via Griffin Way South but access to Tesco will be still be possible from central Hook.  

Some 15 local volunteers took part in Community Speedwatch in December and April.  We recorded details of cars that were registered as exceeding the speed limit by roadside equipment and warning letters were then sent out by the Police.  The objective of the scheme was to improve road safety not to prosecute drivers.  We were one of four Hampshire parishes in the experiment.  Speeding did reduce by a small amount but the costs in terms of administration and technical support were significant and it is unlikely that sufficient volunteers could be found to extend the scheme.  However Hampshire has yet to make a decision on the future.  

 A recent request for a pedestrian crossing in Station Road near Tesco has now been evaluated by Highways.  Their survey shows that the number of people wishing to cross the road at that point is only 10% of the number needed to justify a crossing.  The evaluation is not just about cost but is based on the fact that if a crossing is installed but has insufficient use the road becomes more dangerous because drivers don’t expect pedestrians whilst pedestrians expect traffic to stop for them.  

Roads in Holt Park are in the process of being handed over by George Wimpey to Hampshire Highways and this involves certain work on kerbs and traffic calming.  The speed bumps installed by George Wimpey to slow construction traffic are being removed as they do not meet the standards required for a road that is adopted by Highways.  At the same time responsibility for the Country Park and play areas is passing from George Wimpey to the Parish Council.  Dog litter bins have now been installed at entrances to the Park.  The 13 hectare park, which is open to all, is reached from opposite the Crooked Billet and from Doctors Acre and Athoke Croft in Holt Park.  

The cycleway from central Hook to Holt Park is almost complete but unfortunately the supplier of the lights cannot provide them until early 2008.  

Over the past few months the pond in Newnham Road has been excavated down to a clay base and reshaped.  In conjunction with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust we will be spotting the plants and animals that appear in the pond and publishing an update from time to time.  

On Saturday 29th September the Police mounted a crackdown on antisocial behaviour and underage drinking.  Ten Police officers including three in plain clothes, supported by our Community Warden and myself, patrolled Hook between 7pm and midnight.  Names and addresses were taken from a considerable number of teenagers, some were searched for drugs and in one case at 11.15pm parents were telephoned.  By 11pm around 40 teenagers, mostly aged about 15, had congregated in the Elizabeth Hall Play Area.  Some of them could only be described as drunk and a large number of empty bottles and cans were cleared away afterwards at your expense.  The police confiscated some 50 cans of beer which had been hidden away around the site.  There is surely a clear need for certain parents to take more interest in the evening activities of their sons and daughters.  

Hartletts Park will be closed from 12noon on Saturday 3rd November for the annual HSPA Fireshow.  Please remove all cars from the Community Centre car park by 4pm on that day as the car park is the fall out area.

Antony Hunter

October 2007

At present Newnham Road has a 30mph limit within Hook which changes to a derestricted 60mph just after Seton Drive and then becomes 40mph at the entry to Newnham.  Accidents in Newnham itself have been frequent along with crashes into the railway fence and private property.  Research shows that the change from 30mph to 60mph and then to 40mph has caused confusion to drivers.  We have been working with Highways and Newnham Parish Council for some time to find a solution.  It is now agreed that the whole of Newnham Road and Newnham itself will be subject to a 30mph limit.  The necessary legal process is under way and the change is expected to take place by the end of the year.

We have been concerned for some time about the scruffy state of the piece of land in Grand Parade between Casa Flora and the bus stop in London Road.  Thanks to generous support from Bell Cornwell we will be undertaking landscaping and replanting in this area during October.

The piece of land at the junction of Bramshott Drive and Bell Meadow Road still belongs to the developer who built the houses some forty years ago.  They have never maintained it and for over thirty years we have been cutting the grass and carrying out other occasional work when residents have pressed us to do so.  The developer has finally accepted that the land is of no value to him and after years of negotiation he has agreed to transfer it to us which means that we can now legally include it on our regular maintenance schedule.

We are delighted that teenagers have much welcomed the installation of floodlighting at the Multicourt in Hartletts Park and that it is well used.  We continue to be asked for a replacement skatepark because the current one is both out of date and coming to the end of its useful life.  A further request is for a teen shelter.  All of that costs money.  Sadly, it seems that a significant number of those who are asking for more facilities have also been involved in the recent wave of vandalism, broken glass, litter and damage all of which costs money to clear up and repair.  We are working closely with The Base to try to get over to teenagers that money spent on clearing up is not then available for new facilities. Please would parents of all teenagers help to communicate this message!

Hopefully we are in the final stages of taking over from George Wimpey the two play areas at Holt Park, the incidental gardening on the estate and the Country Park which runs down to the Whitewater. The litter in the play areas and the rubbish bins will then be part of our regular maintenance programme.  Dog Bins will be installed at the entrances to the Country Park: opposite the Crooked Billet and on Holt Park itself at Athoke Croft and Doctors Acre.

 Work is well ahead on the shared footpath and cycleway between the centre of Hook and Holt Lane.  The project is funded by George Wimpey and being carried out for us by Hampshire County Council.  The finished scheme will include lighting on the currently unlit sections as well as safety barriers at points where the path crosses roads.

Antony Hunter

September 2007

Building of the new Elizabeth Hall is running almost to schedule despite the recent bad weather.  The structural steelwork, which forms the "skeleton" of the building, is in place.  Inevitably parking on site is somewhat restricted because of the space needed both to build the new hall and to store materials.  This is a situation that will continue until the existing hall is demolished in the spring.  Parking space should be sufficient provided drivers park reasonably close to each other.

The Parish Plan has now been published and lodged with Hart.  A hard copy or CD can be obtained from the Parish Council Office between 9am and 12noon, Monday to Friday.

After seven years as Base Manager Eileen Johnson is stepping down, though fortunately she will continue as a Youth Leader.  Shirley Clancy is handing over the management of Hook Village Nursery.  Fuller details of the excellent work they have both done for our Community appear elsewhere in Focus.  Many thanks to them both.

Special Constable Stephen White has been a regular figure on evening and weekend duty and at all special events from fetes to fireworks for the last 11 years.  His local knowledge of people, places and problems has been invaluable to our Community. Special Constables are fully trained Police Officers but are unpaid volunteers who donate their time to the Community and supplement the work done by their salaried colleagues. Stephen and his family will continue to live in the area but he has decided that it is time for a change.  He will continue as a Special Constable but will now take up a role in a dedicated unit working with the Roads Policing Unit in Farnborough, so you may still see him standing at the roadside with speed detection equipment!!  Thank you Stephen.

The Police have been running a zero tolerance crackdown on antisocial behaviour during August.  A significant number of young people were stopped and searched and those found to have committed offences were dealt with appropriately.

We now have a stock of biodegradable dog bags.  Dog owners are welcome to collect a supply from the Parish Council Office.

In common with all Parish Councils all our members have signed a new Code of Conduct governing our individual behaviour toward others and toward the Community.  The Code also covers the need for members to disclose all possible Conflicts of Interest.  A copy of the code may be viewed at the Parish Council Office during our normal hours.

The footpath between Hartletts Park and the school grounds has become increasingly waterlogged in bad weather and standing water tends to collect round the gate itself.  We have accepted a quote aimed at improving the path and the drainage, with work to be carried out before the schools return.

The two play areas at Holt Park, as well as the Country Park between the estate and the River Whitewater, are all way overdue to be handed over by George Wimpey to the Parish Council.  Once we adopt them we will be responsible for their maintenance using money provided by the two developers of the estate, but we will not take them over until the condition of all three areas is brought up to agreed standards by George Wimpey. We are continuing to press them to meet their responsibilities by completing the outstanding work.

Much of Hook suffered significant flooding in late July, though fortunately we were spared the level of devastation that impacted on some other parts of the country.  In conjunction with Hart and Highways we are working to list the places where simple remedial work is possible so as to avoid the same problem happening again.  The traffic lights that appeared in Reading Road were necessary because a small section of the carriageway was in danger of collapsing due to excess water, as happened in Hartley Wintney.

Antony Hunter

July 2007

Work on the New Elizabeth Hall has now started on site and is expected to take up to a year.  Because of the space needed to build the new hall and for Health and Safety reasons, car parking will be somewhat restricted until the old hall is demolished at the end of the building work, but with considerate parking, there is still room for about thirty cars which we believe will provide sufficient space.

Summer road works are under way.  Two weeks signed notice will be given that Station Road will be closed for about two weeks to allow for repairs and resurfacing. Strictly controlled access will be available for homes and businesses that front the section under repair.  Replacement works on two bridges near junction 5 of the M3 are currently causing occasional delays and there will be two complete overnight closures, probably on Saturday 14th July and Saturday 11th August, to allow the central spans of the bridges to be replaced.

Two of the three tennis courts near the Community Centre now have new nets.  There is no charge or booking system for these courts so just turn up and play!

Work has now started on the central section of the footway/cycleway linking Holt Lane with Hook Centre including a new section near the Community Centre which avoids the difficult route across the tree roots.  Significant work, including new lighting, will be needed in the Bell Meadow Road area but it is hoped to schedule it for the school summer holidays.

A number of teenagers in Hook have been seen carrying or using Ball Bearing Guns which are believed to have been bought from a market stall at Blackbushe.  These imitation weapons can cause serious injury.  They look so real that the user risks fatal consequences if an armed Police unit were to be called out.  Please report any sightings or incidents to the Police on 0845 045 4545 or in an Emergency to 999.

Hook now has two dedicated Police Officers and two Police Community Support Officers as well as a Special Constable.  The role of the Police Community Support Officers is to spend 80% of their working day out and about on the streets of Hook, providing reassurance, dealing with minor incidents and feeding useful information back into the Police network.  It is most important that we continue to feed information on incidents to the 0845 and 101 numbers.  Their operator is trained to provide an incident number which ensures that the information is logged and fed back to our local team. Response to Emergency 999 calls is handled by a central control room which manages the Hart wide 24/7 Police Emergency Response team.  Witnesses are an essential part of any successful Police enquiry so it is important that anyone who witnesses an incident reports it and provides a Witness Statement if asked to do so.

Work on the War Memorial is now underway and expected to be completed by Friday 29th June.  The wreaths that were laid last Remembrance Sunday have been removed for safe keeping and will be returned to the Memorial on Monday 9th July.  Those who would prefer to return their wreath personally can collect it from the covered porch at Moles Meadow, Elms Road (the road between Mackenzie Smith and Budgens) anytime between Wednesday 4th July and Sunday 8th July.

A reminder that, due to national legislation, the interiors of all restaurants, pubs and offices will be smoke free from 1st July.  Responsibility for enforcement rests with Hart who will be patrolling pubs and restaurants in particular.

Regrettably fly-tipping of grass cuttings and other garden refuse has increased recently.  Although Hart no longer allow garden waste to be placed in Black Wheelie bins they operate a fortnightly Garden Waste Collection service at a cost of £20 a year.  It would be good if the fly-tippers could support their Community by ringing Hart on 01252 844915 to subscribe!

Antony Hunter

June 2007

Every Remembrance Sunday in recent years Parish Councillors and residents have looked at the War Memorial after the Service and agreed that we "must do something" to restore it.  Although the core Memorial is in good shape, following some work on the lettering a few years ago, the base is in poor condition and much of the brickwork is failing.  Funding for restoration has been a key issue but beyond that we do not have the technical expertise in-house to handle the necessary design work.  Hampshire County Council have assisted under their Village Initiative Programme in terms of both funding and design so making this a joint project.  Brickwork will be re-pointed and the ugly concrete at the foot covered by stonework that is much more sympathetic to the Memorial.  Wheelchair access from the footpath will be provided.  Work on site is expected to take place during June.

Those who drive regularly on the M3 will have noticed the signs and possible congestion for bridgework just on the London side of Junction 5.  The "Curly Bridge" across the motorway is a public right of way and a bridleway and dates back to the opening of the motorway.  Apart from the age of the structure the bridge does not meet modern safety standards and could well collapse if hit by a heavy lorry.  The work to install a replacement bridge to the same design is expected to take until August with overnight closure of the Motorway on the nights of 14th July and 11th August.

Design work and planning for the installation of the footpath in Newnham Road is moving ahead although it may be four months before the work is carried out because of the need to move a number of street lights.

Attendance numbers at the Annual Village Meeting were once again slightly higher than the previous year. The Exhibition proved popular and gave residents a chance to chat informally with a wide range of organisations.  Following the spell of icy weather in the winter we were asked about the possibility of salt bins being placed at the side of certain hilly residential roads.  The Parish Council would buy the bins and Highways would provide the salt.  The responsibility for spreading salt, when required, would rest with residents of the roads concerned.  We are making a list of possible sites for discussion with Highways and would welcome input from residents to clerk@hook.gov.uk.

Back in February we mentioned our plans to re-turf the popular Varndell Road kick-about area next to the Bowling Club.  The turf was laid in March and surrounded by building site type fencing to allow it to become established with the help of six weeks of regular watering.  Sadly, football enthusiasts, including a number of fathers, chose to ignore the many explanatory notices by climbing under and over the fencing on a daily basis so damaging both the new turf before it became properly rooted and the rented fence.  The result is that despite both watering and our regular patrols the turf has not had a fair chance to thrive.

The first meeting of the new Parish Council took place on Wednesday 16th May when four members who were elected for the first time joined the eight members who were re-elected.  The Council elected Antony Hunter as Chairman, Nigel Carpenter as Vice-Chairman, Jane Bonnin as Chairman of the Planning Committee and Martin Whittaker as Chairman of the Amenity Committee for the first year of our four year term of office.

Antony Hunter

May 2007

A reminder that Thursday 3rd May is Election Day and that our polling station is at the Elizabeth Hall in Raven Road from 7am to 10pm.  There are two candidates for one District Council seat.  There are twelve candidates for the twelve Parish Council seats, so we will all be elected unopposed, without a ballot, and the ballot on Election day will be for the District Council only.

The new Parish Council’s first meeting will be on Wednesday 16th May at 8pm.  Members will sign their acceptance of office and the Council will then elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman for the first year of the new Council’s four year term.  As previously mentioned Pete Comley, David Ridley and Janet Deller have not stood for re-election.

Pete Comley’s own business continues to grow fast and demands a very high proportion of his time.  During his short time as a Parish Councillor he has contributed significantly on Green issues and he has kindly offered to continue to help us on an informal basis in that area.  David Ridley faces ever heavier demands in his day job running a department at Waverley, whilst Janet Deller, in addition to a heavy day role at the Infants school, is spending much time as a Director of the Management Committee of the two merging Hook halls.  As nominations closed Allen Saltmarsh also decided not to stand again.  Allen has been a Parish Councillor for ten years and is a past Chairman of our Amenity Committee.  Our thanks go to them all.

The new Council will be made up of eight re-elected members and four new ones: Matthew Campbell, Amanda Foot, Paul Lock and Jeanne-Marie Steels.  We plan on providing a bit more detail on all individual Parish Councillors in Focus shortly.

One of the eight re-elected members is Jane Bonnin who celebrates twenty five years as a Parish Councillor.  Over that time, as well a being a mother and handling a day job, Jane has been Parish Council Chairman and has chaired every Committee.  She currently chairs our Planning Committee as well as managing our computer strategy and providing a technical solution whenever our computers go down.  Jane’s long and in depth experience across all Parish Council issues is most valuable to us all.  Thank you Jane!

Incidentally Parish Councillors, in common with other volunteers in our Community, receive no salary or allowances.

Over the past two years a number of applications have been made to redevelop The Bungalow site in London Road.  Some of these applications involved access from the A30 and some via Birch Grove and all were refused by Hart.  The appeal against refusal of the most recent application will be heard at Hart on 26th June.  This particular application involves access from the A30 which would be widened at a point close to the existing access to the site.  Points raised by objectors, including the Parish Council, included impact on the street scene, design of the dwellings, excessive massing, parking, Highway safety and the possible impact on the Special Protection Area.  Hart’s actual reasons for refusal were Highway issues, the Spa and the lack of financial contribution to transport and leisure.  The appeal Inspector’s decision is therefore likely to be based solely on the Highway and Spa issues.

As Focus goes to press both we and the Elizabeth Hall management are very close to signing the contracts and legal documents needed so that the rebuild can commence.  Formal approval from the Charity Commission is still to come but is only dependent on the merger scheme for the Community Association and the Elizabeth Hall Charity being formally advertised.  We are confident of a start date on site in early May.  The new hall will be built before the old hall is demolished so that users will suffer minimum convenience.

Antony Hunter