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East Hants District Council News

News release EHDC

art comp

Enter EHDC’s endangered wildlife art competition

EHDC is running a children's art competition to highlight the importance of biodiversity and emphasise the plight of disappearing wildlife.

To enter, young artists need to create a picture of any endangered wildlife that can be found in Britain.

Your entry must be on one A4 size sheet of paper. You may use any art medium you prefer. So be creative and have fun!

Local artist and illustrator, Rachel Hudson, has kindly agreed to judge the competition.

Cllr Diana Tennyson said: “The competition is being organised to involve school children in East Hampshire District Council’s Climate Change initiative.

“I hope it can help raise awareness for British wildlife put at risk by the loss and destruction of habitats and foraging areas.

“Last year we ran a similar event focusing on tree habitats which was very successful and I am very much looking forward to seeing all the wonderful artwork the children produce.”

The winning entries will be displayed at Gilbert White’s House Museum, Selborne, in the gallery and at its Nature Festival. A family entry pass for a year will be awarded to each winner by the museum.

There are five age groups:

4 years and below
5-7 years
8-11 years
12-15 years
16-18 years

The closing date is Monday 23 September 2021. To enter, please email a scanned copy or a high-quality picture of your entry to dean.mohammed@easthants.gov.uk

For more information go to: www.easthants.gov.uk/endangered-wildlife-art-competition

Art comp

Funding opportunity opens as 2021 Charity Walk for Peace goes digital

Charities and community groups can benefit from a digitally enhanced fund-raising walk to be held on 4 September 2021.

East Hampshire District Council and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Association are teaming up again to deliver the 2021 Charity Walk for Peace - and local organisations can apply now to receive funding.

Held annually, except for a pandemic-related break in 2020, the walk normally sees hundreds stride through Petersfield town centre to raise money for local good causes.

This year, due to the ongoing uncertainty around coronavirus, the event will be going digital. A small walk will still be based in Petersfield but communities around the district will also be encouraged to organise their own mini-walks.

Videos, pictures and online streaming of the various walks will help the event keep its grand scale, even if the participants cannot gather in person.

Each year different charities are chosen to be beneficiaries of the event, and local groups are now invited to apply to receive a share of the proceeds from this September’s walk.

They have until 5pm on Friday 16 July to submit their applications. Application forms can be found on www.easthants.gov.uk/charitywalkforpeace.

Cllr Julie Butler, EHDC Portfolio Holder for Welfare and Community Integration, said: “The Charity Walk for Peace has been growing every year and raised more than £15,000 for local charities in 2019.

"During the pandemic a lot of local groups and charities have really struggled to keep going, so fund-raising events like this are more important than ever.

"If you run a group that needs financial support please apply and you may be chosen to receive some of the money generated by this year’s walk."

M Zakariyya Choudhry, Regional Head of the AMEA, said: “It was frustrating to see the progress of this great event interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic last year and it has been a difficult time for everybody.

"This year we have had to tweak the event to make sure we can comply with any likely Covid restrictions so people will be able to take part by arranging their own walks through their own communities.

"Even though we will not be able to gather like we have done in the past, the event will still carry the unifying message of love for all and hatred for none, which is the message of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.”

News release EHDC

New site proposed as Local Plan enters next phase

East Hampshire District Council's updated Local Plan has identified a new site near Alton for a large development.

Following extensive site assessment work and the Large Site Consultation, held at the end of 2019, the council considers Chawton Park Farm, west of Alton, as the most sustainable area to develop, with links to Alton’s transport infrastructure, services and facilities.

EHDC’s Planning Policy Committee will discuss the proposal to allocate up to 1,200 homes on the site at its next meeting on 6 July.

The updated plan has also suggested a reduction in homes planned for Whitehill & Bordon, from 1,300 to approximately 800 homes following concerns over local biodiversity.

EHDC’s Local Plan is a key document that sets out the priorities and policies for development in the district. It shows the opportunities for development in the area, and states what development will be permitted and where.

Due to delays imposed by coronavirus restrictions and proposed national changes to planning policies the lifetime of the Local Plan has been extended from 2036 to 2038.

The new plan will only cover the areas in East Hampshire outside the South Downs National Park and, once it has been adopted, it will replace the Joint Core Strategy (part of the Adopted Local Plan).

In total it must provide for the development of at least 11,000 homes, including homes already built or given permission from 2017 onwards, a target set out by the Government.

Cllr Angela Glass, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy, said: “Our Local Plan must meet the housing figures laid down by the Government and that means finding areas for large developments.

“The Large Sites Consultation looked at ten possible locations for development and our research shows Whitehill & Bordon and Chawton Park Farm are the most sustainable areas to develop.

“Chawton Park Farm’s suitability rests largely on its proximity to Alton and the availability of important local amenities and transport infrastructure.

“The site will also bring forward infrastructure of its own to support the new population, including a new primary school, community facilities and affordable housing.

“It is important to remember that East Hampshire suffers from an acute shortage of affordable housing and it is important for the continued health and diversity of our communities that this is addressed by the Local Plan.”

Find out more about the Local Plan Spatial Strategy Preferred Option to be discussed at the Planning Policy Committee on 6 July.

ENDS

Timetable

6 July - Planning Policy Committee discusses the plan

29 July – Considered by Full Council

End of 2021 - Planning Policy Team conducts further work on the proposed sites and policies

April 2022 - Six-week consultation

End of 2022 - Local Plan examination process

Reservoir given planning permission

Plans for an 8.7 billion litre storage reservoir spanning 160 hectares in between Rowlands Castle, East Hampshire and Leigh Park in Havant has been granted permission to go ahead by neighbouring local authorities.

The detailed planning application for the reservoir, along with a separate one for the pipeline which is needed to fill and remove water to supply to customers, was considered and granted permission following hours of debate by councillors at East Hampshire District Council and Havant Borough Council.

The Reservoir is a collaboration between Portsmouth Water and Southern Water will safeguard water resources for years to come for the South East.

The plan, submitted by Portsmouth Water, to build a reservoir, together with a visitor and education centre, picnic and play area, along with parking facilities for approximately 200 vehicles, has been an ambition for many years.

The reservoir, once complete, will create a permanent wetland with bird watching facilities.

As the nature of the existing site will change, Portsmouth Water has worked with environmental regulators to create an extensive programme to support the environment on and around the site. This includes the creation and improvement of around 200 hectares of woodland and pasture to support wildlife.

During the meetings, held at both local authorities, concerns were heard from The Woodland Trust, Havant Climate Alliance, Friends of the Earth and residents about the removal of ancient woodland. It was then highlighted that despite the loss of these trees, the exceptional benefits would protect unique habitats and precious local chalk streams, the rivers Itchen and Test.

In addition, government regulators Natural England and the Environment Agency highlighted that they are satisfied that provided the mitigation and compensation strategy is secured and fully implemented the scheme would have delivered a suitable compensation strategy for the loss of irreplaceable habitats.

Planning Portfolio Lead at East Hampshire District Council, Councillor Angela Glass, said: “The reservoir will secure more reliable water supplies for the region as a whole. It will also help cater for a growth in the population and housing and more droughts as a result of climate change.”

Councillor Clare Satchwell, Cabinet Lead for Planning, Hayling Seafront Strategy and Coastal Management at Havant Borough Council, added: “This major project has been talked about in the borough since the 1960s and after a comprehensive report and presentation at Havant's Planning Committee on June 3, the committee considered the applications for Havant Thicket Reservoir and gave permission, subject to completion of a section 106 legal agreement.

Portsmouth Water chief executive Bob Taylor said: “It is great news that both Havant Borough and East Hampshire District’s planning committees have resolved to grant permission for our reservoir proposals – recognising the growing public need for reliable and resilient water resources and our ambitions and commitment to support the environment and communities.

“As well as securing much-needed future water supplies, Havant Thicket Reservoir will help safeguard the River Itchen and River Test, two of Hampshire’s rare and world-famous chalk streams, by enabling less water to be taken from them. It will also create a new green leisure hub for people and wildlife.

“I would like to thank the councils for their support on this vitally important scheme and we’re also very grateful to local people and community representatives for their strong backing and valuable feedback over a number of years, which have helped shape the plans and our approach in many areas.”

Final legal commitments for the reservoir scheme will now be agreed with both authorities and full permission could be granted by early summer. Work would then begin with further environmental work to support wildlife mitigation. Havant Thicket Reservoir could then open fully to the public in 2029.

Havant Borough Council also granted outline permission for further earthworks and built infrastructure around the reservoir, and for a pipeline to fill it with surplus water from the Bedhampton Springs in winter.

More information can be found at www.portsmouthwater.co.uk/havant-thicket-reservoir

Other News

County Cllr Marge Harvey runs a surgery on the third Thursday of each month at the Blendworth Church Centre from 10.00am.

District Cllrs David Evans and Christopher Hatter runs a surgery on the first Monday of each Month at the Ship & Bell between 7.00pm and 8.00pm

Home Library Service available from Hampshire Libraries

Home Library Service Flyer

Dementia Resources Flyer

Ditch Maintenance Poster

Wessex Cancer Trust - Walk for Hope 2021