Summer bank holiday bin collection changes

Please be advised that following the Summer bank holiday on Monday 26 August 2019, bin collections will take place 24 hours later than usual.

Normal service will resume on Monday 2 September 2019.

For further information about bin collections please visit our website.

EHDC one of first councils to enable development without raising potentially damaging nutrient levels

East Hampshire District Council is one of the first councils in the country to find a way of enabling much-needed new homes to be built - without increasing potentially damaging nutrient levels in the sea.

New case law introduced this year prevents development from taking place unless developers can prove that it will be 'nutrient neutral' - which means that it doesn't increase the current levels of nitrogen in the Solent. 

The council has worked hard to ensure that homes can be built while ensuring that environmental safeguards are in place - and will work closely alongside Natural England to do this. 

EHDC has signed-up to something called the 'Grampian Condition' which means that the council can now provide ways to help developers mitigate the potential impact of additional nutrients - this could involve taking agricultural land out of production or managing agricultural land in a different way. 

Cllr Angela Glass, EHDC's Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: "Because of the new case law we haven't generally been permitting development in the southern parishes and part of the north west area of the district. 

"But we have now agreed a way of enabling development and to do this we need to ensure that developments are 'nutrient neutral' or that suitable measures are in place to mitigate the impact of the buildings before the homes are occupied.

"From here on EHDC will be approving development in the normal ways in the areas currently affected by using the Grampian Condition."

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Notes to editors: 

What is nutrient neutrality?

Essentially, humans produce waste which ends up in the sea via sewage works or groundwater and rivers. The waste, even when treated, increases the levels of nutrients (particularly nitrogen) in the Solent which cause algae blooms which can harm the environment. The aim of 'nutrient neutrality' is not to increase the current levels of nitrogen in the sea. Some of the ways that this can be done include taking agricultural land out of production, removing nutrients at the sewage treatment stage or creating wetlands along rivers and shorelines. 

Consultation to open on Large Development Sites for Local Plan

Some of the largest potential development sites in East Hampshire will be the subject of a special consultation in the autumn.

The consultation, to be held from 3 September – 15 October, will focus on ten large sites, of which two will be included in the Local Plan.

Run by East Hampshire District Council it is another step towards producing a new Local Plan.

The Local Plan provides guidelines for future development in parts of East Hampshire outside the South Downs National Park.

The six-week process, called the Local Plan Large Development Sites Consultation, will put the ten possible sites to the public and invite comments and information.

Residents will have the chance to give the council information about sites that might affect its suitability for development and to say what infrastructure is needed in that area.

The responses received will be used by the council along with technical information and evidence from other organisations to decide which two sites will be included in the plan.

It will not include other policies and sites already considered in the draft Local Plan.

The consultation will last six weeks and include six drop-in events, all in September.

Alton Assembly Rooms - Tuesday 3, 4-7pm
Barton Hall, Horndean - Saturday 7, 10am-2pm
Alton Assembly Rooms - Saturday 14, 10am-2pm
Forest Community Centre, Bordon - Thursday 19, 4-7pm
Barton Hall, Horndean - Monday 23, 4-7pm
Forest Community Centre, Bordon - Saturday 28, 10am-2pm

Cllr Angela Glass, Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: “The council is committed to working with the local community to deliver a new Local Plan.

“Developing a Local Plan is like having a conversation - we listen to people’s thoughts, consider them and respond accordingly.

“We are particularly keen to receive representations from across the community and involve local people as early in the process as possible.”

A broad consultation was held on the Local Plan in February and March. During that process the council received more than 2,000 comments.

Cllr Glass said: “The overriding message from those responses was concern about infrastructure and the impact of new development on existing communities.

“We therefore intend to consult on all potential large development areas, to gather further information and ensure local communities are engaged and aware from the early stages.”

The results of the consultation will inform the council’s decision as to which sites will be included in the Local Plan. The council will not be taking comments on polices and sites not included as part of this consultation.

The ten sites under consideration are:

Northbrook Park, Bentley
Whitehill & Bordon extension
Chawton Park Farm, near Alton
Land East of Horndean Extension
Land South East of Liphook
Neatham Down, near Alton
Four Marks South
Land west of Lymington Bottom Road, South Medstead
South Medstead
Winchester Road, Four Marks

Detailed plans of the sites will be available during the consultation at www.easthants.gov.uk/draft-local-plan

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EHDC declares climate emergency

East Hampshire District Council has officially declared a climate emergency and announced how it will continue to take urgent, positive and deliverable steps to reduce its impact on the environment.

Councillors pledged to work across political parties to achieve a list of ‘ambitious and achievable’ targets and build on its long-standing environmental track record.

Among the objectives are the appointment of a Climate Change Champion, retrofitting homes with energy-saving improvements and planting a tree for every resident in the district.

At its Full Council meeting on Thursday 18 July, EHDC pledged to renew its environment and energy strategy with actions that will reduce its carbon emissions and promote sustainable business practices.

The strategy will ensure that all council services focus on environmental issues as part of everyday decision-making. It will promote sustainable building standards through the council’s planning and building standards work and will influence and collaborate with other public bodies to deliver the UK government Climate Change Act target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The council’s retrofit programme, subsidising the installation of energy-saving measures such as insulation and double glazing – which has already seen £1 million of works carried out - will be further promoted to residents.

The council will also seek to remove carbon from the environment with an ambitious tree-planting programme which will see 120,000 trees planted across East Hampshire – one for each resident in the district.

A cross-party working group will be set up, headed by a Climate Change Champion drawn from the opposition parties, with a remit to include views and ideas from across the community.

Councillor Richard Millard, Leader of East Hampshire District Council, said: “We will work together to ensure the results we have set out are achieved. We must look to the future and the kind of environment we will be handing on to future generations. We must take action now, before it is too late, to ensure real improvement in the lives of our children and grandchildren.

“This council has a strong track record on environmental issues having drawn up its Green Town Vision for the regeneration of Whitehill & Bordon in 2003, our pool cars are electric and we have helped install electric vehicle charging points in Petersfield, Liphook and Alton.

“A local authority only has power over its own estate but we will get our own house in order through a set of ambitious but achievable targets that will reduce this council’s impact on the environment and demonstrate to others what can and must be done.”

Cllr Steve Hunt, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “We have no doubt that the world is facing a climate emergency and it is every councillor’s responsibility to play its part in addressing that.

“We have started work on this the right away, with the first steps forming a cross-party panel happening this week. It is important the new body has teeth in order to tackle the climate emergency head on.

“This is the challenge which councillors of all political persuasions and independents will work together to meet.”

The council will also campaign for government funding to improve local environmental projects and influence partner organisations such as councils, schools and businesses to reduce their environmental impact.

It will also take a greater role in education and leadership, visiting schools and involve young people in tackling climate change.

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