Hamble River Valley Forum (Hrvf)
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HAMBLE RIVER VALLEY FORUM (HRVF) ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 Hamble River Raid 2017 Ian Underdown 1 The Hamble River Valley Forum came by individuals and members of into existence at its first AGM in June community organisations and the Forum 2013, with the express intention of giving has a mailing list of 30. Warm thanks are a voice to the estuarine parish councils due to members of the public who attend and the residents who live within their our meetings and prompt us to continue boundaries about all matters of interest to work on issues that are important to pertaining to the River Hamble and the them. We were especially pleased to river valley. welcome representatives of Swanwick and Burridge Residents Association to Five estuarine parish councils appoint meetings this year. representatives as Forum members: Curdridge (Winchester City Council) and The Forum has developed its knowledge Hamble le Rice, Bursledon, Botley and and experience of the River Valley during Hound (Eastleigh Borough Council). the year and heard more about users of Fareham Borough Council is not parished the river. Its main campaign, however, and is therefore not represented with has been to identify and gain support for voting members of the Forum. a proposal to Natural England to extend the England Coast Path to Bursledon Current officers are Cllr Ian Underdown Bridge as the first crossing point in all (Chair) - Hamble, Cllr Rory Kemp (Vice- weathers. chair) - Curdridge, Cllr Diane Andrewes (Hon. Secretary) - Bursledon. Other Unfortunately, the Natural England rules Members representing parish councils for Estuaries dictate that, if there is a are Cllr Neil Lewis (Hound) and Cllr ferry, then that should be used - and that Lynne Newton (Curdridge). remains their position. However, they are to issue a consultation paper later in the The forum has three non-voting, co-opted year and then there will be the members: Jeremy Clark (Solent opportunity for the public’s case to be Protection Society), Robert Hughes made for an alternative route to be (Warsash Saling Club) and Cllr Jane recognised when the ferry is not Rich. Cllr Rich was appointed the EBC available. representative on the Hamble River Management Committee in May 2016. The Forum’s case is made in a power- point presentation that has been sent to The Forum has held 4 Ordinary Meetings, Natural England and shown in the this year, in addition to the 2016 AGM. community. It demonstrates clearly the The average attendance was 15 and undoubted need for footpath access on included Members, co-opted members both sides of the River Hamble by local and members of the public. Meetings people. Why should Eastleigh residents have been held at Pilands Wood Centre not benefit from a similar, safe, riverside and thanks are due to Cllr Jane Rich and route that Fareham residents have? This the Pilands Wood Community Association could be made possible with the for hospitality. Speakers have given extension of the England Coast Path. illustrated talks on the Solent Mitigation Partnership, the National Trust land at The Forum has drawn support already Curdridge fronting the Hamble, the HRVF from the independent Open Spaces proposed link to Bursledon Bridge for the Society, parish councils, Hampshire English Coast Path and Canoeing on the Ramblers, numerous local walking River Hamble. groups, community and conservation groups. Unfortunately, there has been The general public from both sides of the resistance from landowners and those river are represented at Forum meetings with vested interests. There is hope that 2 Eastleigh Borough Council will come to The Forum has continued to be active in recognise the undoubted benefit to its Eastleigh planning matters. In particular, residents in improving the strategic it objected to the Fairport application for footpath route between Bursledon and Harbour Works Consent for a new jetty, Hamble and increasing public use of the and supported representations made to marine facilities that the public enjoy on the Forum by members of the public and the Fareham side of the river at Universal community organisations. The application Boatyard. was later withdrawn. The campaign at grass roots was master- At Forum members’ request, the minded by the Forum’s Public Rights of Hamble Estuary Partnership (HEP) Way Working Party, which was invited planners from both sides of the established in 2015 to share information river to speak about planning issues about the public rights of way network in where there was a need for a joint the Hamble Valley and to investigate the approach. Much to everyone’s feasibility of expanding it, especially in disappointment, the Eastleigh officer did areas of development. Initial hopes for not attend. There has been some the England Coast Path to allow a route concern about applications for up to Botley, encompassing the attractive development on the Fareham side, which villages of Hamble, Bursledon, Botley, need to be monitored. Curdridge, Swanwick and Warsash, gave way to the obvious claim of Bursledon We have attended River Authority Bridge to be the first crossing point of the meetings. The contentious matter of bait River Hamble for pedestrians. It was digging and the nuisance caused to local accepted, however, that the proposed residents is being investigated by the upstream crossing at Bursledon Bridge Harbour Master’s team and the police. would provide a gateway to the attractive The Forum has made representations to Upper Hamble River Valley for walkers on local authorities about the lack of public the England Coast Path. access points for small-boat users to the mid-river between Badnam and The Working Party’s 14 members include Bursledon and the Upper Hamble - a estuarine parish council footpath matter which was brought to the Forum’s representatives, representatives from attention at a public session. HCC Coastal Access sub-group, residents’ associations and Ramblers’ We continue to pursue equality issues representatives from Eastleigh, Gosport with Jason Scott, Harbour Master/ Marine and Bishop’s Waltham. Director. This year, he has responded to users’ calls for more tender billets by The Working Party has met 3 times with doubling free capacity at Warsash. an average attendance of 7 members. Wider, tender moorings have been put in The terms of reference include sharing place for those less physically able. He is information; developing the network of satisfied that, though the moorings public rights of way in the Hamble River waiting list remains long for most sizes of Valley; improving signposting; producing boats, the programme is managed fairly. leaflets to advertise the network; The River Authority gives financial exploring maintenance improvements. support for the River Hamble handbook Work is proceeding on all these fronts, and the river-wide activities. It has worked largely through work initiated by members with HCC Countryside Service and in their communities. Everyone is aware Universal Boatyard to re-open the of the importance of ensuring that new footpath on the Fareham side. It is rights of way are introduced into new planned to improve public access at housing developments. Hamble and Bursledon. 3 HRVF’S CASE TO NATURAL much of which is owned by ENGLAND (N.E.) FOR THE Hampshire County Council; INCLUSION OF BURSLEDON that the first, fully-accessible, public crossing point for the BRIDGE AS THE FIRST ALL- coastal route should be accepted WEATHER, 24/7 PEDESTRIAN as the A27 Bursledon Bridge* ; CROSSING POINT OF THE that, on the Fareham side of the RIVER HAMBLE ON THE river between Swanwick and ENGLAND COAST PATH. Warsash, there is an existing coastal path - a paradise for bird watchers and a public right of way In 2015, the Hamble River Valley Forum close to the water’s edge leading convened a Footpath Working Party to to the Solent Way; link the network of footpaths in the River that this extension of the Coastal Hamble Valley. Improved coastal access Path would provide enormous was a main aim. Hampshire County recreational benefits; enhance Council’s Countryside Access Forum has many businesses along the route; a Coastal Access sub-group and one of offer cultural benefits to walkers to its members serves on the Forum’s experience the heritage assets of working party. The Working Party the villages of the Hamble discovered possible, linked, footpath peninsula; improve coastal routes alongside the river and has been access; provide an accessible, investigating possible dedications and safe route for everyone. claims based on historical evidence. The Working Party has met three *Bursledon Bridge on the A27 is times with N.E. representatives and urged them to accept a Statement of a public, foot crossing Case for inclusion of the River Hamble estuary in the English Coast Path. The a highway, maintained at public Working Party reflects the views of the expense; Forum’s five estuarine parish councils: permanent; Hamble, Hound, Bursledon, Botley and available at all times and in all Curdridge. Fareham Borough has no weathers, with no interruptions; parish councils, but the Forum includes accessible to all; representatives from residents’ free; associations, the Ramblers and a sailing of unlimited capacity; club, who support the Statement. not reliant on tides or people; safe; In summary, the Forum believes the first possible alternative that the Hamble - Warsash Ferry, route at times of known high the proposed first public crossing tides, flooding or erosion.* point of the River Hamble, is not available at all the times that walkers would wish to use the When Natural England produces its England Coast Path. report for consultation - expected late that the coastal route from the autumn 2017, the Forum hopes that Solent Way should continue everyone with an interest in extending the through Hamble and Hound England Coast Path to Bursledon Bridge villages, marinas and copses or providing an alternative route will close to the Eastleigh riverside; respond using this information.