CONSERVATIVES keeping our community InTouch PORTCHESTER EAST – Autumn 2017 Devastating impact fears Portchester residents’ overwhelming objections to developments at Winnham Farm and Romsey Avenue being included in the draft Local Plan have been expressed by Councillors Sue Bell and Nick Walker. While Sue Bell has demanded that both proposals should be rejected, Nick Walker, as chairman of the Planning Committee, cannot give any personal opinion that might influence a planning decision. SUE BELL SAYS: NICK WALKER SAYS: My concern is the impact these extra houses will have on I am speaking in my capacity as a ward councillor for our infrastructure, roads, school places, doctors’ appoint- Portchester West and I am expressing views and con- ments, wildlife and on residents. cerns raised by Both sites have been submitted before by the owners or many residents developers for inclusion the local plan, so residents should who over the past not be surprised that they have been submitted again. few months have Romsey Avenue: Is next to but not adjoining Cranleigh contacted me Road. It is clearly separated by a piece of land where the from the areas appeal inspec- around Rom- tor for Cranleigh sey Avenue and Road stated ‘no Winnham Farm. housing develop- I attended both ment including consultations Nick discusses plans with residents. gardens and roads by Miller Homes shall take place for Winnham Farm and Foreman Homes for Romsey to the west of the Avenue. It is fairly easy to summarise the majority of hedgerow run- views on both sites which have been expressed to me ning north-south by concerned residents. through the site’. Foremost is the impact that potentially hundreds of Romsey Avenue vehicles will make on the local highway network. In is different from the case of Winnham Farm, Down End Road – which Cranleigh Road in already has a heavy goods vehicle weight limit on it – that it has a designation of uncertain feeding area for brent there is unsatisfactory pedestrian access, particularly geese and wading birds. Residents have sent me many over the railway bridge, and the ever increasing use of pictures of this area being used as a feeding ground. Down End Road by traffic from the top of Portsdown Hill I ask, therefore, that the appropriate surveys will take as a rat run from the east to avoid the busy A27 be- place to ensure this important feeding ground for wading tween Portsmouth and Portchester. birds is protected; also, why was it included in the draft Traffic lights at the junction with the A27 both east local plan above the other sites that have been submitted and west give concerns over the proposal to make only for consideration? minor adjustment at this controlled junction. Traffic from the site has only one way to go – With the Romsey Avenue proposals, residents through the farmer’s gate between two residential Continued on P4 raise concerns about traffic coming out of a Busy start for Fareham’s new same-day GP appointments service A NEW SERVICE for Fareham peo- based at a hub at Fareham Commu- appointments phone their GP practice ple to make urgent same-day GP nity Hospital, Park Gate, dealt with 60 as normal and, if they agree to their appointments got off to a smooth patient calls in its first 3 hours details being shared with the service, start. Four of the 10 GP practices in they will be called back in order of However, only 40% of surgeries Fareham are co-operating to develop clinical priority with a nurse/GP having have so far agreed to participate and a new way of offering urgent appoint- a detailed conversation, which may patients who use the others are to get ments to patients who want to see a result in the patient being given advice their GPs to ‘sign up’. health professional on the same day. over the phone or offered an appoint- Fareham Primary Care Service, Those wanting urgent same-day ment at the hospital or the surgery. Almost England’s lowest district council tax – thanks to CONSERVATIVES 2 InTouch See FAREHAM TODAY special edition for full picture on planning issues at https://tinyurl.com/y8f3f54t InTouch 3 Mayor goes on parade with the Gurkhas A vibrant culture hub Heave ho! Mayors show NEWS ROUND MAYOR Geoff Fazackarley was honoured to attend FAREHAM’S Westbury Manor museum reopened they have pulling power the VJ Day commemorations with the Gurkha Regi- in July after £665,000 refurbishment. ment in Stone, Staffordshire. The new museum, which will be managed by the The connection between Stone and HMS Collingwood Hampshire Cultural Trust, has become a vibrant cul- started in 1969, when HMS St Vincent in Gosport was ture hub in the town centre. closed and the Fareham base took over the link On the first floor, three galleries tell the story of the Admiral of the Fleet Earl St Vincent, one of the Royal town’s rich heritage from its origins as a Stone Age ‘No’ to hospital bus service Navy’s most distinguished commanders, was born near settlement to the infamous work scandal of 1837 and First Bus has refused to run a bus Stone in 1735 and is buried in the parish churchyard. its traditions of strawberry growing and brickmaking. service from Portchester to Fareham He was renowned as a great naval reformer and it was The reception area and café were remodelled and Community Hospital at Locks Heath. he who introduced block-making machines patented by a shop selling Hampshire produce introduced; the sec- In a letter to Portchester Prac- Marc Isambard Brunel into Portsmouth Dockyard. ond floor was turned into creative studios. tice Patient Group, copied to ward councillors, the company said it had assessed the situation many times. “Unfortunately, there has not been Inspector ignored Council’s long-term housing plan significant demand to operate a com- mercial bus,” it stated. PORTCHESTER councillors say the inspec- water drainage and landscaping. tor who conducted the Cranleigh Road appeal The detailed planning application was received by Alternative to the bus inquiry refused to heed the Borough Council’s the Council on October 6 and includes design of the Former mayors and local bus drivers helped Taxishare is a public transport ser- housing plans. houses, construction materials, height etc. Resi- Fareham Mayor Geoff Fazackarley to pull vice for anyone who needs to travel Councillors Sue Bell, Nick Walker and Geoff dents had the opportunity to comment. a vintage bus through West Street to raise from Linden Lea, Hill View Road, and Fazackarley said: “We were extremely disappointed In his report, the inspector also told Persimmon: money for his charities – Sam’s Haven and with the outcome of the appeal, having both spoken 1 No development including gardens and roads al- the Moving On project. Leith Avenue to Fareham town cen- at the hearing representing the Borough Council and lowed to the west of the hedgerow running north tre (Monday and Friday) or Portches- local residents’ views against the development. to south. ter Precinct (Wednesday). Cranleigh Road “The inspector failed to acknowledge the Council’s 2 Dwellings shall not exceed two storey eaves ‘Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit....’ You must register with Hampshire clear long-term commitment to housing delivery.” height. County Council by calling 01962 Persimmon won outline consent for 120 homes 3 No development to start until an arboricultural im- 846786. You will be sent a member- and approval was also given for a new vehicle ac- pact assessment report and method statement for ship pack and the booking number to cess from Cranleigh Road. tree/hedgerow protection has been submitted and ring when you wish to travel. However, there are numerous conditions, impor- approved. tantly that 40% of the homes must be affordable. A report will go to the Planning Committee outlining Keep village’s postal identity They also include public open space with a locally how proposals for residential development should equipped play area and pedestrian links, surface be considered in the context of the Cranleigh appeal. Royal Mail is to be formally asked by Fareham Council to keep the Port- chester postal address. US twin town marching band visit Local golds galore It follows a 1,500-signature petition ON A trip from Port Chester, New York GOLD AWARDS came Portchester’s calling on the Council to preserve the to twin town Portchester, Michael way in the Britain in Bloom competi- unique identity of the village. Miceli met Fareham Mayor Geoff tion. There was plenty of ‘rabbit’ when Geoff The Council recommends Royal Fazackarley. Northern Junior School received a gold Fazackarley met cockney entertainers Chas Mail to add Portchester as a new The band leader from Port Chester level award for Hampshire in the ‘Our & Dave who appeared at Ferneham Hall. locality to addresses within the old College will bring his marching band here Community’ category and Portchester Geoff said: “I asked them for their support next year to celebrate the 150th anniver- Crematorium got a gold and won the parish boundary, subject to support for our charity by signing their autographs sary of this district in Westchester County. Crematorium Grounds category. which we transfer-printed on to a vinyl which from the MP and Hampshire Cham- est marked entry and the parks and Geoff has been invited back to Port The Borough received its 14th con- gardens also featured highly in the gold is stuck to the Y-Bus.” ber of Commerce. Chester for the celebrations there. secutive gold medal and won the ‘Small medal table. •‘Rabbit and pork’ is cockney rhyming slang The US village (pop. 29,000) is on land City’ category. for ‘talk’, hence ‘rabbitting’ for a woman who Better behaved PHOTO: Northern Junior pupils with bought by settlers from the Indians in Fareham in Bloom received the Mayor Geoff Fazackarley at the awards can’t stop talking. Anti-social behaviour and complaints 1660 and was originally named Saw Pit. Hampshire County Award for the high- ceremony in Ferneham Hall. It was a big hit for the pair in the 1980s. from residents have decreased since the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) was introduced in 2016. Borough Councillor Portchester East InTouch Team Leader Team Member COME AND JOIN US Support agencies are now regularly If you support Conservative principles and undertaking joint patrols and engag- GEOFF FAZACKARLEY TREVOR ALFORD JEFF CLARK would like to vote to select your Council and 58 Kelvin Grove ing with rough sleepers. Incidents 79 White Hart Lane,Portchester PO16 9BG 103 White Hart Lane Portchester PO16 9BB Portchester PO16 8EL Parliamentary candidates, attend social and directly linked to the PSPO: Tel: 02393 112231 Email: [email protected] Tel: 0751 782 9466 Tel: 0747 222 0433 political events or help by delivering InTouch 2016 – 99 reported offences email: Trevoralf@googlemail. email: Jeffrey.clark3@ in your street, why not join Portchester Branch 2017 – 34 reported offences www.facebook.com/pages/Portchester-Cons ervatives/649186565200637?fref=ts com btinternet.com of Fareham Conservative Association? Phone Geoff Fazackarley on 02393 112231 Whether you voted for us or not, your Conservative councillors promise the highest standards of service to everyone or Trevor Alford on 0751 782 9466. WE SERVE YOU ALL in the community. Contact us any time and we’ll respond personally within 48 hours. 4 InTouch Fareham MP says local schools will benefit from fairer funding formula

Portchester Community School will be one of those that will receive Fareham MP Suella Fernandes with teachers the new government funding. who met Schools Minister Nick Gibb. FAIRER national funding has been welcomed by “We are investing an additional £1.3bn in schools and Portchester schools. high needs over the next two years, on top of our exist- From April 2018, the new national funding formula will ing spending plans. replace the out-of-date system that saw Hampshire’s “As a result, core funding for schools will rise and per schools receive one of the lowest levels in the country. pupil funding will be maintained in real terms for two Fareham Conservative MP Suella Fernandes, who had years as we transition to the new NFF. been pressing for changes, said: “I am pleased I was “All secondary schools will receive at least £4,800 able to arrange a meeting with the Schools Minister, per pupil and all primary schools will receive at least Nick Gibb, and a delegation of Fareham teachers repre- £3,500 per pupil in 2019-20, as well as a minimum cash senting local schools during the consultation. increase in respect of every school of 0.5% per pupil, She said: “It is an historic reform, meaning that for the rising to 1%, up to 3% gains per pupil in 2018-19 and a first time Government funding for schools will be distrib- further 3% in 2019-20 for under-funded schools.” uted according to individual needs and characteristics of “High needs funding will also be increased which sup- every school. ports our most vulnerable children.” and out either through a congested Development – Continued from Page 1 small access to the site onto Rom- Hatherley Crescent or a congested sey Avenue; there is a house with its Beaulieu Avenue. vehicular access right on the junction. This is unacceptable. In fact, the exit from the house to Another issue is traffic turning into Beaulieu Avenue, the east of the access road has its entrance as part of the which is so narrow that all residents already park on the proposed new splay into Romsey Avenue. east side to allow vehicles to pass through, and even In a recent consultation, Foreman Homes were promot- with that concession two cars cannot pass each other ing 250 dwellings on just over half the site, but in the draft and on occasions traffic wanting to turn into Beaulieu the whole site is included with the number of dwellings Avenue has to queue on the A27. being 225. I would like clarification of these numbers. Again, there are concerns about the adverse effect Winnham Farm: The main issue here is only one access of hundreds more vehicle movements will have on this onto Down End Road, a busy road with a narrowing at the already restricted road system and on movements on railway bridge making walking along it highly dangerous. the clogged A27 in both directions, particularly into For anyone who lives or drives through Portchester, the Fareham. area around the junction at Down End Road traffic lights Another concern that has been expressed to me is can be a nightmare, so can you imagine the effect of hun- what will be the effect of all this traffic on air quality. dreds of extra vehicles at this congested junction? Chaos. Many residents were worried about school places What efforts will be made to engage Hampshire County for children of all ages and, while there is some future Council Highways in the consultation process to review capacity at Northern Schools, there is nowhere near these proposals and the potential impact these extra enough to cope with potentially 600 new dwellings homes will have on roads within Portchester, including the which are bound to require extra school places. A27? Is there any money from CIL or section 106 contri- Concerns have been raised about the over-stretched butions for improvements to ease the impact these extra doctor facilities, with residents complaining about being dwellings will have on our current road network? unable to get appointments in a reasonable time and Having read the Cranleigh Road appeal decision, I was the increased pressure on Queen Alexandra Hospital surprised that the Local Education Authority raised no which on some occasions is overloaded. objection to that development and even went so far as to Both Winnham Farm and the land south of Romsey say the development would not result in unaccepetable Avenue are intensively farmed, so there are fears about pressure on local education infrastructure. the loss of agricultural food producing land. Although the appellant identified that the 5 infant and Wildlife foraging areas south of Romsey Avenue could junior schools in Portchester were full, the proposals to be lost and in this connection I have been sent many expand Northern Infant School and to increase Northern pictures of all sorts of wildlife including brent geese, Junior School in 2019 were noted. wading birds, deer, foxes and badgers. Website: www.farehamconservatives.org.uk Email: [email protected] InTouch is published by Portchester East Conservatives,14 East Street, Fareham PO16 0BN and printed by Cedar Group, Unit 3 Triton Centre, Premier Way, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey SO51 9DJ