Education

Romsey Show – Saturday 11th September 2021

The Show will Go On ! Following the Government’s recent update, The Romsey Show have announced that they are planning to hold their event on Saturday 11th September 2021 providing all dates are met as per the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown. The health and safety of everyone attending the Show is of paramount importance to the organisers.

Plans are still being put in place on what the Show will look like but, due to the cancellation of other agricultural shows, Romsey is unable to host cattle and sheep competitions this year and horse competitions will be significantly reduced. However, The Romsey Show is committed to ensuring livestock will be represented in some form at the Show. Also, because the date for lifting final restrictions is only 12 weeks to the Show, sufficient time will not be available to organise large entertainments in the main ring and so the organisers have come to the difficult decision to have no main ring this year. What can be announced is that the Show is moving sites, within Broadlands Park, nearer to Romsey Rapids and the town centre and will offer an exciting, fun and enjoyable day out at a reduced price. More details will be released over the forthcoming months, to keep up to date with the developments, visit www.romseyshow. co.uk.

If you would like to find out more about Godolphin, please get in touch with our Head of Admissions, Corinna Florence admissions@godolphin.org

Jackie’s County Corner for May

Phew! Lockdown eases a little as I write this! I hope you are all well enough to enjoy it and to visit our local businesses who are desperate to serve you.

As I visit you in your homes, I see more and more packages on the doorstep. This has a good and bad effect: these packages bring the things we need to our homes, but more delivery lorries are on the roads, with tight schedules, maybe travelling a little faster than they should. Buying online risks the future of our high streets and the mountain of packaging generated has to be recycled. Meanwhile, we can still only book ‘trips to the tip’ by car to dispose of the packaging. The cumulative effect of all these lorry and van movements has a huge effect on the local community. Many of you are having to walk on roads without footways. Muddy passing places are created by those who have the biggest vehicles. Should the County Council be making it clear who has priority in this case?

Putting Pedestrians First means thinking about the way we all get around for at least the last part of our journey. An Alresford project started with SEEDA funding in 2007. Much of what was proposed has been done now I am pleased that the West Street footway and bus stop improvements are funded and planning work is underway. It has been proved in other towns that improved access for pedestrians brings more with real benefits for the local economy too, so it is an ethos I’d like to develop more.

Rural children have had different experiences of ‘school at home’ . Now they are back to school, school transport for rural children is essential to reduce the need to use private cars which cause pollution and congestion. I hope we can reinstate free buses for reception age children again. Access to fast enough broadband and enough devices to support working parents and children has been a challenge too. Yvette, Margot and I have been working with local Community Fibre Partnerships across the Itchen Valley division to improve this for the future: (search Broadband on my website.)

The County’s flooding alleviation schemes are being completed after a very slow period during the pandemic. In the Alresford area, smaller schemes that make a big impact on neighbouring properties have been my focus. If you are affected by local flash flooding, please let me know. In a meeting with them, I was relieved to hear that the new owners of the Sun Lane land are fully aware of the positive effect that development must have on flooding mitigation in that area.

The County Council is up for election in its entirety on the 6th May. The Covid-19 helpline remains open. I really do hope to be back to write the June edition of County Corner!

Cllr Jackie Porter, County Council’s Covid-19 helpline 0333 370 4000 www.jackieporter.co.uk 07973 696 085, Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk 01962 791054