HCC Decision on Haven House

We have just heard from HCC the outcome of the Executive Member's Decision Day: 

Hampshire County Council have now reviewed the bids received, which were considered by the Executive Member for Countryside and Regulatory Services at a Decision Day on 21st December, and I confirm that a decision was made on the preferred bidder. I am writing to advise you that regretfully your bid has not been successful.......On behalf of Hampshire County Council, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the time and effort you have taken over the preparation and submission of your bid. 

We are deeply sad, though unsurprised, to receive this news and we know that the hundreds of supporters who have written, signed petitions, gathered outside Haven House and sent their warm support to the trustees will be equally sorry.

We do not know if or when we shall learn who the successful bidder is, but we wish them success in taking over the building and - we hope - putting it to good use.

HHRA Update 10 December 2023

Haven House: sadly, this is an item on which we have no feedback.  You may recall the deadline for bids to estate agents Savills was 1 December; THCH trustees wrote to HCC that evening confirming they would be delighted to meet to discuss their bid ‘if it would assist HCC to assess the options available to them’ but no answer has been forthcoming.  We expect the formal decision to be made at the Executive Member’s Decision Day on 15 January and meanwhile we can only wait.

In Our Element: at our meeting on 4 December, we were delighted to welcome Hollie Luff and Rachel Lasham who were two of the four person crew of In Our Element who rowed the Atlantic as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge this time last year.  You may remember hearing from Hollie last September as they prepared for the challenge.  With crew mates Mike Hatch and Elliot Holman, Hollie and Rachel rowed from La Gomera to Antigua in 42 days, rowing two hours on, two hours off, without respite and taking all the Atlantic weather and sea conditions could throw at them.  They were supporting the work being done by the University of Portsmouth to find a solution to global plastic pollution: at one point in her talk, Hollie commented ‘Yes, we saw wildlife, but we saw an awful lot more plastic in the ocean’.  I believe I can speak for everyone present last Monday when I say we were overwhelmed at the resolution and endurance they had shown: congratulations to team In Our Element.

Peter Wason: as mentioned in our last update, Monday 4 December was also the last appearance of Co Chair Peter Wason before he and Barbara move from Hill Head.  We thanked Peter for the immense commitment he had made to HHRA since joining the committee nearly eleven years ago and wished him and Barbara well for the move and their new lives.  A presentation was made with which they will be able to toast their old friends in Hill Head and look forward to their future in Kintbury.

Vice Chair HHRA: following Co Chair Peter’s departure, we are delighted to confirm that Colin Hardy has kindly agreed to take on the role of Vice Chair.

Councillors’ updates:  Councillor Steve Dugan reported on a meeting councillors had had the previous week to discuss options and contribute ideas for the regeneration of Fareham Town Centre. External consultants have been engaged and a number of exhibitions and events are planned to explore options for business, housing and leisure developments. Further details can be found on the FBC website via the link below, where you can also complete a questionnaire: link  https://www.fareham.gov.uk/planning/regeneration/farehamtowncentreregeneration.aspx

The consultants’ web site where there is some information about their other projects is at https://rivingtonhark.com/

At the meeting, the question was raised about timing of the demolition of the Osborn Road multi storey car park: we see from the website that it will be closed from 2 January 2024 and demolition will begin on 8 January.

Councillor Dugan also reported that the planning application for development of a training centre for Bristow's at Daedalus has now been approved by FBC and construction is due to start early in 2024.

The application for two dwellings on part of the Crofton Public House site is to be considered by Members on 13 December. (Comment from Chair of HHRA: the recommendation to approve the application is despite 72 objections, including one from HHRA, being received.  You may wish to refer to the very detailed report on the FBC website, which sets out why it is believed that there are no grounds for refusal).

Other planning matters:  you may have seen press coverage of the problems being raised by HCC regarding funding for the work to junction 10 of the M27 which is a necessary precursor of the Welborne development going forward.  This will be considered, in the context of a wider debate about HCC’s financial difficulties, at a meeting of HCC’s cabinet on 12 December, where it will be recommended that additional financial contributions should be sought from the developers and other stakeholders.  There will then be a dedicated meeting of the FBC Planning Committee on 14 December on many detailed planning issues for Welborne: let us hope it is not derailed by the highway funding concerns!

Alabama Rot: we have publicised in previous years the considerable danger for dogs from Alabama Rot, which often proves fatal.  There have been recent reports of it occurring in Hampshire and owners are advised that the symptoms of Alabama rot include skin sores, visible swelling, red patch or skin defects and changes in appetite. Owners are advised to wash off all mud following wet and muddy walks, especially through woodland, in order to minimise the risk of your dog catching the disease.

Scams: we shall greatly miss Peter Wason as the source of virtually all scams, but other members have alerted us to the following:

I need to get an Amazon E-Gift Card for a friend of mine who is diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma cancer, She lost her only daughter to the disease (COVID-19).it's her birthday but I can't do this now. I tried purchasing it online but unfortunately, I got no luck on that. Wondering if you could help me take care of this through Amazon online? and I'll reimburse you once I get back home.  Please let me know so I can provide you with her email.

Dear Heathrow Airport Customer.  We’re offering you an extraordinary opportunity to get your hands on Unclaimed Luggage!  To make the claim, just do a brief survey about your experience at Heathrow!

You have reached your storage limit.  Drear (???) customer, Your Cloud storage is full.  Confirm.  Cancelling.

Membership matters.

Those Members present on 4 December confirmed Monday evening remained a suitable day for future meetings.

Subscriptions of £3 per household are now due for membership in 2024. It would be very helpful if as many as possible can pay by bank transfer or by standing order. HHRA's bank account details are: Hill Head Residents’ Association; sort code 30-98-97; account number 74507262.  For those who prefer to pay by cash, do bring your £3 to the AGM on 4 March, or drop through our new Membership Secretary Julie Taylor’s letterbox at 53 Knights Bank Road PO14 3HZ.  Cheques should be made payable to Hill Head Residents’ Association and posted to same address.

Our next meeting will be the AGM on Monday 4 March 2024 at 7.30pm where the main focus will be a Q&A session with local Elected Members followed by Association business and, should there be anything to report, Haven House.

HHRA Update 24 November

We start this update with the news that, sadly, it will be Peter Wason’s last communication before he and Barbara move from Hill Head. Those who are able to attend the members’ meeting on 4 December (see below) will have the opportunity to bid them farewell in person, but we know all HHRA members would wish to join Co Chair Pamela in saying how very much Peter’s work has been appreciated.  Many hours have been spent online, preparing updates, liaising with our councillors and others and he will be greatly missed.  Thank you, Peter.

Haven House Visitor Centre.  Below is a summary of the update sent out by the Trustees of Titchfield Haven Community Hub on 22 November:

·       Thieves took a considerable amount of lead from the roof on the night of 2 - 3 November.  Hampshire County Council (HCC) started work on 13 November to repair it and the scaffolding is still in place. 

·       Savills, the estate agents marketing Haven House, have invited 'best bids' for the freehold of Haven House by Friday 1 December.  HCC have confirmed that THCH does not need to submit any further information: the business plan submitted in June together with THCH’s cash offer submitted in September, the detailed (repeated) description of the community benefits which would come from THCH running it as a community hub, plus the detailed fund-raising plan sent on 3 November, will suffice.

·       We do not know if Savills have received any offers yet, but we note with interest the recent appearance of a For Sale sign on the wall of Haven House.  It seems that perhaps they feel the need to stimulate further interest....  With thanks to our friends in Hill Head Sailing Club, we have replaced our Save Our Haven Centre banners on their fence, to reinforce the point that local people do not want the building sold!

·       We have not been told the timescale for decisions to be made, but we have noted that on 15 January 2024 there is a meeting in the morning of the Select Committee for Universal Services and in the afternoon the Executive Member's Decision Day - that is Councillors Nick Adams-King and Russell Oppenheimer.

If you wish to remind HCC of the strength of local opinion about the importance to the local community and to the nature reserve of Haven House re-opening as Titchfield Haven Community Hub, do write to russell.oppenheimer@hants.gov.uk, nick.adams-king@hants.gov.uk and – the Leader of HCC - rob.humby@hants.gov.uk.  Assuming the assessment of bids takes place before Christmas and the report is written for the 15 January committees early in the new year, now is the time to remind them of the strength of public opinion!

Daedalus.  You will recall the very interesting talk we were given at our last Members' Meeting on the development company's plans for the Daedalus waterfront area at Lee. Gosport Borough Council has since approved the planning application for 346 homes, some retirement homes, commercial space and a museum. No doubt most of us will welcome that after the site has been virtually derelict for many years.

Nitrous Oxide.  As some may already be aware, from 8 November the sale, possession and use of nitrous oxide cylinders for the purpose of achieving a "high" is now illegal, with potentially severe penalties, under new government legislation to clamp down on anti-social behaviour. Good news - and nitrous oxide also poses health risks for users other than under medical supervision.

Overhanging Vegetation.   Some residents are saying how bad overhanging branches, brambles etc are becoming in some places. Only a couple of days ago a member was very nearly caught in the eye by a bramble and had to consider herself lucky that it only badly scratched her face. If you haven't checked recently perhaps you would; and do please encourage your neighbours to do likewise. If anything from a garden overhangs a footpath or pavement then it is the homeowner's responsibility to ensure that it is not obstructive or dangerous. If remedial action is not taken then the Council (normally Hampshire) can, and will write asking for it to be done or it will take action and bill the homeowner: go to www.hants.gov.uk; transport and roads; road maintenance; report road and paving problems; report vegetation issue. We know that a recent issue on Crofton Lane was dealt with very quickly but other approaches have been less successful.  If a response is delayed, please contact our county councillor pal.hayre@hants.gov.uk

Southern Water work on Posbrook Lane. You may recall the serious burst sewer in 2020 towards the top of Posbrook Lane.  At last the remedial work is being done, with the replacement of the main sewer which will also serve the new housing development south of Bellfield and will then cross Posbrook Lane and run west to Occupation Lane.  Both temporary and long term changes to the public footpaths have been or will be made.  The work is likely to take another year.

Water Companies’ consultations. Pamela joined the online consultation run by Portsmouth Water (our water provider) on Monday.  The presentations can be viewed and you may comment further via their website www.portsmouthwater.co.uk Tell Us Your Thoughts on our Plans.

The equivalent meeting for Southern Water, who manage our waste water, will be held on Monday 27 November from 6 – 8pm online.  If you wish to join, the easiest way I (Pamela) have found of tracking down the link is simply looking on my search engine for Southern Water Your Water Your Say.

Consultations. Post 16 travel policy for 2024/25 - https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/haveyoursay/consultations/Post-16-Transport-Policy-for-2024-25 closes 6 December.

Council tax support - https://www.fareham.gov.uk/have_your_say/consultation/counciltaxsupportconsultationfortheschemefrom1apr closes 9 December. 

Scams.   New variations of the "Mum, my phone has broken so can you send me some cash to get another...." etc; one of our members was recently very nearly caught by a very plausible version of that. 

Plenty of the old ones in various forms and becoming more sophisticated. A first action if in any doubt whatsoever - or even if you are not in doubt - is to look very carefully at the sender's address and/or check with the purported sender using their known genuine address. 

PW has received two emails only this week from what appear to be genuine contact addresses saying that they have laryngitis and can't speak so will I respond to acknowledge receipt!

Email from "Temu/CustomerSupport.21" about arranging a delivery.

QR Codes. You may have seen press reports that QR codes particularly in car parks have been covered by scammers with a fake code linked directly to them rather than the genuine operator; the scammers can then take hundreds if not thousands from your account. If in a car park or elsewhere, don't be shy about running your finger nail down the QR code to check whether it has merely been stuck over the genuine one.

Next Meeting.  A reminder that our next Members' Meeting will be held on Monday 4 December at 7.30 pm. Our guest speaker on this occasion will be Hill Head's own Hollie Luff who will tell us about her amazing achievement of "Rowing the Atlantic". As usual our councillors will give us some updates on both Fareham and Hampshire and take questions.

Subscriptions.   Members' subs renewal will become due in January. It would be very helpful if as many as possible can pay by bank transfer or by standing order. HHRA's bank account details are: Hill Head Residents’ Association; sort code 30-98-97; account number 74507262