Itchen Valley Forum - April 2024 - Issue 208

Quality Service & Repairs

Your vehicle will be looked after by qualified technicians with many years of experience. Receive a dealership level service at local garage prices.

MOT centre

Receive complete attention to detail and thorough safety checks in our MOT centre.

Child friendly customer waiting area

Stay warm, dry and keep the children entertained in our relaxing waiting area. Coffee and tea making facilities available and clean toilets with child changing area.

While you wait service

We are more than happy to have you wait for your car. Take advantage of our warm, dry and clean customer waiting area.

Tyres & Exhausts

Extremely competitive prices on all exhausts. Tyres supplied direct from the leading suppliers. Order Online. Why travel and join a queue when you can simply pay us a visit. We are also an award winning GT radial dealer.

Free courtesy car (by appointment)

Don’t let your breakdown or service cause problems. Take full advantage of one of our clean and reliable automatic or manual courtesy cars.

Computer 4-wheel alignment Check

Don’t fret about getting the car to us if things go wrong. Just give us a call and let us make the arrangements for your car repair stress free. (vehicle recovery is chargeable unless covered by your insurance policy).

We have recently invested in one of the latest computer Wheel- Alignment systems where we can carry out full alignment checks and adjustments, increasing the life of your tyres and improving your driving experience!

April Events

Alresford Easter Egg Hunt

Until 13 April

Supporting your local traders has a positive impact on your local economy – Here’s why…. For every £1 you spend with a local, independent business, between 50p-70p circulates back into your local economy. Shopping locally supports local traders, their suppliers, and the people they depend on to run their businesses. Buying locally boosts your local economy, rebuilding confidence in the community, enabling local businesses to prosper and grow. Sadly, it’s a case of “Use It or Lose It”. So, thank you for choosing to spend time with us this Easter. Kindly sponsored by New Alresford Town Council. Entry forms available from https:// www.alresfordchamber.co.uk/ events/

Alresford and District Horticultural Society Talk

Wednesday 10 April

From 7.30pm

St Gregory's Parish Hall, Grange Road, Alresford

Members Spring Show, followed by talk from Barry Newman, ‘Growing Vegetables in Containers.’ Competition for members only but visitors are welcome to attend, £3. Contact Stephen Morley horti@ allthemorleys.co.uk for more information.

Demonstration of Mediumship at the Tree of Life Centre

Thursday 11 April

From 7pm to 9pm

The Worthys Jubilee Hall, Kings Worthy, SO23 7QN

Join us for an incredible evening of mediumship at. This in-person event will leave you amazed as our talented mediums connect with the spirit world. Experience messages from departed loved ones, and receive insightful guidance. Witness the power of the unseen as our mediums deliver accurate and heartwarming messages. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, this event promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking experience. Free refreshments, mini readings £5, Healing and Gift stall, and Bereavement support. Entrance fee Members £4.00, Non-Members £5.50. Medium Emma Evans

Alresford Antiques Fair

Saturday 20 April

From 9.30am to 4.30pm

Alresford Community Centre, 7 West St, Alresford, SO24 9AG

The Fair is held in Alresford Community Centre in the centre of the town, usually on the 3rd Saturday of the month - check dates in Antiques Atlas: https:// antiques-atlas.com/dbevents/ The next fair is on 18 May. We offer a wide range of Decorative, Interesting, Unusual & Quirky items including good quality Furniture, Silver, Jewellery, China, Glass and Militaria. We will also buy. Free Admission. Limited Free Parking nearby & large car park at the Station. Open: 9.30am4.30pm. Contacts: Carol - 01264 335769 / 07870 432805 Steve01722 712267 / 07915 663251

Solos Sunday Tea

Sunday 21 April

From 2.30pm

John Pearson Hall, East St, Alresford, SO24 9AG

Please join us for Tea Scones and Homemade Cakes conversation and fellowship. Hope to see you then. Information 10am-12noon 01962 733545

Alresford Art Society: A talk by Ronnie Ireland on The Impressionist Revolution

Thursday 25 April

From 7.30pm

Bishop’s Sutton Village Hall, Alresford Road (B3047), Bishops Sutton, SO24 0AH

A short AGM will follow at our April meeting. The AGM will start at 7.30pm with the talk to follow at approximately 8pm. Non-members welcome – admission £3. For further information: 01962 732043 or visit www.artsociety.alresford.org.

Joint Activity Day

Saturday 27 April

From 10am to 4pm

Alresford Community Centre, 7 West St, Alresford, SO24 9AG

Free entry, no booking necessary. Join us at a day of activities for all ages. Make a handprinted card, plant sunflower seeds, buy plants and bring your surplus plants and seeds to swap with others. Tea or coffee, squash and homemade cake to purchase.

Winchester College Quiristers in Concert

Saturday 27 April

From 10am to 4pm

St.John the Baptist Church, East Street, Alresford, SO24 9AG

The much acclaimed Quiristers will be in concert at St. John the Baptist Church on Saturday 27th

April 2024. They will perform a mixture of musical pieces including sacred and popular items. Tickets can be obtained from the St. John's Church website: www.arlevalleychurches. org.uk email: arlevalleychurches@ gmail.com - Tickets can be obtained from: ticketsource.co.uk/ st-john-the-baptist-church-newalresford - Tickets priced at £16.00 for adults, Quirister parents £12.00 and Students £8.00 Under 12's go free. Each ticket includes a glass of wine/ non-alcoholic drink and light refreshments. Time 6.30pm8.30pm. The choir will sell CDs after the concert (cash only please) Enquiries: Email: lawrencewill@ tiscali.co.uk

Avington Village Carboot Sale 2024

Sun 28 April

From 9am to 12 noon

Avington Village (opposite the entry to Avington Golf Course)

What3words: fields.vies.suitcase

It’s time to clear out those cupboards, lofts and sheds and bring your goodies to the Avington Village Car Boot Sale! Please do come along to sell your wares or come and find some bargains! Refreshments including breakfasts by Earth to Oven, cake stall, plant stall, sweetie stall, and plenty of parking! Bring family and friends for a fun morning - all in aid of Avington Village community projects. £10 per car boot; £15 vans; £2 entry for buyers - children go free.

CASH ONLY!!

Ropley Horticultural Society Talk

Monday 29 April

From 7.45pm

Ropley Parish Hall, Vicarage Lane, Ropley, SO24 0DU

‘Summer Bulbs’ with Tim Woodland. Parking free. Guests £5 on the door includes refreshments, all welcome - Enquiries: Jill 01962 772425.

Price includes VAT, installations and a fully comprehensive 10 year insurance backed warranty

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TRIPLE GLAZED

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Bespoke Kitchens & Furniture

custom offices, installed by

Happy Kitchens have a unique approach when it comes to kitchens and custom spaces in the home. We use excellent quality materials which are fitted by exshipwright joiners, who used to fit the woodwork on Super Yachts. That in itself is unique in our industry but then add in the fact that we are bespoke, but don’t charge the inflated prices that your highend high street showrooms do, gives us the recipe for your perfect home solution. This is why we are one of the highest rated home improvement companies on HOUZZ, beating all the top names you might recognise when walking down your high street.

We have never had less than a 5 star review and have won the HOUZZ best

of service award every year since it has been running. The staff at HOUZZ reference us to other companies as to how customer service should be done. Many of our customers have used us 2 or 3 times due to moving house or tackling other projects in their existing houses.

We do not have a template for design and take a fresh approach with every customer. It is important to take all the best ideas a customer has, then bring in the experience we have to offer, and often our ideas will be completely different to any other companies as we are innovative and bespoke. We often hear that customers have had designs and quotes that all look the same, are boring and un-exciting, yet expensive. This is because

most high street ‘kitchen designers’ are just salespeople with no idea on how a kitchen works.

Bespoke sizing - Media walls, boot rooms,

ex shipwright joiners with exceptional attention to detail

T:

So whether you need an amazing Kitchen, Utility, Bedroom, coffee bar with custom pod storage, Office, Media wall or Living Room storage we can help. The design visits are free of charge, and we can quote on the same day. Also Ben loves design, so often at no extra charge, he will help you choose paint colours, light fittings, Bar stools, artwork and can even recommend great pots and pans.

One of the top reviewed companies on Houzz, offering free home design visits

“Thisisthesecondtimewehaveused HappyKitchensandonceagainweare overthemoonwiththeresults! Thelevelofworkmanshipisjust outstanding,theguyswereapleasure tohaveinthehouse,Wewon’thesitate tocontinuetorecommendHappy Kitchenstoanyonelookingforanew kitchen.Highlyrecommend!”

Anna and Hugh Cutler

Our customers will often use us again, and recommend us to Family and Friends. The quote from the review above was from a customer who has chosen us twice, and their parents also have a Happy Kitchen, and two of the parents' friends.

“HappyKitchens.WOWWOW WOW.Thankyousomuchforgiving usthewowfactorweaskedfor.”

TheMcAdams

The biggest compliment we get from our customers is always around our attention to detail and often bringing something completely different to the table. If you are still unsure after reading this, go and read some of our reviews on our Happy Kitchens Houzz profile, and do a search of kitchen companies on there by review rating, we are always close to the top of the list.

Out-of-the-box thinking, bespoke design features, and friendly staff with excellent attention to detail are just a few of the reasons you should call us today. If that isn’t enough please do remember that the design visit is free of charge, so you have nothing to lose.

8 year winner of the Best of Houzz award and one of the highest reviewed kitchen companies on Houzz in the UK

If you are thinking of selling or letting your property out, it helps to work with an estate agent with a knowledge and understanding of the area. Established in Alresford in 1988, Hellards is very much part of the furniture in this beautiful part of Hampshire, having dealt with properties of all shape and sizes over the years.

Wherever you are on your property journey, our friendly and experienced team of property professionals are here to help you make the right decisions to suit your own particular circumstances.

As the days get longer and the weather improves, April is the ideal month to be planning your move. For our take on the local market, or for advice on the moving process generally, please call us.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Citizens Advice - Winchester District

My council tax bill is coming out soon and I am dreading opening it as it always goes up. My income has stayed the same but everything else is more expensive and I have hardly anything left over - how will I cope if my payments keep going up?

Many of us are feeling overwhelmed as we see our basic bills and essential costs go up. You’re not alone in finding things difficult and, crucially, there’s support available. First off, council tax discounts are available to some people depending on your circumstances. For instance, if you’re the only adult in your home, you should get a 25% discount on your council tax bill.

When working out how many people live in a property, some people aren’t counted - they’re called ‘disregarded people’ and include under 18s, a student nurse or someone on an apprenticeship scheme and many more. If everyone who lives in the property is disregarded, you will still receive a council tax bill, but it will have a 50% discount. However, if everyone in your home is a student or severely mentally impaired, you won't pay any council tax.

Additionally, if someone has moved out, tell the council as this might change your eligibility. If you are entitled to a discount as a result, it will be valid from the date when the person moved out, even if you told the council after the event, and the reduction may be backdated. You mention that your income hasn’t increased. If you are on a low income, you might also be able to get your council tax reduced. Your local council will ask you details about your income and your circumstances, so they can work out if you’re entitled to a council tax reduction. They will then calculate your new bill and tell you how much council tax you need to pay.

You may also be eligible for additional support if you’ve reached State Pension age, though the ‘working age rule’ will still apply if you or your partner receive certain benefits including:

∙ Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

∙ Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

∙ Income Support

Even if none of the reduction criteria applies to you, your local council can still reduce your council tax bill or cancel it altogether, this is called ‘discretionary reduction’. They’ll normally only do this if you can show that you’re suffering severe hardship and can’t afford to pay council tax. We know that times are incredibly tough and council tax is a priority bill so it’s important to keep in contact with your council if you can’t keep up payments.

Citizens Advice Winchester District is here to help you with advice and guidance if needed. Call us on 0808 278 7861 or visit our website for other ways to contact us www.citizensadvicewinchester.org.uk

The Apostle Paul to the Corinthinian Christians:

1 Corinthians 1:18

''For the preaching of the cross is to those who are perishing, foolishness; but to us who are saved it is the power of God....:23 we preach Christ crucified...:24 Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God''.

NEW FARM CHAPEL

New Farm Road, Alresford, Hampshire

Sunday Services 10.30am and 4.30pm

Check out our website, where you can leave a message or call our number.

www.newfarmchapel.org.uk

Ally Chatterley, Operations Manager at Citizens Advice Winchester District gives advice on council tax reductions.

YOUR MARKET-LEADING ESTATE AGENTS

The lettings and sales teams at Charters Alresford have been pleased to witness a substantial growth in activity within the property market. This positive trend is expected to persist, thanks to the recent decline in mortgage rates. As a result, now is an opportune time for individuals considering a move, with appealing Buy To Let options also on the market.

Despite the high demand for property in the area, the supply is not keeping pace. As the foremost lettings and estate agents in the region, we are witnessing a constant influx of legitimate renters and buyers registering with us. This further highlights the urgency of acting swiftly in this fiercely competitive market.

The current average monthly rent in Alresford stands at £1,517, with an annual increase of 4%. In terms of property sales, there has been a notable 21% rise in the average sales price over the past five years, with the current average price sitting at £576,223 over the past 12 months.

Our team of knowledgeable property specialists is well-equipped to navigate the local market and is dedicated to assisting you in your home letting or selling journey. Don’t hesitate to contact us at our conveniently located West Street office for more information on how we can support you. (*Source: Dataloft, Land Registry, Office for National Statistics).

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE…

01962 734633

“Exceptional service from the team. Their professionalism, expertise, and communication made our experience stress-free and enjoyable. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a reliable and dedicated estate agent!”

If you would like a FREE lettings or sales market appraisal for your home, please call us on 01962 734633 today.

www.chartersestateagents.co.uk

alresford@chartersestateagents.co.uk

Charlie Dixon, Branch Partner

Jodie, Trustpilot

Gardening Tips for Spring from the National Trust

Spring is an uplifting and hopeful time of year for many of us as we watch the natural world burst into life. Learn some handy gardening tips on creating blossom displays, pruning and mowing, and the types of flowers and vegetables to plant in spring.

What to plant in spring

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, many gardeners will be busy sowing seeds and preparing flower borders and vegetable patches. Once the soil is warm enough you can start planting potatoes and onions and sowing hardy vegetables, including broad beans, cabbages, carrots, radishes, lettuce, rocket and spinach.

March and April are good months to plant perennials, sow hardy annuals like marigolds and plant summer-flowering bulbs like lilies and gladioli. Late May is a good time to prepare your beds by removing weeds and digging and raking the soil to create a fine tilth. As daffodils and other spring bulbs die back you can start dividing crowded clumps to help spread them out next year.

Rising temperatures accelerate growth in borders and vegetable beds, so it's important to keep on top of weeds with regular hoeing. During dry spells, you should water plants at the beginning and end of the day.

Things to do in the garden during spring

Weeding and mulching

Spring is an important time for getting on top of weeds before they take light and water from the plants you want. You can also mulch your borders in early spring, provided the soil is moist, and there is still space to get in between the plants.

Pruning hydrangeas

Prune hydrangeas in March. Look for a set of healthy strong buds and then cut the old flower heads back to just above them. For mature or congested plants you can also take out some

of the older growth to encourage it to reshoot from the base.

Looking out for wildlife

When you’re gardening at this time of year, take care not to disturb nesting birds and always check carefully for them before pruning hedges or shrubs. When you tidy and cut back winter growth in spring, remember there may be insects and amphibians living there or even a hedgehog hibernating.

Leaving the lawn for pollinators

Spring is the time when we usually start mowing lawns regularly but you may decide to join the growing trend of leaving all or parts of it uncut for a few weeks at a time. This will allow clover, daisies and other species to flower and provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects.

Container growing

If you have a small garden, patio or terrace then container growing could be for you. Here are some useful tips to help you make the most out of container growing.

Choosing plants for containers

Bulbs and annuals are great for growing in containers because they can be replanted each year to create new schemes. Herbs such as parsley, basil and thyme will also grow well in pots which can be placed near the kitchen door for easy access. Many perennials and even small shrubs and trees can be grown in containers, but species choice is important so make sure you do your research before you buy.

Compost and care

Use good quality peat-free potting compost for temporary displays. For shrubs and perennials which will stay in the same compost for a while, choose one with soil in it or add your own. Plants in containers need regular watering, so ask a helpful neighbour to take care of them when you’re away.

Planting small trees for blossom

The arrival of blossom is one of many things we love about spring. Even if you have a small

garden, you can create an eye-catching display of spring blossom. The key to success is choosing the right size trees or shrubs for the space you’ve got. You can buy bare-root trees and shrubs between November and March or in containers all year round. It’s best to plant them in autumn or early spring.

Choosing the best blossom tree for your garden

Personal taste, colour and smell are obvious criteria for selection, but remember to check the plant’s soil preferences and most importantly its final growing size. Even small spaces can accommodate a container shrub but remember this will need regular feeding and watering.

If you’ve got space for more than one tree, think about how they will complement each other –flowering in sequence or contrasting colours. You may want a tree with multi-season interest or one that produces fruit. Fruit tree blossom is great for pollinating insects.

Why not enjoy a day out at one of Hampshire's many National Trust sites, here are just a few:

Winchester City Mill

Free to enter Ancient watermill, café with island garden and wildlife spot in the heart of Winchester. Bridge Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9BH

Hinton Ampner

Elegant country house with highly distinctive gardens - Hinton Ampner, near Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0LA

Mottisfont

A romantic house and gallery set in beautiful riverside gardens near Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 0LP

The Vyne

Explore a former Tudor powerhouse turned 17th-century family home, set in gardens, woodlands and wetlands. Vyne Road, Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 9HL

For more information and to join the national trust visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

9 Spring Lawn Care Essentials

As days lengthen, we venture outside and begin to notice how our lawns look. Many lawns struggle a little over the winter. Let’s look at what can be done now to get your lawn ready for a beautiful summer

1 - Moss

Moss in itself isn’t a problem. It’s green and soft under foot. Nice to look at a lovely to walk on. Come mid-summer your mossy lawn will yellow and die –not so good to look at or walk on then!

Moss is relatively easy to rake out of your lawn provided there is not much of it. If your lawn has a heavy moss burden then a petrol driven scarifier will be needed. I have two important rules. 1) Always apply a moss killing treatment after you have raked or scarified your lawn to kill and loose pieces of moss. 2) Never, ever mow into moss. If you have moss in your lawn that you can’t remove then raise your mower blades so the grass leaf is at least 2cm above the moss.

2 - Dethatch

Thatch is a layer of organic matter on top of the soil above the roots of your grass plants. It has little or no microbial activity and will not decompose. It prevents water and nutrition reaching the roots. Spring is the right time to dethatch turf. Cutting into the thatch to introduce air spaces is ideal. Boosting microbial activity with a professional bio-booster or compost tea.

3 - Aerate

Aeration is by far the most beneficial mechanical process for your lawn. Organic matter is essential for the life within your soil. That life consists of beneficial fungi and bacteria which make micronutrients available to grass. In addition, there are worms and insects all responsible for breaking down organic matter. These living things need the 3 building blocks of life – water, air and food. Roots grow in the air gaps between the soil particles not in the soil itself. By aerating your lawn, you are introducing the air gaps essential to support that soil activity. In addition, aeration relieves compaction and helps reduce waterlogging too.

4 - Rake

Leaves from trees, dead grass blades and moss can prevent moisture and nutrients from easily reaching the roots of your lawn. Using a spring rake helps you keep fit, but in addition it removes debris and helps the grass leaf stand upright. When things begin to grow again in the early spring it’s a good idea to give your lawn a bit of a hair-brush, get things standing to attention and ready for a mow. Spring raking removes lingering autumn leaves and grass blades that didn't survive winter. Do it now!

5 - Over-seed

Repair bare patches in your lawn by over-seeding. Remove the dead patch of grass with a rake. In-fill with John Innes #3 compost and mix seed into the top layer. Give it a good water and, to keep the moisture and birds off, cover it with a sheet of newspaper until the seed germinates.

6 - Fertilise

All living things need the right kind of food in the right quantities. Many lawn owners forget this. Lawns need the right amount of Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus throughout the year. The occasional sprinkle of a 3-in-1 spring feed from the garden centre is not really cutting it. You ideally want controlled-release nutrition, more of a lawn buffet than a Christmas dinner. This way you don’t have a huge flush of growth meaning you have to get the mower out of the shed as soon as you’ve put it away. If you are going to feed your own lawn focus on quality over quantity. Focus on feeding the soil and let the soil feed the plant. If in doubt, speak to a lawn care professional.

7 - Weed control

Spring is the best time to get weeds under control. Catch weeds early in the season if you can. Leave weeds until later and you are likely to have all their seedlings to deal with too. Some weeds are harder to control than others and this is where professional grade weed control products become essential. Weed control is complex stuff but get it right and your lawn’s going to look great this summer.

8 - Water

Well wetting agents really. Along with air and food, lawns need water. Many home owners resist watering their lawns for fear of the cost or wastage. The good news is that it costs less than £5 to water the average sized lawn and you only really need to do that every other week. Now here’s the secret; lawn care professionals make use of wetting agents to make the water that’s applied work harder. Wetting agents are very affordable, they keep water in the root-zone and mean that you can apply half as much water, water less often whilst getting the same results.

9 - Mow

The majority of lawn issues I see can be traced back to a poor mowing regime. Get mowing right and you are half way towards a wonderful lawn. Make sure your mower blades are sharp. Mow frequently enough to not cut off more than ¼ of the leaf length each mow. Don’t always mow in the same direction – start from different places on the lawn. Ideally mulch mow, leaving clippings behind to feed the essential soil microbes.

Ian Kenyon sits on the committee of the UK Lawn Care Association and owns Shrekfeet Independent Lawncare. He is always happy to offer friendly, professional advice and help: T: 01962 460146 www.shrekfeet.com

C&D Trees

All Tree & Hedge Care

Sparsholt college trained & qualified

Free advice & written quotations

15 years experience

www.cdtrees.co.uk

Telephone - 01962 738 420 - 07900 987 609

Bishops Sutton, Alresford

SPECIALISTS IN STUMP GRINDING, TREE WORK & THE SUPPLY OF LOGS

All types of countryside contracting undertaken

• Mobile Bandsawing Service

• Brushwood Chipper Hire

• Concreting

• Hedge Cutting

• Fencing

PETER PAYNE

01962 733866 or 07778 170442

FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1973 BUILT ON GREAT SERVICE & VALUE FOR MONEY

Please visit our website for all the latest news, information, second-hand machines for sale and special offers in the showroom.

Tel: 01962 771800

steve.cann@btconnect.com

www.georgecanngardenmachinery.co.uk

LACEYS

Qualified in arboriculture and countrsyide management. 15 years experience Tel: 01962 732498 Mob: 07879 448141 ALL

Peter Chivers on: 01256 389124 or Mobile: 07803 096642

Tree Care and Woodland Management

• Tree surgery / TPO applications

• Hedge maintenance

• Fencing / Garden structures

• Woodland management / tree planting

Why use a Garden Designer?

The question you should perhaps ask is ‘what am I trying to achieve?’ If you just need some basic paving or a fence for example, then you do not need a Garden Designer. However, if you are looking to invest in your outdoor areas to create a garden that you can enjoy to the max, utilizing the space available to the full, meeting your specific needs whilst achieving the principles of scale and proportion alongside balance to bring the garden functionally and aesthetically together - then you need a qualified Garden Designer.

A professionally trained Garden Designer will combine many skills from idea creation, spatial awareness, and the combining of plant

National Garden Scheme - Hampshire

More news from our NGS Chelsea Garden 2024 - fully funded by ‘Project Giving Back’, designed by Tom Stewart-Smith and built by Crocus. In keeping with an increased emphasis on sustainability, The NGS Garden for RHS Chelsea will feature a number of recycled and repurposed items. Some, like the old tools that will be on display in the potting shed, were destined for the local tip before being rescued by the Hertfordshire based Sunnyside Rural Trust. Known for its innovative trainee schemes and services that offer wellness, training and employment to young people and adults with learning disabilities, Sunnyside blends social enterprise and day care with the therapeutic nature of horticulture. They began refurbishing and selling garden tools as part of the project in March 2023.

Now for something very different from Hampshire NGS Streamside Trees - Bonsai Experience

43a Basingbourne Road, Fleet, GU52 6TG https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/46991/streamside-trees-bonsaiexperience

Visitors can enjoy a guided tour around the 140 ft garden, with a natural stream, azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, a pond and many wildlife habitats. There is a display of bonsai in development and a tree nursery. Then enjoy an informal bonsai demonstration from Julia, an enthusiast who also holds 'Create a Bonsai' hands-on experiences and is a member of bonsai societies. Relax with refreshments and Q & A. Starter trees will be available to purchase. Tour & Demonstration: Thursday 9th May 10am and 1pm: Sunday 25th May 10am and 1pm: The tours starts promptly at 10am and 1pm: Admission: £20.00 per adult. Pre-booking only - simply click on the above link. Limited tickets available. Price includes refreshments. For any clarification contact streamsidetrees@gmail.com. This experience would make an ideal gift idea for friends and family - something a bit different.

Pat Beagley (Head of Publicity) -National Garden Scheme - Hampshire pat.beagley@ngs.org.uk

and materials knowledge to create a harmony of textures, colours and features. You will end up with a whole garden that works in unity rather than individual bits bolted together that will jar on the eye. With a Garden Designers’ technical know-how, we can also manage the project with the landscape contractors to reduce client stresses through the installation process whilst designing a garden that works within a client’s budget and is actually buildable in the environment the garden is located. Importantly, we will also help you visualise what the end result will look like using architectural software to bring together our ideas and visions for your garden.

Finally, we believe that a professional Garden Designer will end up being a great investment, solving problems that could otherwise have been costly, designing gardens that are built to last and are sustainable, and creating an outside room or rooms that will add value to your property over time. The garden is often an afterthought when we’re considering home improvements, but it is an important part of our living space. Investing in your garden makes a lot of sense financially.

Mobile: 07376114531

Email: info@dpgardendesign.co.uk

Website: www.dpgardendesign.co.uk

Alresford Rugby Club

A warm welcome to all readers of the Forum from the rugby club, for what will be a regular update. For those not aware of us, we are based at The Arlebury in New Alresford, and have recently celebrated our 30th anniversary, having been founded in 1991. We have two teams that play on Saturdays between September and April, (the First XV play in Hampshire Counties 3, whilst the Second XV play in Hampshire Counties 5 North) and whilst this has been a difficult season for both teams, we have a young, improving squad, and have been competitive throughout the season, which gives us optimism for next season.

We have the following games left this season on the 6th April, and would love to see any of you on the sidelines;

First XV - Havant 3’s (a) Second XV - Fleet (h)

We also run a thriving Mini’s section on a Sunday morning, where we welcome children from ages 4-12. Although the season is coming to a close, we have a number of events during the next few months, including;

∙ The Watercress Festival on Sunday 19th May, where we will have a stand with full information about the club

∙ Our Summer Ball on Friday 7th June

∙ A barbecue and rugby celebration on Saturday 15th June

∙ The Alresford Show on Saturday 7th September

Full details on all of these events will be found on our website; www.alresfordrfc.co.uk

There are also regular posts on our Facebook and Instagram pages. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors who have been essential in the continued running of the club, and how grateful we are for that support. Further sponsorship opportunities are available, and we have a Sponsorship Booklet that gives full information and can be sent upon request. Our club handbook is also available and details the club and sponsors in more detail. We are always looking for new people to join the club, whether in a playing, administrative or spectating capacity, and would love to hear from you if you can help.

May Events

Alresford Wi Talk

Wednesday 1 May

From 7.30pm

St.Gregory's Church Hall, 1 Grange Road, SO24 9HD

'Pop,politics and Parties' Gordon Lewis talks about behind the scenes at Eurovision song contest, are politics a recent phenomenon or has national allergens always been lurking in the back ground.

Come & Sing!

Saturday 4 May

St. Paul’s Church, Winchester, SO22 5AB

Southern Voices are inviting local singers to come and sing with them in a choral workshop as part of their 40th Anniversary Season. Find out what it’s like to sing with the choir and their fabulous conductor, Jamal Sutton. The programme has a 'joyful' theme, with works from the English Choral Tradition by Finzi, Elgar and Wood with some Bob Chilcott thrown in to add even more fun. It’s on the ambitious side, but all enjoyable music and you will have a good sing! Bring your own pack lunch and complimentary hot drinks and biscuits will be available. The day concludes with a free concert for your friends and family at 3pm in the church. The workshop costs £20 (£10 for those 21 and under) including music; please buy your tickets at https://www.southernvoices. co.uk/ComeAndSing

Car parking is limited at the church; please use nearby

Winchester car parks and allow time to walk to the church. Don’t be shy, come and sing with us – we really look forward to seeing you there!

Garden & Craft Fair

Wednesday 8 May

From 10am to 4pm

Upper Farm, Down Farm Lane, Headbourne Worthy, SO23 7LA

Save the Date - Entrance £5 Ample parking available on site Sorry no Dogs. A great day out in a beautiful private garden. Come along for gardening inspiration and fantastic shopping with plant nurseries, artisan & homeware products, fashion accessories and delicious food. Relax over coffee and home-made lunch in the Wincheter GoLD Marquee. Please visit our website for more details - https://winchestergold.org.uk/ get-involved/

Cheriton Singers

Saturday 18 May

From 7.30pm

St. Michaels Church, Itchen Wy, Cheriton, Alresford, SO24 0PY

Performing a delightful combination of pieces: "Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo" by Flanders and Horovitz, Bob Chilcott's "Little Jazz Mass, and the "Litanies a la Vierge Noire" by Poulenc. Tickets £10 for adults, under 16s free, available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/ cheritonsingers, from Cheriton Village Stores, or on the door. Please make a note in your diary!

DELIVERY PEOPLE URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR Bramdean, Ropley/Ropley Dean, Bighton, Gundleton,Tichborne, Kilmeston, & Hinton Ampner

Individual villages can be covered or all areas. For rates of pay and more information please contact the editor on 01962735137 or email:editor@forumublications.co.uk

Alresford Chamber of Commerce

Member of the Month

Last Chapter - I am a palliative care nurse specialist with 30 years of nursing experience in hospices, hospitals, and community teams –caring for people and their loved ones who are facing a life limiting illness. I have recently completed a qualification as an End-OfLife Doula, embracing a non-medicalised approach to end-of-life care, whilst working alongside our NHS professionals – offering practical, emotional, and spiritual support (similar to a child-birth doula).

In our lifetime, we plan for the birth of a child, we put our house in order with financial advisors, we may even seek the support of a life coach – yet we give little thought to planning for our death. My role as an End-of-Life Doula can be varied, from helping to navigate and document end-of-life care plans, to educating about the natural dying process, grief, and bereavement support. I can be an informed companion helping you to understand the many choices /decisions you may face to enable you to feel more empowered and prepared to live in the now.

If you are interested in learning more about how I may be able to help you and your loved ones, at a time that can often feel very lonely and isolating, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You will find my contact details and much more information on my website

LastChapter.co.uk

Warm wishes, Claire

Alresford Easter Egg Hunt

Friday 29th March - Saturday 13th April

Just to remind you that our beloved Easter Egg Hunt has begun and will be finishing on 13th April. Leaflets will be left in many shops and downloadable from our website, Have fun!! To be entered into the Prize Draw and have the chance to win either 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize you must complete the Egg Hunt, fill out the leaflet and hand your completed sheet into Billy Goat Childrens Shoe Shop. Don’t forget to collect your easter treat when you hand in your form. Our thanks go out to New Alresford Town Council for their continued support of this project.

Neighborhood Plan Business & Residents Survey

Just to remind all of those who own or run a local business or shop in the Town there is still time to complete the Business Survey on The Alresford Town Council Website. This is a great opportunity for you to have your say and to give the town council & advisory group a better understanding of the employment and economic development needs of the town for many years to come.

Together we are stronger

Keep track of our events, follow us on Facebook and X E@AlresfordChamberofCommerce -QAlresfordCofC / info@alresfordchamber.co.uk www.alresfordchamber.co.uk

Improve Your Lawn Now...

Spring is a great time for lawn improvements - As the days lengthen and warm, recovery is rapid. Spring renovation work will help your lawn become what you want it to be. We've helped hundreds of customers improve their lawns - now is the ideal time to improve yours.

Lawn Moss Control - Lawn moss can seriously impact grass health. Our moss treatment and moss removal (scarification) services will reduce lawn moss issues and help your grass through the challenges of winter.

Limited availability so call now to avoid disappointment

Essential Plan

Upto 50m2 £5.90 a month

Add £1.97 for each additional 50m2 3 visits a year

Winter Moss Control

Six-month Lawn Fertiliser Essential Weed Control

Grub

Premier Plan

Upto 50m2 £13.24 a month

5 visits a year

Winter Moss Control

Winter Lawn Tonic

Spring Fertiliser

Spring Weed Control

Summer Fertiliser

Summer Weed Control

Autumn Fertiliser

Autumn Moss Inhibitor

Autumn Weed Control

Grub Monitoring Service Disease Detection pH Testing

6 visits a year

Winter Moss Control

Winter Lawn Tonic

Spring Fertiliser

Spring Weed Control

Summer Fertiliser

Summer Weed Control

Autumn Fertiliser

Autumn Moss Inhibitor

Autumn Weed Control

We also provide full lawn makeovers, over-seeding, and top-dressing.

Hard surface weed control for gravel or paved drives, paths, and patios. Call now to arrange your first treatment visit and FREE full lawn analysis survey. Our work is fully guaranteed, check our website for more information.

www.shrekfeet.com

New TownAlresford Council

Town Assembly

Dogs in Recreation Grounds

The Town Assembly will take place on Monday 29th April, 19:00 at Alresford Recreation Centre. This is an opportunity to hear from the Councillors about NATC work over the last year, along with grants that have been awarded to local organisations. We will also have guest speakers. Nibbles and refreshments will be provided, and we would be delighted to have you join us.

the community getting involved, including many children, and many bags of litter were collected, and certificates given out. As always there were a variety of unusual items found. It was a fun morning for all.

A big thank you also to Alresford Rotary who undertook a huge cleanup of Broad Street on Sunday 17th March in the morning. They paid particular attention to the gutters and parking areas collecting all the vegetation and other debris that gets accumulated. A fantastic effort!

Citizens Advice

What is obedient dog behavior in open spaces? Good behavior in the Recreation Grounds is a matter of being able to control the dog by teaching simple commands such as "Come", "Look", and "Down". We hope that people will show responsible dog ownership while walking in the parks and open spaces. These spaces are for all to enjoy, young, old and dog walkers especially as Springtime has arrived encouraging more visitors to the open spaces.

Neighbourhood Plan Business & Residents Survey 2024

Thank you to all who have already completed the Neighborhood Plan Business & Residents survey. For those who didn’t see last month’s forum, New Alresford Town council are preparing a Neighbourhood Plan which will set out the vision, objectives, and planning policies for New Alresford for many years to come. One of the key themes for the Neighbourhood Plan is employment and economic development. If you own or run a local business or shop in the Town Centre, we would very much like to hear from you.

We would be very grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete the survey that asks several important questions which will help the advisory group and town council gain a better understanding. Please note this is for Businesses as well as residents!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HJHQRQG

Community Litter pick

Thank you to all the enthusiastic people who turned on Saturday morning on March 23rd to take part in the annual community litter pick, part of the Keep Britain Tidy ‘Great British Spring Clean’. Lovely to see so many of

If you don’t have enough money to live on, you might be able to get help to afford essentials like bills and food. This includes the Household Support Fund and cost of living payments. You should check if you can claim benefits - you might be able to do this even if you work, have savings, or own a home.

Help is at hand. If you have money worries, please don’t delay in contacting them for confidential and impartial advice. www.citizensadvice.org.uk

April Calendar

Please see this months Calendar of events & meetings. You are very welcome to attend all meetings with an opportunity at the start of the meeting to share any thoughts or ideas. Please don’t hesitate to contact our Town Clerk Richard Doughty: townclerk@newalresford-tc.gov.uk

Tuesday, April 2 - 6:00pm Planning Committee

Tuesday, April 9 - 7:00pm

Recreation, Environment & Community Committee

Monday, April 15 - 6:00pm

Neighbourhood Planning Action Group (NPAG)

Tuesday, April 16 - 7:00pm

Operations & Resources Committee

Tuesday, April 23 - 7:00pm

Town Council-Grants

Monday, April 29 - 7:00pm

Town Assembly

New Alresford Town Council Recreation Centre, The Avenue, New Alresford, Alresford, SO24 9EP

Tel: 01962 732079

www.newalresford-tc.gov.uk

Earn over £100k? Beware the ‘60% tax trap’

While 45% is the highest ‘official’ income tax rate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the way the tax-free personal allowance is treated means that some people pay an effective tax rate of 60% on some of their income.

Known as the ‘60% tax trap’, it applies to earnings between £100,000 and £125,140. Here, we explain how the tax trap works and why pensions could help you manage it.

Income tax and the personal allowance

Most people have a standard personal allowance of £12,570, which is the amount of income you do not pay tax on each year. If you have a standard personal allowance, the tax rates you’ll pay in each band of earnings are as follows:

How to reinstate your personal allowance

A way to mitigate the 60% tax trap is to save into a pension. If you earn £110,000 and make a gross pension contribution of £10,000, your adjusted net income falls to £100,000. This would reinstate your full personal allowance and give an effective rate of tax relief of 60% on your pension contribution. There is a cap on the amount you and your employer can pay into your pension each year and still get tax relief. For most people, this is 100% of your UK relevant earnings or £60,000, whichever is lower (this might be tapered if your adjusted income exceeds £260,000). If you exceed your annual allowance, you’ll have to pay an annual allowance charge which essentially claws back any tax relief received.

Next steps

Source: HMRC

Once you earn more than £100,000, your tax-free personal allowance starts to be tapered. It reduces by £1 for every £2 that your adjusted net income exceeds £100,000 and is zero if your income is £125,140 or above.

Why the 60% tax trap occurs

Imagine you earn £110,000 – or £10,000 above the threshold. You would not only pay £4,000 in higher rate tax on the £10,000, but you’d also lose £5,000 of your personal allowance. And with £5,000 of your personal allowance gone, that portion of your income is now also subject to tax at 40%, costing you another £2,000. In other words, of that £10,000, you’d only get to keep £4,000, which equates to a 60% tax rate. For Scottish residents, the effective rate of tax is even higher at 63%, as income in the higher rate tax band is taxed at 42% in Scotland.

Understanding how different tax rules might affect you isn’t easy, especially as the rules can change frequently. A financial adviser can help explain how the various rules affect your long-term financial planning and help decide the best course of action for you.

The value of investments, and any income from them, can fall and you may get back less than you invested. This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy. Information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness.

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Alresford Rotary - People of Action in mid Hampshire

Sun Hill Pond

Back in 2013 Alresford Rotary undertook a major project rebuilding and landscaping the nature pond and wildlife area at the Sun Hill school site and in the intervening decade it has been a great leisure and teaching asset, being used by both Sun Hill schools and various holiday schemes. Inevitably as the years have passed the vegetation in and around the pond has become increasingly wild and invasive and accordingly hardy Alresford Rotarians donned their waders in early March and carried out significant tidying up in advance of the main growing season aiming to ensure the pond can be used and enjoyed to its full potential later this year. Further work is anticipated in the autumn.

Christmas Shoebox Feedback

In past years little feedback has been received to show what happens to the Christmas shoeboxes of gifts once they leave Alresford in early November but that is not the case this year! Photos have been received showing delighted children receiving the boxes in Ukraine, Moldova, Rumania and Montenegro. If you or a group to which you belong haven’t previously been involved and would like to be involved later this year please let us know now! Suitable boxes and instructions will be available from the late spring. For logistical reasons it seems as if this year boxes will need to be ready to leave the local area earlier than normal i.e. by 25th October

Would you like to be involved?

If you are someone who lives or works in mid Hampshire and wishes to make a difference to the area or to be involved in Rotary’s international projects Alresford Rotary is for YOU! Please contact us to find out more and how you can be a “person of action” on a regular or occasional basis. Please also come along to Co-ordinating Alresford’s meeting about The Big Help Out at The Cricketers on Wednesday 17th April at 6.30 p.m.

James Pinniger

Email:indri50@me.com

Phone: 07743 698841 Website: alresford-rotary.org

Co-Ordinating Alresford -The Big Help Out 2024

On Saturday 8th June all interested in volunteering to help make Alresford and its surrounding villages a better place to live and work are invited to come together and a make a difference! The Big Help Out weekend is a national event from 7th to 9th June .

For more information see https://www.thebighelpout.org.uk/. Planning is at an early stage. You’re invited to come along to The Cricketers on Wednesday 17th April for further information but particularly with your ideas of what projects could be undertaken in the community by groups of enthusiastic volunteers in a matter of a few hours. If you’re unavailable on 17th April but have suggestions to make please pass on such ideas to the Pigs, Rotary, Town Council or Town Trust before 17th April.

Mr. Mac

Apple and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Apple uses AI in some features introduced in iOS 17. One of these is called Personal Voice, which helps people who might lose their ability to speak. It uses machine learning on the device to make a copy of their voice. This allows them to communicate more easily with their family and friends. To set it up, the iPhone asks the user to read 150 phrases out loud. Then, using AI, it analyses their voice and creates a synthetic version of it.

Another AI feature is Live Text, which is available on iPhones running iOS 15 or later. It's a tool that uses computer vision to recognize text in photos, whether it's handwritten or typed. This means you can easily copy and paste text from images with just a few taps. Live Text can be very useful in daily life. For example, if you have a handwritten recipe that you want to save digitally, you can take a photo of it with your iPhone. Then, you can easily copy and paste the text into a Word document or another app, making it a digital backup.

Apple’s latest update now lets you swear without the autocorrect feature changing your words. It also makes autocorrect better overall. It can fix mistakes more accurately and offers more personalised predictive text. These improvements are thanks to iOS 17's new language model, which learns from a lot of data to understand context and provide better results.

Just released, a great new app from MacPaw to clean up your iPad and iPhone, an excellent way to clean up your photo library. Head over to my website at mistermac. co.uk and click on the link at the bottom of the page.

Andy – Mr Mac 07392 552 592

If you would like to subscribe to my monthly newsletter send an email to: andy@mistermac.co.uk

TEL:

MOBILE:

WWW.PRESTIGECARSALRESFORD.CO.UK

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Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante is back on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May

2ndYear

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Sunday 27th September 2020

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

This market goes from strength to strength and is back on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May for its 6th year in Broad Street, Alresford, SO24 9AQ from 9.30am - 3.30pm.

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30 - 3.30pm

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Antique & Art Fairs acvr_events

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

The market offers a French-style Brocante flea market with a mixture of Antiques, Collectables, Curios, Vintage Retro, Bric-a-brac, Vinyl records and those ‘must-have’ quirky finds from traders, enthusiasts as well as people just wanting to clear out their garages and loftswhy not come and join us in Broad Street (ring for booking details). A fun day out for all the family with music, many of the restaurants and cafes, as well as some of the shops will be open. Free entry. Local general parking.

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

www.acvrevents.co.uk

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com www.acvrevents.co.uk

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465 jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com www.acvrevents.co.uk

www.acvrevents.co.uk

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com www.acvrevents.co.uk

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com

www.acvrevents.co.uk

www.acvrevents.co.uk

Supported by www.towntrust.org.uk

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Alresford Brocante

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques |

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Vintage | Flea Market

Antiques | Vintage | Flea Market

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Sunday 15th September

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

6th May 2024

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30 - 3.30pm

Sunday 15th September

Sunday 26th September 2021

Also Bishop's Waltham High Street on the 10th October

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30 - 3.30pm

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May & Sunday 15th September

Antique & Art Fairs acvr_events

Also Bishop's Waltham High Street on the 10th October

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AQ | 9.30am - 3.30pm

07514 680872

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

Antique & Art Fairs acvr_events

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

www.acvrevents.co.uk

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com

Antique & Art Fairs acvr events

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com www.acvrevents.co.uk

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

Antique & Arts Fair @ArtDesignFairs

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465 jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com www.acvrevents.co.uk

www.acvrevents.co.uk

07514 680872

www.acvrevents.co.uk

www.acvrevents.co.uk

www.acvrevents.co.uk

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

www.acvrevents.co.uk

07514 680872 | 023 8045 3465

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com www.acvrevents.co.uk

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com www.acvrevents.co.uk

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com www.acvrevents.co.uk

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com

jackieedwardsmarketing@gmail.com www.acvrevents.co.uk

www.acvrevents.co.uk

www.acvrevents.co.uk

“La Huppe is a wine showing bright, fruity aromas of peach, pear and delicate floral notes. A judicious use of oak lends it a stylish richness with notes of vanilla and tropical fruit. Well-balanced and refreshing, and astonishing value at this price”

Previously £14.99 per bole

On Your High Street

Enticing and eclectic items now available on your high street this winter. Stay local and support your diverse retailers!

Tel: 01962 732200 | www.dbarkerandson.co.uk

New arrivals! Skechers trainers £29 43 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AB Tel: 01962 733926 | www.billygoatshoes.co.uk

Fresh Spring Seersucker Organic Cottons

£35 2 Bakehouse Yard, Alresford, SO24 9AU

Tel: 01962 734488 | www.ragamuffin-uk.com

D.Barker & Son

Top Image - Silver hoop earrings with Cubic Zirconia by Ti Sento Milano at £85

Bottom Image - 18ct white gold hoop earrings with baguette cut diamonds at £2,350 40A West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AU

Billy Goat

Ragamuffin

from Frugi

Naked Grape

Louis Pommery Brut - introductory price of £34.99 per bottle

St Swithun’s crowned national lacrosse champions

St Swithun’s under 15 lacrosse side are celebrating after being crowned National Schools Champions.

The team were the comeback queens as they came from 2-0 down to defeat Claremont Fan Court 3-2 in the final and take home the Under 15 National Schools Championship trophy.

The side started off strongly and ended up top of their pool on the toss of a coin after finishing with an identical record to Priestnall School. They then defeated Walthamstow Hall 3-1 in the last 16 and Moreton Hall 6-3 in the quarter-finals. A late goal in a tight semi-final against Caterham led to a 3-2 victory and set up a battle against Claremont in the final.

After finding themselves 2-0 down in the final, the team fought back to tie the game at two goals apiece. Poppy then scored the decisive goal in the final minutes to clinch the national crown.

Team captain Natasha said, “It was a fabulous day from start to finish, emotions and stakes were high. The positive vibes started right at the start of the day and were intensified after every single match and every single win. But the best feeling in the world was lifting that trophy at the end knowing that the tireless hours of hard work and training in the wet and rain had paid off and every single member of the team had put their 100% into the whole season. I remember looking at everyone smiling and

laughing thinking that we had made it as the best U15 team in the country. Everyone worked so well together and I am so proud to captain such a fantastic team.”

Member of the team, Eliza added, “Our team spirit shone throughout the day, and especially before the big moments, such as the nerve-wracking final! To get us hyped up and all in the mood, we played our team song and danced in a massive huddle. This united us as a team, and prepared us to stick together throughout the tense moments. Coming back from 2-0 down in the final showed our grit, ruthlessness and determination. It was an amazing day, and one that we will never forget.”

Lacrosse coach Tia Hislop said, “I could not be more proud of these girls. They showed incredible resilience, discipline and support for each other in a number of tough games to make the final. They kept their composure and dared to believe when it mattered the most and left all their energy and effort on the pitch. All of our teams have done St Swithun’s proud and I am so thrilled for this team to be taking home the U15 National Schools championship trophy.”

St Swithun’s Headmistress Jane Gandee added, “We are delighted for the girls and everybody involved in lacrosse at the school.

The way the team were able to relax under pressure and embrace the fun of playing together is a lesson to all of us.”

St Swithun's Winchester is a renowned leading independent boarding and day school for girls aged 3 - 18. Founded in 1884, the school promotes quirky fun whilst providing modern academic, sporting, creative and recreational opportunities. The St Swithun’s vision is a world where our students see possibilities, not barriers. Its purpose is to turn girls into courageous young women and our belief is that it’s not just about learning lessons, but learning who we are without fear of failure, censure or outdated attitudes about what young women can aspire to.

Stswithuns.com

Godolphin unveils ambitious Deep Sea Theme with the creation of a Life Size Giant Squid

Godolphin’s Exhibition Club proudly announces their latest venture, following the resounding success of the International Space Station in 2023. After extensive brainstorming sessions, the club members decided on a captivating 'Deep Sea' theme with a Life Size Giant Squid taking centre stage as part of Godolphin's Science Week.

Hold my Hair! Extension Specialist

Welcome to Hold my Hair! My passion for hair extensions started back in 2018 when I first decided to have some fitted to my own hair. From there my interest grew and I successfully qualified in fitting nano tip, micro tip, tape-in and fusion/k bond extensions.

The decision to create a monumental exhibit was made early on, with the Giant Squid spanning an impressive 14m in length. Over the summer, students and staff dedicated themselves to gathering materials such as cardboard, newspaper, and milk bottle tops, laying the groundwork for this ambitious project to come together in the new term.

The internal structure, constructed entirely from recycled cardboard and extending 3m in length, required meticulous efforts to balance strength and weight. Sheets of papier-mâché were meticulously crafted and reinforced each week to provide a stable outer layer for the squid’s form. Stabilising fins, designed to emulate fluid motion, were anchored in place by sturdy wooden struts and counterbalanced to bolster structural integrity.

One of the greatest challenges was the creation of the squid’s arms. A creative solution was devised; sewing lengths of fabric into compact cubes, which were then filled with polystyrene bean bag balls and reinforced with wire, allowing them to be suspended in the grandeur of Godolphin’s Main Hall.

Based on Broad Street in the wonderful town of New Alresford Hampshire, my studio is nestled away just above Pulpo Negro. My services include fitting hair extensions, cutting in and blending hair, styling hair and colour matching. From the moment that you step into my studio to the moment that you leave, I want to ensure that your experience is nothing short of amazing. On offer with every service

Dr Clinton Thrower, Head of Science at Godolphin says “This project is a testament to the tireless dedication of the Exhibition Club, transforming the collective vision of staff and students to become a reality.”

Tel: 01722 430500

www.godolphin.org

Godolphin, Milford Hill, Salisbury, SP1 2RA

is unlimited tea and coffee, a Prosecco fridge, snacks to enjoy and your favourite show to watch on TV to help you relax throughout your visit.

Whether you have a wedding planned, a special occasion approaching such as prom, are wanting more volume and or length or are suffering with fine or thinning hair, hair extensions are a great way to achieve a desired look and to offer extra confidence to help you feel more amazing than you already are.

So if you would like to know more about hair extensions then please do get in touch and I would love to help!

W: https://booksolo.co/hold-my-hair

Instagram: @hold_myhair

Facebook @holdmyhair

WhatsApp: 07725 880558

Located in Broad Street, AlresfordUnder the arch/ Above Pulpo Negro

Becky Shotton

Hold my hair studio - Broad Street, Alresford

Chris-Still-Healing

Psychic Medium in Alresford and the Surrounding Areas available for Readings and Holistic Healings. Energy Therapist

To make contact please call or message Louise on:

07719 011854

ALRESFORD PODIATRY

Providing Care since 1999

Welcome to Hold my Hair!

Based on Broad Street, New Alresford, Hampshire above Pulpo Negro

Services include:

Fitting hair extensions | Cutting in | Blending hair | Styling hair | colour matching

Q @hold_myhair

E @holdmyhair

WhatsApp: 07725 880558

To book an appointment visit https://booksolo.co/hold-my-hair

Welcome to Alresford Podiatry, where we are dedicated to providing the highest level of podiatric care to your feet. With over 25 years of experience in the private and NHS sectors, Owain Harris BSc (Hons) is committed to providing the most comfortable experience possible, which is why we offer home visits to care for your feet in the comfort of your own home. Trust him to help diagnose your condition and provide the best possible treatment for happy, healthy feet.

Tel: 07300 869560

www.alresfordpodiatry.co.uk

Bun & Butter Pudding (Leftover hot cross buns)

INGREDIENTS

∙ 600ml Semi-Skimmed Milk

∙ 200ml Double Cream

∙ 400ml Single Cream

∙ 1 Vanilla Pod

∙ 4 Medium Free-Range Eggs

∙ 170g Caster Sugar

∙ 6 Hot Cross Buns (sliced in half and spread with a knob of butter)

∙ 3 Tablespoons Cognac

∙ 1 Handful dried apricots (chopped)

∙ 1 Orange (zest of)

∙ A little icing sugar

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/gas 3. For the custard base, bring the milk and all the cream just to the boil in a saucepan. Cut the vanilla pod in half, scrape out the seeds and add to the pan. Whisk the eggs with the sugar until pale, then whisk in the milk and cream mixture, removing the vanilla pod shell.

Dip the hot cross bun halves in the mixture, then place in an ovenproof dish. Drizzle over the Cognac and sprinkle over the apricots and the orange zest. Sieve the custard over, and leave it all to soak for at least 15 minutes.

Place the dish in a roasting tin, half-fill the tin with hot water, then bake the pudding for about 45 minutes. When cooked it will have a slight crust on top but will still be slightly wobbly inside. Dust with the icing sugar and serve.

Recipe from Jamie Oliver.com/recipes

APRIL HAMPSHIRE FARMERS MARKETS

Alresford Watercress Line - Sat 6th, Petersfield - Sun 7th, Romsey - Sun 7th, Alton - Sat 13th, Winchester - Sun 14th, Emsworth - Sat 20th, Southsea - Sun 21st, Ringwood - Sat 27th, Winchester - Sun 28th

For more information visit: www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk

Treatments to rejuvenate and enhance your natural look

Treatments to rejuvenate and enhance your natural look

Tucked away in gorgeous historic Alresford, Hampshire, Saddle House Medi-Spa will help you discover and uncover your very best you. Saddle House is a nurse-led Medi-Spa of excellence with a private car park for complete discretion.

Tucked away in gorgeous historic Alresford, Hampshire, Saddle House Medi-Spa will help you discover and uncover your very best you. Saddle House is a nurse-led Medi-Spa of excellence with a private car park for complete discretion.

NEW TREATMENT LAUNCHED:

Emsculpt Neo

Help eliminate fat cells and build muscle in a single 30-minute treatment!

We are delighted to announce that Emsculpt Neo treatment is now available at Saddle House Medi-Spa.

Saddle House Media-Spa Treatments Include:

Medical Facial Aesthetics, Skin Tightening, Hydrafacial, Visia Skin Analysis, Skin Tag & Thread Vein Removal, Pigmentation Treatments, Microneedling, Chemical Peels, Incontinence Treatments, Skincare & Packages.

Satisfied Clients

We are proud of our 5 star reviews.

Grab a Grant

Do you want to protect, enhance, or celebrate your local chalk stream? The Watercress and Winterbournes scheme offers grants of up to £5,000 for community-led projects focusing on the Candover Brook, Cheriton Stream, Bourne Rivulet, Pillhill Brook, River Arle, Upper Anton, or Upper Test. The grant scheme closes permanently this November, so now is the perfect time to take action!

Your project must focus on at least one of the above streams, and must have one of the following aims. It could improve the condition of locally important chalk stream habitats, or their associated built heritage. It could also enable people to explore, enjoy and learn about the streams' natural and cultural heritage. The proposed activities should be accessible to, or beneficial for, the public. We'd love to hear from passionate groups of people who want to bring their project

idea to life. You might be part of a school, a parish council, a registered charity, or a Community Interest Company. Voluntary and community groups are also welcome to apply, as long as you're constituted and have your own bank account. If successful, you’ll have one year to complete your activities.

The projects we’ve funded so far have been varied. Grant recipients have included Hampshire Bat Group, New Alresford Town Trust, Andover Trees United, and Whitchurch Conservation Group. They’ve installed bat boxes, created information boards, published educational booklets, and run a range of engagement events. Since 2021, we’ve awarded almost £30,000 of funding.

The current funding round closes on 15th July, and the final round closes on 4th November. We recommend expressing interest as soon as possible, so that we can help with your application. You can find

more information, including details of eligibility criteria, by visiting hiwwt.org. uk/winterbournes/communitygrants. Our work is made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Free Online Talks

‘An Introduction to Floodplain Meadows’

25th April, 7pm - Floodplain meadows bring beauty and biodiversity to the landscape, but many have been lost over time. How can we restore these habitats?

‘The Role of the River Keeper’

14th May, 7pm - Often responsible for habitat management in fisheries, river keepers can play a crucial role in protecting our precious chalk streams.

Book your tickets at hiwwt.org.uk/ winterbournes.

Photograph - Children river dipping © Ross Hoddinott

Tales from the Riverbank Poetry Competition

Aged 7-18 and keen to try creative writing? It’s time to get inspired by the wonderful world of chalk streams!

Enter our poetry competition for the chance to win prizes worth £75 and have your poem featured in a commemorative booklet.

Not sure where to start? Download our free activity pack, and your ideas will be flowing in no time.

The competition is free to enter and closes on 31st July 2024.

For more details, visit hiwwt.org.uk/tales

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Alresford Bowling Club News

As spring is upon us, Alresford Bowling Club is opening its doors to new and existing club members for the 2024 bowling season on 20 or 21 April (depending on the weather). Of course our members have not been hibernating during the winter season and have enjoyed a programme of activities such as Kurling in the clubhouse (no we didn’t need to seek out our grandmother’s rollers!). We also played a Kurling match with our friends at Wayfarer Place, had an indoor bowling match with another bowling club and enjoyed a fish and chip supper at a local pub.

There is a new and enthusiastic committee this year and, together with our army of wonderful volunteers, are now planning the club’s summer activities including a bowling holiday and a bingo night with fish and chips amongst others. The committee is actively seeking sponsorship of the club

and if you are a business who would like to support a local club please do contact us, we would love to hear from you.

If you have made and broken resolutions in January, why not make a new resolution (and keep to it!) and come along and try out bowls or improve on your already gained bowling skills? We are a very friendly club with new and experienced members who are always willing to share their knowledge and love of the game. Not only will you be playing within beautiful club grounds, with a green which is the envy of other clubs (so we are told), you will be keeping active, making new friends and learning a new skill which is all good for your mental health.

There is no obligation to take part in competitions and matches but are an excellent way of gaining experience by playing on different greens and meeting friendly people/clubs who provide a very

welcome tea afterwards! Roll-ups cost £2 which includes tea or coffee and a biscuit (sometimes cake!) – amazing value!

Don’t worry if you don’t have any bowls, you can borrow the clubs until you purchase your own. Flat soled shoes must be worn at all times. For matches, the club asks that you wear a white top and grey trousers/skirt/ shorts and for roll-ups the dress is informal. We also offer social membership too.

Interested? Then please contact Lindsey, the secretary, she would love to hear from you!

Contact us soon at alresfordbowls@gmail.com

Sponsored by: The Alresford Hearing Studio & Gar thowen Garden Centre 2024 ABC Advert 1.qxp_Layout 1 27/01/2024 15:53 Page 1

Alr esfor d Bowling Club

A friendly bowling club, situated in Sun Lane, close to the centre of Alresford. Lawn bowls is a great game for all ages, so please do come along and have a go!

Roll-ups are opportunities to meet, play and socialise with other members. These take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 10.00 am to 12.00 noon, (we would ask you to come along at 9.30 am to allow for registration and picking of teams) and on Thursday evenings 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm (with a social element in the clubhouse). Visitors are always welcome at roll-ups and at other times when accompanied by a member. You can tr y out bowls of various sizes and can take advantage of 2 trial sessions before you decide if the game of bowls is for you. We offer a social membership too.

For fur ther infor mation please contact Lindsey (Secretar y) at alr esfor dbowls@gmail.com and visit our website: www.alr esfor dbowlingclub.or g.uk

Father’s Day at Lainston House

Looking for something a bit different to do for Father’s Day? Join us on Sunday 16th June at Lainston House, our beautiful country house near Winchester as we've planned a special day for your Dad to remember.

Get ready to aim and fire with a range of exciting games set up on our activity field that your Dad is sure to enjoy. Testing their aim with clay pigeon shooting and if he fancies himself as a bit of a sharpshooter like Robin Hood, then he can try his hand at archery too. Our experienced instructors will be on hand to make sure Dad, you and everyone involved has an amazing time.

After working up an appetite, it’s time to take a break and tuck into a delicious street food style hog roast, with all the trimmings of course. Using the freshest, locally sourced ingredients, our chefs know how to cook up a good meal.

If this doesn’t take their fancy, and they have a bit of a sweet tooth, every Sunday throughout June we're hosting a themed afternoon tea to celebrate. From scrumptious pastries to delectable cakes, we've got everything you need to spoil your dad and show him just how much he means to you. So why wait? Bring

Something a bit different for Father’s Day

Join us on Sunday 16th June at Lainston House for an action-packed day to remember. Get ready to aim and fire with clay pigeon shooting and archery on our activity field, perfect if dad fancies himself as a bit of a sharpshooter like Robin Hood. But no worries if he’s not, our experienced instructors will be on hand to guide the way and make sure everyone has an amazing time.

After working up an appetite, it’s time to take a break and tuck into a delicious street food style hog roast, whipped up by our talented chefs.

Sunday 16th June

10am to 1pm

£75 per person

01962 776088

lainstonhouse@exclusive.co.uk

lainstonhouse.co.uk/fathers-day

your family and join us for a memorable afternoon that's sure to delight.

Activities and hog roast

Sunday 16th June 2024

10am to 1pm

£75 per person

Must be over the age of 7 years

Afternoon tea

Every Sunday throughout June

£45 per person

01962 776088

lainstonhouse@exclusive.co.uk

exclusive.co.uk/lainston-house-fathers-day

Alresford

VISIT THE HAMPSHIRE COTTAGE WHERE JANE AUSTEN LIVED AND WROTE HER GLOBALLY BELOVED NOVELS

TICKETS LAST FOR ONE YEAR!

8 The High Street, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO3O 2EA

Email: sales@town-and-country.co.uk

www.town-and-country.co.uk

At Town and Country, we take pride in ensuring every client receives the best customer service, from the informative and knowledgeable sales process through to the extensive after sales care.

Our boutique showroom showcases some of the finest kitchen and bathroom furniture available, with a strong emphasis on UK and European manufacturing. Bathroom manufacturers on display include Ambiance Bain, Kudos, Roper Rhodes, Tissino and Arte Form, with Porcelanosa and Ca’Pietra tiling throughout the showroom. Our kitchens are expertly crafted by Schuller, one of the largest German kitchen manufacturers, and Mackintosh, their products are made exclusively in Britain. Both have an extensive and inspiring collection ranging from the contemporary to the more traditional.

Please contact us regarding our complementary design and quotation service, we look forward to hearing from you.

Visit Town & Country

8 The High Street, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO3O 2EA

Telephone: 01489 536187

Email: sales@town-and-country.co.uk www.town-and-country.co.uk

NEW SHOWROOM FORDISPLAYS 2024

AlresfordMinibusCommunity News

Running Community Transport is increasingly challenging, as so many councils are having to cut funding and sponsorship is hard to come by. However, in Alresford we are very lucky that the Community Minibus is run by an established charity, the New Alresford Town Trust (NATT), and a fantastic group of volunteers. Running costs of over £10,000 each year are met by a combination of grants, sponsors and donations from users.

New Team!

At a recent meeting with many of our wonderful drivers, we took the opportunity to thank the team who make the Community Minibus possible, and especially Bernard Simmons and Judy Smith who are both retiring from the management team after years of brilliant service. The new team taking over are Clare Pinniger (NATT Trustee), Ken Coburn, and Julie James. Huge thanks to you all. If anyone would like to become a driver, or help out in any way, contact minibus@towntrust.org.uk

New users!

NATT is keen to see the two Minibuses out and about helping the people of Alresford as much as possible. Alongside the regular and special trips arranged for our passengers, we are also happy to lend the buses when available, to local community and social groups, not-for-profit clubs and societies, charities, schools etc. Users will need to arrange their own qualified drivers. Anyone interested is encouraged to use the Registration Form found

on the Minibus page of the NATT website towntrust.org.uk, to register their organisation. Or contact minibus@towntrust.org.uk to get a registration form. This will explain the process for borrowing the bus.

New Sponsor!

NATT would like to thank our wonderful local sponsors particularly for their stalwart support – including Winchester City Council, Old Alresford Parish Council, Bishops Sutton Council, Ropley Parish Council, Bighton Parish Council, and also Richard Steele & Partners. We are also delighted to announce a new Sponsor, the Edward Pay Medical Fund.

Edward Pay to be remembered on the next Community Minibus

Edward Pay was a wellknown Alresford builder who had developed lung cancer in 1980s and who needed morphine injections, for which Alresford Surgery needed to borrow the equipment from Andover. He wanted the local Surgery to be better equipped, so when he died in 1988 the Edward Pay Medical Fund was set up. The first collection, at his funeral, raised £500.

Many fundraising events followed over next 35 years, including fashion shows, craft fairs and auctions. Over £80,000 has been raised in total, with all the monies going to equipment and fixtures at the Surgery.

Alresford Surgery are now able to get all their requirements from the NHS and other sources, and after consultations with trustees of the EPMF, the Surgery decided to look for a different way to remember Edward Pay and to support the needs of the patients of Alresford. They decided that the Community Minibus service, which supports vulnerable and elderly residents who need door-to-door transport, should take over the remaining assets of the Fund, a total of £2586. The Edward Pay Medical Fund will now feature on the bus as a major sponsor.

NATT have welcomed this generous and historic agreement, and are delighted that Edward Pay’s name and the generosity of his family and friends will continue to be remembered in this way.

Dr Paul Webb thanked Richard and Pam Pay for all their support and hard work over the last 35 years and raising the money to provide the equipment which has been so vital for the Surgery and Alresford community.

New Bus!

With the help of the Edward Pay Medical Fund, NATT are now starting to actively fundraise towards a new Minibus. We currently have two buses, the older is 18 years old and will need replacing within the next 2 years. Our aim is to get a fully-electric bus and a charging station at our garage, which will be more cost effective and eco friendly. But, it’s very expensive – a fully adapted bus to meet our needs, and the charging station, could cost £130,000. NATT has built up a reserve of £80,000 towards the new bus, but over the next two years will need to raise the rest of the funds.

Vanessa Andrews - NATT

Right to Left: Judy Smith, Bernard Simmons, Clare Pinniger, Ken Coburn, Julie James

Roller Doors

Roller Door

2 Medium Panelled Sectional Doors

2 Medium Individial Panelled Sectional Doors

Two large ribbed smooth sectional doors Solidor Front Door

Roller Door

Winchester Councillors April Report

Elections – 2nd May

Please remember your Voter ID when going to a Polling Station, all the details and are at Voter Identification Requirements - Winchester City Council

Canvassing

Thank you for the welcome you are showing us on the doorstep, even if we disagree, it is good to talk! As councillors we work for all, whoever you vote for or indeed if you don’t vote at all. We also visit households outside our ward to pick up on opinions, problems and suggestions. Our society is riven by deep divisions which we can only heal by listening to contrary opinions and finding a common ground.

Sun Hill Employment Area

A31 access, employment area infrastructure, haul road, housing. Various communication channels are in place, let us know if you find them inadequate.

Sun Hill Employment Zone (23/02845/REM)

A revised planning application has been issued. Taylor Wimpey have made it clear that they are not part of this application, it is all from Seawards, as expected.

Budget 2024-25

At a somewhat shorter meeting than normal, we finished about 22.45, the budget was agreed. There will be a 2.6% increase in Council Tax for 2024/25; the Band D Council Tax will increase by £4.07 to £159.36 for 2024/25.

When you get your council tax bill the share per pound will be:Hampshire County Council – 71.30p

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire – 12.16p

Winchester City Council – 7.41p

Parishes and Town – 5.28p – but it does vary by parish. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue – 3.85p

Closing the Funding Gap

After 2026, we estimate there will be an increasing funding gap, reaching £3 million by 2027. By law councils have to have balanced budgets. We are taking steps now to close this gap. Amongst other measures, we are introducing improved on-line services. By moving the bulk of work on-line, officer time, our major expense is reduced. This has the advantage of allowing people the freedom to do their council business at a time that suits them, it also allows officers time to concentrate on serious problems, to work more face to face and to concentrate on those that ‘don’t do on-line.’ This includes increasing on-line services for planning matters, making submissions of applications easier and the processing of them more efficient.

‘Invest to save’ funding is set aside to support these programmes. Time

and money will be spent to ensure that on-line services are robust, reliable and easy to use.

Improving services

Despite the very challenging national financial situation within which the City works, we are working towards becoming greener: Money has been set allocated to switch over the Park and Ride buses to using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of diesel. This reduces carbon emissions by 90% and contributes to improving the air quality in Winchester. Air pollution kills people. The plan also includes switching over the refuse collection trucks to HVO.

Public toilets

About £480,000 is allocated to invest in upgrading the public toilets across the district. This will make them easier to clean – however it only takes one unpleasant user to destroy the good effect of cleaning, please be considerate.

Climate Change Crisis

We’ve had the odd resident challenging the use of the term ‘Crisis’. Perhaps this demonstrates why the UK is so laggardly in taking action to reduce our own carbon emissions. If we had used the term ‘Global Migration Crisis’ or ‘lack of food security’ would that have been more acceptable? We do not feel that the UK can sit back. We have been brought up in one of the wealthier countries in Europe and the World and have enjoyed an education and health service free at the point of delivery.

Our rise as the first industrialised power in the world, fired by coal and then oil and gas or other fossil fuels has resulted in a good part of the excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere surrounding our globe. We feel a personal responsibility to mitigate the effects of that pollution on other parts of the world, (many much more vulnerable to climate change than us and without the financial resources they need to overcome the vulnerability) as well as closer to home.

There is a climate crisis and we all need to take it very seriously!

T: 01962 734167

mjpower684@gmail.com

T:

rgordon-smith@winchester.gov.uk

Margot

Russell

∙ Have shallow baths & share water where possible

∙ Better to shower, but not every day

∙ Fit water saving shower heads and try to keep shower time to 5 minutes

∙ Turn tap off while cleaning teeth and between soaping & rinsing hands

Put a water hippo (or bottle of water) in the toilet cistern to save water each flush

In the Kitchen

∙ Only boil what you need - Use a tiered steamer or microwave vegetables

∙ In warm dry weather water the garden with grey water

∙ Collect cold water while waiting for tap to run hot & use for kettle, cooking or flushing the loo

∙ Run the dishwasher on the Eco setting – it saves water & energy

General Water Saving Tips

∙ Mend leaking taps & turn taps off properly

∙ Only clean the car very occasionally

∙ Collect rainwater in water butts for garden use

∙ Wash clothes less often and only use washing machine fully loaded

∙ Arrange a free visit from Southern water for advice and a check for leaks (www.hiwwt.org.uk/saveeverydrop)

St John's Church, Alresford - Caring for God's Creation

Jackie's County Corner for April

As a County Councillor, every day is different, and visiting Micheldever on World Book Day, I saw a Dalmation, Barbie, Spiderman and several Harry Potters! I also went to say hello to Rajeev at Micheldever Shop. Please pop in - he has a good range of merchandise, including milk and wine! Like all village shops, the best and only way to make sure they thrive is to spend money there. These oranges were delicious!

Train journeys have been fraught this month with a lot of cancelled trains, delays and broken journeys, so it was a pleasure to be at the first anniversary of the Platform 1 café at Shawford Station. The renovation was carried out by the

Alresford Pigs

Getting Around With Mobility Issues

Have you noticed the increasing number of wheeled walking frames and mobility scooters visible around the shops and pavements of Alresford? They are enabling the older and less mobile members of the community to keep in touch, and avoid isolation!

Mobility scooters

Through the generosity of Alresford area families who have seen battery powered mobility scooters improve the lives of their elderly relatives, The Alresford Pigs have been given several of these units, once they’re no longer needed. Often when they are re-equipped with batteries, the scooters can be brought back to life. In the past ten years around 100 such second-hand scooters have

Community Rail Partnership, using capital from several funders including South Western Railway and Winchester City Council. It’s a great place to visit, even if you aren’t catching the train. Marco sells ice cream too; it’s a lovely spot to start a walk back to Winchester, and again, good to support an independent local business.

School Crossing Patrols provide so much more than just a safe crossing point. The SCP’s watch out for children and keep an eye on the area too. They know the school environment and the families who cross there regularly and can pick up the concerns if there’s a stranger on the scene, or a child is unhappy. Hampshire County Council is proposing more cuts to these patrols including at the Church Lane crossing point in Kings Worthy. I hope that HCC sees sense so the ‘Lollipop Gang’ will still be at school entrances in future years.

Good news: Perin’s School will have a new unit for five SEND children in September, growing to 15 pupils in the next three years. But I am becoming increasingly concerned at the pressure that is mounting on parents of children with Special Needs whose needs can only be served using an Educational and Health Care Plan (EHCP). I am asked to intervene in too many cases of children who are left to learn at home,

been returned to full use in the local community, assisting people to maintain their independence and social links.

Many different styles of scooter exist - the photo shows units of three different sizes. No one style suits all people and all requirements. The choice depends on the journeys it might be used for, the hills and footpaths or the roads to be used, the car driving experience, and health of the driver, plus also their height and weight.

The scooter itself also needs to be stored somewhere warm and dry, preferably in a garage or shed. Scooters typically use two 12 Volt batteries, which need charging overnight by a mains powered charger. These recycled units use standard lead acid type car batteries - so they are not subject to the often-reported hazards of Lithium-ion batteries.

If you think a scooter might make a significant difference to your life or someone you know, please contact The Alresford Pigs to arrange a discussion. This meeting will include advice on insurance and maintenance costs, and the currently available types of scooter.

Knee and hip operations

After any Hospital procedure involving your

schooled online for a few hours a week, because Hampshire’s Education Authority doesn’t have a suitable place for them in a Hampshire school. Despite being an outstanding authority, too often, social work support just doesn’t work well enough with education to get children into school, nor enough hours in the day for the social workers to work with the children frequently. HCC must challenge the schools to provide the best support they can for a good education. The price of this support is mammoth-and Hampshire seems to besinking under the cost and availability of staff, putting lives of children at risk. If this affects your family, please contact me.

Flood alerts continued through February and into March: by the time you read this it should be drier. The Flood Action Group in Sutton Scotney has worked hard on their plans to protect the village I’m sure that residents are grateful for their reassurance and others are inspired to re-establish Flood Action Groups for other communities affected in this way.. Thankyou SSFAG!

Cllr. Jackie Porter : 01962 791054

Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk

website www.jackieporter.co.uk

knees or hips, for a few weeks your mobility will be restricted. There are some mobility aids that can be useful - even if only for the first week.

Maybe you know a neighbour who will lend you a wheelchair or a commode chair for a week or so, and will bring it round to you? If not, why not ask whether The Alresford Pigs have such things in stock?

Through the generosity of the local community, The Alresford Pigs often have commodes, toilet frames, wheelchairs, crutches, or Zimmer frames available for either short, or long-term loan.

Alresford Pigs Association

Website: www.alrefordpigs.org

Email: info@alresfordpigs.org

Helpline: 01962 658961

Councillor Fiona Isaacs Action - Not just Words

Residents’ concerns over speed of vehicles and plans for action

Many residents across the ward have contacted me over the last year with concerns over the speed of vehicles. Unfortunately, the Alresford speed-watch team disbanded, which is a shame as this helps qualify the area for other support.

I volunteered to be the new speed-watch co-ordinator for Alresford, Old Alresford and Bishops Sutton. Feedback from New Alresford Town Council, Old Alresford Parish Council and Bishops Sutton Parish Council has established a need for this sevice but also volunteers willing to help. The group has been kindly sponsored by Alresford Neighbourhood Watch Team who have purchased the necessary equipment. Please contact me directly if anyone wishes to volunteer and I can send the relevant paperwork onto you via email.

More Collaboration for dealing with Antisocial behaviour is still needed

the issue of more collaboration to deal with antisocial behaviour issues. Please do continue to report these issues via 101 or the antisocial team at WCC (csafety@winchester.gov.uk).

All reports issued to me I pass on and I will continue to call for a better way to address issues that arise as a team. Interestingly, the feedback from the WCC residents survey also outlines this problem area where residents felt (the LibDem run) WCC were not doing enough to deal with this issue. I will, as promised, continue to support any residents who contacts me asking for support.

Supporting residents with noise from the glass recycling area

Frustrations are running high with the lack of movement on the issue of helping residents suffering issues with the glass recycling at the station carpark. Whilst contractors have been advised to not come on a Saturday before a certain time, problems are still occurring. The lack of a suitable alternative site is also hindering progress. Residents in other areas do not want to hear that noise either. Ensuring the other alternatives have an additional collection bin or more frequent visits have been discussed but sadly WCC have been reluctant to look at this as a viable option. As always, I continue to support those who ask for help when they feel they are not being heard.

A bit about me

For those residents who did not know, I work full-time and do my councillors role on top of my day job. I have lived in Alresford for nearly 20 years and volunteer my time to support organisations within our ward. I am former chair of Alresford Chamber of Commerce, an active Executive committee member of The Alresford Society and volunteer on the NATT open days to support important assets of Alresford. Along with my husband, we ran the Halloween charity open house on Windsor Road for 8 yrs. My personal favourite was the Harry Potter themed one. I attend many evening meetings as we have 7 Parish and Town councils, I also sit on Business and Housing policy committee at WCC and feed back all the issues raised to me, along with attending the organisation meetings or events above. I visit residents every week across the ward on issues that they have raised, whilst I do my very best to call on as many residents as I can, I may miss people if they are out. So, please do get in touch if you think I can help in any way.

Why opposition is important

Our ward has three Winchester City Councillors. As I was elected post Covid, I only get three years instead of the usual four years and I am up for re-election in May of this year. I have always been concerned that if there are issues or things happening within our ward that residents don’t agree with, then having opposition to the LibDem run WCC council is useful and needed. For example, calling out issues residents raise when they do not get what they need from WCC, is extremely important. Listening and acting is part of my role and I try to do my best for anyone who contacts me. So, thank you to everyone that has contacted me asking for help, thanking me or just stopping to chat. Our area is a fantastic place to live and work and a privilege to be part of the community here.

Winchester City Council Report

Cllr Fiona Isaacs - fisaacs@winchester.gov.uk

Tel: 01962 808072

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