CONSERVATIVES keeping our community InTouch PORTCHESTER – 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. No post haste by Royal Mail over name issue ing people to ignore Royal Mail and 1,500 signatures which was presented not to drop the village name from their to the December Borough Council correspondence. meeting by Portchester East Conser- InTouch team leader Trevor Alford vative Councillor Geoff Fazackarley. (pictured addressing the Council) said: It led to an official letter being sent to “They could even leave ‘Fareham’ and Royal Mail by Council Leader Seán THE BATTLE to keep Portchester the post code off the address. Woodward, demanding Portchester’s as a postal address still hasn’t “Portchester and Fareham have identity should be retained in the been resolved, with Royal Mail several same-name roads, so Royal postal address. dragging its feet over the issue. Mail’s idea will only end in confusion.” When we went to print, Royal Mail Meantime, local councillors are urg- The row follows a petition of over had not replied. Almost England’s lowest district council tax – thanks to CONSERVATIVES 2 InTouch CONSERVATIVES promised to deliver your new Lidl superstore - We did InTouch 3 They’re ‘barking glad’ of canine charity help Cranleigh appeal date Councilllors help to NEWS ROUND CANINE PARTNERS is a charity that transforms people’s lives. RESIDENTS are urged to voice their opposition at They train man’s best friend to help the disabled to enjoy indepen- the inquiry into the Cranleigh Road development. bring festive cheer dence at home. Developers Persimmon are appealing against the to kids and the elderly Deputy Mayor Geoff Fazackarley met volunteers at a tea party in the Council’s refusal to allow 120 homes on the site. parlour and they invited him to open their ‘Bark on the Beach’ aware- The inquiry will be held at the Civic Offices, starting ness event. at 10am on April 25 and is expected to last 4 days. Geoff said: “These dogs are placed with people all over the Borough Councillor Geoff Fazackarley said he would be there Fly-tipper jailed and help with everything from emptying the washing machine to an- to support residents: “The Council’s case has been Ashley Mooney, formerly from Gos- swering the door.” made more difficult by the Lib Dems’ non-stop oppo- port, was jailed for 12 months’ for It takes 20-24 months to train a dog, each partnership costing £20,000 sition to Welborne, which is now behind schedule. blocking Spurlings Lane, Fareham from selection as a puppy to retirement after 12 years. “That’s putting pressure on sites like Cranleigh and with rubbish. Email: [email protected] or phone 08456 580 480 Winnham Farm, so it’s vital people go to the appeal.” He also admitted dumping lorry loads of trash in Gosport, Win- chester and Eastleigh and was prosecuted by all four councils. Geoff acts to stop this parking nightmare Fly-tippers will be prosecuted and Sainsbury’s and Wave 105 staff pictured at face heavy fines and jail terms. TRADERS and residents are concerned tive Councillor Geoff Wave 105’s charity appeal ‘Mission Christ- about haphazard parking in White Hart Fazackarley. mas’. Robert James is Santa’s little helper. Precinct redevelopment Lane. After visiting the site The situation is particularly bad outside shops, (pictured), Geoff said: “I with the lay-by on the south side a constant share Trevor’s concerns danger to through traffic. and I will investigate In Touch team leader Trevor Alford said resi- and seek advice from dents’ driveways were frequently blocked by the authority responsi- random parking. ble for parking enforce- Selfish drivers were leaving ment and yellow lines.” their vehicles in the lay-by way past the 60-minute time Trevor Alford was pleased to help limit. bay, this effectively blocks off White Hart Lane to promote the much-needed redevel- He said that often when cars flowing through traffic. opment of Portchester precinct. could not get into the lay-by, “I am concerned that should this situation not be He’s pictured at the Borough Coun- they were left double parked, exacerbating the resolved, it will end in a serious car accident or seri- Councillor Geoff Fazackarley donned his cil’s display stall where residents problems. ous injury.” Santa kit to help entertain these children at were invited to give their views. He said: “When a bus stops opposite the parking Trevor contacted Portchester East Conserva- the annual party at Sainsbury’s. He said: “Geoff Fazackarley and I will be closely monitoring the situa- Newtown play area upgrade We’re out to catch illegal fishermen tion to ensure residents’ views are listened to and taken on board.” NEWTOWN is to get a re- ILLEGAL fishing in the conservation area around vamped children’s play area. Wicor Marina is being investigated. DON’TFALSE LISTEN RUMOURS TO RUMOURS Conservative Councillor Geoff Councillor Geoff Fazackarley and InTouch team Fazackarley, pictured with In- leader Trevor Alford (pictured) have reported several Rumours are circulating that the Touch team leader Trevor Alford, incidents to the Southern Association of Inshore Fish- Council intends to impose park- has been working to get the work eries and Conservation. ing charges in Portchester. done for the past 18 months. Geoff said: “Recently I made a report to the IFCA and They are utterly untrue. “We asked residents what they they sent a boat to investigate. Volunteers from St Mary’s Church and the Your CONSERVATIVE Council wanted and we listened,” said “Several people are currently under investigation and Vicar, The Rev Ian Meredith, organised a has absolutely NO intention of Geoff. we will keep up the pressure. Christmas lunch for the elderly in Portches- charging for parking in any of its Mrs Collins, from Portchester, “We are pleased the IFCA has embarked on a cam- ter Parish Hall. car parks in Portchester. told them she was pleased with paign to deal with illegal fishing after we raised the Geoff Fazackarley was joined by Councillor You have our word. the upgrades and would use it. issue several months ago.” Keith Barton, who served lunches. Borough Councillor Portchester East Borough Councillors Portchester West InTouch Team Leader COME AND JOIN US If you support Conservative princi- GEOFF FAZACKARLEY NICK WALKER SUE BELL TREVOR ALFORD ples and would like to vote to select 79 White Hart Lane,Portchester PO16 9BG Turret House, Hospital Lane Turret House, Hospital Lane, 103 White Hart Lane your Council and Parliamentary can- Tel: 02393 112231 Portchester Portchester Portchester PO16 9BB didates, attend social and political Email: [email protected] Fareham PO16 9LT Fareham PO16 9LT Tel: 0751 782 9466 events or help by delivering InTouch www.facebook.com/pages/Portchester-Cons Tel: 023 9238 4943 Tel: 023 9238 4943 email: Trevoralf@google- in your street, why not join Portchester ervatives/649186565200637?fref=ts Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] mail.com Branch of Fareham Conservative Association? Phone Nick Walker on Whether you voted for us or not, your Conservative councillors promise the highest standards of service to everyone in the community.