Summer Borough News 2021 - Eastleigh Borough Council

THIS IS A COVER WRAP YOUR COPY OF THE BOROUGH NEWS IS INSIDE

THE HUNDRED IS COMING TO EASTLEIGH TICKETS ON SALE NOW

100 BALL CRICKET. EVERY. BALL. COUNTS. Speed. Of ball. Of bat. Of reaction. Of excitement.

Big risks, heart-stopping hits and sky-high drama.

Make a plan, then gamble it all. Hero to villain to hero in a heartbeat.

Non-stop entertainment for cricket fans and people who never knew they were cricket fans.

Five weeks, eight teams, 100 chances for glory.

New tribes and new heroes are being made.

We’re not just pushing boundaries, we’re cracking them wide open.

Anything can happen. Every player matters.

Every ball counts.

Expect everything. Expect it fast.

Men’s & Women’s Home Fixtures Ageas Bowl, Southampton Fri 30 Jul Birmingham Phoenix Sat 7 Aug Northern Superchargers Wed 11 Aug Welsh Fire Mon 16 Aug Oval Invincibles

Adult tickets from £10 Under-16s just £5 Under 5s FREE

Tickets on sale now thehundred.com

ARE YOU READY? THEHUNDRED.COM

T

Y

BOROUGH NEWS Summer 2021

eastleigh.gov.uk

@eastleighbc

Eastleigh Borough Gift Card

Borough bounces back!

Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses emerge from lockdown Eastleigh Borough has seen the green shoots of recovery this spring as businesses, leisure attractions and the hospitality industry emerge from a gruelling year of coronavirus lockdowns and other restrictions.

The Council’s Reopening High Streets Safely campaign - designed to get residents using their local retail centres - has thrown a spotlight on some real gems among the Borough’s shops, restaurants and other services which have all found ways of trading through the COVID crisis. More than a thousand residents responded to a survey to help the Council understand how people feel about their local high streets and retail areas.

The Borough’s performing arts venues went dark and popular wellbeing and fitness facilities were forced to close their doors. Residents will welcome the return of The Point and The Berry Theatres, who are putting together exciting new

programmes, as well as the popular Places Leisure Eastleigh and the revamped Wildern swimming pool.

A summer events programme is being organised and there will be plenty for all the family to do at Itchen Valley and Lakeside Country Parks, which have provided a welcome sanctuary for many people during lockdown.

Meanwhile, the Council is investing more than £1 million in local play areas that are likely to be hugely popular over the summer.

The Borough’s business community has faced unprecedented challenges over the last 14 months and the Council have distributed over £31

million to help keep companies afloat and protect local jobs.

There was more good news when a site next to Southampton Airport was chosen as one of the locations for the new Solent Freeport – a move that could see £2 billion injected into the local economy and created 50,000 new jobs.

Council Leader, Councillor Keith House, said: “As a Council we’re committed to promoting the prosperity of the Borough and it is good to see a year of hard work paying off as businesses welcome back customers – and our muchloved amenities reopen.”

Picture: Residents socialising again at Hedge End’s popular Kettle and Cake café.

The Eastleigh Borough Gift Card is a fantastic new way to support your local high street.

Borough shops, cafés, bars and restaurants have signed up to be part of the new scheme allowing customers to load a card with money, which can be spent in outlets that are part of the scheme.

More information can be found on page 10 or visit eastleigh.gov.uk/boroughgiftcard

Sign up to

for your tailored customer account my.eastleigh.gov.uk

Details are correct at time of print.

Government announcements may have changed some services by the time Borough News is delivered.

2

eastleigh.gov.uk

GREENER BOROUGH

Our focus As a Council, we are focused on improving the quality of life of everyone living and working in the Borough, both now and in the future.

The stories in this issue are themed around the key areas where we are making a positive difference to people’s lives.

Green Borough 2

5

Maintaining and creating an attractive and sustainable environment that residents value, and which can allow residents, businesses and nature to thrive.

Health and Wellbeing Improving health and wellbeing, and enabling, supporting and creating sustainable communities.

We want all our residents and people working in the Borough to live long, healthy and happy lives.

Economy 10

Securing sustainable economic growth, high and stable employment and a shared prosperity for residents. It is about ensuring every one of us has a good standard of living in strong, safe, sustainable communities.

Housing and Development 14

Creating homes and communities to meet residents’ needs. To help support a buoyant housing market, it is essential that there is a sufficient supply of suitable, high-quality homes that can meet the diverse needs of residents. Building new homes and communities provides opportunities for people looking for affordable rent, or a new home to meet their changing needs.

Bus services returning As coronavirus restrictions are eased, bus services which had been suspended or operating on a reduced timetable are gradually returning.

Bluestar routes 1 (Southampton to Winchester) and 2 (Southampton to Fair Oak) are running as usual.

Xelabus has returned to pre COVID levels, with the return of Sunday buses, a more frequent timetable for the X9 to Colden Common and the X6/X7 to Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury.

Firstbus service 6 (Southampton to Netley and Hamble) has returned to pre COVID service levels, and service 8 (Southampton to West End and Hedge End) has an improved weekend timetable and restored peak journeys to the Locke Road area of Hedge End. Keep up to date by visiting: bluestarbus.co.uk/coronavirus xelabus.info/updates firstbus.co.uk/southampton

Food waste recycling for flats Resident’s living in flat blocks could soon be able to recycle their food waste.

The weekly collection service has been available to people living in houses for several years.

Following a successful pilot last year, the Council is able to provide this important recycling opportunity to people living in flats. It will be rolled out on a block-by-block basis across the Borough.

We are writing to residents when the service becomes available in their block and providing them with a kitchen caddy, informational leaflet

and a free roll of compostable caddy liners to help get them started. A new large food waste bin will also be delivered to the block’s communal bin store. Recycled food waste is turned into renewable energy and a useful soil conditioner.

The move follows the successful introduction of fortnightly glass collections across the Borough in March.

Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/foodwaste

Remember to number your bin We’re urging residents to number your bins to prevent them from being taken in by a neighbour by mistake. As of June, residents will be charged £25 for a replacement black refuse bin, in accordance with our Domestic Waste & Recycling Policy.

Please make sure you bring your bin in from the pavement as soon as you can once it has been collected – this will help keep pavements clear for pedestrians and reduce the chance of your bin going missing.

We’re also taking steps to recover unauthorised additional black bins.

The number of black bins allocated to a property is based on the occupancy of the household. To reduce waste and encourage recycling, we will only collect additional black bins from households that meet the eligibility criteria.

GREENER BOROUGH

@eastleighbc

3

Tree nursery continues to grow The Council’s tree nursery at the One Horton Heath development is in full swing. Hundreds of young trees are now growing at the site, as well as dozens of more established trees, soon ready to be planted out into the community. There are also two large polytunnels filled with pots of seedlings.

The trees growing at the nursery will go some way to achieving our target of having 160,000 more trees in the Borough by the year 2030.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Rupert Kyrle, who recently visited the site, said: “Part of our strategy to reduce carbon in our atmosphere is to plant more trees in the Borough. The trees grown in this nursery will also provide habitats for wildlife, clean air, natural scenery, and mental health benefits for residents.

“We eventually want to get the community involved in planting out the trees and will engage with schools, community

groups and local businesses, so everyone can be involved in creating a green legacy for generations to come.”

Adele Mellor, a Horticulture Apprentice with the Council, has been working at the site. She said: “I am very conscious of the environment, and I want try to do something to help in any way I can. As far as I’m concerned every tree and every seed is a step in the right direction.”

Picture left: Cllr Rupert Kyrle and Horticulture Apprentice Adele Mellor planting at the tree nursery

Create a buzz around the Borough Roadside verges planted with wildflowers Meadows have been planted at 11 Borough sites, including the BMW garage in Chandler’s Ford, Upper Northam Road in Hedge End and Woodside Avenue in Eastleigh. Two different types of seed mix have been used – cornflower and meadow, featuring cowslip, buttercup, daisy and knapweed amongst wildflowers.

Wildflower meadows are an important environment for native wildlife, especially pollinators like bees and butterflies. They are also loved by people who enjoy the amazing array of colour they add to the scenery.

You don’t need a roadside verge for a wildflower meadow. You could dedicate a patch of land in your garden to get the wildlife and scenic benefits of a meadow on your doorstep. See eastleigh.gov.uk/ wildflowers to find out how to grow your own.

New electric cargo bike hire scheme available A new electric cargo bike hire scheme is now available to businesses and other organisations in Eastleigh to help them reduce air pollution when transporting goods and making local deliveries.

A fleet of 10 electric cargo bikes will be available to businesses and educational, charitable, community and voluntary sector organisations.

Trialling a RIDES (Realising Innovative Deliveries in Eastleigh and Southampton) ecargo bike is free and organisations can hire them for anything

from a weekend event to a longer trial period of up to three months.

The scheme allows organisations to see how using a greener, more sustainable delivery method can work for them, at the same time as reducing congestion and improving air quality in the local area.

Find out more: myjourneyhampshire.com/rides

4

GREENER BOROUGH

eastleigh.gov.uk

Help for those on Can you burn less, burn cleaner and low incomes to reduce energy costs burn safely?

People on low incomes whose homes have an energy efficiency rating of D to G are being invited to apply for grant funding of up to £10,000, to up their energy rating and save money on energy bills.

Warmer Homes provides up to £10,000 per household for certain measures to improve their energy efficiency rating such as wall insulation, air heat pumps or solar PV panels, as well as other secondary measures.

The Borough Council, along with other local authorities, has secured funding from the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme.

Unlike the national Green Homes Grant scheme, which ended on 31 March, the LAD scheme is operating until September 2021.

As well as saving money on energy bills, making energy efficiency improvements to your home is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint and tackle climate change.

Warmer Homes is being run by Agility Eco and is available to those on low household incomes, are at risk of fuel poverty and are living in properties which have an energy efficiency rating of D, E, F or G.

The scheme operates on a first-come, first-served basis until September 2021, so be sure to get your application in early.

To apply visit: warmerhomes.org.uk/insulation or phone 0800 038 5737

Bonfires, and other types of burning (such as chimeneas or fire pits) create harmful air pollution that impact the health of your family and your neighbours. Together with three other local councils in the area, we are asking residents to burn less, burn cleaner and burn safely.

• Instead of burning garden waste on a bonfire, compost it or use our popular garden waste collection service.

• If you can’t avoid having a bonfire, only burn dry, untreated wood. Do not burn tyres, plastics or painted/ varnished wood.

• Please be considerate of your neighbours, community and wildlife when deciding the location and timing of your fire.

• Be aware of the impact of air pollution: don’t allow the fire to smoulder or produce a lot of smoke, and avoid days with poor air pollution or unsuitable weather conditions.

• Always follow fire safety advice. Don’t leave a fire unattended, keep water nearby and children and pets away.

Find out more: environmentcentre.com/woodburning

How it works 1. Apply at www.warmerhomes.org.uk /insulation or call us on: 0800 038 5737.

Lower your energy bills with Warmer Homes - our fully funded home energy efficiency service Warmer Homes new Local Authority Delivery (LAD) Programme is offering grant funding of up to £10,000 for energy efficiency measures such as solid wall insulation and low carbon heating in your home.

This offer is for a LIMITED time only.

Supported by

2. The Warmer Homes team will check your eligibility and assess your property for potential measures (this will be through your EPC. If you don't have one, this will be arranged).

3. Following your assessment and eligibility check, an installer will arrange for a survey of your home.

4. Your new energy efficiency measures will be installed free of charge.

For more information and to check if you’re eligible visit:

www.warmerhomes.org.uk

Freephone: 0800 038 5737 email: info@warmerhomes.org.uk

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Park Sport

5

@eastleighbc

5-7 year olds now included

Children’s sports and activities back this summer The popular Park Sport summer programme is returning this year to offer children and young people from five to 16 years the opportunity to try new sports and activity sessions.

The programme runs for five weeks over the summer holidays and will see the return of popular activities such as the free Skate Jams and free swimming, as well as brand new Nerf events across the Borough.

Introductory sessions to enable young people to try something new, with options to continue should they want to, will be provided by a range of local sports clubs.

After a long period without structured activities, Park Sport is excited to help children and young people reconnect with one another this summer.

Park Sport is funded by SportWorks as well as the Local Area Committees, Parish and Town Councils, and supported by a broad range of partners including sports clubs, activity providers and facilities.

Full details of the Park Sport programme and how to book will become available by the end of June.

N er f

n Fr e e S w i m m i

g

Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/parksport

Friday Night Football Just £ 1 pay & play

S kateJa m

elcome New players w

Places Leisure Eastleigh 10 -19 Years • 6.30pm - 8.30pm Hamble Sports Complex 10-13 Years • 7pm - 8pm 14-19 years • 8pm - 9pm Botley Recreation Ground 10 -13 years • 6pm - 7.30pm 14-19 years • 7.30pm - 9pm Informal social football sessions for 10 - 19 year olds.

Sessions run by qualified FA coaches on 3G pitches.

For more information visit eastleigh.gov.uk/fnf

Mental health and wellbeing toolkit for young people In response to the rising concern for young people’s mental health and wellbeing, the Eastleigh Youth Partnership have developed an online Health and Wellbeing Toolkit.

Packed with videos and content created by local providers, the Toolkit aims to give young people resources they can use to manage their mental health and general wellbeing including exercise classes, cook-a-long sessions, coping techniques for stress and anxiety and links to local and national support agencies.

Developed in consultation with local schools and young people, the Toolkit can be used in class and at home to support the promotion of activities and ways to maintain good mental and physical health.

Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/eyp

Developer helps residents get active The health and wellbeing of residents at Pembers Hill Park, Fair Oak is benefiting thanks to free gym membership at Wyvern Sports & Leisure provided by developers Drew Smith.

As part of the support for the new community, Drew Smith are working with Wyvern Sports & Leisure to provide each resident over the age of 16 with a free gym membership throughout June.

Simon Mason, Head of Sales and Development, said “It is important for us that when we build new homes we also create and ensure that they are filled with a vibrant and thriving community.

Drew Smith supports the mental health charity, Mind, and we understand that keeping active can support a healthy wellbeing and its great to announce this as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.”

6

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

eastleigh.gov.uk

New Year Boost

News round up Bishopstoke, Fair Oak & Horton Heath

This year’s New Year Boost offered beginner courses and a new weight loss programme aimed at adults who were doing little to no exercise.

New water filling station A filling station for water bottles has been installed at the Lapstone Playing Fields pavilion.

As well as keeping thirsty users of the facilities hydrated, it will also help reduce the amount of single-use plastic in the village.

£28k upgrade for play area Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath (BIFOHH) Local Area Committee (LAC) has agreed £28,000 to upgrade the play area at the top of Church Road in Bishopstoke.

The funding will come from contributions by developers.

Tree Corridor improved Over £13,000 has been allocated by the LAC to extend the Tree Corridor project across the area, creating greener and leafier neighbourhoods.

This reflects the Borough-wide commitment to plant more trees in response to the climate and environmental emergency.

Integrating new residents Helping residents of new housing developments settle into the BIFOHH community will be the role of a new community worker.

The LAC has approved the appointment of a Community Integration Officer to lead on ensuring that residents in new neighbourhoods, starting with the Pembers Hill development, become part of the wider community. It is hoped that this person will be in post by 2022. The role is being funded by developer contributions.

Blooming Bishopstoke If you’d like to make Bishopstoke bloom, the Parish Council is offering help for any residents who’d like to plant wildflowers.

They can provide a range of support from putting you in touch with the right people to get permissions, to getting involved in planting.

Please contact clerk@bishopstokepc.org if you’re interested.

Winner announced for Hiltingbury Lakes competition Earlier in the year we ran a children’s competition to help design a new sign for the Hiltingbury Lakes site. We received lots of amazing entries which the judging panel enjoyed looking at. The winner was Sophie Moore (aged 11) with her picture of a kingfisher. Four runners up who also produced lovely artwork are Beatrice Walker (aged 4), Cordelia Noyce (aged 7), Izzy Jones (aged 7) and Isabelle Mugford (aged 12). The new signage is a part of the rejuvenation project and will give the younger members of the community a chance to be involved in the improvements to this local beauty spot.

Hiltingbury Lakes, which is owned and managed by the Council, is currently undergoing a transformation to restore its historical woodland, improve the water flows, remove invasive plants and protect the local wildlife. More work is due to take place at the site over the summer, including; • repairs to the weirs which create the series of lower ponds, a feature of the old Edwardian water gardens which were part of the original Merdon House.

• continued path improvements and replacement of old bridges.

Surveys will be undertaken over the summer to monitor the return of specialist wetland plants around the lower ponds following the removal of invasive laurel and rhododendron bushes.

Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/hiltingburylakes

The popular local sport and activity provider courses included the successful couch to 5k, as well as new martial arts courses in household pairs and the local Man v Fat small-sided football league.

Due to national restrictions, most of the social, supportive and COVID-safe courses have only just started, giving residents that boost to feel and look healthier after an unsteady 2020.

The Man v Fat football league begins on 18 June and there are still space available if you would like to sign up.

Included this year was a weight loss programme in a new partnership with local small business, HELM. It offered residents a ten-week programme to form a healthy and sustainable lifestyle (no quick fixes!), tailored to their everyday lives. The team provided 1:1 support and group seminars to achieve over 100lbs collective loss! Participants also reported an improvement in their mental health.

A participant said: “It’s been a wake up call for health and fitness delivered by two enthusiastic chaps who have tailored the plan as we’ve gone along rather than be prescriptive.”

For more information and to sign up for the Man v Fat football visit eastleigh.gov.uk/nyboost

60-74? Don’t forget your bowel cancer screening The uptake of screening for bowel cancer is low in Eastleigh town and the surrounding areas so the Council has teamed up with the local Primary Care Network (PCN) to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and increase the take up of screening.

Screening kits are sent every two years to those aged between 60-74. The test is completed in the comfort of your own home and the results are back in a few weeks. This is for people with no symptoms and is one of the best ways of finding bowel cancer early. The PCN and the Council urge residents to take the test as soon as they receive it.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer for both men and women in the UK and the second most fatal.

Symptoms include:

• • • • •

bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo a persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit unexplained weight loss extreme tiredness for no obvious reason A pain or lump in your tummy

If you experience any of these symptoms, do not hesitate to contact your GP. Start the conversation and ensure your loved ones don’t ignore their latest invite for screening and are aware of the symptoms - early detection saves lives.

Learn more: eastleigh.gov.uk/bowelcancerawareness

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

@eastleighbc

Get back on your bike 4. Prep yourself - Make sure you are wearing a helmet and visible clothing. On longer journeys it’s also a good idea to take some tyre levers, a spare inner tube, a bike pump, a multi-tool and bike lock.

As COVID restrictions ease, lots of people will start returning to offices and other workplaces. Many may continue to work from home for at least part of the week, but we’re encouraging those making the commute to swap four wheels for two and bike back better!

Cycling has many advantages over driving a car; it builds exercise into your day, boosts your mental health, saves you money and helps the environment. Many are already enjoying the benefits – with 28% of people saying they’ll cycle more than before the pandemic.

5. Give yourself an incentive - By registering with Love to Ride (lovetoride.net/southampton) you can win prizes by just cycling for 10 minutes or more.

We’ve created a few tips to help you get back on your bike: 1. Plan your route – Apps like Komoot (komoot.com) make planning your route easy, telling you how much of your route and which parts are covered by cycleways, how flat or hilly it is and even what surfaces you’ll be riding on.

2. Get confident If you’re feeling a bit rusty or you’re not confident riding on the roads, My Journey

(myjourneyhampshire.com) offers free cycle confidence sessions though Monty’s Bike Hub and Bespoke Biking.

6. Have fun - The best way to make cycling a habit is to start pedaling.

If riding to work feels like too much right now, how about riding to a friend’s house or just for enjoyment?

3. Prep your bike Get your bike ready the weekend before. Make sure tyres are inflated, brakes are working properly, the chain is oiled, and lights have enough battery power.

For more cycling advice visit: eastleigh.gov.uk/bikebackbetter

BIKE BACK

HEALTHIER

Get fitter, stronger and burn calories

BIKE BACK

HAPPIER

Reduce stress and release happy hormones

BIKE BACK

WEALTHIER

Bikes cost far less than a car to run and maintain

BIKE BACK

GREENER

Cycling produces no air pollution and lets you take in nature

BETTER

NEARLY ONE IN THREE PEOPLE PLAN TO CYCLE MORE NOW THAN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC

WILL YOU JOIN THEM? eastleigh.gov.uk/bikebackbetter #BikeBackBetter

7

News round up Eastleigh

Community grants The Eastleigh Local Area Committee (ELAC) received a wide variety of applications for community grants from groups across Eastleigh, Allbrook and Velmore. The grants panel awarded funds to a number of local initiatives, including: a grant to Eastleigh Hard of Hearing towards outings and new board games for its members; money for four new trikes for Cherboug’s Little Stars pre-school; along with an award to Youth Options to fund Access Nature activity days for young people and their families.

Freespace Skate Park The repair of the Freespace Skate Park and BMX Track, that was vandalised with a mechanical digger in November, is a priority project for ELAC. An initial budget of £150,000 has been set aside by the committee, but further external grant funding could double this up to £300,000.

ELAC recognise that this facility is really important to young people and will be working with them to explore possible alternative locations within the area that might offer better access, as well as natural surveillance.

Community garden A steering group has formed to turn a disused multi-use games area (MUGA), into a community garden for residents on land to the rear of the Salvation Army building in Blenheim Road. Residents will be asked for their thoughts and ideas on turning this area into an urban green oasis. Further details to be announced soon. The MUGA has successfully relocated to Grantham Green where it is proving very popular.

8

WHAT’S ON

eastleigh.gov.uk

Connect4families Itchen Valley Country Park and Pilands Wood Community Centre, Bursledon hosted a programme of free holiday activities and healthy food for over 70 people on each activity day.

Connect4Families - a partnership between Park Community School and Romsey Community School, coordinated the programme with funding by Hampshire County Council for disadvantaged children across Hampshire.

Itchen Valley Country Park also facilitated the Connect4Youth project where 30 teenagers were able to take part in activities including bush craft, life skills and funky format dance. Visit eastleigh.gov.uk/ivcp-events and thepointeastleigh.co.uk for updates on Connect4 activities.

Seasonal Highlights From June - 10.30am - 2.30pm Itchen Valley Country Park Starting in June there will be “Seasonal Highlights” walks, featuring five of the best things to see, appearing on occasional Saturdays. Aimed at adults, but families are welcome to join, these free walks will last about one hour and run at 10.30am and 2.30pm with a seasonal theme. They will be announced on our Facebook page in the week leading up to them but will cover five trees, five flowers, five butterflies, etc. Follow us at facebook.com/itchenvalleycountrypark

Family Conservation Task - Himalayan Balsam pulling 3 June - 10am - 11.30am - families with children aged 7+ Lakeside Country Park eastleigh.gov.uk/countryparkeventbookings

Walk and Talk Selected dates in July and August (see advert on page 9) Itchen Valley & Lakeside Country Park Wellbeing walks allow people to enjoy nature and meet new people for a friendly chat. The walks, funded by Kings Community Church, include a hot drink and cake from the Woodland Café. Book online to reserve a place. eastleigh.gov.uk/countryparkeventbookings

Willow basket workshop 10 July 10am - 5pm Itchen Valley Country Park Willow weaving workshop at the park £65pp eastleigh.gov.uk/ivcp-events

Live at the Park - A Night of Take That + Spice forever 23 July Itchen Valley Country Park thepointeastleigh.co.uk

Conserve wildlife with your family

Family Conservation Task - Ragwort removal 3 August - 10am - 11.30am - families with children aged 7+

Following the lead of John Muir, a Scots-born conservationist who believed in exploring and conserving wild places, a series of family conservation tasks for children aged 7 upwards and their grown-ups will be starting at Itchen Valley Country Park.

Meadow sweeping for minibeasts 5 August - 11am, 2pm, 3pm

Each conservation task will be based at sites across the Borough and involve different skills.

During each task we will explain what we are doing, why and how it will help wildlife at the site.

These are free sessions (after all you will be helping us!) but you will need to book online as there are limited spaces available.

See listings for details, or visit eastleigh.gov.uk/ countryparkeventbookings

Parties at the Park Itchen Valley Country Park’s popular BBQ area and Kingfisher Room will be available for hire from 21 June (subject to Government Guidance).

BBQ hire accommodates up to 60 people and is available from 11am - 3pm or 4pm - 8pm.

Hire charges are £48 (Monday to Thursday) or £64 (Friday to Sunday). This includes a free parking permit for the person making the booking and a 5kg bag of charcoal. Extra bags of charcoal can be purchased from the café.

The Kingfisher Room is ideal for a family celebration or to book alongside a BBQ for shelter – just in case! It seats 25 people and is available weekends and school holidays between 11am and 4pm for £65.00.

Booking for these facilities can be found online eastleigh.gov.uk/partiesintheparks

Itchen Valley Country Park eastleigh.gov.uk/countryparkeventbookings

Itchen Valley Country Park These sessions are bookable on the day (first-come firstserved). £5 per child (aged 5+) eastleigh.gov.uk/ivcp-events

Summer Social 4 June - 28 August The Point’s Garden Stage, Leigh Road Recreation Ground

Wednesday & Thursday (on selected evenings): pop-up events Friday & Saturday evenings: Summer Social Music & Pop-Up Bar. Bar from 5pm, live music from 7pm Saturdays: Live Music at the Bandstand, from 11.30am - 1.30pm Sundays: Family Picnics (with a theatrical twist!) from 20 June until 25 July, 2pm Sunday: Summer Social Yoga (£6 a ticket), 20 June until 25 July, 10am-11am Events are free (unless stated) but places have to be booked in advance at thepointeastleigh.co.uk

Rambert Dance Showcase 25 June - 7.30pm The Point Rambert School is proud to present performances by final year degree students, the culmination of three years’ immersive and inspirational training. thepointeastleigh.co.uk

Comedy at the Park 27 June Itchen Valley Country Park Improv troupe The Noise Next Door, known as “the quickest wits in comedy”, present two Comedy at the Park shows on Sunday 27 June. thepointeastleigh.co.uk

Wild Things Adventure Trail 7 August - 4 September Itchen Valley Country Park This Summer holiday, keep your eyes peeled for a QR code virtual trail where you will be zapped into a mysterious land of creatures who like to test, trick and challenge! Created by talented young people from The Point Youth Ensemble, this poster trail will send you winding through the woods to meet these wild characters and begin the adventure… Open up your phone camera and point at the QR codes to access the adventure story videos online. Watch them in the location and let your imagination run wild!

Family Conservation Task - Rhododendron regrowth clearance 11 August - 10am - 11.30am - families with children aged 7+ Hiltingbury Lakes eastleigh.gov.uk/countryparkeventbookings

Story time and butterfly walk 14 August - 11am, 3pm Itchen Valley Country Park These sessions are bookable on the day (first-come firstserved). £5 per child (aged 3+) eastleigh.gov.uk/ivcp-events

Family Conservation Task - Sapling removal on the heathland 17 August - 10am - 11.30am - families with children aged 7+ Telegraph Woods eastleigh.gov.uk/countryparkeventbookings

WHAT’S ON Sensory walk 19 August - 11am, 2pm Itchen Valley Country Park A sensory adventure for families . These sessions are bookable on the day (first-come first-served). £5 per child (aged 5+) eastleigh.gov.uk/ivcp-events

Cinema at the Park - Dirty Dancing 20 August Itchen Valley Country Park thepointeastleigh.co.uk

Cinema at the Park - Back to the Future 21 August Itchen Valley Country Park thepointeastleigh.co.uk

Eastleigh Mela 29 August (to be confirmed) A celebration of the Borough’s Asian and other cultures featuring traditional music, dance and mouth-watering cuisine. The event is organised by the Eastleigh Asian Welfare & Cultural Association. awca-eastleigh.org.uk

An interactive story in the woods 31 August - 11am, 2pm Itchen Valley Country Park These sessions are bookable on the day (first-come first-served). £5 per child (aged 3+) eastleigh.gov.uk/ivcp-events

Bat Walks 10 & 11 September - 6.45pm Itchen Valley Country Park Adults and families with children aged 7 or above can come along to find out all about these special creatures from a member of the Hampshire Bat Group. You will go on a walk-through Itchen Valley Country Park with bat detectors trying to ‘hear’ the bats and identify them from the frequency of the sound. £7pp eastleigh.gov.uk/ivcp-events

Willow birdfeeder workshop 11 September - 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm Itchen Valley Country Park Willow weaving workshop at the park £35pp eastleigh.gov.uk/ivcp-events

Eastleigh Unwrapped 11 and 12 September Leigh Road Rec and Greta Park Unwrap the gift of shared live experience in Eastleigh Town Centre and Hedge End. This year Eastleigh Unwrapped spills across two dates and two locations, with a family festival feel to present high quality, hand-picked live performances. FREE

Family Conservation Task - coppicing 25 September - 10am - 11.30am - families with children aged 7+ Itchen Valley Country Park eastleigh.gov.uk/countryparkeventbookings

@eastleighbc

9

Get set for The Point’s super Summer Social A super season of outdoor and participatory fun is in store at The Point! This includes the popular Summer Social festival which returns from 4 June to 28 August.

The packed programme includes lots of outdoor fun complete with a fantastic Garden Stage line up on the Leigh Road Recreation Ground, next to the venue.

Enjoy pop-up events from the local community, live music and the Pop-Up Bar on Friday and Saturday evenings, or why not bring along a picnic to the park and listen to live music at the Bandstand on Saturdays?

On Sundays from 20 June until 25 July, book for 10am Yoga (£6 charge) and Family Picnics at 2pm.

The Point’s Café is now open with coffee, cake and new light lunch and children’s menus, summer classes will be in full swing and there will also be a new outdoor café bar kiosk open daily.

The Council-operated venue has been granted the use of Society Of London Theatre & UK Theatre’s See It Safely mark and is an approved Visit England We’re Good To Go venue.

Cabinet Member for Health & Social Policy, Cllr Tonia Craig, Business Manager at The Point Eastleigh said: “It’s fantastic that our Arts and Culture team are able to bring back Summer Social - and for even longer this year! Residents will be able to make the most of being outside with light evenings, together again, to enjoy a programme of safe and social opportunities”. thepointeastleigh.co.uk

Walk and talk

Mountbatten Hampshire’s Sunflower Walk A charity close to the hearts of Eastleigh Borough Council staff, that manage the Mountbatten Hospice in West End, are looking for ‘Sunflower Walkers’ this summer.

The five-mile Sunflower Walk takes place at the Broadlands Estate, Romsey on Sunday 4 July or, if you can’t make that day, you can ‘Walk the Sunflower Walk Your Way’. Much needed funds from this event ensures that expert teams can continue their important work for the growing number of people and families who need them.

The Borough Council was the winner of the charity’s Volunteering Award for supporting Mountbatten Hampshire by looking after their gardens during the pandemic when many of their regular volunteers were unable to.

To register visit mountbatten-hampshire.org.uk or call 023 8454 880.

A fortnightly walk to meet new people and explore the Country Parks through the seasons.

Regular walks in nature improve mind and body.

Join us for a socially distanced stroll and a chat with refreshments.

FREE EVENT

Itchen Valley dates: Thursday 8 July Thursday 22 July Thursday 12 August 11am - 12pm Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End S030 3HQ

Lakeside dates: Wednesday 7 July Wednesday 21 July Wednesday 4 July 1-2pm Lakeside Country Park, Wide Lane, Eastleigh SO50 5PE

Book online to reserve a place

www.eastleigh.gov.uk/ countryparkeventbookings and click on ‘wellbeing activities’ Owned and managed by

itchenvalleycountrypark www.eastleigh.gov.uk/ivcp lakesidecountrypark www.eastleigh.gov.uk/lakeside

10 eastleigh.gov.uk

ECONOMY

Support your high street Residents across the Borough are being encouraged to support their local high street through a new gift card scheme.

The Eastleigh Borough Gift Card is now available for purchase and is aimed at enticing people to spend money locally and help support the neighbourhood retail centre.

Many businesses across the Borough have now signed up to be a part of the scheme which is designed to give local shops a boost and to remind people to support businesses in their local area. The card is a great way to get people back out visiting the high street again as many non-essential businesses re-open their doors following national restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses that have already signed up for the gift card include cafés, restaurants, shops,

beauticians and pubs. The scheme is free to join and, as long as the company accepts Mastercard payments, they can sign up and allow customers to spend money in their establishment.

We’re now offering businesses in the Borough the chance to win a loaded gift card for themselves.

Complete registration by 21 June to be in with a chance of winning a Borough Gift Card with £250 to spend in any of the venues that have already signed up to the scheme.

Hedge End village regeneration A new supermarket on the former Budgens’ site in Hedge End has moved a step closer following the acquisition, by the Council, of adjacent properties to the site, located at Upper Northam Road.

The viability of any regeneration scheme was reliant on the purchase of all the properties in this area of the village centre.

Cabinet Lead for Community Projects, and Hedge End Councillor, Ian Corben, said: “I’m pleased that the Council has now acquired the shops in Upper Northam Road as it now presents a fantastic

opportunity for us to plan for the regeneration of our village centre. It means we can ensure these businesses have a future in Hedge End and at the same time bringing forward plans for a new supermarket when details are worked up.

Good central parking and keeping the popular new market must be part of any forthcoming plan.”

To find out more visit: eastleigh.gov.uk/boroughgiftcard For terms and conditions visit: eastleigh.gov.uk/eastleigh-borough-gift-cardcompetition

Conference room hire and catering

Owned and managed by

Set in the beautiful surroundings of Lakeside Country Park just off the M27 J5, the Lakeside Centre offers year-round conference, meeting and event facilities with free parking and access for all.

1

2

3

‘Portrait of Eastleigh’ winners A six-month photography course, hosted in Eastleigh as part of the Interreg 5A PONToon European Regional Development Fund project reached fruition in March.

‘Portrait of Eastleigh’ was a great opportunity for everyone involved to put their new found skills to the test. The winners of the ‘Portrait of Eastleigh’ competition were:

Throughout the course participants learned how to shoot and produce photos following a few different themes, and the competition, entitled

1 - Talvinder Robinson, 1st Place; 2 - June Robert; 2nd Place; 3 - Amanda Percival, 3rd Place.

The 22 hectares of land is ideal for team building games as well as a quiet lunch time walk around the lakes.

For more information please visit eastleigh.gov.uk/lakeside, contact lakeside@eastleigh.gov.uk or phone 023 8068 3841 lakesidecountrypark eastleigh.gov.uk/lakeside Photo credit: Richard Chivers

ECONOMY

@eastleighbc

11

Village Market HEDGE

Borough Gems As part of our Reopening High Streets Safely project, we’re celebrating retail gems and highlighting some of the incredible businesses which can be found in every corner of the Borough.

Our Borough Gems include a range of businesses from around the area including dog groomers, cafés, restaurants, pubs, bike shops, beauticians and hair dressers.

One of our featured businesses is Hursley Café in Hursley Road run by Malik Usmanov, he’s been in business since 2017 and takes great pride in serving his local community. The café is well known for its food and drinks, especially its breakfasts and very popular thick milkshakes. To comply with government

guidelines Malik has made some alterations inside the premises; he’s installed new embossed screens between tables, hand sanitisers and accommodated social distancing to welcome everyone back inside now that lockdown restrictions have eased.

END

Every Wednesday 10am-3pm

Former Budgens car park

Hursley Café has recently signed up to be a part of the Borough Gift Card allowing customers to spend their gift cards on food and drink from the café.

eastleigh.gov.uk/VillageMarket

If you are a fan of a Borough business, nominate it as a Gem by emailing RHSS@eastleigh.gov.uk

Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/borough-gems

Don’t waste time on a trip to the tip

Help for NEET young people A new scheme to give young people job and training opportunities, and divert them away from offending, is being launched by the Council, working with the VIVID housing group and a range of other partners.

The Changing Direction for Success (CDS) project will target NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) young people, encouraging them to get involved in learning new skills. This should improve their motivation and focus, help in their social and emotional development and enhance their careers prospects. It should also make them more financially independent and less likely to rely on benefits.

The CDS project will aim to provide an alternative anti-social behaviour and the temptation to get involved in criminal activity – increasing community safety in their neighbourhoods and lessening the burden on local police.

This month we opened our Youth Employment Hub Helpline which is designed to help young people with advice and guidance when thinking about their future careers and the opportunities that are available to them.

The Council has teamed up with Test Valley Borough Council, New Forest District Council and Winchester City Council to help young people access the service in the South Solent area. The hub will create a valuable platform for young people to make their road to employment successful.

The helpline aims to reduce the barriers for young people aged between 16 and 24 and help them with CV writing, preparing for interviews and other employment advice which can be accessed via a helpline service.

To access your local authority helpline please call Sue Edgerley on 07876661525 or email sue.edgerley@ eastleigh.gov.uk

Save time and keep your car clean Join over 21,000 other Borough households and sign up to our Garden Waste Scheme. Have your garden waste collected every fortnight from your kerbside and avoid the queues at the tip for a yearly fee of just £39.50.

To sign up visit eastleigh.gov.uk/gardenwaste

Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/youth-employment-hub

EU Settled Status - don’t miss the 30 June deadline

Eligible EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members, who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, should apply without delay to protect their rights to work, study, and access free healthcare and benefits in the UK after 30 June 2021.

Find out more and apply at: gov.uk/eusettlementscheme

12 eastleigh.gov.uk

ONE HORTON HEATH LATEST UPDATE

Inspiring young people One Horton Heath aims to encourage young people to learn more about development and inspire them to look at careers in the sector. Through direct involvement in local education initiatives the project is helping to raise awareness of roles in the industry and prepare students for the world of work.

Launched in March, the Place Creators project released a collection of 13 career videos for parents, teachers, and employment representatives to use. The videos are a unique insight into real life career stories from professionals who are actively working on the project.

A new toolkit of classroom tasks for primary and secondary students to complete as an add-on to the videos will be released later this year.

The last six months has also seen the team deliver workshops to over 250 students at Wyvern College and Eastleigh College raising aspirations about careers and sharing with students employer expectations in the workplace. The workshops support the project’s Careers Education Support Programme helping younger residents understand the breadth of job roles and opportunities for employment and learning.

The team are now developing opportunities for on-site educational learning from this autumn and are presently in discussions with local colleges.

Planting under way at new open space New habitats with rich native planting and habitat ponds, have been created to transform a 13-acre informal green space for communities to enjoy.

Lea Hampton, One Horton Heath Skills and Employment Manager, said: “This will give students an immersive introduction to the site. They will experience what it is really like working on this development - whether that be a hands-on role creating new homes or learning about the preservation of the nature areas across the site.”

For more information visit eastleigh.gov.uk/placecreators If you would like to find out more about educational employment and learning initiatives at One Horton Heath, please email Lea.Hampton@eastleigh.gov.uk

Photo: Lea Hampton interviewing Jitka Konecna, One Horton Heath Design Coordinator for a Place Creators video.

The site is adjacent to the new Allington Lane roundabout, which after ten months of construction, is now open to traffic.

It unlocks the northern access route into the development and is part of a major new link road connection. Watch our latest video on our YouTube channel.

New training centre relocates to site

Can we support your community project?

The team has welcomed to site the Routes Skills Centre. The centre will utilise a quarter of an acre of the site to deliver a youth training hub. The new facility, accessed from Fir Tree Lane, will accommodate bespoke indoor classrooms and a new outdoor garden space for training and activities.

One Horton Heath is welcoming interest from community representatives or groups who are involved in running community or educational-led activities or groups who require outdoor space.

Visit onehortonheath.co.uk to get in touch

Find out more and keep up-to-date on the development visit: onehortonheath.co.uk or email: onehortonheath@eastleigh.gov.uk Follow us on:

onehortonheath

One Horton Heath

YOUR COUNCIL

@eastleighbc

Eastleigh’s new Mayor Councillor Cynthia Garton is the new Mayor of Eastleigh following the Mayor Making ceremony on 20 May.

as many residents as possible and celebrate this great community of Eastleigh Borough and the place we call home.”

Cynthia, who represents the Hedge End South ward, has been a Borough Councillor for five years and is currently Chair of Hedge End, West End & Botley Local Area Committee. She has also been a Hedge End Town Councillor for 12 years.

Cynthia has chosen The Mountbatten Hospice in West End and the ‘Remembrance Avenue’ currently under construction at Itchen Valley Country Park to benefit from her Mayor’s Charity Appeal this year.

Cynthia said: “I’m very excited about my Mayoral year. I am looking forward to a positive future, where I will be able to meet with

Councillor Adam Manning, who represents Hamble & Netley ward was invested as Deputy Mayor for the year.

Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja MBE (pictured right) is one of the world’s greatest high-altitude mountaineers and is a legend within the extreme mountaineering community, having conquered all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre-plus peaks in six months and six days, smashing the previous record of just under eight years.

His charitable foundation supports young talent, regardless of race, culture or religion.

Citizens of Honour Three Borough residents have been recognised as Citizens of Honour: Stan Newell for his services to the community and the Netley and Hamble Branch of the Royal British Legion; Melanie Phillips for encouraging recycling and raising money for Kicks Count; and Pat Statham for her services to the community especially the Asian Welfare and Cultural Association and One Community.

(b) Anne Buckley (LD) - Hiltingbury ward (c) Dave Kinloch (LD) - Botley ward (d) Tanya Park (LD) - Eastleigh North ward Parish Council, County Council and Police & Crime Commissioner elections also took place on 6 May. The full results are available at eastleigh.gov.uk/elections

A feasibility study for a skate park at Hatch Farm (The Willows) is under way.

Residents and young people will have the chance to share their views, once the specialist designs have been received. Further details to follow soon.

Barnsland Recreation Ground

The Hedge End, West End and Botley Local Area Committee received 31 grant applications and awarded £10,522 to local groups.

New Councillors

(a) Steve Broomfield (CON) - Fair Oak & Horton Heath ward

Hatch Farm Skate Park

Community and youth grants

Picture credit: Thaneswar

We’re pleased to welcome four new Councillors:

Hedge End, West End & Botley

This is currently out to public consultation and, as part of the project, the Parish Council is also keen to improve the footpath links to the new open space at Hatch Farm.

Due to current restrictions, ceremonies to award these honours will take place later in the year.

Following Borough Council elections on 6 May, the political make up of the Council is now Liberal Democrat (LD) - 32 seats, Independent Group - 5 seats; Conservative (CON) - 2 seats

News round up

West End Parish Council is seeking the views of residents living in Barnsland and adjoining roads about improvements to the local recreation ground. Some initial ideas include planting a wetland area, keeping the kickabout area, improving drainage, and introducing picnic and seating areas.

Local people honoured The outstanding contribution to high altitude mountaineering by a member of the Borough’s Nepalese community has been recognised with the Freedom of the Borough.

13

a c

b d

These included funding for the 3rd West End Guides for compasses and map holders to help young people enjoy the outdoors, Botley Village Football Club for help with replacing some old kit for its members and Hedge End Junior Cricket for help to replace the cricket training nets.

Many other local groups have been successful and been awarded a grant to help with the vital services they provide in our community.

14 eastleigh.gov.uk

HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT

News round up Chandler’s Ford & Hiltingbury

Cancer support programme The Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee (CFH) has allocated £384 to provide an online emotional support programme for people affected by cancer, delivered

by Wessex Cancer Trust.

Outdoor classroom for Scantabout Funding of £500 was allocated to Scantabout School to provide an outdoor classroom. The money comes from the CFH community grants budget.

Hedge End, West End & Botley

First full size artificial 3G pitch for Hedge End Local people will benefit from the provision of new sports pitches in Hedge End including the area’s first full size floodlit 3G football pitch following the decision by the Local Area Committee to grant planning permission for the exciting new local facilities.

The pitch is part of the new Deer Park School on Woodhouse Lane and will be available for the wider community to use, along with changing facilities and a multi-use activity hall.

Latitude play area opening soon The new play area at Latitude, Hedge End is currently under construction.

It is designed for children up to 12 years of age and will provide a range of equipment including a wheelchair accessible spinmee inclusive roundabout. There will also be a metal bow top fence surrounding the park.

This play area is funded by the developer as part of the community benefits outlined in the planning requirements as agreed by the Council.

Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice & Hound

Mercury Hub extending opening hours The Mercury Library and Community Hub in Hamble have extended their opening times.

In addition to opening on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm they are also open on Thursdays from 10am to 1pm.

New YMCA Community Centre New Centre, Café and Day Nursery in North Stoneham opens The community centre, which is owned by Eastleigh Borough Council and run by the YMCA Fairthorne Group, forms an important part of the North Stoneham local centre, creating a welcoming and friendly space for the community to enjoy.

community facility and will be very popular and I’m delighted that it’s now open.”

The nursery provides high quality childcare places for up to 95 children, whilst the community facilities includes a bright and spacious café, a community hall, youth room, health space and meeting rooms.

For nursery places or to make community bookings please contact eastleigh@ymca-fg.org or visit ymca-fg.org/eastleigh

Cllr Alex Bourne, Chair of Eastleigh Local Area Committee, said: “It’s great to see North Stoneham evolving and becoming a thriving community with many residents already in their new homes. This is a great new

Southampton Airport planning application The Council resolved to grant planning permission for the runway extension at Southampton International Airport in April 2021.

The decision to permit the application is subject to a range of conditions and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement addressing important issues arising during the construction and operational phases of the development, including environmental air quality and noise issues, health, transport and ecological issues, together with a Carbon Strategy to reduce emissions from the airport’s own operations, and a plan to encourage employment of local residents.

At the time of going to print the planning application is still under review by the Secretary of State. We will communicate the outcome on our website and social media channels as soon as we receive it.

Consultation on the Main Modifications to the Local Plan Following hearing sessions held between November 2019 and January 2020 and in January 2021, the Planning Inspector has requested the Council consult on the proposed ‘Main Modifications’ to the submitted Local Plan. They include the deletion of the Strategic Growth Option and associated link road, amendments to some settlement gaps and a range of other more detailed modifications. The Inspector has not asked for the plan to allocate any new land for housing. There are therefore no proposed modifications to allocate any new land for housing in this Local Plan.

The Council has also prepared modifications to the policies map that show the main modifications and a ‘Schedule of Additional Modifications’ which are minor changes to the Local Plan.

Subject to Council approval, the consultation on the Main Modifications to the Local Plan 2016-2036 will run from Wednesday 9 June to Wednesday 21 July 2021 and will be available at eastleigh.gov.uk/mainmodsconsultation To view the Main Modifications and accompanying documents and for information visit eastleigh.gov.uk/localplan2016-2036.

Documents will also be available to view at local libraries, Parish/Town Council offices and at Eastleigh House. Please note that there are currently restrictions on opening times and the availability of printed documents due to coronavirus.

YOUR COMMUNITY

@eastleighbc

Protecting our trees

Strong enforcement against tree destruction Eastleigh Borough Council has secured a strong series of enforcement measures against the land and landowner of Scorey’s Copse at Horton Heath.

We have recently dealt with a number of incidents of trees in the Horton Heath, Fair Oak and Botley areas of the Borough.

We reiterate that we adopt a zero-tolerance approach to the destruction of trees in our Borough. We recently issued a temporary stop notice on any further development works at Scorey’s Copse, Horton Heath (see opposite) and the Council’s Enforcement, Environmental and Legal teams are now currently working together to carry out thorough investigations into incidents by contractors at Allington Lane, Fair Oak and Woodhouse Lane, Botley.

A ‘Stop Notice’ came into effect on Sunday 9 May that replaces the Temporary Stop Notice which expired on Monday 10 May. This stop notice cannot be appealed.

The stop notice means that all engineering works must stop and no further works are permitted without consent from the Local Planning Authority. All the tree waste must also be removed and the land must be restored to its previous levels to enable the woodland soils to recover.

Cabinet Lead for Environment, Cllr Rupert Kyrle, said: “Local people should be assured that we will not tolerate any illegal destruction of our natural environment and in all cases the Council’s Enforcement, Environmental and Legal teams will ensure appropriate courses of action are taken against those responsible, including when it is our own or other private / public sector contractors.”

A ‘Tree Replacement Notice’ comes into effect on 4 June 2021 and requests 37 English Oak’s with a minimum of 14-16cm girth and a height of 2.5m together with 613 “whips” of hawthorn, hazel, alder buckthorn, and blackthorn must be planted. These must be planted by 31 March 2022 in the next planting season that runs from November to March.

If residents witness what could be the illegal removal or destruction of trees, they should contact the Council on 023 8068 8000.

Have your say Local Area Committees hold public question sessions at the start of each meeting Local Area Committees (LAC) are made up from elected Ward Councillors. They take decisions and make representations relating to their area on a wide range of Council business, including determining planning applications, traffic management and environmental improvements.

Public question sessions are held at the start of each meeting and if you would like to speak, you must register before the meeting begins. Please email democraticservices@eastleigh.gov.uk or you can register at the meeting.

Each LAC has a Local Area Manager who works with the Councillors to set the strategic direction of the Committee’s work.

Bishopstoke, Fair Oak & Horton Heath (7pm) 29 September visit eastleigh.gov.uk/bifohh or contact andrew.thompson@eastleigh.gov.uk / 023 8068 8357

Contact us:

Eastleigh Borough Council, Eastleigh House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh SO50 9YN 023 8068 8000 @EastleighBC

15

Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice & Hound (6pm) 23 September visit eastleigh.gov.uk/bhh or contact ross.mcclean@eastleigh.gov.uk / 023 8068 3367 Chandler’s Ford & Hiltingbury (7pm) 15 September visit eastleigh.gov.uk/cfh or contact ross.mcclean@eastleigh.gov.uk / 023 8068 3367 Eastleigh (7pm) 8 June • 14 September visit eastleigh.gov.uk/elac or contact guy.riddoch@eastleigh.gov.uk / 023 8068 3369

New Local Area Manager for HEWEB Kitty Budden is the new Local Area Manager for Hedge End, West End and Botley (HEWEB).

Kitty was previously the Council’s Principal Planning Officer and she replaces Julia Birt who is the Council’s new Executive Head of Organisational Development.

Kitty is looking forward to meeting members of the HEWEB community and can be contacted via email at kitty.budden@ eastleigh.gov.uk

Hedge End, West End & Botley (7pm) 27 September visit eastleigh.gov.uk/heweb or contact kitty.budden@eastleigh.gov.uk Distribution period We try to ensure that the dates featured or listed in the Borough News fall after the last copy is delivered.

However, some events may occur during the delivery period. We try to avoid this, but we are keen that events get as much publicity as possible.

eastleigh.gov.uk • my.eastleigh.gov.uk Sign up to receive updates from us at: eastleigh.gov.uk/weeklynews

Eastleigh Borough Council makes no representations, endorsements, warranties or guarantees, and is not liable for any loss or damage, in relation to any advertisements placed in the Borough News.

16 eastleigh.gov.uk

YOUR COMMUNITY

New Councils for central Eastleigh Two new councils are being created for the central area of Eastleigh.

A recent public consultation – part of the community governance review (CGR) - indicated that householders were strongly in favour of more locally focused decision-making – and Borough Councillors have responded by approving the creation of two new local councils: a Town Council for central Eastleigh and a Parish Council for Boyatt Wood; with both areas seen as having clear and separate identities.

Residents will be given a greater say in how the budget for local services - such as the maintenance of open spaces and play areas, and the management of community buildings and cemeteries is spent.

Elections of new parish and town councillors should take place in May next year.

Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/EastleighCGR

Food Bank says a ‘big thank you’ The Eastleigh Basics Bank is marking a decade of helping local residents in financial difficulty by saying a ‘Big Thank You’ to the many people who have provided support over the years – and helped them give out enough food to feed 25,000 people for one week since opening in 2011.

of our community and what we have achieved together we just wanted to say a big thank you.”

Chairman, Dan Brain, said: “We’re so grateful to the many people and organisations who have contributed to the Eastleigh Basics Bank over the last ten years - from volunteering and fundraising, through to regularly donating a few items from their weekly shop. We are so proud

To find out more or donate, visit: eastleighbasicsbank.co.uk

Help shape local services Hampshire County Council is inviting local residents to join the ‘Hampshire Perspectives’ residents forum and help develop and improve services to meet the needs of Hampshire residents.

Remembrance heroes - can you help?

This year the Eastleigh, Chandler’s Ford & District Branch of The Royal British Legion are celebrating their 100th anniversary. Over the last hundred years they have been providing financial, social and emotional care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces - past and present together with their families.

To commemorate this anniversary, we are planning to proudly highlight some of the men and women whose names are featured on the Eastleigh War Memorial, in the Borough News and through our social media channels.

If a member of your family is listed on the War Memorial, please get in touch with some details about them and a photo so that we can tell others about what they did.

You can send any information to steve.collins@eastleigh.gov.uk or call 023 8068 8205

Forum members will have the opportunity to have their say on a wide range of topics, from social care to climate change and economic prosperity, with a current focus around shaping Hampshire’s future as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hampshire County Council are keen to hear from residents ages 18-34 and people from minority communities - so their views can be heard too.

The only criteria is you must be over 18 and live in Hampshire.

It will take just five minutes to provide us with your feedback, and forum members will typically be contacted once every 3-4 weeks.

For more information, or to register your interest, please visit: hants.gov.uk/hampshire-perspectives

The Big Thank You involves local businesses, schools and churches displaying banners and posters, and a leaflet drop to local residents.

Picture abovet: Volunteers left to right, Dom Hooley (Shop Manager), Jane Williams and Malcolm Banks

More police resources for the Borough Borough residents are benefiting from extra police resources. These have come into effect over the last few months. Since November last year seven newly recruited police officers have joined the neighbourhood teams for Eastleigh and Hedge End. Six new PCSOs will also be joining the Eastleigh area. Alongside these new recruits, five serving officers have also joined the Eastleigh and Hedge End team.

Eastleigh District’s Chief Inspector, Marcus Cator, said: “We are delighted to welcome new recruits and officers into the Eastleigh area. They will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our policing efforts. Local residents will benefit from more officers being able to tackle crime in the community and bring those responsible to justice, while supporting victims at the same time.

“Every month we ensure our patrols are focusing on those areas and locations that the community highlight to us based on crime or anti-social behaviour that is reported to us through 999, 101 our online reporting website. It is important the community keep telling us what is happening locally, so that we can ensure our teams are looking in the right places to help those who need us. I look forward to working with the community, and Eastleigh Borough Council, to maintain their safety and ensure our teams continue to work effectively to protect the streets.”