The next big development proposal to hit the local area is going to be infrastructure – Aquind, the proposed new power cable to connect the French and UK national grids.

The basic concept is that by connecting the French and UK grids both countries can balance supply and demand reducing the risk of loss of power. It also makes more efficient use of power stations and is claimed may reduce (or minimise increases) to energy bills. with the closure of UK gas and coal fired power stations, and the slow progress of Hinckley (our nuclear power station) ensuring the continuity of power is an important issue.

So, Why Lovedean? Making sure we ahve continuity of power is essential but do we have to have it here?

When the scheme was first proposed my first thought was why the connection couldn’t be made to the old Fawley Power Station? After all this was a 2000MW power station which was already connected to the grid and on the coast would be an ideal point to connect into – obvious really? At consultation stage this will be one of the questions to ask but economics suggest there will be a good reason as the cost to lay some 20 miles of cabling underground is significant. Ultimately the connection needs to be made to a point in the UK grid that can handle the incoming supply and distribute it to where it is needed but this still needs better explanation.

Route from Barnabos, France to Lovedean – Image from Aquind website.

In Lovedean the power cables will terminate in a large network of buildings on 6 to 9 hectares of land (15 to 22.5 acres). Their website advises there will be numerous buildings up to 22m in height.

This would have significant impact on the landscape, not just from Lovedean but also from the SDNP and views from far away like Portsdown hill. Electrical hum, noise, bunding, screening are all key issues to understand to mitigate if allowed.

The next complication is that the existing substation is set by the boundary to three planning authorities. Winchester, SDNPA and EHDC. No firm location has been set for this development and whichever planning authority receives the application will get a view from the adjacent ones.

Winchester would be a concern as there is a strong feeling they do not care what anything looks like away from their city centre (The development on Denmead Road a case in point). It is unlikely to be located in the National Park due to environmental considerations.

Aquind are developing their proposals and planning to hold public consultations. it is important that you attend these and give your view. As always they will be re-posted here. The consultations are due to be held in 2018 with the facility built and in operation by 2022 if it is approved.

To visit the Aquind website (Click Here)

and click here to download the Aquind Information Booklet

All the details above have been taken from the Aquind website, consultation documents and in the public domain.

Upcoming consultation event (dates taken from Aquind website so please check closer to the time in case they are changed)

24 January 2018 – Public Exhibition Waterlooville Community Centre 2-8pm

26 January 2018 – Public Exhibition Milton Village Community Hall 2-8pm

27 January 2018 – Public Exhibition Lovedean Village Hall 2-8pm

The Horndean Parish Council Carol Service is on Tuesday 12th December from 7:00pm in the square. You can also meet Santa at OhSo’s!

Hampshire County Council Highways department are responsible for managing roadworks and maintenance of most of the highway excluding motorways and contribute to information on a central database for the UK.

You can access this on http://roadworks.org/ and a typical screenshot is below for the local area. Clicking on the symbols lets you see dates and more detail on the works.

Home-Start Butser has been recruiting and training volunteers in East Hampshire to befriend and support families with children under five for the past 19 years. They have a team of 60 volunteers supporting on average 80 families a year.

Nicola Winter, Scheme Manager says:

“The old adage, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’, is proven time and again through the work of our volunteers. They provide parents the support they need to give their children vital love and care. Our volunteers are parents; they understand how hard it can be. They work with families in their own homes, help them cope with the stresses and strains of life and make sure they have the skills, confidence and strength to nurture their children.

After their training the volunteers are equipped to be a constant and guiding presence in lives of families with young children who are going through a critical time. The support they provide is as unique as each family they help. During visits of at least two hours a week they provide both practical and emotional support to parents and children, helping them face illness and crises; avoid isolation and fear; and giving them hope.

They commit to being there for the long term, and they are successful at developing a trusting and confidential relationship – from which great changes can be made. Often described as ‘gold dust’ by the families, the volunteers live locally and have parenting experience. This gives them the experience and understanding to talk to another parent who is struggling.

The people whose lives they have changed express it better than anyone.

“With Home-Start’s help I got through a terrible time, and now my house is full of hope and laughter.

“Knowing that someone cares is wonderful. The feeling of loneliness and despair disappears entirely.

“They really listened and understood the stresses we’ve been feeling and showed enormous empathy. Home-Start Butser really has improved our family’s lives.

Our next Preparation Course for new volunteers will start on 30 January, – 11 x 3 hour sessions. Anyone with parenting experience is welcome.

For further information please contact Nicola Winter on 01730 233 755 office@homestart-butser.org.uk. www.homestart-butser.org.uk

Todays remembrance service was attended by well over 2,000 uniformed representatives and local residents making this the best attended ceremony ever. The ceremony in photos below and please email yours to guy.shepherd@easthants.gov.uk to see them here.

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Horndean Village planters…..a happy ending.

East Hampshire District Council has come up trumps and late yesterday afternoon, the Landscape Team arrived and planted up the planters at the Old Brewery development in time for The Remembrance Service in the village square tomorrow.

The planters were installed by Linden Homes as part of the landscaping for this development several months ago. They were then left untended ( but full of an astonishing array of weeds). Despite a lot of work and effort by EHDC to get Lindens to complete the outstanding works including this landscaping work, this did not happen. Unfortunately this is Linden Homes’ private property and not public realm so not in our direct control.

As reported in the Horndean Post, a large contingent from Southdown Road joined village centre residents a couple of Sundays ago and weeded all of the planters and the planting areas in the hopes that this would spur Lindens and / or their managing agents, Pentland, to carry out the planting. Remembrance Sunday was seen as an appropriate date by which this could be done. Nothing happened.

This must be particularly galling for the residents at this development as it is understood that landscaping including the maintenance of the planters is one of the services provided by the managing agents. The cost is recovered via a service charge. You can only imagine what it is like to live here at the moment. You can get an idea of life onsite from this link here: theoldbrewerystory.co.uk.

The District Council stepping in like this was a lovely and very welcome surprise. It means that the whole village centre has now been planted up as Horndean Parish Council has recently completed the winter planting of the planters that it has installed and maintains throughout the village. The summer planting was magnificent so I am looking forward to this season’s display. Remembrance Sunday was seen by residents as a key date by which the planting should be done. Horndean has a tremendous community spirit.

Horndean Parish Council organises the annual Remembrance Day service at the War Memorial in the Village Square. Year on year, it is very well attended. If you have never been to it or are new to the area, it starts at 10.45 tomorrow, the 12th November. It is a lovely and poignant occasion that is a regular part of Horndean life.

Elaine Tickell, Ward Member for Horndean Hazleton and Blendworth

The next South Downs Group meeting is on the 15th November and, as always, all are welcome. Details below.

Development is always controversial as it changes the small villages into larger ones, childhood memories of what the area used to look like move on and while there is not enough housing, let alone affordable housing for first time buyers, no one wants it near them.

So, just how built on are we at EHDC and in the UK?

The BBC have gathered information from Ordinance Survey which records land usage. You can enter your postcode and it will come back with a breakdown for you. Click on this link here. The images below are just a few excerpts from the results.

And here is how we compare with the UK.

It has been a little while since there was any update on Land East of Horndean and in recent months a lot has moved on behind the scenes.

Planning permission was enabled in February last year as “Outline Planning Permission” which approves the principal of developing the site and the number of homes and facilities. At this point the developers have a 3 year period from them to submit a ‘reserved matters’ application. Essentially this is the detail for the development which includes the style and appearance of the homes as well as discharging the pre-commencement conditions (The site investigation and sinkhole surveys for example).

In the last few months Bloor Homes, working closely with EHDC, have entered into agreements with the land owners to build housing and employment sites at Land East Of Horndean. They have also carried out significant works on the sinkhole locations on both Hazleton and Pyle Farms and will be commencing borehole site surveys from the 14th November. this will help them to develop a masterplan showing the final layout of the scheme.

This will include 700 homes, a primary school, community buildings, playing fields, public open space, play areas, allotments, a multi-use games area and more.

Over the next few months there will be further community consultation on the style and design of the housing and the type of retail area that should be included. East Hampshire District Council, the local parish councils and the community will be consulted on the detail surrounding the community facilities too. This will lead up to a detailed planning application in spring next year.

The development will generate about 70 homes a year and is expected to start in winter 2018. It has already been agreed that road improvements will be completed prior to any homes being sold and key infrastructure, such as the primary school and community building, needs to be delivered early on in the development.

Highwood, which secured planning permission on the whole development, is following up on its own plans for the care village, including a cricket pitch and pavilion on the land to the North of Rowlands Castle Road.

For Horndean this development provides much-needed housing and achieves a wide range of community benefits. The development of this site will help prevent building on less suitable sites in the village

Cllr Elaine Tickell, Ward Councillor for Hazleton and Blendworth, said: “I am pleased that we are now able to share with residents the hard work that has been going on behind the scenes. This development will be a tremendous asset to Horndean

Simon Breen, Senior Land Director at Bloor Homes, said: “Bloor Homes views Horndean as an excellent development location and we are delighted to be working closely with East Hampshire District Council and key local stakeholders. The company is seeking to deliver a high quality development befitting of this superb setting and location. There will be ongoing consultation with the local authority and interested parties from the local area prior to the reserve matters planning submission which is targeted for spring 2018.

Guy Shepherd, EHDC Portfolio holder for Regeneration Delivery, said: “A little while ago we worked with the community to identify the least worse place to build on and how to ensure we got a development that not only satisfied our housing needs, but also brought in key infrastructure to support the community. It is very good to see this coming forward now after 18 months of preparation by the land owners. With Bloor we have a well-regarded and reputable house builder who we look forward to working with to provide good quality housing that will complement our village and bring in 40 per cent affordable homes.”

Your Invitation to Join us for our Free

Health & Wellbeing in the Community Day:

11th November 2017 From  10:00 till 16:00

Barton Hall Horndean Technology College, Horndean Portsmouth, PO8 9PQ

This is a fantastic community event to celebrate and promote what’s available in both Horndean Technology College and surrounding areas. Everyone’s welcome to take part in lots of Taster Sessions and Demonstrations from a variety of over 40 Stall Holders including: 

• Beauty Consultants
• Alternative Therapists/Aromatherapy Workshops
• Herbalism Workshops
• Magnetic Therapy
• CEROC Dance Demonstrations
• Volunteering
• Bridge Club
• Handmade Cards/Crafts & Stocking Fillers
• Choirs  – Live Performances
• Activities For Children
• All Ages Sports – Walking Netball/Football
• Raffles & Prizes……..
• Refreshments Available

Did you know……….Horndean Technology isn’t just for the kids?  The Community Day will give you a chance to discover various Adult Classes, Clubs & Sessions for you to try, some free of charge.   Whether it’s learning or improving your computer skills, flower arranging, singing, pottery, art, table tennis, swimming, lunch clubs or all ability sports etc.  There are daytime and evening classes so whatever your age you’re bound to find a fun and interesting activity on your doorstep. 

Get together with people of all ages and walks of life and improve your emotional and physical health by discovering something to suit you at your Wellbeing Community Day

To find out more or book a table:

Kathy: 07932 642710 kathy@officehand.co.uk

Gwen Woodruffe:  023 9259 9753 gwen.woodruffe@horndeantc.hants.sch.uk

Barton Hall, Horndean Technology College, Barton Cross Horndean Portsmouth PO8 9PQ

www.horndeantc.hants.sch.uk

Reaching out for a happier & healthier community

Our acclaimed Quiz Night returns on Saturday 25th November and will be held at Catherington Church Hall as usual. Please contact Sara to book in! We look forward to seeing you there for more topical news, politics and general knowledge.

With Trump, North Korea, Scandals, Brexit and more there is plenty of material to work with…