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
horndeanmatters 
I noticed a few weeks ago how bad the planters were. Also the lovely three twisted topiary trees by the side of the half renovated house just past the Spar have been allowed to lose their shape, such a shame. I didn’t realise these were owned by Lindens. I also don’t get the Horndean Post delivered so was unaware of the story. It is taking so long to complete this development, and as for the doctors surgery, will that ever happen? In the meantime, thank you to the people who weeded the planters and to EHDC for the planting. They look great now.
Hi Jennifer, we are hopefully in the last few weeks of paperwork to allow the solicitors doing the conveyancing on the surgery to transfer it. Possibly before Christmas. Then there will be a few months fitting it out. Best wishes, Guy.
Top effort from everyone who helped do the planters, I was away from home for a few weeks and noticed all the work when I got back on the walk to the remeberence service, looks fab. Thankyou!! If there is another working party I’d be happy to help out.
Hi James. Thanks for your comments. Will let you know when a further working party is planned. Lindens have committed to completing the outstanding works in the car park by the end of November. Here’s hoping as that will complete the transformation of the village centre. Elaine