HHRA Update 6 April 2025

Meetings

There was an excellent turnout for our meeting with the leader of Fareham Borough Council Simon Martin on 24 March.

The committee will be meeting later this month and we will aim to get future meeting dates pinned down after that.  Meanwhile, please make sure you have Monday 7 July in your calendars for our next meeting which is with the Hampshire & IoW Constabulary expert on cybercrime.

Planning

On planning matters, the applications on Solent Cliffs Nursing Home extension and work at Haven House will both be going to the Planning Committee this week with recommendations that they be approved.

I have checked with the planning officer regarding the Bargate Homes bid for 62 houses on Old Street and she advises it is unlikely to go to the May committee and more likely June.

I have also asked Hall and Woodhouse for any information about start date for the rebuild of the Osborne View but so far have received no response....

Solent Airport

With thanks to committee member who attends the meetings with FBC and Solent Airport, he reports from the most recent one that:

• Ground Lighting (AGL) is installed, serviceable and awaiting CAA clearance. Pilots still keep crashing into the lights!

• Airfield operations: Flat lining against last year so far but optimistic that increasing activity from flying schools, more international movements and better weather will improve matters this year.

• Events: Easter Airport Fun Day 08 April.  Solent Fun Run 22 June. Charity Fund Raising for “Charlies’Beach Hut”

Junction 10 M27

For updates on this major scheme, including road closures, please go to the web site https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/M27-junction-10 

Artisan Markets  West Street Fareham

There will be craft, gift and food stalls full of local and seasonal goods including pottery, jewellery, wooden products, glassware, homemade fudge and cakes. They will take place between 10am-4pm on the following dates. More information can be found at www.funyardevents.com

• Saturday 12th April

• Saturday 17th May

• Saturday 14th June

• Saturday 12th and 13th July

• Saturday 18th October

• Saturday 15th November

Scams

Implausible communications from Paypal about payments you won't recognize and offers of a tea hamper from M & S.

A reminder that it is worth forwarding any scams to report@phishing.gov.uk.

Stubbington Study Centre revised recommendations and deputation

Stubbington Study Centre deputation to Cabinet 18 March 2025.docx

Download DOCX • 22KB

Stubbington Study Centre Saved!

You may well have seen or heard via local media that today Hampshire County Council (HCC) Cabinet voted unanimously not to close Stubbington Study Centre (SSC) in order to repurpose the site for a secure children's home to replace Swanwick Lodge.  I have posted the full list of approved recommendatioins on www.hhra.org.uk Latest News.  HCC will apply to the Department for Education (DfE) for a six month extension to the deadline for a business case for the secure children's home and availability of the £60million and will work with district and borough councils to extend the search for a suitable site. The BBC reporter specifically asked HCC Leader Cllr Nick Adams King if that meant they could come back in six months and again propose to close SSC and he answered firmly 'No'.

This campaign has been undertaken by a real coalition of interests: children who have used SSC and their families; teachers past and present; councillors; HHRA and many others.  All those perspectives were represented at the Select Committee two weeks ago and the Cabinet meeting today and it was clear that the arguments put forward were very persuasive.

Given the case that HCC had belatedly tried to make that SSC was not financially viable, it was particularly interesting to hear the deputation  today from Peter Howard, headteacher in Southampton and chair of the SSC advisory committee.  He stated that £493,000 had been transferred out of the SSC reserves to HCC in 2019 and another £200,000 in 2024.  He confirmed that SSC always made a surplus.

I could say much more, but for now I would simply like to express particular thanks to Councillor Simon Martin Leader of FBC for all his support; Councillor Pal Hayre who has been tireless in the fight; and our member Lynne Murray who prepared the application for listing as an asset of community value, ensured HCC knew of the DfE's willingness to consider an extension to the deadline and made a powerful deputation today which I have put on the hhra website.

A good day for democracy and for community strength.