At the end of last year there was speculation as to where Aquind would site their proposed converter station near Lovedean Power Station with the two options being the blub box in the image below (which is closer to our residents and inside EHDC’s boundary) or the green box (a little further away and in Winchester District Council)

Aquind have decided to run with the site in Winchester. This is closer to the South Downs national Park (who will certainly add weight to any comments on the environmental side) and being further away from the properties in Lovedean some small comfort but with a proposed building 22m to 26m high (subject to design) it is still going to be life changing for the local community there if it is allowed.

At this point no planning application is in but with the project classified as a ‘project of National Significance’ it is considered by the Secretary of State, not the local planning authority.

Aquind are progressing with their consultations locally and I am unaware of any on the local area but would like to make sure that everyone is aware of the one Aquind are holding in Denmead where the Parish Council have invited Aquind to their planning committee meeting on Wednesday 6th March at 7:30pm. The meeting will be at The Ashton Pavillion.

If I hear of one locally I will blog it here and have offered to Aquind to make a hall available locally to facilitate this.

Every year the Local Councils (Parish, District, County) as well as Fire Brigade and the Police and Crime Commissioner review and update their budgets. EHDC is the local authority that collects and hands on the council tax on behalf of all of these organisations and tonight we are proposing to our membership a Nil increase for Council Tax.

The changes this year as are follows:

Hampshire County Council 2.99% increase

East Hampshire District Council 0% increase

Horndean Parish Council 4% increase

Hampshire Fire and Rescue 2.99% increase

Police and Crime Commissioner 13.5% increase *

* The Police and Crime Commissioner has increased the Hampshire Constabulary precept by £2.00 per month per property or £24 per year. For a Band D property this is a 13.5% increase from £177.46 to £201.46 per year.

For the last 6 years EHDC has either cut Council Tax or kept it at a Zero percent increase.

Local Plan consultation continues – make your comment count!

The Local Plan consultation continues on Saturday 23 February when our planning team visits Barton Hall, at Horndean Technology College.

The consultation runs until Tuesday 19 March and will be touring the three parts of the district that are covered by East Hampshire District Council’s Local Plan – Alton and the northwest, Whitehill & Bordon and the southern parishes.

Saturday’s session will run from 10am-2pm at Barton Hall, Barton Cross, Horndean, PO8 9PQ 

You can see the remaining consultation dates here

Everyone attending will have the chance to comment on policies covering housing, employment, infrastructure and the environment. You can do this in writing by email or letter, but the easiest way is to submit comments online using the council’s website.

Using this method will ensure your comment is matched with the area or policy you mean to refer to. It’s a big document and some comments can be lost if it is not clear what the author is commenting about.

Sally and the team – which has grown to about 15 regular pickers – are back in action on Sunday 10th February meeting up again at Morrisons Car Park at 9:30. New faces are also welcome to join in!

Popular play project returns for some half-term fun!

Parents and grandparents of children from across East Hampshire have their February half-term plans sorted as a popular play project returns for a week of fun.

The half-term week, which runs between Monday 18 February and Friday 22 February, will see the return of a range of exciting activities to many towns and villages across East Hampshire – including Ropley, Rowlands Castle, Selborne, Headley Down and Whitehill & Bordon.

The fun-filled week of activities start in Ropley for a candle making session where the kids will get the chance to make their own candles and lanterns for them to go in. There will also be an opportunity to make something for someone special in the afternoon when a Valentine’s arts and crafts session comes to the village hall.

Local children’s entertainer and RAPP favourite, Mr Giant, returns on the Tuesday morning for a circus skills and balloon modelling show and then the kids will be able to make penguins out of recycled plastic bottles in the afternoon.

Wednesday will see local activity and games club, Redwood Active, teach some archery and fencing in the morning and help build some bushcraft and catapults in the afternoon.

Youngsters will be able to build the Antarctic out of Lego on the Thursday while learning about the animals and creatures that lived their both past and present – including dinosaurs!

The week will wind down at Woodlands Hall, in Headley Down, on the Friday with a chance to create a story out of stones and create some art out of recycled bottles – which could include making fish, rockets, bird feeders, turtles and much more!

RAPP was set up 13 years ago by East Hampshire District Council to give children up to the age of 11 (under eights must be accompanied by an adult) the opportunity to get involved in fun activities, games, adventures, workshops and meet new friends in the school holidays.

The full programme of activities, prices and locations can be found here: www.easthants.gov.uk/rapp

Get Activ8d, which provides sporting activities for children aged seven to 14, is also back for February half-term in Petersfield, Kingsley and Alton.

The Get Activ8d programme includes indoor fencing, archery and lightsabers with Redwood Active, as well as tennis, basketball, cheerleading and tennis.

The full programme of activities and locations can be found here: www.easthants.gov.uk/get-activ8d

The new online booking system is currently under construction and isn’t ready yet. To book onto the February half-term activities, please call 01730 234295 after bookings open on Tuesday 5 February at 10am.

On Sunday 20th Jan 2019 Sally and the team will be carrying out their monthly litter pick of Horndean and Clanfield. All volunteers are welcome, especially new faces. The meeting point is at the far end of Morrisons Car Park at 9:30.

All of the equipment is provided and you can pick the areas close to where you live to pick.

Apprenticeship Fair in Horndean,

Wednesday 30 January

Show-off your business to the next generation of workers