Dotted around the area are a number of oil wells. One is just by the A3M roundabout at Junction 2 next to the Gales Distribution Depot with more in the woodland on the way to Rowlands Castle. These are owned by UK Oil & Gas Investments who are imminently about to apply for permission from the South Downs National Park Authority to carry out more drilling and a production test of a new well from an existing borehole.

The well is between the Horndean and Singleton Oil fields and when initially commissioned by Northern Petroleum had an anticipated supply of 35 million barrels with a maximum potential of 61 million at a depth of 1380m.

In 2010 when the site first started to be drilled the cost to extract meant that a price of $80 per barrel made it viable so it is interesting that they are drilling with a current price of $46 per barrel. UK Oil and Gas are looking to drill one horizontal appraisal well, up to three horizontal production wells and one water injection well with a production run of 20 years.

UK Oil and Gas Markwell Wood Statistics

The site is about 2 miles east of Finchdean in West Sussex and at a planning application has just been posted by the SDNPA. Comments can be made on the link below until the 17th October 2016.

SDNP/16/04679/CM | Appraisal and production of oil incorporating the drilling of one side track well from the existing well (for appraisal), three new hydrocarbon wells and one water injection well, and to allow the production of hydrocarbons from all four wells for a 20 year period. | Markwell’s Wood-I Well Site South Holt Farm Dean Lane End Forestside Rowlands Castle West Sussex

SDNPA Planning Link

If you would like to comment on the application when it comes out please do so to the South Downs National Park Authority using the link above.

Are you concerned about speeding in Horndean?

Can you help?

Some years ago, as a Parish Councillor, Guy Shepherd was instrumental in setting up a group of volunteers to operate two Speed Indication Devices (SID) in suitable roads in Horndean.

The volunteers worked very successfully on establishing appropriate sites, moving the units on a regular basis and collecting data which was passed to the police so that further action against speeding could be taken where a need was proven.

There is no doubt that a SID unit impacts speed. The figures prove it. After several years of excellent work the original volunteers decided that they had done their bit and wanted to retire from the scheme. So the units are not currently in use.

We still have problems of speeding, sometimes in quite unexpected roads. Not all roads are suitable for SID (mostly through safety considerations) but there are plenty of established sites and more could be considered.

Strategic placement of the SID units reduces the speed of vehicles. very useful tools especially coupled with Speed watch and the Police. Can you volunteer to help? A few hours a month?

All equipment provided and maintained by Horndean Parish Council. Also training and support provided. If you could join in this initiative please contact either myself: Lynn Evans, Chairman HPC on: lynnevans11@gmail.com Or the Parish Office on: contact@horndeanpc-hants.gov.uk

An initial meeting will be arranged once responses have been received.

Sara and Guy invite you to our Quiz Night where we will feed and entertain you with our acclaimed quiz night. This massively popular event sells out very quickly and we look forward to seeing you on Saturday 15th October; 6:30 for a 7:00pm start at Catherington Church Hall.

The evening includes 8 rounds of quiz questions with a cash prize for the winning team. Also included is a Chinese buffet. Plates and cutlery are provided, but please bring drinks and deserts of your choice. There is a raffle too on the night with some great prizes.

We are looking for 12 teams of 6 and hope to see teams from the local residents associations, and perhaps the action groups who have supported us so well recently against some of the local development threats.

Entry is £12 per person on the night which covers the quiz prize, food and hall hire. If you would like to support us and have a great night out then please contact sara@schillemore.uk to book your team of 6, or let us know you are coming in smaller groups as there will always be numbers to make up.

Please confirm by email on sara@schillemore.uk advising the names of those attending and if you would like a vegetarian alternative to the Chinese buffet.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Cllr Sara Schillemore, Cllr Guy Shepherd

The next community litter pick is Sunday the 2nd October and as usual the team will be meeting at Morrisons in the far end of the car park from 9:30am. Sally and the regular pickers would really welcome some new faces who perhaps fancy a few hours exercise and to help keep our villages clean and tidy.

Last month the pick brought in 20 bags with beer bottles, junk food wrappers and plastic bottles.

Litter pick tools, bags, disposable gloves and collection of the rubbish at the end are all organised, just turn up and say hello!

The next Neighbourhood Policing Team beat surgery is at the Horndean Library on Friday 30th September from 16:00 to 18:00. If you have any questions for the Police, or want to find out more about policing priorities then please stop in!

Horndean Parish Council invite you to the opening of a new play area at Jubilee Field off Catherington Lane on Monday 24th October at 2:30pm. The new Jungle play area, Zip wire, Swings and Slides have been funded by Developers Contributions from local building works.

Herbert George ‘Blondie’ Hasler Talk – Sunday 9th October, 1900 for 1930

‘Blondie’ Hasler was a RM Commando Officer who led, what even the Germans later recognised, ‘the most audacious commando raid of WW2’; and he was a Catherington man.

Cdr Bill Evershed RN retd, who has lived in Catherington all his life and who remembers ‘Blondie’ well, will give a Talk about ‘Blondie’ and Operation FRANKTON at Catherington Church Hall at 7.30pm on Sunday 9th October.

In 1964, Bill Evershed walked Hasler’s 1942 escape route through France from Bordeaux to Ruffec and has, over the years, attended many of the French commemorations of this Raid.

His Talk will provide a compelling introduction to the formal Unveiling 8 days later on Monday 17th October of a commemorative Blue Plaque upon what was ‘Blondie’ Hasler’s family home in Catherington; a Ceremony which will be attended by Lord Paddy Ashdown, himself a former Commando of the SBS, Brigadier Richard Spencer, Deputy Commandant General Royal Marines and many members of the RM Association.

Bill has recently given his Talk to members of the Hampshire Fire Service who are now themselves  seeking to retrace by canoe the Commandos original attack up the Gironde estuary but this time to raise funds for Service Charities. He has also spoken to the local Catherington WI but his Talk on 9th October provides an opportunity for their husbands to attend.

80 tickets for the evening are available at £5 per head and proceeds will go to Service Charities.  Early application is advised so please e-mail Councillor Sara Schillemore at saraschillemore@gmail.com