Planning matters. It will not have escaped your notice that planning issues are assuming considerable importance nationally. On 30 July, a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published, for eight weeks’ consultation: this is the document which provides the principles upon which planning decisions are made, both locally and nationally. Your committee members, past and present, have well thumbed copies of the previous edition and we shall now get to grips with the new draft – 78 pages and 106 questions! Deadline for comments 24 September 2024. We imagine that Fareham Planning Committee will have a paper on this topic at a forthcoming meeting, setting out the potential implications for the borough and we will feed that back to you as soon as it becomes available. Meanwhile, we assume Bargate Homes – and others – are doing exactly what we are and trying to work out what the new NPPF would mean. It is likely that target numbers will change (again) for individual local authorities: on the current numbers, Fareham has a Local Plan which shows how it plans to meet its housing target, though there has been considerable delay in schemes coming to fruition – and that, of course, is more down to developers than to FBC. But an increase in target numbers would require yet another review of the Local Plan. Much will unfold over the coming weeks: do respond direct or, if you prefer, send your comments to me so that the committee can take them into account. We will share our draft response as soon as we can which may help you decide whether to respond yourself.
On local planning appeals: the outcome of the Titchfield Festival Theatre appeal is still awaited; the dates are awaited for the appeal against enforcement (by FBC) on AR Banks Ltd for use of the site on Titchfield Road as a haulage yard. On the Crofton Pub - P/23/1008/FP (Inspectorate reference 3343261) the appeal is yet to be decided: final comments are due 7th August. There are a growing number of comments on the FBC website of papers submitted to the Inspectorate.
Shellfish pickers. I know that many local people continue to be greatly concerned about the large scale gathering of shellfish, almost certainly for commercial use, at low tide in the morning and evening of spring tides. The contact details previously on the HHRA website have been changed and the contacts at FBC are now ehs@fareham.gov.uk and out of hours phone number 07860 098627. And a reminder that the police number is 101 and the website is www.hampshire.police.uk. As we reported in the last Update, on 8 July, police and other agencies were on the Cliff Road beach in the early morning and engaged with the people gathering large quantities of oysters and other shellfish. Contact was made with cafes where the shellfish are offered for sale and the police have followed up some individuals who refused to provide their names: they have been identified via their car registrations. We are aware this has not deterred the groups so would strongly encourage you to use the contact details above to report future occurrences, if possible giving car registrations.
Irresponsible car racing (aka ‘boy racers’). On a similar note, many members are aware of ‘boy racers’ in Hoe Down, Salterns and Monks Hill car parks and along Hill Head, Cliff and Meon Roads. This has been raised on our behalf by our councillors with the FBC Executive Member for Health & Public Protection, who has in turn raised it with the police: their response is that they do not have records of such activities being reported, so strongly encourage anyone becoming aware of this anti social behaviour ringing the police on 101 or reporting it on www.hampshire.police.uk Consultations FBC is reviewing its anti social behaviour policy - spells out procedures and options available. Closes 19th August. https://www.fareham.gov.uk/have_your_say/consultation/draftanti-socialbehaviourpolicy
How timely! Do respond.
Defibrillators. You may have read that a man sadly died after being recovered from the sea off Meon Shore after what appears to have been a heart attack. It may be useful to be reminded of where the nearest defibrillators are: by the first Meon Shore chalet, next to the toilet block; at Hill Head Sailing Club. Don’t be worried about accessing a defibrillator – full instructions are given by the emergency services. (We shall hope that the defibrillator which used to be on the Osborne View wall will be replaced as part of the rebuild but at present it is not there).
Hampshire Open Studios. On a happier note, the annual Open Studios event will be running from 17 – 26 August. There are pink brochures in many locations or you can look up the details online via the free Hampshire Open Studios app available from the Google Play Store and Apple Store. Download this onto your mobile phone and you can search by media, date, place, navigate via maps and save all your favourite venues. More details are on the website https://hampshireopenstudios.org.uk/about. There are many local artists exhibiting in Hill Head and Stubbington and, as in previous years, David Brims at 25 Knights Bank Road (open every day except 21 and 22 August) will be donating proceeds from sales to a medical charity in Ukraine. Watercolours of Hill Head. A few months ago, we were contacted by a gentleman who was working through the contents of his late parents’ house and found paintings by Daisy Doehaerd which he believed were of Hill Head. Our local historian John Lewthwaite confirmed that indeed they were, one being a view from near Hill Head harbour entrance, possibly standing on the end of the shingle spit looking towards the old cottage. The second is a view over the marsh possibly from the harbour road, looking towards Meon shore and the path up towards the cliffs.
John has kept copies of the pictures for the local archive, but the gentleman has now come back to us and said that if anyone would be willing to frame the original two pictures and display them in a public place, he would be willing to donate them. I have explained that we are currently rather short of ‘public places’ in Hill Head but if anyone has suggestions and would like to look at copies of the pictures, let me know.
Haven Cottage. A member recently asked me for news of Haven Cottage (not to be confused with Haven House). You may remember that this listed building, at one time the warden’s cottage, was sold last year to a local couple who are working through the building, gradually restoring it. Those who know what they have achieved elsewhere know that they will be aiming for the highest standards and we do wish them well.
Scams. You may have read of a resurgence of the problem which arose last year, with rogue QR codes appearing on car park signs: one of our members had her bank account hacked when she used one of these QR codes in a Portsmouth car park. The only way to be sure of avoiding that problem is to use a different means of payment.
The usual scams and a few new ones continue to do the rounds eg a text reading ‘Hey dad sorry to have to let you know my phones been stolen. Using an old phone but the speaker is faulty. Please text me on xxxxxx’. Also, the rather surprising email from a friend you would have thought was highly organised, but asking you to buy something on Amazon for them; do not reply. The usual offers from Shein pallets, Oral B and B&Q Makita combo often re-appear.
And I am sure members will be sorry to learn that the HRMC has issued a warrant for my arrest for non payment of taxes unless I make immediate payment of several hundred pounds via my debit card in response to the strongly American voice on the recorded message …..
Cones working party. Huge thanks to HHRA members Tony, Lucy and Gerald who joined me last month to remove the three traffic cones and the Stop/Go sign stuck for many months in the brambles above the Cliff Road beach huts. It had proved too complex a challenge for the council so eventually we got our ladders and telescopic garden implements out and Tony and Lucy clambered up and got them down. Marvellous!
That just leaves the broken pavement opposite the Haven House entrance to sort out, which we have asked our councillors to pursue as it has been derelict and dangerous (and full of rats) for many months.
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