Community Pantry

The Winchester Community Food and Clothing pantries are a vital community organisation based in Winnall, Winchester. Set up in 2020 it enables local community members to get ‘more for less’ when it comes to a food shop. The pantry aims to help and encourage individuals and families that need a little bit of support during these tough times. This winter the pantries would like to help as many households as they can. Anyone is welcome to become a member and there is no criteria for joining. In 2022 the clothing pantry was opened and has become well used, providing school uniform and warm coats within the community.

The food pantry stocks fresh, frozen and general long life produce but relies on donations to be able to offer this invaluable service which helps so many households.

During this winter the pantries are looking for donations to be able to support as many local households as possible. The items that we are hoping to be donated are…..

Tinned produce–eg soups, beans, chickpeas, custard, rice pudding.

Packaged goods–pasta, rice, noodles, porridge oats

Toiletries and oral care products

Clothing–gloves, hats, scarves (new or used but in good condition)

All items must be in date and unopened. The Micheldever Stores will have a donation box at the store and the items will be picked up regularly, (no perishables please). Alternatively items can be dropped direct to the pantry.

Unit12

Winnall Valley Road

Winnall, Winchester, SO23 0LD

The pantries also welcome volunteers to help run the service on a day to day basis, with di fferent roles available.

For any questions please email CCP@unit-12.com or visit the website www.unit-12.org

Fly Tipping

I am full time in this role and deal with all reported fly tipping incidents in the whole of the Winchester District area. This includes allocating the appropriate jobs to our contractors for clearance (on public land) and investigating all incidents where there is a lead to an offender (on both public and private land).

With specific regard to private land, I will work with landowners where evidence of an offender is identified. Where there is a defendant and Court proceedings are pending, a compensation order request can be put to the Courts for clearance costs incurred by landowners.

The best way to report a fly tipping incident is on the WCC website using the ‘Your Winchester’ system. The fly tipping report form on the website is the most effective way of reporting all incidents and is the system that is used to instruct the contractors. We are all aware that the mapping system at present is poor and this will be improved.

There are 3 ways that evidence of an offender in a fly tipping incident can be identified. Firstly, where the offence is witnessed by a member of the public. This may be with or without the use of an offending vehicle. Secondly, where evidence is found within fly tipped waste, having been inspected by landowners, general public, contractors or investigating Officers. Thirdly, where images of the offence are captured on a camera system (privately owned or Council deployed).

Witnessed cases:

Do …

• make a note of the registration number and keep the piece of paper or mobile phone entry

• keep hidden from view as far as practicable, with or without a mobile phone

• take 3 or 4 photos of the dumped waste after the incident has occurred, with at least one photo being from a wider angle i.e. not all close-ups

Do not …

• try to stop the offence from occurring

• follow or pursue offending vehicles

• put yourself at risk or place yourself in danger of harm in any way

Evidence found within a fly tip:

Do …

• take photos of names and addresses on envelopes / packaging labels, making sure the images are readable and not blurred

• take 3 or 4 photos of the dumped waste, with at least one photo being from a wider angle i.e. not all close-ups

Do not …

• remove any items or evidence from the fly tip

Private cameras:

Do …

• save the images on your phone, CCTV system or other camera system

• take 3 or 4 screenshots of the captured images from the video, in case the video images are corrupted

• take 3 or 4 still photos of the dumped waste, with at least one photo being from a wider angle i.e. not all close-ups

Do not …

• arrange for clearance of the dumped waste until still photos of the waste are taken

Gary Brown

Fly Tipping Officer

Winchester City Council