Community Spirit at the moment is exceptionally strong and Well Done to Deborah and Ciani in Clanfield who are the Administrators of the “Clanfield Corona Virus Community Support Group”. This was set up on Facebook just 4 days ago and at the time of posting this blog has a remarkable 413 members.

The objective for the group is as follows:

We have created a Clanfield Corona Virus Community Support Group on Facebook with a view to collate a list of available volunteers that would like to support vulnerable members of the local community in these unusual times.

This is a private group. Please join us if you think you might be able to help in any way: telephone support, admin, shopping, prescription collection etc.

We are currently in contact with other Hampshire organisations that are coordinating similar projects.

If you live in Clanfield / or the Northern end of Horndean then it is worth joining the group to see if you can offer assistance and can find them on facebook on this link here: Clanfield Coronavirus Community Support Group

I’m certain that we can post one good news story a day about community spirit and how businesses are looking to help out. The next one will be the Ship Inn in Horndean who are doing their bit and will be tomorrows blog. If you know of any other good news stories please comment on this post and I will be pleased to follow up.

In the meantime don’t buy all the toilet rolls, not everything on Facebook is true, Stay safe and find a reason to smile every day:

At the end of last year Brexit dominated the news in a way that no other story has and (leave or remain) we were all relieved when it came to an end. Covid19 has been the story of the day, week, month and probably the next 3 or 4 months.

Horndean business 4 London Road brought some good spirits to QA Hospital yesterday when they delivered 25 freshly baked pizzas to the emergency staff at the hospital to say ‘Thank You’ for looking after us and for being such amazing people.

The pizzas were so well received that they delivered another 25 today too.

The Pizzas, each with individual messages on the inside of the lids were a major boost to morale for a groupd of professionals who are going to have a very tough few months ahead.

It is great to know that when some human behaviour is to be extremely selfish and stockpile toilet paper and tinned food that there are people out there that are very happy to give something back instead. The Pizzas, delivered by Elio and his team, have a value of £650. When asked, Elios said “We love our community and the NHS and would like to thank the NHS for the support they give us all”

At the moment 4 London Road are still open and plan to continue doing so unless governments mandate full closure. Elio added that “Our customers are welcome as always but we do ask that if you are unwell or have symptoms of a cold or flu that you please get better and sympton free before joining us again”

4 London Road raised £10,000 for Rowans Hospice in 2019 and their 2020 charity is Minds.

All of the small businesses in Horndean will appreciate our support and while the government advice is to avoid pubs and social gatherings everyone will need to make their own choices and judgement. Please don’t go to them if you have symptoms of cold or flu and be safe everyone.

Do you know where your kids are and what they are up to?

Catherington Lith Arson and Criminal Damage.

In recent months there has been an increase in criminal activity by local gangs / groups of children including breaking windows and arson leading to the fire brigade sending out two tenders that might have been needed for a real emergency elsewhere.

The Arson attack on a derelict building at Catherington Lith Nature reserve took two teams of fire fighters over an hour to extinguish. CCTV footage from a nearby property was handed over to the Police who are carrying out their own enquiries now.

Incidents at The Lith include investigating a number of incidents where tyres and other rubbish have been rolled down Lith Avenue onto the A3 where a serious road accident or personal injury could have occurred. On one occasion a car was hit causing significant bodywork damage.

Jubilee Hall Vandalism.

Just yesterday Jubilee Hall which is owned by Horndean Parish Council was also vandalised. The construction works currently being undertaken adjacent to Jubilee Hall in Horndean is being targeted by a group of approximately 12 -15 youngsters on bicycles, who congregate on Jubilee Field and the neighbouring open space.

Residents have reported that this group aged between 11 – 15 yrs., regularly force entry into the construction compound causing damage to the partially built walls and climbing up on to the roof.

On Tuesday 17 March at 4.30pm the group was seen within the compound throwing large stones at the windows of Jubilee Hall resulting in 3 large windows being broken. This being the third occurrence of such damage.

The Chief Officer of Horndean Parish Council attended the site and spoke to 2 members of the group who were openly discussing their ‘exploits’, after an exchange of words the group quickly disbanded.

The ongoing replacement of the windows is costly, and it is unfortunate that the youngsters are oblivious to the fact that the cost of the repairs will be paid from the public purse, to which their parents contribute.

If members of the community have any information or witness any further acts of trespass and criminal damage please could the matter be reported to the police or the parish office- Email: contact@horndeanpc-hants.gov.uk or Tel: 02392597766.

And the Parents?

These are serious crimes with incurring real costs with the potential for serious injury and worse. How well behaved do you think your children are when they are out with their friends and if they will do this when they in their teens and younger, what will they grow up like?

Please be clear, CCTV footage fomr some of these incidents has been handed over to the Police and some families have already been spoken to. Due to the age of the children (who were in School Uniform at the time) the images can not be re-posted here.

Do you know where your Children are and what they are doing?

Horndean Parish Council ahve taken the difficult decision to postpone the Defibrillator training that was planned for April. Please keep an eye out here for a revised date when things are back to normal.