September 2017 ON&V is published monthly by Overton Parish Council (OPC) and is distributed Editor: Holly Foat by volunteers to every property in Overton, Ashe, & . [email protected] www.OvertonParishCouncil.gov.uk What’s on in Overton @OvertonHants

Visit us : Overton Parish Council Contact us for problems/comments about Overton Parish Council matters (OPC) Information Office is open to the public from 9am to 12noon Valda Stevens (Chairman) [email protected] 771602 each Wednesday & Thursday in Anne Phillips (Vice Chair) [email protected] 770350 St Mary’s Hall, with Parish Ian Tilbury (Borough Councillor & Rights of Way Representative) 771429 Clerk: Laura Harley. Colin Phillimore (Borough Councillor) 771127

Colin Fowles 771090 Jane Dooley 771386 Contact Laura: 771919 or Richard Cook 07957493802 Gary Beecham 770539 [email protected] Margaret Oram 07798640915 Graham Gould 770223 or Oak Tree Lodge, Roundwood, Stuart Chessell 07973269503 Peter Baker 772155 Micheldever, Winchester, SO21 For Laverstoke & Freefolk Parish Council, contact Nicky: [email protected] 3BA.

Overton Parish Council (OPC) notes by Laura Harley (Parish Clerk)

Telephone boxes Parish Council: September diary The parish council has the opportunity to obtain two redundant red Overton Parish Council Meeting: telephone boxes in the village – one in Road near the junction Wednesday 13 September, 7pm in of Hilltop Meadow and the other in Charledown Road. They cost £1 each the Community Centre. (Public to buy, but there will be refurbishment and maintenance costs going Time 7pm – 7.30pm). forward and so we would like to know whether you think they should be kept. Are any community groups interested in taking on the ongoing OPC Monthly Planning Meeting: maintenance? Do you have any good ideas for their use (or should we just Tuesday 26 September, 7.30pm, keep them because they are an iconic feature in the village scene)? Other in Community Centre. Agendas villages have used their old phone boxes for book/CD exchanges; to and planning applications are house defibrillators and cash point machines; as mini art galleries and for displayed on the Parish tourist information. Remember that one of the telephone boxes in the Noticeboard. The public is village centre has already been refurbished and is available as an welcome to attend and may advertising space (please contact Physical Balance on )770022 for more discuss any planning matters details). Please forward your comments to the parish clerk. before each meeting starts.

Please don't drone on... All parish council meetings will We have received reports of a white drone, which has been spotted flying be recorded. above Overton on several occasions. It appears to be flying low and makes an irritating sound; in addition, it seems to be mounted with a Laverstoke & Freefolk Parish camera. This is intruding on people’s privacy, especially when it is Council Meeting: Tuesday 12 hovering over private gardens. If you have a drone, please have some September, 7.30pm in the consideration when using it, especially in the vicinity of people's houses. Community Centre, Laverstoke Lane.

News from the Friends of QEII Daniel Park community orchard Movitime News Do you have a glut of apples every Autumn and don’t know what to do The next film to be shown in St with them all? We can help! On the morning of Saturday 9th September, Mary’s Hall is A , the Friends of QEII Daniel Park in Whitchurch will be hosting a communal on Friday 29th September. Doors apple pressing at the new community orchard beside the primary school. open at 7.15pm for a 7.45pm Everybody from Whitchurch and the surrounding villages is invited to bring start. Tickets are £5 in advance their ripe, undamaged apples from 9am on the day. Richard Paget from from the Overton Gallery or £5.50 My Apple Juice (myapplejuice.co.uk) will press, pasteurise and bottle the on the door. Refreshments are juice, which you can then buy. Any profit made will be ploughed back into available to purchase on the night. the upkeep of the park. Further information will be available prior to the event or contact [email protected] or Reporting street lighting faults )07979 908004 and other highway problems You can report street lighting faults Cardboard Bank on Overton Hill and other highway problems online Please could people using the cardboard banks on Overton Hill flatten the at www.hants.gov.uk. Under boxes and insert them into the banks (rather than leaving them by the ‘Report It’, select ‘Report a Road side). Problem’. All highway problems The deadline for October’s ON&V is 14th September . can reported on )0300 555 1388. OPC notes continued by Laura Harley (Parish Clerk) Village Diary - September 2017 River Restoration Works at Southington - Autumn 2017 Saturday 2 September: Overton Market Two sections of the River Test have been restored in recent years and 10am-12noon, St Mary’s Hall. further work is due to take place on the River Test at Southington during the Autumn. This is part of an ongoing programme (The Test & Itchen River Sunday 3 September: The 29th running Restoration Strategy) by individual land owners, Natural and the of the Overton 5 Road Race organised by Environment Agency, targeted at stopping and reversing the decline in the Overton Harriers at 2pm. The route is on River Test SSSI. The area at Southington upstream of the old silk mill hatch quieter, rural roads, starting on Straight has been highlighted as one of the areas in need of restoration within the Lane, by Berrydown Sports Ground, then strategy and will extend from the old hatch to Bridge Street (although work Quidhampton, Hannington Road, Nutley will predominantly be targeted at the lower end of the stretch). The problems Bottom to Ashe Warren Farm triangle and highlighted within the restoration strategy are a major impoundment resulting back along Hannington Road to in an over wide, over deep channel, restriction of fish passage and a heavily Flashetts, Kingsclere Road and Overton silted river channel. This is leading to low flows and a lack of flow diversity, Recreation Centre. Stop/Go signs will be generally leading to very poor chalk stream habitat. To address these provided along a short distance of the problems, the hatch at the site of the old mill will be removed; two limestone Kingsclere Road. The race will be 2-3pm crescents will be placed in the river upstream of the old hatch to step water and roads will be opened as soon as levels up slightly, so that the flow is maintained to the stream running through conveniently possible. There will be the golf course; the hatch from the river to the stream will be lowered and children's races at the ORC field at repaired, and banks will be narrowed to maintain water velocities in low flow 12:45pm . Please contact Helen years and regraded to give gently sloping banks to allow water levels to rise McMahon for more info, to enter the race in high water years. There will also be localised coppicing of bankside trees or marshal. [email protected] to allow access for machinery and provide materials, if suitable for narrowing of the river channel. This will include the trees on the north bank, as viewed Tuesday 5 September: Overton WI downstream from Bridge Street, to give a clear view of the river from the Meeting: “Garden Weeds – will we ever ) bridge. The work should result in a pristine section of chalk stream habitat win?” Alick Jones. 770681 with a clean gravel bed, good in stream weed growth, faster, more diverse www.hampshirewi.org.uk 8 flows and lush marginal vegetation on the banks. The results will be much [email protected] the same as the section downstream of the hatch, which was subject to a Wednesday 6 September: Overton Folk restoration project in 2016. There will obviously be a greatly reduced flood Club 8pm in the Community Centre. Our risk in the area upstream of the old impounding structure. new season gets underway with a

Overton Parish Council welcomes a new business singer’s night. Everybody welcome. Tom )770384 or Cherished Farm Shop is open 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm selling organic 8 coffee, tea, cakes, toasted sandwiches and soft drinks. They also sell raw pet [email protected] food and have a secure playing field for dogs, in Laverstoke Park Farm. ) Saturday 9 September: Ride & Stride 01276 537312 www.cherishedfarm.co.uk bike/walk. Fun for all the family whilst

Letters to the editor exploring & IoW churches/ Community Speedwatch - and beyond? chapels and helping raise funds, in part, I am filled with rage and despair when I see the way some drivers hurtle for Lordsfield Swimming Club at Overton heedlessly along Overton’s roads, while cocooned at the wheel of a ton of Pool. Grab your sponsor form, choose shiny steel, rubber and glass. What if a small child were to run out into the your own route, have fun and fundraise! road, which is nearly always cluttered by parked cars these days? These What's not to like?! More info and drivers act as if they don’t have any idea of what might happen - that, without sponsor forms are available online at warning, they could be standing grey-faced at the side of the road, http://hihct.org.uk/rideStride_taking.php or ) desperately seeking reassurance from paramedics that their victim is going contact Julia Hodgson 07983 362 979. to be all right - and getting silence in return. I’d go even further than trying to Tuesday 12 September: Overton increase awareness via positive village initiatives, like Overton Community Community Association AGM 7.30pm in Speedwatch. I’d like to take speed cameras away from main roads, re-set Overton Community Centre. Come along them at 20mph and put them on village and suburban streets instead. For a to hear about our progress with the few months, they’d make millions in fines: then drivers like these might just purchase of the Community Centre and change their behaviour for the better. (Name & Overton address supplied) our plans for improvements.

Sultan's Picnic in concert, with Heidi Vogel - Saturday 23rd September Wednesday 13 September: Overton Folk Sultan's Picnic will make their Overton debut at St Mary's Hall on Saturday Club. A new folk music session is starting 23rd September 7:30pm, playing instrumental music with beautiful melodies, up to be held on the second Wednesday infectious grooves and a lot of Gypsy soul. Their special guest is Cinematic of every month in the Red Lion from 8pm. Orchestra singer Heidi Vogel. Tickets £15 adults, £13 concessions. Tickets This will be mainly tunes rather than 8 are now on sale from Caviste or email [email protected] songs. All acoustic instruments welcome.

Your local charity needs you! Wednesday 20 September: Overton & Can you spare a couple of hours a week to support your local charity District U3A A talk by Benedicte Clarkson shop? By volunteering to work in our Overton shop, you can have fun, while "Amazing woman-only car rally in learning new skills, meeting people and raising vital funds to support people Moroccan desert". 10am St Mary's Hall, and families affected by cancer. If you would like to help, please come along Overton. Visitors £3. )771602 to the Overton Shop at 1-3 High Street and ask for Katerina or Shelley or call www.overtonu3a.org.uk. )771004. Police News Your local Police Officer is PCSO 16173 Emma Page Village Diary - Regular events [email protected] Emergency )999 Overton & Whitchurch NCT coffee Police Station, Mulfords Hill, Tadley, RG26 3HZ morning: Fortnightly on alternate Follow @BstokeRuralCops Police Enquiry Centre & non-emergencies )101 Mondays & Thursdays in various homes Crimestoppers charity )0800 555 111 www.hampshire.police.uk 10am-12noon. All mums and mums to be from Overton and surrounding villages July 2017 welcome. Informal and friendly drop in In July, there were 22 incidents which have been classified as crimes by the coffee morning. No need to be an NCT Home Office. There were 8 occurrences in July 2016, so that’s an increase of member. Find us on Facebook or contact 14 from 12 months ago. Current neighbourhood priorities are dwelling [email protected] burglary/non-dwelling burglary, traffic-related incidents, theft, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. Village Agent Drop-in Centre: Tuesdays 10-12 in the Palmer Room at the Traffic Incidents: There have been five reported this month. A vehicle was Community Centre. Closed 3rd October. found broken down on the B3051 and was also found not to have insurance, All Welcome. Janet & Graham )07555 tax or a MOT. The driver has been reported for the offences. There has been 908197. two damage only and one minor injury road traffic collisions in Overton and a vehicle made off without paying for fuel at Micheldever Service Station. Age Concern Activity Centre: Tuesday 2- Criminal Damage: There have been five reported this month. A vehicle was 4pm Harveys Field. Dave )423872. ‘keyed’ by an unknown object, whilst parked on Station Road. A vehicle has driven through two wooden gates and a horse jump, causing damage at Steady & Strong exercise class: Polhampton Farm. A vehicle has driven over a field in Laverstoke, containing Tuesdays 10:30 at Harveys Field and crops, which has caused a large amount of damage. Damage has been 12:00 & 13:00 Gill Nethercott Centre. ) caused at the Ken Hogan Pavilion (Berrydown Sports Ground) to the cricket Contact Julie Hewson 302249. covers and wicket and a vehicle was tampered with (window smashed) whilst Story Tots at the Library: Every Tuesday parked by the garages (closest to Sapley Lane) in Pond Close. at 9:45. Songs stories and crafts for pre- Suspicious Incidents: There have been seven reported this month. Two males school children. All welcome. were seen to try to open a gate at a property in Charledown Road and, the [email protected] following day, a black Mercedes was seen taking a picture outside the same property. A loud noise was heard from the back of a property in Harvey’s Field. Men, Beer & Skittles at the Red Lion: The A male was seen urinating by a dog walker on Overton Hill. A foreign 4x4 type cost of the rental of the alley is shared out vehicle and two males were seen acting suspicious at a unit on Station Yard. A on the night and averages about £2. male visited a property on The Green, asking if their trailer tent was for sale. Please contact David Peter on He also made enquiries about some other items on the drive. A black Range [email protected] or Rover was seen at approximately 22:00, driving at speed around Popham )212483 for further information. Airfield and a vehicle was found parked up on the golf course at Town Meadow; the driver was asleep. It sped off when approached by some Charity Coffee Morning: Thursdays 10- players. 12 in front hall of Methodist Church.

Assault: There have been nine reported this month. Construction club: Thursdays 5-6.30pm Public Order: There have been four reported this month. Overton Library. Other Crime/Incidents: There was one report of possible hare coursing on a field off Laverstoke Lane, Laverstoke. No vehicles or person(s) were seen on Coffee, Colour and Chat: First Thursday Police arrival. morning each month at the White Hart from 10.30-11.45am. No charge but treat Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): There have been two nuisance and one personal yourself to a drink. Colouring sheets are reports this month. I’m having to report that over the past 3 months there has provided. The next meeting is 3rd August. been an increase in ASB across Overton. The incidents have mainly been [email protected]. happening at the Town Meadow Golf Course, The Rec on Bridge Street, Berrydown Sports Pavilion, Edward Kersley Playing Fields and more recently Overton Pagan Moot: First Thursday of in St. Mary’s Garden. Town Meadow have reported damage to their course the month. A great way to meet like- with items being broken, bikes being ridden over the greens and items being minded people and chat about pagan thrown into the river. The Rec have had a large window pane smashed. type things. Please contact Paul via Berrydown have reported damage to their flood lights, cricket covers and pitch [email protected] for details. (small fire lit), football dug out and in the last few days to the newly installed long jump and youths have also been seen sitting on top of the goal posts Well baby clinic: 3rd Friday of month: using the netting as leverage. The nursery have also reported children’s items 9.30-11am in the Community Centre. being damaged and moved. In the past week, Edward Kersley have had a Café Teen for years 7-9: Alternate Friday large amount of graffiti sprayed across some bins, a lamp post, the wall and nights at the Ken Hogan Pavilion 7- footpath and finally a metal grill was pulled off the well in St. Mary’s Garden 8.30pm. Tuck shop, Xbox, table tennis, and then thrown back down the well. pool, table football, games etc. £1. Run

by people from St Mary’s Church. Youths have been seen and spoken to on occasions and are likely to be responsible for these acts. Parents, do you what your children are up too Traidcraft Sales: 2nd and 4th Saturdays especially in the early hours of the morning? These acts are having a of the month. Sales of fairly-traded food significant effect on all the community not to mention the money and time and crafts. 9.30-12.00 at Methodist needed to rectify it all. Criminal Damage is an offence and Police will deal any Church front hall. persons caught, appropriately and in accordance with the law. Transport News by Brian Langer (Transport Representative) )770848 Letters to the editor Waterloo rebuilding Lordsfield Swimming Club update The major disruption, due to ten platforms being out of use, is supposed to We have been working to find a new be concluded on Bank Holiday Monday (28th August), about the time this funding/management arrangement to newsletter is distributed. Whether work will be completed on time and what keep the pool running. We have been in effect the change in franchise holder to First/MTR earlier in August will have talks with the school, Overton Parish on services thereafter, remains to be seen. Passengers are strongly urged Council and Overton Recreation Centre, to continue to refer to the South West Trains website for detailed information to help us build a business plan to during and immediately after this period. Bank Holiday weekend travel will present to Hampshire County Council. be especially fraught, in particular, Friday 25th August (special timetable). We will be meeting with HCC on Wednesday 6th September see which Train engineering work affecting Overton services solution might be preferable. We will also Sunday 3rd September: buses replace trains between Yeovil Junction and hold a positive public meeting at the Exeter St Davids. Major signalling work at Waterloo with platforms 1-6 school on Monday 25th September closed; expect delays. 7.30pm, for local people to meet us, hear Saturdays 9th & 16th and Sundays 10th & 17th September: Further delays the latest developments and to ask to be expected in the Waterloo area. questions. We’ve been busy with a Sunday 10th September: Buses replace trains between Exeter St Davids petition to evidence community support and Yeovil Junction. and we’ve been encouraging people to Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th September: Late Saturday night services until write letters/send emails to our 10:30hrs Sunday replaced by bus between Salisbury & Exeter St Davids. Hampshire County Councillor, Anna MacNair-Scott, to show how much the Work affecting nearby SWT services NOT on Overton line. pool is valued and enjoyed, both now and Sunday 3rd September: buses replace trains in Eastleigh area prior to 08:00 in the past. Please email Anna at hrs. [email protected] OR Sunday 17th September: buses replace trains between Eastleigh and write to her at ‘Huish House’, Huish Lane, Southampton Central until 09:10 hrs. , , Hants, RG24 Monday 25th to Wednesday 27th September: Buses replace trains between 7AA, with your own story about the pool Basingstoke and Winchester after 22:45 hrs each night. Full impact not yet and what it means to you to have such a known. fantastic facility in Overton. Children have been training hard on Saturday mornings Community Rail Partnership in preparation for their challenge tests on It has been agreed between Overton Parish Council and Whitchurch Town the last day of the season, Sunday 3rd Council that we should work with the new franchisee on a rail partnership in September. We’ll celebrate the end of the the hope that it will contribute towards a better rail service from these season on Saturday 2nd September, with communities. our pool party to thank all of our fantastic Bus Service 86 and 861 to/from Winchester volunteers. For further info like us on Although the hourly service to Winchester was discontinued in 2016, Facebook & see www.overtonswim.org.uk passengers can still reach Winchester by bus from Overton using transport Lauren McCann which runs on school days only, so will start again in early September. Summer Reading Challenge at Library Service 86 leaves the Community Centre at 09:24 reaching Winchester bus We’ve had record numbers of children station at 10:15 and returning at 14:50 arriving Overton at 15:45. Bus pass taking part in this year’s Summer Reading holders would have to pay a fare to get to Whitchurch to comply with the Challenge. It’s not too late to join in. Sign 09:30 start of concessionary fares. For early risers, service 861 leaves up in the library and read six books Overton at 07:47 but goes no further than Peter Symonds College (PSC), before September 17th to get your about a mile from the city centre, arriving there at 08:20. The 861 leaves certificate and medal. It’s free! PSC at 16:40 arriving at Overton 17:09. Jammy Dodger Day: Saturday 2 Sept Service to Overton and Micheldever stations by Bacardi Group Jammy Dodger Day is a launch event for (Bombay Sapphire), operated by Courtney Buses 'Heart for Overton' on Saturday 2nd Full timetable displayed on noticeboard by Overton Pharmacy. It is not September from 9am inside or outside known whether this service will run over the Bank Holiday weekend as traffic the Community Centre (weather management restrictions along the C29 will not allow it to use its usual route dependant)! There will be information at all times. about the caring/support groups and Service 74 village service by Community First Wessex activities available as well as a craft table Hampshire County Council subsidises this service. The council is intending for children, balloons, face painting, to make savings of £140m for financial year 2018-19 and transport subsidies coffee and Jammy Dodgers! Pop along to will inevitably be part of those savings. The borough council already meet find out more about the project and the the costs of running evening and Sunday Stagecoach 76 services and there weekly drop in at the library. For more is no certainty that they would be prepared to provide financial support for information please contact 8 service 74 if the county decides to stop its subsidy. It is more important than [email protected] or find us ever that if you want the village 74 service to continue it MUST be shown to on Facebook. be heavily patronised by 'the locals'. Using it once in a while won't be Sue Smale enough to keep it; use it often!

ON&V is printed for Overton Parish Council (the Publishers) by Phill's Print Ltd, 6B High Street, Overton RG25 3HA Co ntact: [email protected] or )773377