ERF NEWSLETTER NO 42 November 2026 Editor: David Harris editor.theems@outlook.com
By-election on Thursday 19 November Following the resignation of Cllr Charles Robert (Green Party) a by-election will be held for his Emsworth seat at Havant BC on 19 November. He was re-elected for Emsworth Ward with 49% of the vote in the May 2026 local elections. He was first elected in 2024. The following candidates are standing for Emsworth Ward. The Ems contacted all the parties and asked them to submit a 100 word election address Green Party - Katharine Hulls Having lived locally for nearly 20 years, Katharine is excited to be moving to Emsworth by the end of the year. Always a hard-working member of her community, Katharine cares passionately about nature, the environment and people. With 30+ years business experience, Katharine listens carefully and collaborates to deliver results. She does not shy away from difficult conversations and will stand up for Emsworth’s residents. Katharine’s top priorities are: Voting “yes” to the parish council Fighting to remove the Horsefield from the local plan Pushing for Bridge Road car park to be free again Katharine wants to hear residents’ views and ideas. Email her at Katharine.hulls@gmail.com. Vote Katharine for competence, collaboration and community. Conservatives – Andrew Proctor Andrew Proctor is your Conservative candidate in the by-election. I live in Emsworth and care about its future. I want to reinstate free parking at Bridge Road. I will resist the continued development pressures on Emsworth especially at Southleigh. I will fight for better quality services for the Council Tax we pay. The Labour, Lib-Dem and Green coalition running Havant Borough Council is letting you down and must be held to account. If I am elected as your councillor, I will speak up for Emsworth and challenge decisions that work against local interests. I would value your support. Liberal Democrats – Iain Sutherland Iain Sutherland is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Emsworth ward. Iain teaches in Gosport and has recently moved to Havant. He is committed to Liberal Democrat values of fairness, opportunity and community, and has stood previously in a Portsmouth ward, where he
campaigned to keep libraries open and to widen opportunities for young people. Iain wants Emsworth to have a strong local voice on the issues that matter to residents. Labour – Simon Hagan No response received Reform UK - Lucy Lawrence As a secondary school teacher and a mother of two young children, I care deeply about our community. I see every day the challenges families face locally. With 19 years’ experience in education, including supporting young people at risk of exclusion, I bring strong skills in listening, communication, and problem-solving. Local councillors make decisions that shape our neighbourhoods and residents of Emsworth deserve a stronger voice to challenge local parking pressures and planning applications that don’t consider the wider impacts for residents where increased traffic can’t be mitigated and for our streets to be cleaner and safer. Past results for Emsworth Ward NC = The party did not put forward a candidate PARTY 2018 2019 2021 2022 (postponed from 2020) Conservative 2,195 1,335 1,961 1,659 (69%) (41%) (53%) (50%) Labour 689 322 777 NC Liberal 294 781 439 844 Democrat Green
NC
Other parties NC
498
511
777
294 (UKIP)
NC
NC
2023
2024 3 seats
2026 (MAY)
1092
3,495
1261
453 373
NC 762 (2 candidate s) 6,093 (57%) 287 (Reform UK) 1 candidate
NC NC
1721 (46%) 129 (ADF)
2185 (49%) 992 (Reform UK)
Council news Coalition collapses Havant Borough Council’s Labour-led coalition is to be dissolved following a directive from the government. Earlier this month, the national Labour Party instructed Labour councils to end local power-sharing arrangements with Green Party councillors unless they renounced the Zionism is Racism policy adopted at the Green Party Conference and asked their national leadership to reconsider it. Havant’s Green Group did not renounce the policy or ask for it to be reconsidered. Councillors Netty Shepherd (Deputy Leader of the Council, Cabinet Lead for Public Realm), Jonathan Hulls (Cabinet Lead for Coastal, Coastal Communities and Local Plan) and Grainne Rason (Assistant Cabinet Lead for Climate and Nature) will no longer be Cabinet members. They remain as ward councillors.
West Sussex CC which is run by a Lib-Dem and Green coalition with Labour support will continue as it met tests set by Labour. Current make up of HBC Labour 7 Lib Dems 5 Green 5 Conservative 5 Reform 9 Independent 4 Vacancy 1 In October Cllr Caren Diamond (Purbrook) left Reform UK and now sits as an Independent. She had previously been a Conservative councillor from 2008 – May 2026. Crunch vote on Parish Council The decision to grant Emsworth and Hayling Island Parish Councils will be reconsidered by Havant BC at a Full Council meeting on Wednesday 25 November. HBC approved the Parish Councils on 22 July but the decision the government made on 7 September to halt local government reorganisation has led HBC to take the decision back to the full council. No Solent mayor until 2028 Residents across the region will have to wait until 2028 to elect their first devolution mayor after the government rejected calls to bring the vote forward by a year. Leaders at Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) said ministers had confirmed that the inaugural election will not be until May 2028. (BBC LDRS) Announcement on Local Government Reform expected by Christmas The future of local government in Hampshire and West Sussex is expected to be clarified by the government before Christmas. In September the government put on hold plans to reorganise Hampshire into 4 Unitary authorities. In West Sussex there was no consensus as to how the country could be divided up. The government has confirmed that councils will be reorganised in April 2029, with shadow council elections expected in 2028. Development Construction has begun at Seagull Lane of 3 industrial buildings which will be divided into 8 units. Planning permission was originally granted in 2022 and amended in 2023 and 2024. The site used to contain an electroplating works and some storage units. The footbridge at Havant station is now closed to the public. It will remain closed for at least a year until the new footbridge is in place.
Havant based Stone Green Landscapes have been granted permission to use Unit 1 Palmers Road for storage and distribution. The unit was previously used for motorcycle repairs. Traffic 20 mph Speed Limits in Emsworth The ERF is embarking on community consultation regarding the introduction of 20 mph speed limits in parts of Emsworth. In 2024, Hampshire Highways introduced a formal process allowing parishes and community bodies to apply for 20 mph zones. These applications are permitted provided specific criteria are met, and funding is secured outside of Hampshire County Council's core budget. Initial assessments show that several areas in Emsworth qualify for the scheme. Introducing these speed controls would significantly improve local quality of life and offer a highly cost-effective safety improvement for our town. To make this happen, we will need to launch a community campaign to push our applications across the finish line.If you are willing to join the campaign group or help out, please contact Mike Ridley, ERF Secretary, at secretary.erf@gmail.com Remembrance events Remembrance Day The annual Remembrance Day service will take place at Emsworth Memorial Garden (corner of Emsworth Recreation Ground, Horndean Road, Emsworth) on Wednesday 11 November at 1050. Remembrance Sunday parade and service on 8th November 2026 1:30 pm Assemble at Emsworth Baptist car Park. 1:45 pm Move off and form up by Lillywhites Garage (bottom of Queens Street) 2:15 pm Parade moves off, order given by Parade Marshall, follow route to arrive at St James 2:35 pm Parade halts outside Church Hall 2:45 pm Church Service in St James’ church 3:35 pm Parade forms up outside St James Hall to return back to Palmers Road. In attendance in the parade: Horndean Marching Band, The Army, Uniformed groups, Scouts, Guides etc Business Co-working closed Monster Creative have closed their Co-working Centre at 23 High St. This centre opened in June 2022 and closed this October. The building had previously operated as Emsworth Library from 1997 -2021 when the library moved to the Community Centre. Monster Creative have moved their office to The Old Flour Mill in Queen St. Travel agent closes shop but new café to open Emsworth Travel have closed their office at 13 High St. The agency which opened in 1983 will continue to trade from home and online. A new café is due to open at this site.
Carpet Options to close The independent shop, Carpet Options, 24 North St, is due to close later this year. This will mean that there will be three adjacent empty shops in North St. Coop under threat Westbourne Coop, The Square is currently up for sale. This is as a consequence of the merger of Southern Coop and the national Coop. (see Westbourne PC website for more info on this story) www.westbourne-pc.gov.uk/_VirDir/CoreContents/News/Display.aspx?id=86159 Felix Tabitha celebrate 5th birthday The craft centre/gift shop at 12 North St (former Old Sorting Office) are having a special event on Thursday 19 November from 10.30 – 7 pm to celebrate their five years of trading in Emsworth. There will be refreshments and workshops https://felixtabitha.com/ Festive Wine Fair Hermitage Wines will be holding a Wine Fair at Tuppenny Barn, Main Road, Southbourne on Thursday 12 November form 7 pm – 9.30 pm. £9 or £15 for two. Over 50 wines to taste. Tickets from Tuppenny Barn www.tuppennybarn.co.uk Tuppenny Barn shop now open on Saturday The shop which sells fresh organic produce, preserves, flowers, honey and bread is now open on Thursday from 9.30 am to 4 pm and Saturday morning from 9.30 am 12.30 pm. Tool-Hub A new DIY and trade supplier has opened at Unit 11, Palmers Road. The unit was previously occupied by BMS, an engineering wholesalers. The new outlet is open 7 days a week. Bluebell PH still closed The fire that started on Saturday 11 July caused significant damage to the Bluebell PH in South St. The pub is currently closed. Please check their website for updates. https://bluebellinnemsworth.co.uk/ Emsworth Community Centre The Centre Cinema Our Community Cinema is at the heart of our social activity programme. Showings are 3:30 and 7:30 on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. £5 Monday 9 November 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm Midwinter Break Monday 23 November 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm Rose of Nevada Forget Me Not Cinema An old favourite each month especially for those suffering dementia and their carers Last Friday of each month 1.30 pm . £5 per couple. Friday 27 November My Fair Lady
Friday 18 December Love Actually
Wemsfest concerts (various venues) Tickets are available from Bookends, and Harbour Records in Emsworth, and a new outlet The Westbourne Café. See https://www.wemsfest.com/ for full details Starting with Three Nights of New Folk: a Bonfire Week mini-festival celebrating the brightest young voices in contemporary folk music: Ímar in St James' church Emsworth on Tuesday 3rd November El Pony Pisador in Westbourne on Wednesday 4th November Birdvox with Emily Barden and friends in Westbourne on Thursday 5th November – note earlier show time of 7:30 for this one (doors open 7pm). Come to one, two or all three of the above. Why not take advantage of our special offer - Light Up The Night Midweek MiniFest 3-show ticket. Join us for all three and save £15 on the individual ticket price! Tickets can be bought from this link: https://wegottickets.com/f/20936 Tophouse with support from Raynes on 14 November has been sold-out since tickets first went on sale. Clearly these US bands have a strong following in the UK! The ever-popular Blazin’ Fiddles return to St James' Church (Emsworth) on 17 Nov. Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet (with Emsworth-born trombonist Biff Roxby) come to Westbourne on 20 Nov and Montreal-based Genticorum come to The Old Malthouse on 28 Nov. Dates for your diary ERF Public meetings What Has Community Energy Ever Done For Us? Thursday 19 November, 7 pm; Emsworth Community Centre. Speaker: Mark Holliday of Havant Community Energy. Community Energy and what it could mean for Emsworth Speaker: Mark Holliday of Havant Community Energy Local energy generation is becoming big business – Havant Community Energy (HCE) wants the local community to benefit, not a distant developer. HCE wants to work with the local community to develop commercially viable projects. How might Emsworth benefit? Lower bills for households and businesses Support for residents in fuel poverty Grants for insulation and energy-saving measures Grants for environmental projects in Emsworth Re-investment – a community-owned battery? Want to know more about virtual power plants, heat networks, geothermal energy, long term storage and resilience? All these are possible in Emsworth in conjunction with the usual rooftop solar, wind and biomass. The emphasis is on the community coming together to develop their own power and heat. Celebrating a New Chapter for Emsworth Town 7 pm to 9 pm Thursday 10 December, Emsworth Community Centre
(followed by wine and cheese) What’s Happening Next? With the pause in Local Government Reorganisation there is a second vote on the creation of parish councils for Emsworth and Hayling Island on 19 th November. The Forum believes there is no legitimate reason to change the original decision which was based on a statutory and legal process. The Forum will hold a public meeting 7pm – 9pm on Tuesday 10th December at Emsworth Community Centre. We hope to be launching Emsworth Town Council as well as shaping the next 6 months work of the ERF. There will be cheese wine and plenty of time to work together to work together to build the future of the town. Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on workshop exploring practical projects, priorities and ambitions for 2027. Your ideas. Your energy. Your town. Just some of the practical ways forward to discuss: 20 mph speed limit Volunteer bureau Town Team Community energy Festival and events The Ems Deliverers wanted (volunteers) We are always looking for people to help deliver The Ems. Please contact jandgmil@btinternet.com if you can assist. Back issues Back issues of The Ems have now moved to the Archive website. https://archive.org/ Type in Emsworth Residents Forum into the search box on this website to access back issues ofThe Ems THE EMS COPY AND PUBLICATION DATES 2027 THE EMS Deadline for Edition commissioned articles and advertisements Winter 2027 Wednesday 23 December 2026 Spring 2027 Friday 26 March 2027 Summer 2027 Friday 25 June 2027 Autumn 2027 Friday 24 Sept 2027
The Ems is distributed to all homes in Emsworth from Thursday 7 January 2027 Thursday 8 April 2027 Thursday 8 July 2027 Thursday 7 October 2027