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HHRA Update 28 August 2025

  • pamelacharlwood
  • Aug 28

Members’ meeting 7.30pm Monday 6 October

Our next members’ meeting is with Inspector Robert Kearley: his email tells me he is the Prevention and Neighbourhood lead for Fareham, Conflict Resolution and Police Federation Vice Chair. Having heard him speak at other meetings, I recommend him very warmly.  PS Jo Jones from the Fareham Neighbourhood Policing Team also hopes to be present.  Please let me know of issues you would like to discuss by emailing hillheadra@hhra.org.uk

  The ones I already have are:

·       Anti social behaviour during the night in local car parks and on roads in the area, involving noisy and fast vehicles, number plate swapping, loud music, drugs and litter;

·       Electric scooters on roads and pavements;

·       Cockle picking – though the police are only one of many organisations involved in tackling this;

·       Drone flying – again, responsibility for tackling this lies with the airport and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, but Inspector Kearley may well have advice.


A27 closures at Titchfield September - October

There will be closures and restrictions associated with the Hampshire Homes house building on the land east of Southampton Road. 

A27 dual carriageway:

8 – 10 September: full closure 9pm to 6am

11 September – 1 October: single direction closures 9pm to 6am

Southampton Road:

3 – 5 September: road closure and lane closures

1 September  - 1 October: some carriageway incursion, whilst maintaining two way traffic and footpath closures.

Contact numbers for members of the public are:  General enquiries: 01794 339933; Emergency: 01725 517139; Out of hours: 01202 697127


Osborne View

We assume that things have been rather quiet on the Osborne View site as they have been waiting for the Crofton Road closure to be cleared so they can apply the three week closure period they need for essential piling, foundation laying and arrival of the massive crane.  As of last night, the road works on Crofton Lane looked as though they had been finished, so here’s hoping.


Consultation panel on Fareham town centre regeneration

The deadline for applying to join the consultation Let's Talk Progress: Fareham Town Centre Panel has been extended until 12 September, with the chance to win a prize. 

 

Cat collar!

One of our members found a small pink & reflective stripe cat collar with a bell at the bottom of their Old Street garden, adjoining Solent Road on Saturday.  It is hoped the wearer of the collar has not come to harm, but for more information, please reply to hillheadra@hhra.org.uk.

 

HHRA Up[date 14 August 2025

  • pamelacharlwood
  • Aug 13

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:

 

 

 

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

  • pamelacharlwood
  • Aug 6

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.

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!)


Copyright - Hill Head Resident's Association 2025
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