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Temporary Reprieve for HarvestBasingstoke and Dean BC has refused to allow the demolition of the Harvest Home, at least for short while. The effect of the Council's action is to cause a delay of up to 8 weeks whilst it determines how to ensure that work to remove Japanese Knotweed which it identified in its ecological assessment* will be correctly carried out; it is also requiring that a plan to protect the stream at the rear of the pub during demolition is produced. Claims made at the recent meeting about the presence of bats, which the assessment claimed were not roosting on the site, are not included in the council's request for more information. The Council has confirmed that it will not be invoking Article 4 powers to prevent the demolition because of the risk to Council funds, this is despite protests in the form of a petition and the public meeting. There is some disquiet in the Town that a national organisation is taking credit for the campaign which is meant to be locally organised; press statements from one of the organisation's officials is not helping the situation nor are exaggerated claims about the level of support at the public meeting. * At the public meeting none of those present, including officials of the national organisation and the 2 borough councillors present, had apparently read the assessment which is an essential part of showing that the developer had taken the necessary steps to identify all potential ecological impacts and explain how they would be handled. Local Charity has Funds for LocalsWhitchurch Welfare Trust is offering financial support to deserving local groups and individuals. The Trust has several thousand pounds to distribute each year. Its major annual event is the "Christmas Cheer" it offers to those whom it believes would benefit from a small gift during the festive season. Less well known is that it also offers grants, typically ranging from £50 to £500, to those with short term need. The Trust is particularly keen to know about any young families or students to whom the money would make a significant difference. It also gives to groups and, for example, was responsible for funding refreshments at the youth football sessions recently. The trust works with the Citizens Advice Bureau and other local organisations to try to identify individuals in need of help. If you think you qualify, or know of someone or a group that does, please contact the trustees by email or drop a letter through the Town Hall letterbox giving brief details. You'll then be contacted by someone from the Trust. Local Business Donates to CharityHugo Fox, Whitchurch's own jobs website, has donated £500 along with a range of computer equipment to the Dyslexia Research Trust(DRT) to help identify visual problems that could interfere with the learning processes of children throughout the region. Michael Thompson, founder and Chairman of the company, which species in local classified advertising, handed the cheque to the charity this week as a thank you to help raise the profile of a cause close to his heart.
As a result of Hugo’s early diagnosis, a combination of specially adapted glasses and patching his good eye have dramatically improved his sight in just six weeks - yet if the condition had remained undiscovered before the age of seven, it would have been untreatable. According to the charity, one in ten children suffer from dyslexia and it is the most common cause of childhood loss of self-esteem, leading to profound misery and even suicide, vandalism, violence or criminality. Again, if recognised at an early age, the condition can be treated very successfully. Michael says: “As a family, we owe a great deal to both our school and the Trust, and as the charity survives on such minimal funding, we hope that HugoFox.com’s donation can help them to continue detecting and solving the visual problems and learning difficulties of children across the region.” Dr Sue Fowler, Co-founder of the DRT added: “We are overwhelmed by the support we have received from Hugo Fox and pleased that people are seeing the value in what we do. Our main concern is helping children with learning difficulties, so by testing their eyesight we can find any problems which may inhibit their learning and development. Twenty years ago all children were checked before they went to school but now this has stopped, a lot get missed. By going in to schools like Cheam and checking that all children can see properly, we can help those that have unexpected difficulties in learning to read and write." "New" HairdresserAmanda Outridge is the new name and style for Hairs and Graces. Behind the smart new exterior, the same friendly team is there to serve you but after 17 years they have introduced a contemporary boutique style feel to the already popular salon. It now offers an intimate, luxurious environment which existing local and loyal customers can enjoy as well as new ones. Specialising in all aspects of hairdressing the team prides itself on providing the full range of services including cutting and styling as well as colouring and straightening. There's a smart new website which gives full details of what's on offer, prices and the chance to book on line. Woodland Creatures in Town
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A meeting heard of the limited prospects for stopping the demolition of the Harvest Home. Around 35 residents heard a previous landlord’s granddaughter, Cidny Green, explained her connections with the Harvest and appealed for everything to be done to save the Harvest, if not as a pub, then as a building adapted for another purpose.
Cllr Rob Golding, Basingstoke & Deane’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, explained the Council’s position. A Council Officer has assessed the financial risks to the Council in invoking a regulation that will result in delaying the demolition until a planning application. This is based on the rules around the regulation which allow the developer to claim compensation for costs or losses associated with the delay. In response to questions, Cllr Golding said the possible losses have been assessed at £100,000 with a high probability of the Council’s having to pay. Although he accepted that there was great local disquiet, he supported the Officer’s advice that all the Borough’s taxpayers should not be subject to the calculated factored risk. It was pointed out that the price paid for the land was higher than the Officer’s assessment and that this would reduce the factored risk by half. Questioning revealed that this particular regulation had not been invoked in Basingstoke and there was no record nationally of compensation being paid; it was, however, pointed out that the use of the regulation had only recently been seen as applicable to the demolition of pubs.
There followed information about CAMRA. Several points were raised about the accuracy of the council’s figures and accusations that it did not understand risk assessments. The discussion moved on to ways in which the demolition could be halted and, although Cllr Golding said that this rested solely upon the council’s invoking the regulation, there were potential issues around the developer’s demolition method statement. It was pointed out that this includes an ecological assessment covering the impact upon flora and fauna. The assessment’s claim that there were no bats roosting was disputed and several stated that there had been bat boxes on the Harvest as recently as 2 months ago.
The Harvest's status as a Building of Local Architectural or Historic Interest unfortunately provides no protection under planning laws and similarly it is outside the conservation area.
There were several claims that the council was ignoring local wishes but Cllr Golding pointed out that the issue was being treated for its potential cost to all the Borough’s tax payers, not just those in Whitchurch.
It was explained, in response to claims that that a development would create costs around parking and additional services, these would be borne by the developer and, similarly, inappropriate development would be managed by the planning application process. The financial advantages of a working business were put forward, using CAMRA figures. Whilst Cllr Golding did not dispute the benefit to the community of a functioning business and a pub in particular, he explained that the financial benefits would not currently accrue to the district but to central government, which were not returned directly to the borough.
The result of a stay in demolition was questioned and the answer was that this would provide the opportunity to explain the issues to a full planning meeting. It was pointed out that since the sale, which was not made public, several in the Town had expressed an interest in purchasing the pub as a going concern.
Cllr Golding thanked those present for their input and agreed to challenge the Officer on his risk assessment the developer’s ecological survey. He also agreed that if £100,000 was forthcoming “from Whitchurch” the Council would be willing to invoke the regulation.
The meeting closed as Cidny restated her emotional appeal to save the Harvest but Keith Watts summed up by asking those present how they would feel about funding the saving of a pub in another part of the Borough.
Whitchurch's new organizer, Frances Harris, is pleased with the results of the 2011 collection.
£3,434 was raised thanks to the efforts of team of collectors and the generosity of the folk of Whitchurch. Although the figure is slightly down on last year’s figure, the sum collected is encouraging given the current financial climate.
Well, the last acoustic music session before the Autumn, is scheduled for this weekend.
Keith Bell’s Music Sessions will pause after the lunchtime event at Longmeadow Sports and Social Centre on Sunday 19th June, starting at 12.30pm. This is the last chance before September so why not go along and have a sing/play/listen/drink? All are welcome, no need to book, just turn up.
A 3 day music festival is to be held in St Mary Bourne. Billed as being for families and those of all ages living in the river valleys of the Bourne and Test, east of Andover, Valley Music will take place around the village.
The venues for the workshops and the performances will be the Village Centre, the village school, a concert tent sited near the War Memorial and the Parish Church. There will be workshops and activities for children as well as adults. Organiser, Mary Childs, says an adult should accompany children and young persons under 16, if they wish to attend the performances on Friday and the dances on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Artists include Belshazzar's Feast, Blowzabella, Craig Morgan Robson, Luke Daniels, KillBillies, Caroline Edwards (fiddler with the Madding Crowd), Lauren Goldsmith, James Carter, Morag Joss, Joe Penland, Barton Stacey Jubilee Traditonal Jazz Band, Mad Hatter Morris, Pan Jazz Internation and Nigel and Harriet Dickinson.
Full details are on the festival's website.
Penny Spooner's latest pottery workshop was another sell out. Four students of varying age learned the basics of pottery with slab work and work on the wheel.
The students came from Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey and enjoyed an educational and sunny day in Whitchurch. Penny's courses for the rest of the year are almost booked up but you can see her work at the Studio in Fairclose (between the Bell Street Car Park and Church Street) on 20 - 21 and 26 - 27 in August as part of Hampshire Open Studios 2011.
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Sunday’s rainfall, as measured by Whitchurch's weather station, was almost 1”. 24.4mm fell during the day, this was almost as much as we had in the whole of March and there was no significant rain at all in April.
Local gardeners and farmers are very grateful for the rain. Mandy Wright of Harroway Organic Gardens said “It’s a godsend. Although it’s come too late for the strawberries, which are 3 weeks early and almost over, it’s just right for the raspberries which should be ready very soon”.
Not so fortunate were Cats Protection whose Open Day had to be cancelled.
Do you remember the wooden fence being erected at the Harvest? A request for information about the ugly thing was made to B&DBC's Planning Department on 23rd May (the day it went up). In a written response, B&DBC said that a site visit would take place within 5 days. Today (7th June), in an email, B&DBC says:
"I can confirm that officers have now received a retrospective planning application to retain the hoarding currently in situ at the above site. In accordance with our procedures, as a valid application has been made, the enforcement file will now be closed pending the outcome of the application. "
The application, dated 25th May, is number BDB/74475. Invitations for comments have been sent out, but only to the Town Council and the 2 Borough Councillors, neighbours of the eyesore have not been consulted.
Whitchurch's Archery Club, Overton Black Arrows, have a British Champion.
Steve Burke, has just become a British Champion, shooting his longbow to victory in the All British Field Archery Championships held in Castlewellan, Northern Ireland on 28 - 29 May 2011, improving on his second place last year. He was also part of the winning English Archery team at the meet. “Well worth the trip” was Steve’s comment on his return.
Steve, accompanied by three other Overton Black Arrows archers crossed the Irish
Sea to bring back the coveted trophy for the first time, claiming Hampshire
and regional records and just missing the national record by 4 points. To win, 49 year old Steve, who started the sport just 4 years ago on one of the Black Arrows' beginners' courses,
outshot other competitors over two days and 48 targets on a course laid out in testing
steeply hilly wooded countryside over both marked and unmarked distances.
His top class longbow shooting has given him yet another accolade as his performance earned him a selection for Great Britain Team at the World 3D Field Archery Championships to be held in Austria in August. Steve has now achieved the top Grand Master Bowman classification for two consecutive years. Last year he was ranked 12 in the world, in addition to being number 2 in the UK. So far he has had an outstanding 2011, breaking a number of county and regional records, making him almost unbeatable at his favourite discipline of field archery.
The other 3 team members also did well, Gennie Elliott was 3rd in the Ladies Longbow class, Peter Turner was 3rd in the Veteran Gentleman’s Recurve class, and Richard Tungate-Thorn was 16th in the Gentleman’s Recurve class.
Overton Black Arrows is based in Whitchurch, Hampshire and has about 30 active members. It runs 3 beginners courses a year - see the website for more details.
The summer triathlon by Livvy and Helen has had to be postponed because of injury until September, but the two are pressing on with other fund raising for Cancer Research UK by having a stall at the Festival Fete on 16th July.
To date the Just Giving site has raised £230 of the target £800, you can contribute there.
B&DBC has announced the candidates in the election to be held on 29th June 2001. In the Statement of Persons Nominated posted on its website on Friday, there are 4 named who will be fighting for the one remaining seat on the Council.
The candidates, who include 3 names new to the Council and 2 ladies, are:
| Alan Bromley | |
| Emma Sherman | |
| Linda Sutton | |
| David Titcomb |
The current council make up of 11 councillors, as displayed on the Town Hall Notice Board, is now on-line.
Rockus hit Whitchurch with a vengeance on Saturday. As temperatures reached 25°C, crowds 
enjoyed the weather, food, drink and music at Testbourne. Dozens of musicians performed on the 2 large stages, the Open Mike Stage and in the Acoustic Tent. If that wasn't enough there were 2 huge bouncy castles.
Once again the organising team have done Whitchurch proud. There's more pictures of activities here.
Details of how the developer proposes to demolish the old pub are now on-line. A planning application has been received by B&DBC but it only covers the method by which the developer proposes to demolish the building.
This addresses issues such as health and safety, protection of nearby properties and services and disturbance to the flora and fauna. The documents show that the plan is to demolish the building and clear the site between 27th June and 8th July. It also confirms that the ultimate intention is to redevelop the site.
The application is open to comment, but only as the the method of demolition, NOT the fact that the place will be demolished. A campaign is running to save the building, which closed last September following declining sales and increasing costs. The then owners advertised for a new tenant for over 6 months but no one was willing to take it on; the building was snapped up very quickly after it was offered for sale. As ever, the need is to support local businesses before they go under!
Outline details of all planning applications, with links to the B&DBC Planning site where full details can be seen, are regularly updated on this site in the planning pages - where they are colour coded to make it easy to see how they are progressing.
Network Rail is proposing to close Newbury Road for up to months. NR has applied to Hampshire County Council to close the road from 1 August until the end of January next year whilst it works on the railway bridge.
HCC will be issuing an alternative route map which will involve the use of the A34, as it is not allowed to select routes of a lower classification than that being closed; the use of Bell Street/Bloswood Lane and Harroway would be shorter for small vehicles.
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Last Christmas, Michael’s sons were offered eye and dyslexia tests at Cheam School in Newbury for a donation of just £25. All first and second year pupils were tested and of the sixty children, 16 were found to have serious and previously undetected eye problems - one of which was Michael’s son, Hugo, who was revealed to be almost blind in one eye. The tests also showed that Hugo’s twin brother, Archie, was dyslexic.
