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