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Flat residents evacuated after tree topples

Ten people had to be evacuated after part of a huge tree toppled on to a block of flats in gusty winds.
The huge branch of a 50ft fir tree came crashing into the side of the flats and crushed two cars parked in the driveway in


Havant Road

, Emsworth.Miraculously, no-one was hurt.Residents woke to a loud cracking noise and then the sounds of siTrens as police and firefighters rushed to the scene at about

4.30am.Richard Linington, 33, was asleep in the top flat of the three-storey converted Victorian house when the tree branch - which was connected at the bottom of the trunk - came crashing down.The tree crushed both his Volvo car and his wife’s Ford Focus car.

‘I just saw the flashing lights and heard someone shouting,’ he said.

‘I could not really see anything as it was pitch black.

‘It was only when it got light that I could see the amount of damage it had caused.’

Seven residents in the block of flats and three in the neighbouring house were evacuated to the nearby Brookfield Hotel, where they were given blankets and hot drinks.

Mr Linington, who has 16-week-old baby, said he felt lucky to be alive.

He said: ‘We are just happy we are okay.

‘Another 6ft and it would have come through the roof. It could have been a lot worse.’

The toppled tree branch caused minor structural tree to the house, including a broken window, damaged guttering and torn telephone cables.

On Saturday morning Mr Linington had to saw through branches to get to his baby’s buggy and child seat in the car.

‘It’s a bit strange having to saw branches to get into the boot,’ he added.

Residents were allowed back to the property later on Saturday morning.

Simon Fuller, 41, said: ‘The satellite dish has been damaged so we can’t watch X Factor.’

His mum Bobbie Fuller, 74, said: ‘I was quite shocked being woken at that time in the morning. It’s devastating what happened.

‘That tree is terribly old. It was part of the

Forest of

Bere.’A tree surgeon visited the home yesterday to remove the fallen branch and is still determining whether to take down the remainder of the tree.
 

The News 13 December 2008

Emsworth Christmas Market

Coming up on Sunday 14th December 10.00 am - 3.00pm

Traditional Christmas Market is to be held on Sunday 14th December between 10am and 3pm in South Street car park in Emsworth Town Centre.

As well as many of the local traders taking part there will be additional Christmas fayre from across the region, as well as art and design-led craft stalls, giving lots of opportunity to buy unique Christmas gifts.

More at www.emsworthfestivalmarkets.co.uk

Food Festival Directors Respond to Recent Criticism

Emsworth Food Festival C.I.C has received a number of queries about the directors’ decision not to hold a Food Festival during 2008, the future of the Festival and the activities of the Company. The directors provide the following information which we hope will answer any outstanding questions………………Read their full response HERE

Time for squabbling over festival to end

A community divided over the axing of a food festival has been urged to put sniping behind them and look to the future.
Emsworth was once a close-knit town where residents revelled in the success of the annual food festival.
But bitterness has been directed towards the organisers since they decided it was time to quit because it was getting too big.
Now, in an open letter, Councillor Brendan Gibb-Gray has pleaded for people to stop grumbling and do something constructive.
Cllr Gibb-Gray said: ‘Letters, petitions and unfounded personal abuse have been unfairly aimed at the Emsworth Food Festival director.
‘The majority of those who worked so hard over the seven years of the event were not in business, they were just good people with skill and the willingness to devote huge amounts of time to this special event in this unique community.’
He also revealed that last year’s festival came close to being cancelled because the noise and disruption for those living close by was almost overwhelming.
More than 50,000 people descended on the town centre and organisers decided it was just too much.
Since then the team behind the original festival put on an alternative, paid for, event at Stansteds, A Thought for Food, but visitor signs had cancelled stickers put on them and others were vandalised.
There was a failed attempt at a smaller event by a different group.
Cllr Gibb-Gray added: ‘My final plea to those grumbling and plotting, is to work together in a constructive, co-operative way in the best interest of the future of all in Emsworth.’
Cllr Gibb-Gray suggested residents pour their energies into the 90th annual Emsworth Show on the August Bank Holiday next year.

The News 07 October 2008  

BRING BACK THE EMSWORTH FOOD FESTIVAL CAMPAIGN

The Bring Back The Emsworth Food Festival Campaign gathers pace.  If you support the return of the food festival: 

Sign the online petition - http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/emsworthfoodfestival

Leave a comment on - www.emsworthonline.co.uk


Write to:
the Chairman EMSWORTH FOOD FESTIVAL CIC The Brookfield Hotel, 
93 Havant Road, Emsworth. PO10 7LF

and 

the Emsworth Business Association
BOX
56, Emsworth
  

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