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Welcome to your October e-newsletter.
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This month's newsletter contains updates on the Flowerdown redevelopment and the strategic planning applications for the aggregate recycling facilities. There is an overview of the recent flash flooding in Littleton and a call for Parish Councillors, particularly to represent the views of our Harestock residents. In our community news, find out how you can help to make the Littleton & Harestock Platinum Jubilee celebrations a success!
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Parish Council News Updates
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Flowerdown Redevelopment (Sir John Moore Barracks)
As you may have seen in the Hampshire Chronicle recently, or our last eNewsletter, the Parish Council has proposed that a Local Nature Reserve be established in the green space situated in the north of the Flowerdown site. We have been pursuing this in discussions with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and their consultants (Avison Young). The most recent meeting focused on the south of the Flowerdown site, which includes the built-up areas, as well as the site's potential impact near Kennel Lane and Harestock Road.
If you would like to show your support for the Local Nature Reserve, or have any other comments related to the development please email clerk@lhpc.org.uk.
It is still possible to write directly with your views to the DIO. The email address for this is: sirjohnmoorebarracks.uk@avisonyoung.com. You can find out more about the original DIO consultation via the council's website: https://lhpc.org.uk/flowerdown/
Also, you might like to consider writing a letter to the Hampshire Chronicle or Steve Brine our MP as it would help to continue to raise awareness of the Nature Reserve proposal.
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Flowerdown Barrows / Tumulus Field – Main Rd, Littleton
The Parish Council has employed a tree surgeon to remove dead and dying trees in a small part of the wooded area in the Tumulus Field behind the largest barrow. This has opened up the canopy to produce a natural glade, which it is hoped will add to the mix of habitats on the site. The intention is to let nature take its course and see what comes up in the spring next year. We will then take stock and if necessary seek expert advice before deciding how best to manage the glade area for increased biodiversity.
For further information about the site please see https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/flowerdown-barrows/
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Safety Matters
At this time of year, as the nights draw in, the council asks all residents to be careful when walking along the parts of the Parish where there are no pavements. For your own safety please wear bright or reflective clothes so that you are more visible to drivers. Cyclists should also try to be as visible as possible by wearing hi-viz or reflective clothing, and making sure lights are fitted on bicycles.
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Flash flooding in Littleton
Recently parts of South Drive, Main Road and North Drive have been subject to three episodes of flash flooding. Main Road by the ‘island’ flooded in minutes (10-15 cm) deep. This flooding happened twice at night. Even in daylight, drivers continued to come down the hills in both directions (30mph+), oblivious to the water before they hit it. As a result, several cars just missed crashing. We have the video!
Please note there is a Parish Council Brief about Littleton Flooding on the Website, which you might find helpful. See: https://lhpc.org.uk/community-resilience/
There is no mains drainage in Littleton. Therefore, water must drain away through a limited number of gullies into the pond or soakaways. In 2012, Hampshire County Council (HCC) refurbished the soakaway system at the Main Road/North Drive junction, and this soakaway system has tended to work well. However, given the increasing frequency of intense rain coupled with reduced pond maintenance, soakaways and gullies, we can expect more periods of fast-moving water along South Drive, across Main Road and down North Drive. The Parish Council is in discussion with HCC about cleaning out the soakaways and gullies more frequently.
The HCC Flood and Water Management Project Office has, for several years, been examining the issues of flooding in Littleton and the options for flood alleviation as part of a broader overall approach in the district. The Project Office has given a new set of outline proposals to the Parish Council. The proposals involve a complex mix of surface and sub-surface works, and there are some tricky issues to resolve. The Parish Council will be sending letters to residents who live in the Littleton flood risk zone describing the proposals in the next few weeks. Please note that any programme of works to improve Littleton’s flood resilience has yet to be approved and funded, but we might be able to get something done next summer.
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Strategic Planning Applications
Aggregate Recycling Facility at Three Maids Hill (HCC 20/01765/HCS).
You may recall that the aggregate recycling facility at Three Maids Hill was refused by the Hampshire County Council Regulatory Committee earlier this year; however an appeal has now been submitted.
You can find the appeal letter on the following website:
https://planning.hants.gov.uk/Planning/Display/20/01765/HCS (under the Appeals tab).
Although the planning inspectorate has validated the appeal, the appeals process will not start until an inspector has been allocated and a start letter has been issued. The process may take as long as 41 weeks which is the average timescale for an S78 hearing (section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) from the validation point to a decision.
For more information about the appeals process, please see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-appeals-procedural-guide/procedural-guide-planning-appeals-england
Aggregate Recycling Facility at Down Farm (HCC 20/01188/HCS).
There is a separate recycling centre at Down Farm on the other side of the A34 and less than 500m from the above Three Maid Hill recycling facility where a planning application has recently been revised, please see:
https://planning.hants.gov.uk/Planning/Display/20/01188/HCS. The Parish Council submitted an initial written objection on 21st July 2020 and more recently on 17th September 2021 as a result of the application revision, please see https://lhpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/210915-Crusher-1-Part-2-Response-Letter-Draft-4.pdf.
Although the consultation period for this application has closed, the strategic planning department have not made a decision yet and may still accept public responses submitted via their email address, planning@hants.gov.uk.
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Parish Councillor Vacancies
Councillor Kelsie Learney recently resigned from the Parish Council following many years of service. The council would like to thank Kelsie for her dedication and advocacy on behalf of the residents of Harestock who she has represented.
We now have three vacancies for Parish Councillors, and would very much like to hear from residents who may be interested in joining the council. As a Parish Councillor you will be helping to make a difference to our local community in Littleton and Harestock. This is particularly relevant now, as the Council provide feedback to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) regarding the plans for the Sir John Moore Barracks.
If you are interested in joining the council please contact the Clerk at clerk@lhpc.org.uk.
We welcome applications from any Littleton or Harestock resident; however we would be particularly pleased to receive applications from parishioners in Harestock to ensure that matters of concern for Harestock residents can be fully represented on the council.
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Littleton & Harestock Platinum Jubilee celebrations 2022!
For the first time in history, a monarch here has been on the throne for 70 years. This is an amazing achievement and it will not happen again in our lifetime. Nationally, this will be celebrated by a four-day bank holiday from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June 2022.
National celebrations will include:
- Parade in London, including Trooping the Colour
- Thanksgiving service in St Pauls
- Racing at Epsom including the Derby
- Big Jubilee community-based lunch
- Fireworks and beacons
The Littleton & Harestock community has had great celebrations for other occasions in the past - such as the Queen’s Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees and we hope we can celebrate the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. We know that celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 were a huge success and represented the outcome of a lot of hard work, organization and planning by many people.
As a small team of volunteers, we are currently making plans for possible local events which will probably be on a more modest scale than those in 2012, but over the four-day bank holiday we hope to include the following:
- Big Jubilee community lunch in the park (Bring your own food)
- Open gardens followed by tea
- Guided walks of different lengths followed by BBQ lunch in park
- Scarecrows with a royal theme
- Commemorative tree planting
- Showing of 1953 Coronation film
- Art/craft/pottery exhibition
- Thanksgiving service
HOWEVER,
None of the above will happen without a lot of help from everyone! Please, now is the time to put your name forward to help with a specific event. We are not looking for people who can help with everything, as we realise that everyone is busy and has only limited time to offer. But if you feel that you could help with a specific event – either planning beforehand, or on the day, please contact Fiona or Julia as soon as possible. Could you help to organise open gardens, for example, or could you help to organise children’s sports/games after the community lunch? Perhaps you are a dab hand at BBQs? Do you have other ideas? We really do need your commitment now, please.
Please get in touch as soon as possible and certainly before the end of November so that we know the level of help and support we can rely on. We can then go ahead with the planning of a specific programme.
Let’s all make this a lovely celebration to remember!
Contact: Fiona Stratton (fionadavidsondesigns@hotmail.co.uk )
Julia Whitburn (j.whitburn@btinternet.com)
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2021 Meeting Dates
The next Parish Council meeting will take place on 8th November at 7pm.
For the schedule of meetings in 2021, as well as Agendas and Minutes, please visit our website here. |
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If you have any time to spare, please contact our Parish Clerk for more details about how you can help our community: clerk@lhpc.org.uk.
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Something to add?
Would you like to include a photograph to go alongside one of our news items? Do you have a community event you would like us to share? We are particularly keen to hear about community news or events in Harestock that we can add to our newsletter. Please contact g.sallis@lhpc.org.uk
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