This is Emsworth

Residents seek to save village

admin — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:35:43 +0000

By trying to save Emsworth from turning into a ‘housing estate’. They are fighting plans to build hundreds of new homes on green spaces in the town. The strength of feeling was demonstrated last week when more than 160 people crammed into a public meeting to oppose the plans – which campaigners say will change the face of Emsworth forever.Havant Borough Council has been told by the government it must build 6,000 new homes over the next 20 years to meet housing demands.

Residents fears hundreds of homes to be built on green spaces in Havant borough could be in Emsworth.

Among the possible sites for development are 280 homes in the Emsworth Gap, 227 homes to the west and east of Horndean Road

and 123 dwellings earmarked for Horse Field, south of the A259 in Emsworth.Now a protest group, called Emsworth Fights Back, has been set up.A public consultation on the proposals finishes in less than two weeks – and campaigners are urging residents to write to the council to oppose the plans.

Penny Salter, of Birch Tree Drive, Emsworth, said:

‘This will destroy Emsworth completely if it goes through. There is not the infrastructure and the roads won’t be able to cope with it. It will just turn Emsworth into a housing estate.’ The main concern for residents is the Emsworth Gap –17 acres of fields that separate Westbourne and the town – where 250 homes could be built. The green space is home to tawny owls, buzzards, and foxes. Residents say it would mean the death of Westbourne as a village in its own right.Emsworth councillor Brendan Gibb-Gray said: ‘To have the rate of housing building we are talking about, with no guarantees for the majority of those people, is a recipe for disaster.’

The News 14 April 2008

More at: Emsworth Fights Back

Council gives go-ahead to move to tackle binge drinking

admin — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:14:42 +0000

A booze ban aimed at cracking down on drink-fuelled crime has been given the green light.The licensing committee at Havant Borough Council yesterday gave the go-ahead to introduce fixed penalties for people who refuse to hand over alcohol to police if they are drinking in public. The move comes more than a year after 11 areas were designated booze-free zones, including Havant town centre and the Greywell and Park Parade precincts. There are hopes that the latest idea will dramatically reduce the amount of drink-fuelled crime which puts Havant at the top of the table in the area for this sort of problem. But police have promised they will use the new powers only to stop nuisance behaviour. Inspector Darren Murphy said: ‘If you look at Havant

Park, where there are very often sporting events, we would not expect to go and seize alcohol if people are acting quite normally. If they are just watching a cricket match then that is fine.’The main thing is that we can confiscate alcohol from people who are causing a problem.’ A ban on booze in public has proved a big success in Portsmouth,

Fareham and

Gosport and it is hoped it will bring down the rate of crime in Havant. The borough is the 14th worst for alcohol-related sexual offences out of 354 local authorities. And it is ranked 45th worst for the number of violent crimes linked to booze.At yesterday’s meeting councillors voted unanimously to bring in the ban. Purbrook councillor David Farrow said: ‘It does seem a little bit Draconian but I think the time has come because our residents all suffer from it.’We have drunkenness, especially from the younger population, and they start out drinking in one area and go on a drinking march.

‘Our residents have to fork out thousands each year when fencing and rubbish bins are taken away and burnt and our play areas desecrated.’

The News 11 April 2008

Floods in March and now Snow in April!

admin — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:35:06 +0000

The Foreshore at Warblington Road (10.00am)
Click to enlarge

MORE HOTOS

Co-op bags plastic change

George — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:22:58 +0000

A shop is leading the way in the drive to consign the plastic bag to history.Shoppers at the Southern Co-op store in Emsworth will no longer be able to pick up a free plastic bag at the checkout to stuff full of shopping. Instead they will have to pay five pence for a corn starch bag, which can afterwards be put in the compost heap to decompose.

Emsworth Business Association launched a bid for the town to go plastic-bag-free last year, and the Co-op has taken up the challenge.Ted Merdler, marketing manager at Southern Co-operatives, said: ‘We are delighted to be able to encourage a reduction in the amount of plastic bags used.’

The Co-op held a competition for youngsters to launch the first day of scrapping its carrier bags yesterday. Local children were asked to create a collage showing how they thought Emsworth would look in the future if people continued to use as many carrier bags as they do at the moment.

The News 01 April 2008

EBA Plans for 2008

admin — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:13:37 +0000

The Emsworth Business Association are preparing for another busy nyear with plans for lots of different ventures.The Town Map is in need of updating and modernising. The map is distributed in the community at the library, shops, tourist information outlets, hotels and estate agents to name but a few. It is extremely popular amongst residents and visitors alike so the Association will endeavour to have a new map printed in the near future.Reusable cotton bag project has proved another great success. To follow on with this venture, businesses will be asked if they will now sell the bags for a nominal sum as the EBA cannot keep funding this project. Early signs show retailers are very keen to promote the sale of these bags in their shops.Western Approach boat project is at present still in the embryonic stage. We have been given an 18 ft boat which is slightly larger than the Eastern Gateway boat. At present, Carol Haskett and Dave Wagg are negotiating a site with HBC and when this has been agreed we can then get the project off the ground.Emsworth Christmas event is again in the planning stages for 2008. This year we will have to ask for sponsorship again of various items such as mulled wine, mince pies, entertainment, lights, etc. as this is becoming a costly event. I am sure you will all agree this is an event that means a lot to the whole community and beyond, so we will endeavour at all costs to make it happen!The EBA are planning a major social event in October 2008 to coincide with the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Campaign, which is staged every yearin October. A “Pink Tie” Dinner, Dance and Auction will be held in a local hotel, details of venue, etc. to follow soon. We are hoping to raise a substantialamount of money for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Charity and ask for 100 per cent support from our members. Within the EBA, we have members who have very recently had to face treatment for this dreadful disease and this is our way of showing our support. Anybody who can help or donate items for the auction, please contact Carol Haskett at GCS Computer Services Ltd on 01243 374126. This is open to residents and friends alike, so please feel free to join us for this event. Details will follow in the July EMS and will be posted on the EBA website. Carol Haskett - EBA Committee

Published in The Ems April 2008

EBA “We Can Do It” Award

admin — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:16:28 +0000

The Emsworth Business Association received recognition for their re-useable bag project from The News “We can do it award”, winning the 2007 1st runner-up trophy in the Care of the Environment category. Some people have voiced concern that giving out a free bag to every household in Emsworth kindly donated by the EBA could be seen as a waste of money, but as a retailer I can categorically state that the indirect response to this project can be proven by the near 50% reduction of plastic carrier bags given to customers, by my store and another retailer in the high street alone. Many customers are now using the EBA bag and other environment friendly bags sold by retailers. My staff ask if a customer requires a plastic carrier bag and many times the answer is No. I fully endorse what the EBA is trying to achieve. The project has my 100% support. Emsworth Co-Op to go plastic bag freeAs we go to press Southern Co-Ops have announced that their stores will be going “plastic bag free” in the coming months. Because of the success of the EBA‘s initiative, they have decided that the store in the town will be the first to go “plastic bag free”. Their staff are already being trained. Dave Wagg
(Emsworth Home Hardware)

Published in The Ems April 2008

More on making Emsworth Plastic Bag Free at: www.plasticbags.emsworthweb.co.uk

First Local Nature Reserve in Emsworth

admin — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:33:07 +0000

We’ve done it!!

Brook Meadow is the first nature conservation area in Emsworth to have Local Nature Reserve (LNR) status. LNR status is declared by the local authority, in this case Havant Borough Council (HBC) with advice from Natural England. The LNR designation will give additional protection to Brook Meadow and ensure that this wildlife haven in the centre of Emsworth is conserved and managed as a valuable resource for the benefit of the community and future generations.

www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/

Emsworth Town Centre Tree Trail

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:59:36 +0000

Emsworth Town Centre Tree Trail - There are many fine trees throughout Emsworth in recreation grounds, parks, nature conservation areas and other public spaces in addition to several tree-lined avenues such as Havant Road Horndean Road and Warblington Road.In the town centre, most of the trees of any size are in private gardens, in Church grounds, along the eastern side of the Town Mill Pond, or in the area adjoining the River Ems and Brook Meadow. The Trail takes you around the central area and identifies some fine trees which can be viewed from public paths, some of which can get very muddy in spring and winter.Many of the trees in the town centre have been pruned, crown reduced, or pollarded mainly for masons of space constraints or the proximity of roads. Tree Preservation Orders (TP0s) have been put on a number of trees throughout Emsworth because of their amenity value. The town centre area south of the A259 is designated as a Conservation Area. Any tree felling or maintenance work within this area requires Local Authority permission.This Trail has 26 different types of trees, with 3 conifers and 23 broadleaved trees. Seventeen of these trees are native to

Great Britain, and in addition a mixed hedgerow of at least 8 additional native trees, including 1 evergreen.The Tree Trail is intended to be of interest to both residents and visitors to create awareness of the value of trees in our street scene. Children particularly are encouraged to use this Tree Trail booklet. The Trail takes about one hour to one-and-half hours to complete.The map on the centre pages shows the route of the Trail starting from Palmers Road car park, although it can be joined at any point.

Copies of the Booklet (£1.00) \re available from:
Emsworth Museum, Emsworth Bookshop, Bookends, Borland & Bound Estate agents and The Brookfield Hotel.

Chimney fire at flood-hit Emsworth pub

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:18:58 +0000

The Lord Raglan hit by floods ten days ago suffered a chimney fire late morning today (Saturday, March 22). Police closed Queen Street to traffic as two fire appliamces tackled the blaze.

On March 10, open fires in the popular waterside pub were put out by rising seawater as the mill pond overflowed due to a combination of strong winds and spring tides and the ground floor was flooded.

More Redevelopment along the Havant Road

admin — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:20:18 +0000

No. 34 – conversion to 10 one bed room flats 08/50513/008 Area Team: 2 Case Officer Mrs D Haywood Telephone 023 9244 6513

64 Havant Road, Emsworth, PO107LQ
Installation of dormers in roof of existing building, two storey extension to east elevation, single storey extension to south elevation. Enlarged accommodation providing 10No. 1 bedroom flats.
Applicant Mr & Mrs Doran 64 Havant Road Emsworth Hants PO107LQ
Agent Edward Caush Associates 11 Southdown Road Cosham

Portsmouth Hants PO6 2BB
Comments to be received no later than 02/04/2008

Comment to HBC