CONSERVATIVES keeping our community InTouch & 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 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 “ and Welborne are to take and J10 of the M27 are stressed the urgency 9,500 houses, there is investment from critical, ’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 ’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. When planning consent Gate residents as your councillor that I an- cleared. Hamilton Road is not on this route. ming national championships at Councillor Brian Bayford said there had been was granted for Phase 2, nounce I shall be retiring in May. HCC salt routes are at: http://maps.hants. Andark diving lake on the 20th. flooding at nearby Chichester Close about 3 extra drainage and larger I have been a FBC councillor for 17 years, gov.uk/saltroutesmap/. Next day, the Andark winter swim- years ago before work began at the Strawberry storage tanks were re- 15 of which in Park Gate Ward. Electricity supply – An underground junc- ming event comprising a series of Fields, badly affecting at least one property. quired. During that time I have served as chairman tion box beside the sub-station floods, caus- shorter races was due to be held. He said: “When planning permission was Recently, properties in on numerous committees and had the honour Simon Martin ing the lighting to fail. Works to relocate the Fareham Council and County granted for Phase 1 of the Strawberry Fields Phase 1 have water enter- of being Mayor of Fareham. junction box and restore power are imminent. Councillor Seán Woodward contrib- development, it included the need for adequate ing from below, which the I shall always cherish my years as your councillor and Reporting broken street lights or checking if uted matching £600 grants. drainage.” developers are checking urgently. send my good wishes to you all for the future. they are covered by Hampshire PFI, can be At the same time, there was flooding across Contact Brian Bayford or Simon Martin (pic- Simon Martin is the Conservative nominee and I know that done at: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/roadprob- New crossing Lockswood Road next to Priory Park and the tured) if you have any concerns. if elected he will serve you with loyalty and understanding. lems. A controlled pedestrian crossing at Allotment Road/A27 near the exist- ing school crossing patrol will be COUNTY COUNCILLOR BOROUGH COUNCILLORS COME AND JOIN US installed. Fareham Sarisbury Park Gate & Priory Park If you support Conservative principles It will involve new link footways to Seán Woodward Marian Ellerton Brian Bayford and would like to vote to select your Allotment Road. 8 Persian Drive 230 Botley Road 6 Abshot Manor Surveys have been completed, so Council and Parliamentary candidates, Whiteley PO15 7BJ SO31 1BL Little Abshot Lane the new crossing will be constructed to attend social and political events during the summer holiday period. Tel: 01489 881030 Tel: 01489 570774 Common PO14 4LN or help us by delivering InTouch in The £100,000 scheme is funded email: sean.woodward@hants email: mellerton@fareham. Tel: 01489 577772 your street, then why not join Park from developer contributions relating gov.uk gov.uk email: [email protected] Gate Branch of Fareham Conservative to Coldeast, Bridge Road and Eden- Whether you voted for us or not, your Conservative councillors promise the highest standards of service to every- Association? Please phone Marian bridge Way. WE SERVE YOU ALL one in the community. Contact us any time and we’ll respond personally within 48 hours. Ellerton on 01489 570774. 4 InTouch with Westminster WELCOME to my newsletter Suella FERNANDES MP for Fareham

I cannot quite believe that I am Please support my campaign to writing the first edition of my 2016 newsletter already. I have thoroughly enjoyed rep- bring A-Levels resenting the people of Fare- back to Fareham ham for the past 9 months THOUSANDS of teenagers from Fareham have and I am looking forward to to travel very far if they choose to study A Levels. the challenges the New Year I am working with Cams Hill School, supported brings. by all local schools, to prepare an application to the It is a pleasure to have been Department of Education to become a Free School able to immerse myself in Sixth Form, offering A Levels in the heart of Fare- such a great community and ham. I thank you all for being so Headteacher Gwennan Harrison-Jones (pictured) is leading CONTACT SUELLA welcoming to me. the team and wants volunteers to support the application. My team and I would like to We also need evidence of the demand for the A Levels in take this opportunity to wish 14 East Street Fareham so please write to me indicating whether, if you have Fareham PO16 0BN you a happy New Year. school-age children, you would be interested in sending them I hope to be an effective Tel: 01329 233 573 to Cams Hill for A Levels. Suella@suellafernandes. advocate for Fareham in It is important that the whole community supports Cams Parliament, working for more co.uk Hill in this proposal which will benefit hundreds of teenagers www.suellafernandes.co.uk opportunities in education, for years to come. The first team meeting is in the Spring, so better access to health ser- let me know if you would like more information at: Surgery dates vices and greater investment http://www.suellafernandes.co.uk/campaigns/education- and jobs here. I will hold surgeries at levels-fareham different venues across Fareham. FAREHAM CONSTITUENCY NEWS Please call to arrange an appointment to meet me. Broadband petition to Chancellor Surgery, Friday, March 18 Many constituents have problems with broadband, for example in Tan- Victory Hall, . ners Gate and Whiteley, so I met with communication companies and Friday, April 29 Community British Telecom to discuss connectivity and mobile coverage. Room, Tesco, Fareham. I joined MPs from all political parties to deliver a letter to Number 11 Downing Street calling on the Chancellor to continue investing in Keep up to date extending broadband coverage. To stay up to date with all of my recent visits Wearing my firefighter’s helmet At the Chancellor’s door and speeches in Parlia- I was delighted to spend the day with the crew based at Fareham Fire ment please sign up to my Station, where I took part in the firefighters’ normal day. newsletter at www.suella We discussed local and national challenges facing the service with fernandes.co.uk/newsletter Hampshire Chief Fire Officer Dave Curry and Station Commander Danny Miles. I am grateful to the Fire and Rescue Service for hosting Arrange a tour me. The quality of training and dedication by the crew is exceptional. Learning to fight fires I am happy to arrange tours of the Palace of West- Task Force launched minster for groups of my I have launched Fareham Community Hospital Task Force to discuss lo- constituents. cal health issues and push forward my campaign for increased facilities To book please contact my at the hospital, where I was pleased to spend a day working with volun- office with a minimum of teers (pictured) who do so much to help staff and patients. three months’ notice, as Residents tell me more services are needed at the hospital. I raised the Meeting Friends of Fareham Community they are very popular. issue with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt when he visited in February. Hospital Website: www.farehamconservatives.org.uk Email: [email protected] InTouch is published by Sarisbury & Park Gate Conservatives, 230 Botley Road, Burridge SO31 1BL and printed by Cedar Group, Unit 3 Triton Centre, Premier Way, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey SO51 9DJ