21/03/2008 by admin.

A HAVANT BOROUGH COUNCIL is to plough ahead with controversial proposals to build on greenfield sites despite opposition from residents.

Planning officers at Havant Borough Council have drawn up a list of sites suitable for housing – and these include greenfield sites previously off limits to developers.

The majority of homes will be built in areas where there is already housing but about 2,000 will be put in areas of green gap – open spaces that separate towns.

One of the most controversial areas is the Emsworth gap, which separates Emsworth and Westbourne.

At a meeting of the council’s executive last night, councillors launched a six-week consultation period.

Residents have been told to make their voices heard.

The borough needs to find space for 6,300 new homes in the next 20 years.

St Faith’s Ward councillor David Guest said: ‘I stress that this is open to public consultation and it is consultation that we want.

‘The officers must find potential sites, we have an obligation to do that from central government. They have gone through this with a finetooth comb. I dare say a lot of them will raise a lot of public debate.’

The plan for the Emsworth gap concerns 17 acres, home to tawny owls, buzzards and foxes. It is one of several sites protesters are fighting to keep.

John Briggs, chairman of conservation group Bosmere Hundred, said: ‘We’re very unhappy about building on greenfield sites and we’re very concerned about any infringement on the local gap.’

Like all local authorities, Havant is drawing up a Local Development Framework, which decides where houses can be built.

There will now be a series of exhibitions. People can look at the plans and give their opinions. The consultation will run from March 14 to April 25.

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10/03/2008 by George.

1:00pm oon March 1oth - high water.

More photos at: http://www.visitemsworth.co.uk/March%2010%202008.htm

Posted in Other Stuff, Emsworth's Environment | Print | No Comments »

08/02/2008 by admin.

Using an old clinker built boat formerly abandoned on the foreshore.

The EBA and Ward Landscapes are sponsored the project to improve

the eastern approach to Emsworth.

 
 New Project

After the success of this project the EBA hope to carry out a similar

project along the A259 on the other side of the town. The pictures

below show the fine vessel they have been given.

Posted in Emsworth's Environment | Print | No Comments »

24/01/2008 by admin.

 The 2008 edition of the Chichester Harbour News and Guide is now available. This 84-page full colour booklet is packed with news features, information and local tide tables. It is an interesting and informative read for local residents and visitors alike. The Harbour News has the latest information on what is happening in Chichester Harbour and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) with reports from the Harbour Master and his staff and a number of feature articles.This year there is a break with tradition. Rather than having a boat on the front cover, there is a beautiful picture of the sand dunes at East Head. The photograph was taken by Emma Millen, it won second prize in the harbour photography competition held in 2007.The feature articles in this issue include ‘Lending a Helping Hand’. Local journalist Janet McMeekin has interviewed five people who help out around the harbour. The diversity of their work is interesting; it ranges from conservation tasks to archaeological digs and helping with school trips.Janet has also taken her family out to explore great days out in the AONB. They report back on their favourite activities which include cycling on the Salterns Way and taking a trip on Terror, the restored oyster boat.Regular contributor Ian McIntyre poses the question ‘What do Fishbourne Roman Palace, Warblington Castle and Tournerbury Fort have in common?’ He then delves back into the history of these scheduled ancient monuments and what they tell us about how people have used this area over the last 2,000 years.

The specifics of how climate change will affect those who live near or use Chichester Harbour is explored by AONB Officer Nicky Horter. Using a wealth of facts and figures, she looks at the changes we can already see, such as the appearance of seahorses, and also discusses what can be done in our area to address climate change.

Racing Tips this year has been written by Olympic sailing coach Mark Rushall. Mark explains the techniques required for sailing in waves. He claims that by following his advice, all dinghy racers will be ‘looking for the biggest wave’ rather than avoiding it!

As well as the regular articles giving updates on projects throughout the Harbour, there is an informative guide section and twelve months of tide tables. This is particularly useful for visitors and those new to Chichester Harbour.

The Chichester Harbour News and Guide is produced by Chichester Harbour Conservancy and has a circulation of 32,000 copies. If you pay harbour dues you will receive a copy shortly, otherwise copies will be available this weekend free of charge from the Harbour Office and local tourist information centres and libraries.

Chichester Harbour Conservancy
Harbour Office
Itchenor
Chichester
PO20 7AW
T: 01243 512301
W: www.conservancy.co.uk

Posted in Conservation, Emsworth's Environment | Print | 4 Comments »

22/01/2008 by admin.

 A £25-a-year green waste collection could be back on the cards after a council decided to take a fresh look at the scheme.Havant Borough Council last year ruled out a fortnightly collection of green waste such as grass cuttings and prunings.
But, after pressure from councillors, it will now look again to see if the scheme could work.
Currently the council sells green waste bags to residents for £1.50 when they are needed and then arranges for full bags to be collected.
Under the new scheme, which would start in April 2009 at the earliest, there would be a regular collection every two weeks for anybody who paid £25 a year.
The idea was thrown out in December. Opponents voiced concerns that the take-up would be small and the scheme would not be suitable for some residents, such as the elderly, who might only want green waste collection a few times a year but would still have to pay the full annual cost.
Now council officers are to research how other councils make the system work. The issue will be discussed again by the environment and community board in M arch.
Councillor Nigel Tarrant, who asked for the scheme to be reconsidered, said he was keen to see the green waste collection set up, as it would benefit the environment.
‘The scheme (the officers] have come up with is probably the best that’s come out of the council for years,’ he said.
‘It would reduce the number of journeys to the tip and it opens the scheme to anybody and everybody. With a regular collection they are more likely to use it.
‘People don’t want to put things like grass cuttings in the back of their car when they could put them out to be collected.’
The scheme could also prove cheaper than the current system, even though it would cost £55,000 to set up, partly because a new refuse lorry would have to be bought.
If enough people signed up to the collection it could bring in up to £34,000 a year to the council, which loses £63,000 a year with the current system. 

The News: 21 January

Posted in Other Stuff, Emsworth's Environment | Print | No Comments »