HHRA Up[date 14 August 2025

120825-Decision Notice - Osborne View Hotel.pdf

Download PDF • 111KB

Bargate Homes application to build up to 62 homes on land west of Old Street

Well, my friends – wonders will never cease.  I have just got back from the planning committee meeting at FBC, at which the committee members voted unanimously to reject Bargate Homes’ application, despite the recommendation in the officer’s report that it should be accepted.   Councillors Pal Hayre and Kay Mandry, who are not members of the committee, gave powerful deputations and I did my bit.  There was a very good debate during which it became clear that the committee members were not going to accept it; the officers retired for half an hour to draft as clear and watertight a resolution as they could; the vote was taken and the rejection was unanimous.  Super result.

Is that the end of the story?  Almost certainly not.  I would think that Bargate are highly likely to lodge an appeal, but I imagine they might wait to see what emerges regarding local government re-organisation and perhaps some aspects of national policies.  But ‘sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof’.  Time to celebrate!

Osborne View licensing application

The FBC Licensing Panel on Tuesday considered Hall & Woodhouse’s application for a new operating licence for the Osborne View; there were three deputations, two from neighbours and one from me.

On Friday, Hall & Woodhouse had put in a revised application, with reduced hours, which went some way to meeting the objections which had been lodged (26 in total, with two letters of support). As a result, two objections were withdrawn, but HHRA sent in a response on Monday requesting some further reductions and changes.  The result is set out in the attached decision.  You will see towards the end there are two important changes for which we pressed at the meeting, namely no live music or films in the garden and the outer areas to be cleared of guests by 22.30 (22.00 on Sundays).  The Director of Hall and Woodhouse has asked me to share with you the following letter:

Dear valued neighbours and local residents,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the proposed opening times of The Osborne View ahead of Fareham Borough Council’s licensing committee meeting this week.

Your views are very important to us and have helped to shape our plans for the new pub. As such, we have taken the decision to reduce the proposed opening hours and have submitted these to the licensing officers for review. We hope that the revised timings will be approved by Fareham Borough Council tomorrow. These hours align with our vision for the Osborne View as a family-friendly venue offering food and drink throughout the day, in a warm and inviting environment. I am also pleased to share that the pub will be run by Steve Young, who is the same General Manager as before the fire.

The rebuilding of the Osborne View is well underway and we look forward to welcoming you back next summer.

We’re very grateful for your ongoing support.

Warm regards, 

Mark James     Business Partnerships & Property Director, Hall & Woodhouse

The number of clearly expressed concerns obviously had a real impact on Hall & Woodhouse and it is good that we now have what might be regarded as an honourable compromise.

Meanwhile, as many of you will have observed – and heard - work is now very actively underway on the site.  Vibration monitoring is in place. Turvey Construction have applied for a three week order to close the road (in the same way as applied a couple of months ago when the power supply was installed) from 18 August.  The work to be carried out during that period is piling, demolition and crane erection. They are aware that this may be delayed by any continuing work in Crofton Lane causing road closure, but that is the plan.  Incidentally, I think the reference in Mark James’s letter above to welcoming   customers back next summer is definitely on the optimistic side. 

A reminder that Breezes café remains open throughout and will be delighted to welcome you.

Drones

There has been considerable concern about the intrusive flying of a private drone over residential areas and in the prohibited area around Solent Airport.  If you observe a drone in the Hill Head area, it should not be there as there is a No-Fly Zone which covers the whole of Hill Head, and Solent Airport should be alerted.  The issues of concern are:

·        Possible Safeguarding Issues - young children/adults playing or sunbathing in their gardens. 

·        Breach of Privacy

·        Breach of Data Protection Law - is the drone recording, these drones have video and audio function so to take any film without residents permission would infringe data protection laws.

Guidance from Solent Airport and the CAA on the issue is below:

Drones - Solent Airport | Daedalus

Protecting people’s privacy (points 20 to 25) | UK Civil Aviation Authority

Solent Airport management contract

Fareham Borough Council has announced that EGHF Ltd has been awarded a contract as the new operator for Solent Airport at Daedalus:EGHF brings a wealth of experience, underpinned by deep industry knowledge and strong sector connections. It will work alongside the existing team at Solent Airport to continue to support the Council’s vision and play a strong role in attracting new employment and business opportunities to the site. Matt Wilkins, Director of EGHF, has successfully operated Old Buckenham Licensed Airfield in Norfolk since 2011, which has a similar heritage to Solent Airport Daedalus, both serving as bases during the Second World War. Matt has also worked with the UK Government and the Civil Aviation Authority on projects requiring his expertise and knowledge and is Team Manager of the world's only electric aircraft display team, NEBO Air Electric Arrows.Preparations are now underway for the handover to EGHF. Its initial five-year contract will take effect from 1 April 2026, and it is anticipated will significantly improve the revenue position of the airport. There are options for the Council to extend the contract.In addition, EGHF will work closely with the Council over the first year to assess the financial and operational feasibility of a range of potential future options. These include initiatives to further increase revenue, attract new tenants, support innovation, reduce the airport’s environmental impact and expand the number and variety of events held at this site, including non-aviation events.

Cockle picking

We know how very frustrating local people find the large scale gathering of shellfish by groups of Chinese people.  I am glad to report that, in the last week, police were on the beach on Monday morning and then checked the bona fides of a Wildlife Trust group carrying out a low tide survey at Monks Hill early that evening.  Then at around 7pm, there was a large multi agency presence on the beach.

A reminder that the best contact is environmental officer Wendy Shakespeare wshakespeare@fareham.gov.uk.  She will be glad to receive photographs – particularly of large bins full – and vehicles.

Further details can be found on our website www.hhra.org.uk Local Information Community Safety.

ATM safety

Fareham police have issued a warning about a number of ATMs (cash machines) around Fareham, including the ATM outside the Stubbington Co-op, which have been tampered with.  They tell us that on 7 August, they responded to a call from a member of the public who had discovered a suspicious device attached to the Stubbington ATM.  It had been ‘swallowing’ people’s cards: the card was trapped inside the ATM and a camera used to catch people entering their PINs.  The police seized the device and investigations are underway.

We are advised to be particularly vigilant and always to cancel a card that is swallowed by a machine at the earliest opportunity.  If you believe an ATM might have been tampered with, contact the police on 101 and your bank or card company.

HHRA Update 6 August 2025

Os View licensing comments.docx

Download DOCX • 20KB

Bargate application to build up to 62 homes on land west of Old Street

The papers for the planning committee meeting next Wednesday were published late yesterday and I am sorry - but sadly unsurprised - to report that the recommendation from the planning officers is for the councillors to approve Bargate's application for outline planning consent.

You can view the report via the attached link; I have included the entire committee reports pack as the report on the Five Year Housing Land Supply is highly relevant to the Old Street debate.  Regrettably, Fareham can only demonstrate 3.8 years' housing land supply so is well short of the five years required.  It is therefore on the back foot and there must be a presumption of approval for applications unless serious adverse effects can be shown; in that respect, there has been no help from the official bodies such as HCC Highways, HCC Countryside, HCC as the Flood Authority, FBC's Ecology advisers (also from HCC), Natural England and the like - all have, with minor reservations said 'Yes, OK by us'. The lead NHS funding body asked for a one off payment of £35,706 which Bargate will have to pay - we can all ponder what that might buy.

I shall attend the meeting at 2pm Wednesday 13 August at the civic centre and make a deputation though I think there is little that can be said at this stage which will make a difference.  

If the application is approved, at this stage it is only an outline application and the report sets out the many ways in which further approval will need to be sought by Bargate if it goes ahead.  We shall be extremely vigilant if that is where we end up.

https://moderngov.fareham.gov.uk/documents/g4694/Public%20reports%20pack%2013th-Aug-2025%2014.00%20Planning%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Crofton Saints FC application for a post and rail fixed barrier and pathway/spectator hardstanding at Seafield Park

This is also included in the planning committee reports pack linked above, with a recommendation that it should be approved.

Osborne View licensing application

At the last count about twenty comments had been made on the application made by Hall & Woodhouse, two in favour and the rest raising concerns about the late night opening which it would allow.  The HHRA comments are on our website www.hhra.org.uk Latest News. I shall attend the Licensing Panel at 10.00 on Tuesday 12 August at the civic centre and speak briefly and I know at least one near neighbour is also intending to do so.  If any other HHRA member is planning to attend and speak, do let me know as it would be a good idea to liaise over who says what.

Crofton Lane sewer repair

Southern Water tell us that the sewer has now been repaired, so it remains only for the road to be re-surfaced.

Hampshire Open Studios 16 - 25 August

A reminder about this event which may distract us from the more negative matters we have been dealing with.  I'm sure the yellow booklets will soon start appearing and meanwhile you can log onto the website: https://hampshireopenstudios.org.uk/about.  You will see studio numbers 290 to 297 are all our neighbours here in Hill Head.  (Incidentally in the last Update I referred to David Brims' studio as being at 27 Knights Bank Road - it is actually 25, though I think you might have been able to work that out on approaching it!)

HHRA Update 30 July 2025

Osborne View

HHRA has received the following response from the Director of Hall & Woodhouse:

I understand the concern about licensing hours. As you say, the licensed hours have not changed from the previous licence (although late night refreshments which exclude alcohol have been extended by 30 mins). Having said that, we do not operate late night venues, and do not anticipate the evening trade being much different to the hours operated before the fire. I am happy for this email to be shared, and hope this helps to alleviate concerns. 

We are certainly not looking to extend any hours for alcohol consumption, nor run a late night venue.  It is possible that we open slightly earlier for trade than prior to the fire, as this is a trend we are seeing across the industry, but is not yet something our Operations  team has decided.

The response which a number of you may have received from Hall & Woodhouse’s solicitors says:

We should like to clarify that this application does not seek to extend from the existing licence either the opening hours of the premises, nor the hours during which alcohol will be sold.  There is a small extension to the hours during which Late Night Refreshments can be provided (extended from midnight to 00:30 on all days, save for Friday and Saturday when the extension is sought until 01:00).  Late Night Refreshment is any hot food or drink served between the hours of 11pm and 5am, so this small extension will not materially change the operation of the premises.

It is therefore our client’s position that the operation of the pub will remain the same as it was before the fire.  We hope that this clarification will ease any concerns that you have in relation to this application, but should any concerns remain, our client will be happy to explore these with you further. 

Notwithstanding those (qualified) reassurances, I think it is no bad thing that FBC Licensing Committee has seen the level of concern which many neighbours have expressed.  Given that the hours are so close to those which originally applied, I imagine they will be approved, but at least concerns have been registered in the hopefully unlikely event that any problems arise in future.

Music celebrations at local pubs

On a slightly related subject, we understand that this Saturday 2 August, the Cuckoo Pint promises music 11am to 11pm for the Cuckoo Fest and the Crofton pub has the CroftFest Music Festival from 2pm.

Sewage

We are grateful to Councillor Pal Hayre for a number of updates about the Southern Water work on Crofton Lane.  She has raised with Southern Water a number of complaints about speeding tankers mounting pavements and using routes that are unsuitable for such heavy vehicles.  She has also spoken to Hampshire CC Highways about who holds responsibility for any damage arising from this.  Pal invites us to keep in touch with her, ideally with photos: pal.hayre@hants.gov.uk.

She has also passed on the news that the work is going well, with most of the liner installed.  If everything goes according to plan, the tankers should be gone in a couple of weeks and then the work to repair the road will commence.

Overnight racing cars

A reminder, as we enter the height of the summer holidays, that if you become aware of cars misusing car parks and racing along roads, do report it on 101 or via hampshire.police.uk

Solent airport

With thanks to committee member Ken Mackenzie for keeping in touch with the manager at Solent Airport, he reports:

 Airfield Ground Lighting:  The lighting is installed and serviceable but has not yet received CAA clearance as the system, which requires instant feedback on the serviceability of ALL the lights in the complex, is not yet foolproof. This is an issue with a number of provincial airfield systems apparently.

Airport contract: RCA are not going to bid to renew their contract to operate Solent Airport next April and have no knowledge of any other organisation which might wish to bid.  The overall management, in the event of no successful bids, will revert to FBC.

Airfield operations: Activity, and therefore income, has been disappointedly low so far this year.

Hampshire Open Studios

This year’s celebration of the many talented artists in the county will run between 16 and 25 August and, as ever, there will be many studios open in the Hill Head area. We have been asked to include the following invitation

David Brims is giving his Valedictory Exhibition at 25 Knights Bank Road with Hampshire Open Studios.   This being the last showing of his work, and the need to help Ukraine, all pictures are half original price and ALL proceeds going to a Ukraine medical charity.   David had no intention of doing yet another exhibition, but the treatment of Zelenskyy in the White House was so appalling that David felt an obligation to help again.   Previous exhibitions have raised £6000 for Ukraine.