Decem ber 2020 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

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

Welcome to the December News & Views Parish Council: December diary As always I would like to thank everyone who does their bit to make Overton Parish Council Meeting: Tuesday 8 a better place to live – the Overton parish councillors and members of December 2020 Sustainable Overton, Holly who edits News & Views and keeps us up to date with the What’s On in Overton Facebook page and everyone who delivers Reporting street lighting faults News & Views around the village as well as Brian who does the distribution and other highway problems and Pauline who bundles up the rounds. Did you know that you can report In this funny old year, we also need to thank all the people who stepped up street lighting faults and other to help their neighbours during lockdown either as part of Overton Cares – or highway problems online? Just go to just because that’s what people do. We also mustn’t forget all the shops, www.hants.gov.uk and under Report pubs and restaurants that have kept going throughout this year. It and select Report a Road What 2021 will bring is anyone’s guess but I think we all fervently hope for Problem. All highway problems can some return to normality – however that happens. One thing for sure is that also be reported by telephone to Overton is being earmarked for several developments – not only 75 houses 0300 555 1388. to the south of the village and 82 houses at Two Gate Lane but also the North Field (now called Church Field apparently) and the neighbourhood Do you want to talk to your MP? plan site to the west of Overton School have again been put forward. And on Kit Malthouse holds regular that cheery note and, in this strangest of years, I would like to wish you all a surgeries in Andover, and very Happy Christmas – let’s hope that we will all be able to spend some . For further details or to time with our wider families over the festive season. book an appointment email [email protected] or Overton Cares telephone 01264 401 401. If you live in Overton and need to self-isolate, your Street Volunteer may be able to collect groceries for you from the village shops. If you have lost your Village Agent Phone-in: Monday- Street Volunteer's name and number please email [email protected] Friday 10am to 6pm. Due to social or text or phone 07547 094417 and we will be in touch. distancing guidelines we are unable

Lockdown Larder to offer our drop-in service at the If you live in Overton and would appreciate the gift of non-perishable moment and are restricted to one groceries, but do not meet the criteria for traditional food banks, Lockdown home visit every two weeks so the Larder can help. Please email us at [email protected] or text or main support we can offer is over phone 07547 094417 and we will arrange a 15 minute appointment for you the phone. Janet 07843 853003 & to come along and collect some. Gary 07776 595019.

Parking in residential streets Work to trees We all know that this is a problem on many of the residential streets around If you live in the Overton the village – too many cars and not enough spaces. The parish council asks Conservation Area or have a that you please park considerately to ensure that the refuse vehicle and protected tree on your land and emergency services can gain access. wish to carry out felling or pruning work, you will need to make an Skate Park news application for tree works. The form The contract to build a replacement Skate Park has gone out to tender and it is available from the & is hoped to be able to reveal the new design at the beginning of 2021. Deane Borough Council website at www.basingstoke.gov.uk. Extension of flu vaccination programme to 50 to 64 year olds Remember that it will take a few The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has now announced the weeks to get approval and so give extension of the programme to 50 to 64 year olds. Watership Down Health yourself good time to make the has put in their order for additional flu supplies however we do not currently application before you want to carry have these in stock. Once we receive the additional flu stock, we will notify out the work. those in the 50-64 year age group to come forward. Please do not ring the practice at this time as we will not be able to book in appointments until we The deadline for January’s have the flu vaccine in stock at the practice. ON&Vs is 8th December 2020 .

December Surgery News A Big Thank You from Sarah Flu Campaign Autumn 2020: After the first week in November we were about After 20 wonderful happy years of running halfway through our largest flu campaign ever. We have already vaccinated my business in Ashe I have decided to 75% of Over 65s and continue with the 18-65 flu and children’s programmes. retire from beauty therapy. My plan had We are awaiting the go ahead for the 50-64 year old group that the always been to retire in the near future, Department of Health propose to vaccinate later in the season. This is still not but I was hoping to carry on for a little bit programmed yet as we do not know when the vaccine will be available. longer. Covid 19 has put an end to that! I Appointments at the surgery: We have now entered the second wave of the would like to take this opportunity to thank pandemic and so things are changing which provides some additional all my clients for their support over the challenges. We are however very much open to see patients and will continue years. It has been lovely meeting and to offer telephone and video calls as well as face to face appointments for getting to know all of you – there have patients triaged as needing to be seen by us or at the new Winter Assessment been times when I felt like an honorary Centre at Old Basing. Patients are also able to contact the practice 24/7 family member to many of you! I have so through doing an eConsult which is available via our web site enjoyed working with you and I shall miss www.watershipdownhealth.com. you. Thank you again for making it such Facebook page: For those that want faster news the practice now has its own fun. With Very Best wishes, Sarah Facebook page which started in early November. Just search for Watership Down Health. We shall use the Facebook page for latest updates as well as An Advent Sheep Trail our website www.watershipdownhealth.com. When Lockdown finishes, why not wrap Self-Care week and Taking Care of oneself: Self-care week is coming up and up warmly and while away a winter's we are doing a short video to go out via Overton news, our web site and morning wending your way through the Facebook page. village and watching out for all the Advent Quit for Covid: This is a new stop smoking campaign. Covid-19 and smoking Sheep waiting patiently in the windows of are not a good combination and thus if anyone who currently smokes wishes our shops and businesses? And when to give up then they can call Smoke Free on 01264 563039, text you have found them all, read the QUIT to 66777 or visit smokefreehampshire.co.uk for further information. instructions on the posters and wing your Coronavirus: Everyone should remain vigilant and keep themselves, their work to us for entry into our prize draw to families and communities safe by observing Government guidelines see if you will be the winner! Christmas Greetings: For many of us this has been the strangest of years and Overton Churches Together. will probably be the most unusual Christmas for us all as well. We give a big thank you to all the staff including doctors, nurses, health care assistants, and Letters to the Editor wider clinical team as well as receptionists and administrative teams that have Fly Tipping cared for us this year. It would seem that a Christmas present for the whole Regarding the article on Fly Tipping in the world could be the good news of the finding of an effective vaccine. There is October edition of ON&V: I fully concur bound to be much coverage in the media of when and how this might be with the sentiments expressed, however available before our next Newsletter. We wish everyone a very Happy the actions proposed are treating the Christmas and New Year 2021. symptom rather than the cause. Residents who visit the recycling area on St Luke’s Hall Refurbishment Update - 10th Anniversary of refurbishment Overton Hill are doing so as they are When will the hall fully re-open? mindful of the need to recycle. I would We’re back and open for hire as usual on Monday 15th November - and with suggest that the cause of the issue is that improved facilities. The Trustees wish to thank all hall neighbours and regular the area is not emptied/cleaned by hirers for their patience during the closure. frequently What did the refurbishment cost? enough, and it is exacerbated by what is The hall was originally built to fairly basic standards in 1940 - it was designed a mammoth task to get an appointment at to last only for the duration of WWII, but it’s still standing 70 years later! At the Basingstoke Household Waste Recycling start of 2010 the estimated cost was £157,500 + VAT. However, once all the centre. I have every sympathy with the obscuring plasterwork was removed, it became necessary to modify the roof residents nearby, it must be awful, but supports - and the opportunity has recently been taken to add features rather than installing CCTV which I expect suggested by Overton Children’s House (OCS) including a third cubicle and would simply move the problem baby-change unit in the ladies’ toilet, Vision-Panel safety doors, etc. The final elsewhere, I would suggest efforts are put cost is now estimated at £180,000 +VAT (not including forecourt replacement). into treating the cause by lobbying the How was the £180,000 (net of VAT) raised? council to increase capacity. The Trustees are very grateful for all of this support: £6,500 in donations from Rhys Austin Overton residents, societies and businesses (a further £1,500 will be reclaimed under “Gift Aid”): £112,700 from Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council Response through Section106 Developers’ Contributions: £12,500 total of recent grants The latest from Basingstoke & Deane is from Overton Parish Council: £12,500 from Hampshire County Council through that due to the reducing markets for its Community Building Grants: the balance of £34,300 from St Luke’s own textile recycling etc, the abuse of bring reserves built up over seven years (including £20,000 from the sale of land at bank areas, and the need to encourage rear of the garden). people to use their home recycling bins Will the Hire Charges increase? effectively, bring bank facilities are likely No - the charges for the Main Hall will not be increased. to be reduced in the future and not If you would like to hire any of the facilities at St Luke’s Hall, please contact me increased. for details. On behalf of The Trustees by C J W Penney - Refurbishment Project Manager / Hon Secretary (E-mail: [email protected])

Letters to the Editor Merry Christmas Dear All, It’s Father Christmas here, hoping to spread some festive cheer, Young or old, far and wide pop into Pueblo and seek to find, A Christmas wish upon a card, to colour in, its not too hard. www.sustainableoverton.org.uk Choose the one you like the most, and Facebook: @sustainableoverton bring it back to the Pueblo Post. Twitter: @SustainableOve1 Instagram: @SustainableOverton You never know, your wish may come true, when I come and visit you all very News from the Sustainable Overton Energy group soon. The Energy group is looking at two major projects. The first is to provide But don’t forget to write your address, or Community Energy for the village. This is an enormous undertaking and the my Elves will get in a right old mess group has made the first step by applying for a grant for a feasibility study to Delivering your card whilst you’re asleep, look at five sites within the parish where solar PV could be installed. The with a message from me for you to keep. concept is that if the sites prove to be viable a Community Benefit Society or Community Interest Company would be formed to fund and administer the Don’t forget now boys and girls, be kind, solar PV. The funding could come wholly or partly from selling ‘shares’ to stay safe in this strange old world. residents. They, in turn, will receive a small return on their money, be part of I’ll be watching out for you all, from afar the movement towards providing green energy locally and also have a say in distance place called the North Pole. how the resulting community pot of money is spent to further enhance energy Look out for each other, peace on earth initiatives in the village – be this the bulk purchase of discounted solar panels, to all kind provision of green energy for community buildings or the sale of solar energy Remember be good and who knows what produced on one building to another user. It’s exciting times and we look you may find. forward to reporting our progress over the coming months. The Energy group Team Pueblo is also hoping to assist people with lowering their existing energy costs – please see information below. Lordsfield Swimming Club at Overton Pool Energy Saving Advice Huge thanks to the Parish Council for If you have been struggling to pay your energy bills, please don’t think you’re their generous grant of £5,000 for the alone. According to the official Committee on Fuel Poverty, over 10% of pool - this is very much appreciated. Due households in are in fuel poverty. ‘Fuel poverty’ is defined as a to being closed again this year, the club situation where someone who is on a relatively low income lives in a house has missed out on another year's income that cannot be kept warm at a reasonable cost. It can be caused by a mixture so this donation will really help. Thanks of high energy prices, low incomes, and energy-inefficient homes. Fuel also to all our brilliant volunteers, poverty can have life-changing effects on households, with the stress of debt, organised by Janice Stott & Janet Evans, for example, creating social isolation and even illness. It might be as simple as who are working regularly to clear the visiting one of the many comparison websites to see if you can get a cheaper leaves and maintain the pool. We've deal on your gas or electricity. Alternatively advice on energy saving can be used this year to complete a few obtained from the Energy Saving Trust (energysavingtrust.org.uk) or the Local important jobs to ensure the pool is ready Energy Advice Partnership (applyforleap.org.uk). for when we re-open: the changing rooms and plant room have had a major Thermal Imaging makeover; the office shed has been We have also acquired a thermal imaging camera (thanks to the Sheep Fair refelted, and, thanks to Nick & Phylis committee for funding this) which will be available for anyone to borrow to Bowden, a new equipment shed is up. All assess their houses and see where heat is escaping. The camera is available work at the pool has been done safely to borrow by contacting me and there will be a useful video about how to use it and in compliance with government and what to do next available on the www.sustainableoverton.org.uk website. guidelines and social distancing. Prompted by several break-ins over the Other Sustainable Overton news summer, the pool now also has CCTV. Unfortunately, the Bead recycling is not being collected during lockdown and Pleased to report that we have several we ask that you store any items that you have until the service becomes youngsters volunteering as part of their D available again – please look out for information on social media. The Waste of E Award. We always need more & Recycling group is pursuing several initiatives which they hope to roll out in volunteers to join the team to help keep 2021 – keep looking at News & Views and social media for more details. the pool going for our community. If January 2021 sees the launch of Plastic Free Overton – see News & Views for you're interested in finding out more, further details… please get in touch (email: [email protected]) - Finally, please look out for the Sustainable Overton Advent Calendar trending we'd love to hear from you! We wish all on social media every day during December. A very Happy Christmas from all our members & supporters a safe at Sustainable Overton. Christmas, & keep our fingers crossed we'll be able to enjoy the pool in 2021. Lauren McCann (on behalf of LSC) Transport News Letters to the Editor Buses Bygone Sounds of Overton 1950/60 Stagecoach 76 Bus: it is noted that B3400 from the Beach Arms, Clerken With a light westerly wind blowing in the Green to the Station Road/ junction cross roads (a quarter mile 1950/60 one would think a Thunderstorm stretch) will be closed from 9.30am to 4.30pm from Tuesday 1st December for was on the way. But the rumble in the three days and this might affect the bus timetable – please look out for further west was heavy guns firing on Salisbury details. Plain some 25 miles away. At 8pm and again at 11pm heavy lorries could be Trains heard coming into the village from the South Western Railway continue to operate a revised weekday timetable west. At a steady 20mph Wincanton which is currently scheduled for the period up to 11 December 2020. At the Transport milk tankers headed for time of writing there is no indication as to the level of service and timetable . These could be heard slowly that will apply after this date. grinding up Overton Hill. Wincanton Transport continued to use the old A30 There are several changes to services during December which will have route now the B3400 long after a shorter significant impact on travellers from Overton. The following is a summary. route was available. Others users of the Please do check South Western Railways website for full details: old A30 route were the police. If Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December: there will be significant works in the prisoners had to come from North of Waterloo and Wimbledon areas. Overton services will start and finish at Hampshire to Winchester, I am told they Basingstoke and require a change for onward travel. For 6th December only used this route because constables were the line to Reading will also be closed; on standby in Oakley- Overton and Saturday 12th December: there will again be work at Waterloo and services to Whitchurch. Steam Trains at Overton and from Overton will only operate as far as Basingstoke; Station could produce plenty of smoke Sunday 13th December: the line between Basingstoke and Salisbury will be and noise. I am sure some blew their closed and a replacement bus service will operate; whistles at night just to wake people up. Sunday 20th December: there will further works at Waterloo and services to Many times after a train had pulled out of and from Overton will only operate as far as Basingstoke; the station the local fire siren would go, calling the crew to man the engine in Whilst not yet confirmed it should be assumed that the service on 24 Waltham Road and go and put a fire out December will cease by early evening and there will be no services on 25th in a cornfield or hedge row the steam and 26th December. engine had set ablaze. Another sound was the testing of Portals Mill Air Raid From Sunday 27th December 2020 to Sunday 3rd January 2021 inclusive the warning siren long after the war, this was line between Basingstoke and Salisbury will be closed for engineering works done each week, bet their night shift and a replacement bus service will operate. Travellers to Waterloo should also workers loved it. Richard R. Oram. note some lines in the Waterloo area will be closed and a revised timetable will operate between Waterloo and Basingstoke. Light Up Overton 2020 This year more than ever we all need brightening up! Join us in lighting up your homes this December. Each Saturday in December you are invited to head out with your Bubble to walk and see the Winter Wonderland we hope to create.

There is also an Advent Trail to walk. 24 Windows, 24 Themes. A new window will light up each day, the trail will be up all over Christmas for you to enjoy.

For more info and to view and print our Christmas Map please visit Light Up Overton 2020 on Facebook.

Visit us : Overton Parish Council Contact us for problems/comments about Overton Parish Council matters (OPC) Office is in the Overton Anne Phillips (Chair) [email protected] 770350 Community Centre and is open Colin Fowles (Vice Chair) [email protected] 771090 Margaret Oram [email protected] 07798 640915 to the public from 9am-1pm on Jane Dooley [email protected] Tuesdays and 1pm-5pm on Richard Cook [email protected] Thursdays (to coincide with the Gary Beecham [email protected] library opening times). Stuart Chessell [email protected] 07973 269503 Alison Zarecky [email protected] 773328 Parish Clerk: Laura Harley. Rodney Hunter [email protected] 770099

Ian Tilbury (Borough Councillor) 771429 Contact: 771919 or 07919 851151 Colin Phillimore (Borough Councillor) 771127 [email protected] or c/o Overton Community For Laverstoke & Freefolk Parish Council, contact Nicky: [email protected] Centre, High Street, RG25 3HB.

ON&V is printed on recycled paper for Overton Parish Council (the Publishers) by John Dollin Printing Services, 5 Evingar Trading Estate , Whitchurch RG2 8 7BB Contact: [email protected] or )89 2969