CONSERVATIVES keeping our community InTouch WHITELEY – Spring 2017 Wise Tory budgeting braces for end of Whitehall support IT’S BEEN a financially challenging year for councils laid plans to generate income from property investment. across Britain and there are rough seas ahead. He said: “Only £6.3m of our £48m annual budget comes In Fareham, it’s brought out the best of Conservative bud- from council tax, so the Borough Council relies heavily on geting and wisest spending of your money. income from fees, charges and commercial investments. Against the odds, we kept Fareham’s council tax to almost “Days of living off income from cash investments are past the lowest in England for many years with zero rises, while with interest rates at record lows, so we began buying com- maintaining services with declining government support. mercial property with good solid tenants (Tesco, Sains- In his 2017-18 budget speech, Council Leader Seán bury’s, Specsavers etc) providing a much better income. Woodward said another low rate had been achieved with a “The commercial portfolio generates a 6% return and the modest £5 a year rise for Band D properties. buildings remain an asset to sell if the capital is needed. The average home in Fareham is band C, so Borough “75% of the portfolio value is in Fareham. Recent acqui- Council services will cost them just 1p extra per day. sitions include Halfords, PC World, Argos and Dunelm at But in 2019, all government Park Gate and a commercial revenue support will cease WHAT BAND D PROPERTIES WILL PAY building for Universal Tool and and we’ll be left on our own to Fareham Borough Council £150.22 (+£5) Production at Daedalus. generate sources of income, Hampshire County Council £1,133.10 (+£53.82) “Millions of pounds annually plus what we can get from Hampshire Fire and Rescue £63.84 (+£1.24) are now being generated and business rates. Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner £165.46 (+£5) every £60,000 is equivalent to Your prudent Conservative TOTAL £1,512.62 (+£65.06) around 1% off the council tax Council anticipated this and bill.” Fareham has lots to look forward to during the year ahead Modest savings will come We welcome a well-known A splendid new play area This year marks the 100th from moving Fareham To- hotel chain that will bring a will open in the summer at anniversary of flying at day magazine online. long overdue hotel to the Holly Hill, Sarisbury. Daedalus, the former Fleet We will now be publishing town centre. School children are col- Air Arm HQ. more frequent, shorter edi- We have exciting ideas for lecting items to put into a We’ve looked at its history tions on our website. making the centre a vibrant time capsule which will be and will be holding an event If you’d still like a copy place and have put together buried there for 25 years. in the summer for the com- posted through your door or some draft plans. It will add to the highly munity to mark this historic to receive email alerts you But we’d like your ideas successful £9m Leisure milestone. can sign up. on how we can improve it. Centre. More details later. Putting Community Hospital to better use Councillor Jon Butts blames the “For example, community nurse staff original funding arrangement whereby are currently accommodated at the community health partnerships (which Office of National Statistics in Segen- paid for the build and maintenance) sworth,” he said. have charged commercial rent and In January, Fareham and Gosport POSITIVE steps are being taken to demand separate leases for use of Clinical Commissioning Group agreed make better use of Fareham’s £25m the rooms. a single annual payment with the CHP Community Hospital. “This has led to the nonsense of no for the rest of the contract. Since it opened in 2010, it’s only single person being in control and The remaining issue is that of a operated a business week of 45 hours some NHS users seeking cheaper single NHS manager, as CHP insist and just 40% of its space is used. accommodation elsewhere. on appointing one to control useage! Almost England’s lowest district council tax – thanks to CONSERVATIVES 2 InTouch 35,000 people use Holly Hill Leisure Centre every week. CONSERVATIVES promised it. We delivered. InTouch 3 Speed cushions ‘a huge success’ Better broadband on the way Planning decision delay puts NEWS ROUND Whiteley road improvements TRAFFIC calming measures in Yew Tree Drive have EFFORTS to get better broadband been lauded as ‘a significant success’. for Whiteley are paying off. at risk This was the conclusion after County Councillor Seán After meeting local broadband activist DELAY between a Woodward recently visited the site with highways engineers. Mat Stocks and Virgin director Hugh council and devel- There had been a real lowering of speeds, despite the Woolford (pictured), Councillor Seán opers risks losing huge increase in traffic since the opening of the bus link to Woodward said: £14m earmarked all vehicles. “There is a commitment to extend Vir- for major road Possible improvements costing £20,000 were highlighted, Age Concern book launch gin network which, fortunately, doesn’t depend on BT infrastructure. improvements in including extra painting and introduction of more speed cushions in the centre of the road, “There should be a significant cabling of Dumas Drive area and Whiteley. Councillor Seán Woodward was de- where some bad drivers swerve to try to avoid them. lighted to visit the Lockswood Day some service into roads already enjoying Virgin. The cash was “We successfully asked for dragons’ teeth to be put along the verges outside the doctors’ “I must pay tribute to Mat’s determination to help imrove the local obtained from the Centre recently to experience their surgery to stop drivers who prefer to destroy the grass rather than find a legal parking space.” intergenerational activities. service.” Solent Local Enter- These involved young and old prise Partnership sharing local growth fund to in sing- ‘A Lidl in the wrong place’ fears of knock-on effect extend Whiteley Way ing and through to Curbridge, games as but nothing has been well as Councillor Jon Butts said residents would have He added: “I am seriously concerned about the done. just chat- received a letter from Lidl about their new store of traffic impact that this store would have on an It would gain an- ting. 1,500 sq metres (4,920 sq ft) that they wish to build already congested area and support the residents other access from He’s on Solent Way. who have contacted me about a store such as Lidl Bluebell Way to Botley Road. pictured Lidl say it will have 121 parking spaces, an in- being built in this location.” County Councillor Seán Woodward said with the house bakery and create 40 jobs. Residents who wish to comment should write to Whiteley Way would be dual carriageway to management team at the launch Jon Butts said: “You will all be aware of the increas- Roger Huxstep, the Winchester City councillor for Tesco and the Rookery Avenue roundabout of Getting On, an interesting book ing traffic concerns in Whiteley area and we have this part of Whiteley ([email protected]). enlarged with traffic lights. written by Age Concern clients received several emails from residents concerned Formal objections should be made to Winchester “A major problem is that we understand about their experiences of life. about the knock-on effect of traffic in Park Gate. City Council who will make the decision. Winchester City Council and the developers The site, which is in Winchester City Council’s dis- Councillor Seán Woodward commented: “While have not agreed terms, therefore no plan- Education trict, is currently an overgrown wilderness, further diversity of shopping on offer is welcome, ning consent for North of Whiteley exists, so Minister’s He said said it was planned to take vehicle access there are concerns.” this money is in grave danger of being lost. visit off Solent Way, via the business park that connects He told Lidl’s senior consultant: “Road improve- “This would be a huge shame as it is a real It was great FEARS of a huge traffic knock-on effect are to Rookery Avenue, Whiteley Way and surround- ments planned for Whiteley are not planned and opportunity to complete the infrastructure to be able mounting in Park Gate after Lidl submitted plans ing residential areas, including Whiteley Shopping funded to facilitate a Lidl supermarket and its effects before the housing,” he said. to invite for a superstore at neighbouring Whiteley. Centre and Swanwick. on the local road network. Education Secretary Justine Kick-start funding bid for M27 J9 Urgent need for cemetery extension Greening to a dinner at the Solent Hotel recently to talk about the gov- A BID for funding to improve the M27 Junc- THE ONLY open cemetery serving the Western Wards is considered as we seek ernment’s plans to bring grammar tion 9 has been submitted and a decision full and an urgent extension has been approved. to ensure adequate schools back to Hampshire. is expected in March. This will create space for 377 more graves and 240 cremated provision of burial plots She is pictured with Fareham MP Councillor Seán Woodward lobbied the remains plots to the south east at a cost of £300,000. in the Western Wards, Suella Fernandes and Fareham Roads Minister to have the scheme reinstated A programme of planting will be undertaken around the site while balancing envi- Council Leader Seán Woodward. after it was pulled at the end of 2015 because and on land at Coldeast to mitigate the loss of trees. ronmental needs. no work had started. Councillor Seán Woodward (pictured) said the cemetery was “I have been con- Parkinson’s party Enabling works were carried out a few years opened in 1957 and had been a popular location for burials tacted by older residents concerned about the lack of cemetery Councillor Seán Woodward is the ago by Highway England (HE) and the original due to its tranquil surroundings. space in the area. I am pleased that we now have a solution President scheme was simply to increase stacking space on the off-slips including a cycle “It is only fair that people should be able to have their loved for their concerns.” of the lane from the Rookery Avenue roundabout to Segensworth. ones buried close so that they can visit their graves easily. First phases of the extension should start around autumn Fareham If the bid is successful, funding will be shared by HE and the County Council. “Any decision to extend the cemetery will need to be carefully 2017, with a view to being available for burials in early 2019. and District Branch of BOROUGH COUNCILLORS COUNTY COUNCILLOR COME AND JOIN US Parkinson’s Whiteley Fareham Sarisbury If you support Conservative principles and would like UK. He was Jon Butts Seán Woodward Seán Woodward to vote to select your Council and Parliamentary can- delighted 9 Camargue Close 8 Persian Drive, 8 Persian Drive didates, attend social and political events or help us to welcome Fareham MP Suella Whiteley PO15 7DT Whiteley PO15 7BJ Whiteley PO15 7BJ by delivering InTouch in your street, then why not join Fernandes to the group’s Christmas Tel: 07464 847 852 Tel: 01489 881030 Tel: 01489 881030 Sarisbury Branch of Fareham Conservative Association? party. email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]. Please phone Jon Butts 07464 847852. Pictured with incoming chairman uk Valerie Rossiter. Whether you voted for us or not, your Conservative councillors promise the highest standards of ser- WHITELEY MATTERS vice to everyone in the community. Contact us any time and we’ll respond personally within 48 hours. WE SERVE YOU ALL 4 InTouch with Westminster A clear plan for Brexit and an economy that works The Prime Minister has set Suella out a bold plan for a global Britain. It contains FERNANDES MP for Fareham 12 objectives including controlling our own laws, Hundreds flock to Ferneham Hall for strengthen- ing the Union, Apprentice Fair controlling im- EQUIPPING Fareham’s young migration, protecting workers’ people with skills and know-how is rights, free trade with European crucial to ensuring that they thrive markets and new trade agree- in the workplace, build expertise ments with other countries. and boost business. After a Parliamentary vote I am passionate about apprentice- and debate, Article 50 will be ships as a means of empowering the triggered, enabling the formal next generation and was delighted to process of withdrawal to begin. hold my second Apprenticeships Fair All of this is set against a in Ferneham Hall in January. backdrop of the lowest unem- Hundreds of school pupils, sixth Suella discusses the fair with Saab Seaeye apprentices ployment in 10 years, the UK formers and job-seekers attended the Jack Burgess (left) and Zach Coates. being the fastest growing G7 day event, kindly sponsored by Segen- economy, the deficit cut by two sworth-based manufacturers, Saab Seaeye. view skills and presentation. thirds and Global businesses With over 30 organisations represented, By the end of the whole day, some people like Nissan and Google invest- covering the IT, engineering, aerospace, even left with an offer of an interview! ing in the UK since the Refer- marine, health services, care, military, naval Suella said: endum to create even more jobs and charitable sectors, visitors met employ- “Thanks to all here. ers, apprentices and learnt more about train- sponsors and CONTACT SUELLA The UK’s strength will ensure ing and jobs. companies who that we can deal with the chal- Throughout the day, workshops were held made the event 14 East Street lenge ahead! at the Careers Hub on CV preparation, inter- possible.” Fareham PO16 0BN Tel: 01329 233 573 FAREHAM CONSTITUENCY NEWS www.suellafernandes.co.uk Progress on Fareham Community Hospital Surgery dates We need to use Fareham Community Hospital better. I will hold surgeries at differ- That’s why I set up The Fareham Community Hospital ent venues across Fareham. Taskforce (pictured) last year. Please call to arrange an ap- The local CCG has now agreed to a pilot project which pointment to meet me. will enable the hospital to be used by more healthcare providers and will create a more centralised management Keep up to date system to help patients make better use of this valuable To stay up to date with all of local asset. my recent visits and speech- es in Parliament please sign Office of National Statistics visit Parliament up to my newsletter at www. I was delighted to welcome Fareham’s team from the Of- suellafernandes.co.uk/con- fice of National Statistics to the Houses of Parliament. tact We had a good discussion on the impact of the Digital Arrange a tour Economy Bill related to the work that the ONS does. I am happy to arrange tours of the Palace of Westminster Speaking up for Southern Rail commuters for groups of my constitu- The Southern Rail strikes have affected many rail com- ents. muters in Fareham. They are totally unacceptable, when To book please contact my there are no jobs at stake, no pay cuts and no safety impli- office with a minimum of cations of the new driver-operated doors. three months’ notice, as they I raised the issue in Parliament with the Transport Secre- are very popular. tary, Chris Grayling, who urged the Rail Unions to call off strikes and come back to the negotiating table. Website: www.farehamconservatives.org.uk Email: [email protected] InTouch is published by Councillor Pam Bryant and Fareham Conservatives, both of 14 East Street, Fareham PO16 0BN and printed by Cedar Group, Unit 3 Triton Centre, Premier Way, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey SO51 9DJ