PARK GATE & PRIORY PARK – Spring 2016
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CONSERVATIVES keeping our community InTouch PARK GATE & PRIORY PARK – Spring 2016 Zero Borough Council tax We saved Band D residents Now we’re forced to ask increase for 7 years almost a year’s tax for a modest rise BUT.. All good We honour our pledge to youth things have NOT come to an end THERE’S been no rise in your dis- look what’s in store for the future. trict council tax since 2009. “Had we reflected 24% inflation in It’s because your Conservative your council tax during that period, Council doesn’t waste a penny of it would now be £173 and Band D your money, carefully budgeting to residents would have paid an extra maintain top-class services. £123 over the 7 years. Seán Woodward explains to Toni Lummis This time, due to on-going reduc- “Even with the loss of half our (centre) and Lucy Mills at a vibrant YCAT tions in Government grants which grant support from central gov- meeting how the Council is fulfilling its will disappear altogether over the ernment, we have managed to promise to support the Borough’s youth. next 4 years, we’re asking for a preserve essential services and We have appointed an officer to engage very modest rise. freeze council tax. with young people and put £30,000 into A pre-budget survey showed an “Effectively you have enjoyed a pot which is available to youth clubs for overwhelming 85% support for saving almost a whole year’s Fare- specific projects. And that’s not all... our strategy, ham Borough tax bill.” •The splendid £9m Holly Hill Leisure Council Leader Seán Woodward The average Band C property will Centre opens at Sarisbury this summer says: “Despite the Chancellor’s go up by just 1p a day to enable us austerity burden falling on coun- to preserve essential services •We will not be raising town centre car cils, it certainly does not mean all Band D properties will rise by £5 park charges for the 6th successive year good things have to come to an making the bill £145 per year. •Free parking everywhere else, including end in Fareham. Add the County Council, Police seafronts and shopping centres, will be “Look what we have delivered and Fire & Rescue demand and maintained as promised in those 7 successive zero years; the overall bill will rise £50 pa. WISE INVESTMENTS Our £8m property investments Renting out surplus space in the KEEP TAX DOWN bring in returns of over £0.5m (7%) Civic Offices realises £200,000 pa Find cash for vital M27 junctions NOW – transport boss tells minister IMPROVEMENTS to J9 George Hollingbery “Whiteley and Welborne are to take and J10 of the M27 are stressed the urgency 9,500 houses, there is investment from critical, Hampshire’s when they met Andrew Solent Local Enterprise Partnership to transport chief told a Jones, who’s responsible dual Whiteley Way from Rookery Av- government minister. for Highway England’s enue to TESCO and to install lights at Preparatory work for motorways and trunk the Rookery Avenue roundabout. the multi-million J9 roads (pictured). “This traffic needs to use an improved scheme ended in 2014. “It is unacceptable for HE to walk junction 9 to leave the area,” he said. County Councillor Séan Woodward, away from its responsibilities by start- He also told the minister funding was and Meon Valley Conservative MP ing work, then abandoning the site. vital to make J10 an all-moves junction. England’s 5th lowest district council tax – that’s CONSERVATIVE budgeting 2 InTouch Only a CONSERVATIVE COUNCIL can deliver the goods year after year I nT ouch 3 Developers thwart Council’s homes policy for needy June opening Coldeast development: DEMANDS for rented or part-owned properties Councillor Brian Bayford said: “Recently, this has THE OLYMPICS may delay the offi- Councillor Woodward are rising, but developers are finding excuses to been done through the Council’s planning policies cial opening of the showpiece £7m back out of Council policy to aid needy families. whereby developers of more than 10 units must Holly Hill Leisure Centre. answers your questions The waiting list for those in need and the highest provide 30% of ‘affordables’, tenants for which are The Council hopes to invite an priority list is currently about 1,350 families. taken from the housing waiting lists. Olympic swimmer to perform the cer- QUERIES from residents about lack of NEWS ROUND These new homes are being built – 6 ‘Passive “Over the last 5 years almost 400 families have emony, but this will probably have to street lighting, salting, road repairs etc Haus’ two-bedroom houses at Allotment Road, 16 been supported, but within the last 18 months some wait until the Games are finished. around Coldeast have been investigated one and two-bedroom apartments at Stephenson developers have produced ‘viability studies’ claiming However, it will not prevent the cen- by County Councillor Seán Woodward. Red Cross loan store delay Road adoption – Hamilton Road is cur- The opening of a new Red Cross Court, Palmerston Road and 36 one and two-bed- their developments are not financially viable so can- tre opening to the public on a date to room sheltered units at Sylvan Court at Coldeast. not provide any affordable units. be fixed in June. rently a private unadopted road and Monte- medical loan store at Fareham fiore Drive is an unclassified unadopted road. Community Hospital has been de- Other homes in Highlands Road and Bridge Road should “This will inevitably reduce the number of homes for needy Both pools and the steelwork were be started in 2016. The Council also works with housing families provided through the planning policies.” completed on time in December, If they are adopted, it will give highway layed until March. rights to the Highway Authority (HCC) and Work is in hand to make it happen associations to provide affordable homes for rent or part- PHOTO: Brian Bayford shows Simon Martin a new home when the Mayor, Councillor Mike purchase. at Coldeast. Ford, performed the topping-out. the road will become publically maintainable. soon, so Western Wards patients Ideally, roads within a new development will no longer have to travel to will eventually be adopted by the Highway Fareham Health Centre to borrow Authority. Teams are working on adopting crutches, wheelchairs etc. Salute these hospital volunteers the Brook Lane junction and Coldeast Way Leasing charges will now be met On certain days they provide a meeting and greet- Between 20 to 25 people attend every session and and are discussing the other roads with the by Fareham and Gosport Clinical ing service and help with admin and clerical tasks, enjoy the regularity, friendliness and support that the developers. Commissioning Group and volun- writes InTouch team leader Simon Martin, pictured group offers. Most volunteers have undertaken De- It is not in HCC’s interest to adopt roads teers will run the store at minimum (left) with Friends’ chairman Jill Sadler, Fareham MP mentia Awareness training. within a development during building works cost to the Red Cross. Suella Fernandes and Councillor Brian Bayford. Volunteers also help with fundraising and recently as this could lead to it paying for repairs The newly formed dementia advice service launched provided a moving and handling aid for the X-ray de- caused by heavy construction traffic; adopt- Grants available by the Alzheimer’s Society in conjunction with the partment, 5 new water coolers, physiotherapy gym ing existing roads should not cause the Au- County Councillor Séan Woodward Friends has proved a great success. equipment, wall-mounted fans for consulting rooms thority to inherit an immediate maintenance still has £4,000 available from his Appointments are held every Monday by an al- and a DAB radio for the outpatient clinic. liability. County Council budget, which is zheimer’s advisor and are funded by the NHS Fare- Suella spent a day meeting volunteers and commit- Publically maintained roads can be checked available to help local organisations THE FRIENDS VOLUNTEERS have been busy ham & Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group. tee members for a question and answer session (see on the HCC website: http://roadenquiries. and charities. helping staff and patients at Fareham Community The drop-in Fareham Memory Group runs along- also Page 4 ). hants.gov.uk/roadproblems/highwaymanage- If you think your group could ben- Hospital. side this service for people with dementia and their She helped at the phlebotomy desk and at recep- ment/adoptedroads.aspx. efit, contact Seán for details. There are 26 volunteers and a rota organised by the carers, who can attend on Mondays 1pm–3pm. It is tion, before spending the afternoon with the Memory Salting – HCC will not have salted / gritted coordinator provides cover from 9am to 4.30pm Mon- run jointly by the Alzheimer’s Society volunteers and Group, finding it moving to meet those with dementia within Coldeast, which is likely to have been Have an ice swim! days to Fridays for blood testing appointments. the Friends and has proved a great success. and their carers. She said she had learnt a lot. done by the developer or could be a legacy They’ll be hoping for a dip in tem- NHS contract. peratures at Lower Swanwick in Coldeast Way is a low priority gritting route February. New homes flooding cause probe Farewell Marian Ellerton to allow access to Lord Wilson School, but The International Ice Swimming would only be gritted during more adverse Association of Great Britain was FLOODING incidents have alarmed resi- Strawberry Fields area. IT IS with fond memories of serving Park weather after higher priority routes are due to hold the first 1km ice swim- dents at the Strawberry Fields.