CONSERVATIVES – Over two decades of outstanding civic service SARISBURYIn & WHITELEYTouch – Spring 2021 Wise Tories had cash jab ready SIDEto EFFECTS ward from Covid-19 off Covid tax hike To Fareham’s precept will be added played havoc with Fareham’s financ- the much larger Hampshire County es, leading to the worst budgetary Council precept and that from the Po- situation in two decades and threat lice & Crime Commissioner and Fire & of a council tax hike. Rescue Service. But the wise Conservative adminis- Overall income from council tax of tration had an antidote ready for rainy £7.5m represents just 15% of the bud- days – and pandemics. get to deliver all services costing over Prudent investments and careful han- £48m. Other income is realised from dling of the coffers had built up a ‘vac- fees and charges such as rents arising cine’ of reserves, so £2m was available from the Council’s £64m commercial to inject into the budget to relieve the property portfolio, car parking charges, pain in taxpayers’ pockets. hire of sports pitches etc. Fareham Borough Council’s tax increase for Fareham’s 44,000 There is also a capital programme over the next 5 years of £86m. homes is just 1p per day and the result for the average home stays Subject to necessary viability studies, we plan to invest: at less than £3 per week for all Council services. •£10m for building new council houses “This remains almost the lowest in the country,” said Council •£15m for improving existing council houses Leader Seán Woodward, recalling that in 1999 Conservatives in- •£6.5m for acquiring new council houses herited a huge deficit from the previous administration. •£12m for a new arts and entertainment facility – Fareham Live ‘Toughest by far’ •£7m investment in improving Fareham’s two leisure centres “Now we are in a similar situation. This is the 22nd budget that I have presented to the Council and it was the toughest by far. •£0.5m for playground improvements “The economy of this country has been decimated by the Co- •£2.5m for disabled adaptation grants vid-19 pandemic and Fareham Borough Council, like every family •£10m for investment in Solent Airport @ Daedalus and business, has not been immune to the turbulence. including new buildings for businesses and jobs “Thankfully, due to Conservatives’ financial prudence that we •£6m for car parking improvements across the Borough have practised over two decades, we have been able to weather Councillor Woodward added: “I am grateful to our residents the financial hurricane. for stepping up during these tough times to help friends, “The Council has paid over £45m to businesses in the Borough neighbours and strangers. Our Borough is one amazing com- for Covid hardship by way of grants and business rate reliefs.” munity.” Fareham planning nightmare: ‘Events out of our control’ PLANNERS are tearing their hair out again, reverting from 2018 to 2014 figures housing completions over the last 3 years, after another Whitehall U-turn sent for estimating housing growth. but fewer houses have been completed the housing element of the current Councillor Martin said: “Consequently, against the Government’s requirements. Fareham Draft Local Plan to the shred- Fareham’s annual housing need has been Government added 20% to the 5-year der. confirmed as 508 homes per year, as op- housing targets and required preparation Executive Member for Planning and De- posed to 403 homes per year that the of a Housing Delivery Action Plan. velopment Simon Martin said: “We are Publication Local Plan was based upon. The Council couldn’t meet the target being penalised by events out of our con- “We must now revisit the housing re- due to being unable to issue planning con- trol.” quirement, amendments will need to be sents for 2 years due to the impact of ni- The Plan went out for consultation just put forward and also to consider the re- trates on the Solent. Simon Martin added: before Christmas after the Council ap- sponses received from the consultation. “We are lobbying Government hard to proved an earlier Government change- “Additional sites required to deliver the ensure they support us. Despite our best around allowing a lower number of houses. higher number of houses will be included efforts to issue planning permissions and Two days before the consultation closed, in an amended version of the Local Plan.” proceed with the Local Plan, we are being the Government moved the goal posts Fareham has to submit annual figures on penalised by events out of our control.” Almost England’s lowest district council tax – thanks to CONSERVATIVES 2 InTouch SARISBURY, WHITELEY, SWANWICK, LOWER SWANWICK & BURRIDGE ARE SAFEST IN CONSERVATIVE HANDS InTouch 3 It’s ding dong merrily NEWS ROUND New owner for listed mansion Solution to prevent village hall flooding A BUYER has been Councillor Seán Wood- URGENT work will be car- confident that this work will on high as church clock found for listed Cold- ward persuaded the ried out to prevent Burridge prevent flooding from the wa- tells the time once more east Mansion. Council to locally list it. Village Hall from flooding. ter that seeps under the doors It had been refur- He said: “ It is terribly It’s been happening for the during heavy rain.” IT HAD not bished and converted sad that the owners fell past two years due to poor InTouch Team Leader Joanne donged for over into 37 apartments and into administration and drainage and the layout of the Bull (pictured) said: “Burridge a year and it was a function venue which that the hard working entrances. Community Association trust- high time to get opened in 2017, but staff lost their jobs. The Borough Council has ees work hard to run the hall it ticking again. Praise for on-line teaching sadly went into adminis- “I very much hope the approved a proposal to use for the local community. Locals missed Teachers and parents say the quality of re- tration in 2019 and had new owners will move curbing to deflect surface water run-off from “I really hope these works remove the the clock chiming mote learning at Sarisbury Junior School to be repaired after a flood. to trade again and open this impres- the car park. worry of arriving to find the hall flooded from the tower at during lockdown has been very positive. After its original closure in 1996, sive community facility.” Councillor Seán Woodward said: “We are after heavy rain.” St Paul’s Church in The Department for Education placed Sarisbury Green. increasing expectations to deliver high Now, thanks to a quality curricula and online teaching for all £2,000 grant from children working at home. Seán tastes victory after 30-year battle for link route County Councillor InTouch Team Leader Joanne Bull said: YEARS of frustration and delays ended with the The link route was brought forward early in the de- Seán Woodward’s “What has been special with Sarisbury Ju- full opening of Bluebell Way to Curbridge, pro- velopment after a grant of public money from the So- community budget nior School has been their daily ‘Azoom- viding a northerly access to Whiteley. lent Local Enterprise Partnership, strongly supported and a matching sum from the Borough Council, bly’ – assembly in a different format. County Councillor Seán Woodward campaigned by Councillor Woodward. it’s going like clockwork again. “Wherever children are learning it has for additional northerly exits from Whiteley for 30 It provides the access to Cornerstone Church of The cash paid for the clock face and mecha- been a way of bringing them all together years and is delighted. England (Voluntary Aided) School which will open in nism to be refurbished. with a real sense of closeness.” He said: “Bluebell Way is helpful in providing north- its new home in September. Seán Woodward, pictured at the church door erly access and egress for Whiteley. Of even more There is still work to do on the road which remains with the Rev Sandy Matheson, said the Council Shopping centre layout changes help will be the completion of Whiteley Way to Cur- private until it is adopted by HCC and that won’t and church had worked together to go ahead Major changes are in the pipeline for Locks bridge which should help reduce traffic flows through happen until it’s completed. with the project for one of the most important Heath Shopping Centre. Burridge, Swanwick and Park Gate. Following sales of the first homes in North of listed buildings in the conservation area. Owners Newriver Retail have submitted “ Work is under way to link Whiteley Way to the Whiteley and opening of Bluebell Way, there will be an application to reconfigure the highway A3051 north of Curbridge by 2022. When this hap- Mission almost accomplished: Seán Woodward views the new link. several bus service improvements. Bid to prevent tree infrastructure, which seeks to: pens, I will be pressing the County Council to Services between Whiteley, Botley and Swanwick disease spread •Restructure Centre Way access road, downgrade and traffic calm Botley Road through Park secondary school built in Whiteley.” Stations, Segensworth and Fareham will operate hourly ASH DIEBACK disease is spreading through bus lane and shopping centre car park Gate and Burridge and to designate Whiteley Way as Pupil numbers driving the need for a Whiteley and later half-hourly Monday to Saturday. It is intended Western Wards woodlands. layout to improve circulation the A3051. Secondary School show that it will be needed by that the service will extend to Hedge End and Sundays Holly Hill Woodland Park and Whiteley have •Remove Centre Way loop between the “Next we need to see Whiteley Way completed and a September 2026.