Village News

Autumn 2014 News and Information from your local Parish Council Electoral Commission Consultation

The Government’s Electoral Commission has and to make any suggestions as to how the decreed that the number of councillors on new wards should be made up. At present, City Council, and the ward Headbourne Worthy is in a one member boundaries, should be investigated with a ward, with Crawley and Sparsholt. The view to bringing them into line with other boundary review means that Headbourne neighbouring District Councils. Worthy Parish could be moved back into a The City Council has already (on the casting City Council ward with the rest of the vote of the Conservative Mayor) agreed to Worthys, although the requirement for propose that the number of councillors be three members would mean that reduced from 57 to 45, and that all wards somewhere else would have to be included should be three member wards, instead of to make up the required number of the current mix of one, two and three electors - say South or member wards, with elections three years . out of every four, as at present. The Commission has said that in Parish Councils and local residents are exceptional circumstances, and to better being invited to comment on the proposals, Continued on Page 3.... New Bus Shelter In this Issue: The Parish Council is Ÿ Barton Farm - construction delighted with the new bus traffic complaints line shelter at Taylor’s Corner, Ÿ War Memorial Restoration the junction of London Fund Road with Bedfield Lane. Ÿ Could you be a Parish This is a popular bus stop Councillor? for many local residents, Ÿ Village Flora Ÿ particularly from Emergency Planning Ÿ Headbourne Worthy Silver Hill Development - House. Here Valerie Smith want a meeting? Ÿ waits happily for her bus to Should The Dell be in Kings Winchester. Many thanks Worthy or Headbourne Worthy? to those PC members who Ÿ worked so hard on this. Village Lengthsman To contact your Parish Council, visit www.theworthys.org.uk or contact the Parish Clerk, Adrian Reeves, tel: 01962 881839 [email protected] War Memorial Restoration & Fund quotations indicate that this work will not LEST WE FORGET come cheaply, or easily, as even planning Traditionally the Chair of the Parish permission has to be sought, so we will Council places a wreath at the War be launching, with the Church authorities, Memorial on Remembrance Sunday; one a joint fund raising and awareness of the things that did not occur as I was initiative. being persuaded to take the job was the Why not join me in placing the wreath in realisation that this year marks the 100th this special year? My family is listed on anniversary of the outbreak, and that it the Thiepval memorial in France, and would fall to me to mark this event. perhaps yours is also, so let us make this The Memorial, in the grounds of St. year’s tradition a moving and memorable Swithun’s Church, was erected in the occasion. The service follows on from the 1920's and has faithfully been the focus wreath laying, at 11am, so why not join of remembering the sacrifices of two the congregation as well? You would be world wars and other conflicts. It is now made most welcome. time to repay that loyalty and to repair the damage of hot summers, wet winters and just anno domini. The PC is the Barton Farm & Silver Hill proud custodian of the memorial, and in the forthcoming poignant four years it Construction work is due to start soon on will put in place some repairs and access roads for the new housing at refreshments that will enable it to Barton Farm. Construction traffic has continue the silent work it does. Initial been instructed to use only Andover Road for access. If you are concerned that construction traffic is using our village as a short cut to the site, please contact this representative of CALA Homes and let him know so that they can be immediately stopped: Robert Westwood - [email protected]

Meanwhile, the Silver Hill regeneration project for the ‘bottom’ of Winchester has been much in the news. If you would like to know more, or give the Parish Council and local City and County Councillors your views, do you think it would be helpful for the Parish Council to arrange a public meeting? Please email or call our Parish Clerk to let him know if you think this would be a helpful and interesting thing to do. Review Cont... Parish Boundary Review: Separate from the review of the City reflect distinct communities, they would Council boundaries, but as a ‘tidying-up’ consider having one or two member exercise, the City Council would like to wards. An argument could be made that hear about any boundaries which need to the Worthys is a distinct community and be changed in the Parishes. For instance, including Headbourne Worthy with the half of The Dell (the new homes built off present would provide Willis Waye) is in Headbourne Worthy, half enough electors for a two member ward. in Kings Worthy. Do you think the whole If you would like to comment on the road should be in one Parish or the other, proposals, please contact the Parish Clerk and if so, which? Are there any other Adrian Reeves - contact details on front anomalies which clearing up? Let our page of this newsletter, or Jane. Parish Clerk Adrian have your views: [email protected]

see from this newsletter the sorts of things Could you be we do. If you have an interest in the village, a Parish Councillor?. and want to play a small role in improving and conserving our village, We Want You! We have a vacancy for a Parish Councillor in Council meetings are informal and friendly, Headbourne Worthy. If you live here, or and your involvement can be as much or as work here, or live or work close by the little as you feel able. Please contact our Parish, you are eligible to put your name Parish Clerk to express an interest, or for forward. The Parish Council will consider more information, or talk to any members applications - it’s a very painless procedure! of the Parish Council - our details are on We meet only six times a year, and you can the village website: www.theworthys.org.uk. Parish Lengthsman - Scheme Continues Headbourne Worthy's Lengthsman, Craig Village Flora Morris, works in the village for a day every You may have noticed the two areas of couple of months. So far this year he has wildflower planting that went in this year. cleared footpaths, cut back nettles and Headbourne Worthy paid for the plants, Phil branches from footpaths, picked up litter, Jeffs of Worthy Plants supervised the work, cut the grass on the Watercress footpath, and the Worthys Conservation Volunteers planted them. You may also be thinking that it cleared out the gullies and culvert at the doesn't look like much at the moment, but junction of Well House Lane and Down fear not, the plants need to establish Farm Lane, and cleaned our village signs. themselves, and next year the display will be This initiative is paid for by even better. County Council, and has been extended As well as the summer display of the into 2015, so we will be seeing our wildflowers, new Parish Councillor Tom Lengthsman working in the village for Crutchfield has put together a plan for a another year. If you have any suggestions Spring display around the village. Again, the for work to be done, please contact Cllr Worthys Conservation Volunteers will be Claire Welland: helping the Parish Council by planting bulbs in [email protected]. a few spots around the village as a start to this plan. “I have always lived New Parish Councillor in the Winchester district; I was born Only six people put in nominations for and grew up in the seven places on Headbourne Worthy Kings Worthy and Parish Council in May, when the four moved to yearly elections for parish councillors Micheldever were held. Thus we had no election, but Station for a the six were returned unopposed. Five couple of years members were returning councillors: before moving to Harry Whorwood (Chair), Christine Clarke- Headbourne Smith (Vice-Chair), Claire Duncan, Claire Worthy, where I Welland (Lengthsman coordinator)) and have now lived for the past 5 years with Jane Rutter (Newsletter). One new face my wife and 3 yr old daughter. I work as has joined us: Tom Crutchfield who lives a Landscape Architect for Hampshire at Springvale Cottage on Springvale County Council.” Road. His contact phone numbers are MLI, MA (Hons) 01962 882159 or 07877 900729. Tom [email protected] writes; flooding was about to happen, and to Flooding Update keep them updated on the situation. We now receive advanced warnings from the Fingers crossed that we will not see a EA, and we can keep you updated on what repeat of the flooding this winter, but as is happening; if you have given your email ground water levels are still extremely address to Adrian our Parish Clerk. high, we are not being sanguine or Help can come in various forms; complacent. A Flood Action Group has wheelbarrows, tea making, evacuation, been formed, and a plan has evolved, so muscle or comfort and support. An that what we learned can be used to efficient email system should be able to let forestall or mitigate another event. We residents know that help in whatever have been working with the Environment capacity is needed; not just for flooding, Agency (EA) and Hampshire County and but in any emergency that might befall the Winchester City Councils to identify what village. Just as Neighbourhood Watch short-term self-help and simple mitigation efficiently lets us know of crime threats to or alleviation works can be carried out. It the village, the PC should warn of other is hoped to have these in place as quickly threats or advise of help needs. We have as we can, before we move to more asked Margaret Filley if we can share her permanent solutions. email addresses, but if you would rather The whole of the Parish was affected; not let us share your email address, can either by having to make tedious detours you please confirm with Margaret before of the flooded areas, or more directly by the end of October. water lapping at the front door. On this point, two important lessons have been learned; communication, and help. We did not have the ability to warn residents that

Headbourne Worthy Village News is Published by Headbourne Worthy Parish Council. To contact the Editor please telephone Cllr Jane Rutter on 01962 884981. Printed by ADH Printing, 2 Boyne Rise, Kings Worthy, Telephone: 01962 882167.