HHRA Update 3 September 2025

Osborne View

Now that the Crofton Lane road closure for the Southern Water work has ended, the Osborne View is able to proceed with the crucial next stage of construction work, for which a three week road closure is necessary.  This will start on Monday 8 September and will be between Solent Road and Old Street.  Pedestrian access will remain, so if you wish to watch the excitement, Breezes café will be the ideal place from which to do so!  Turvey Construction will be trying to manage the barriers so that fewer motorists, motor cyclists and cyclists can try to force their way through the closed area than was the case last time.  The 35 ton vehicle will be arriving on Tuesday, the piling delivered on Wednesday and the ‘pressing’ of the piles from Thursday.  Pressing should result in less noise and vibration than the conventional method.

Work is about 14 weeks behind what had been planned, but the Property Investment Committee of Hall and Woodhouse – doubtless through slightly gritted teeth – confirmed their approval yesterday. The project manager is in frequent contact with HCC Highways and FBC planners to try and ensure the coming months of construction can proceed efficiently and without further delay.

Gosport Heritage Open Days

I should have alerted you to this in my last Update, but better late than never.  The excellent programme of open days to historical sights in Gosport will run from 12 - 21 September as part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme sponsored by the National Trust, and with considerable support from Gosport Borough Council.  Do look at the programme on https://www.gosportheritage.co.uk/  Many of the events which need booking are now full but there are a lot that you can attend on a simple ‘turn up’ basis.

Flags and graffiti

A number of you have contacted me about the appearance of flags on lamp posts and graffiti on roundabouts and pavements.  I have discussed this with Cllr Pal Hayre, as highways issues are the responsibility of Hampshire County Council.  She advises that the council’s position is as follows:

HCC confirm that items already placed will be considered for removal as part of the routine highway maintenance activity, however anything that is placed that poses a risk to the safe operation of the public highway will be prioritised for immediate removal. Please do bring to my attention any areas in Hill Head where there are such issues and I shall raise them with Highways.

There are many of us who feel very uncomfortable at the way our national flag is currently being used, but I do understand that HCC may feel that allowing feelings to moderate might work better than by actively removing them and possibly provoking an unwelcome reaction.  Do let councillor Hayre know you views if you wish them to be taken into account: pal.hayre@hants.gov.uk.

We can also discuss this at our meeting on 6 October.

National alarm test 3pm Sunday 7 September

The UK government is testing the Emergency Alert system on Sunday 7 September at 3pm: compatible mobile phones and tablets will receive an alert and make a loud siren like sound and vibrate.  You will not need to take any action.

This system is used to warn if there is danger to life nearby eg extreme weather.  Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly , should it need to be used in a life threatening emergency.  Find out more at gov.uk/alerts

Bygone Fareham

Bygone Fareham will once again be coming to Fareham Town Centre on Saturday 13 September 10am-4pm. There will be an array of classic cars, pop up vintage market and vintage singing and dancing throughout the day. For more information on this event and other with the Fareham Borough visit www.fareham.gov.uk/bygone.

Parking and other scams

Those of you who were at our meeting on 7 July about cybersecurity will remember the warnings about parking scams and we have often mentioned them in these Updates.

The linked article below provides very helpful advice: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8438ngpe1o  

Members’ meeting 7.30pm Monday 6 October Catholic church hall Bells Lane

Inspector Robert Kearley and PS Jo Jones will be with us for this meeting, as will Councillors Dugan and Mandry.  I will also feed back information from Pal Hayre, who is unable to be with us.  In the last Update I set out the topics I had flagged to Insp Kearley.

As mentioned above, we may wish to discuss flags and graffiti.  Other topics which I have discussed recently with our councillors on which they may be able to report back are a number of overgrown areas blocking pavements, the continued mess opposite Haven House and the state of the promenade in front of the Cliff Road beach huts, plus cycling on the promenade. I am most grateful to Cllr Dugan for taking on the problems on the promenade and he visited (again) this afternoon, this time with lead councillor Ian Bastable.