June 2011 Bulletin

Switchover to digital television

The switchover to digital television will affect households in Copythorne early in 2012. The exact date will depend on whether you receive transmissions from the Rowridge or Hannington transmitter.

 

You shouldn't need to buy a new television or aerial but if your television set is not a digital one you will need a new digital box. The switchover is being handled by Digital UK and you can find more information on their website www.digitaluk.co.uk.

Digital UK have agreed to attend a Parish Council meeting in October 2011 to provide more information on the changes. Residents will be able to attend the meeting and ask any questions on the subject.

 

Closure of Cadnam Post Office

The Post Office has announced the temporary closure of Cadnam Post Office from 28 June 2011 following retirement of the sub postmaster and withdrawal of the premises for Post Office use. Options for continued Post Office services are now being investigated and future plans will be announced in due course. In the meantime, the Parish Council has asked if DVLA facilities can be made available at Bartley Post Office which cannot at present deal with motor taxation matters.

 

M27 noise barriers

The local MP, Dr Julian Lewis MP, has received a further letter from the Highways Agency confirming that the scheme for installing noise barriers between junctions 1 and 2 of the M27 at Cadnam has been unsuccessful in securing funding in 2011/12.

 

There is, however, a separate review to determine whether Cadnam can be designated as an Important Area to give it higher priority in future years. A decision is likely to be made shortly.

The Parish Council is stressing the importance of the scheme in the context of its route through the New Forest National Park and Dr Lewis has promised to do all he can to promote the project.

 

Warning over bank request calls

Hampshire Trading Standards and the Safer New Forest Partnership are warning householders to be on their guard against bogus callers asking for their bank details. Residents have received telephone calls stating that, as their payment records for paying Council Tax has been impeccable, the Government has agreed to make an immediate refund. The residents are then asked to provide bank details to enable a refund to be made.

Please be aware that this is a scam and that householders should never supply any personal, banking or card details to any cold callers.

 

The local environment

As part of the New Forest Non-Native Plants Project, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is running a volunteer event on Wednesday 8 June 2011 to remove Himalayan balsam along the Cadnam river. Himalayan balsam is an invasive plant introduced to the UK in the nineteenth century and can spread seeds into adjoining watercourses, risking the invasion of land further downstream.

The event will take place from 10 am to 3 pm and starts from South Brook Farm, Newbridge, Cadnam. Contact Catherine Chatters on 023 8042 4205 if you would like to take part.

Another scheme of local interest is the Road Verges of Ecological Importance Project. Two verges in the parish, on either side of the A337 (Lyndhurst Road) running south from Cadnam roundabout, contain a hybrid of the Greater Horsetail and Wood Horsetail. These flower in April and May and as a result the highway authority will only cut these verges during September.

 

New Forest & Hampshire County Show

Another reminder about the New Forest Show taking place from 26th to 28th July at New Park, Brockenhurst. Tickets are available by ringing 01590 622409, with a 20% discount available up to 11th July. Entry for under 5's is free.

 

Local policing

The local Safer Neighbourhood Team covers the parish of Copythorne as well as Tatchbury, Bramshaw, Brook, Fritham and Minstead. Here is a summary of the April crime statistics for the area:

 

Assault 4	Dwelling burglary 0
Non-dwelling burglary 3	Criminal damage 4
Theft from motor vehicle 7	Theft 9
Theft of motor vehicle 1	Road traffic incidents 11

 

PC Dee Faulkner continues to hold beat surgeries on the first Wednesday of the month at the following locations:

Minstead Village Shop (10.30 am – 11.30 am)
Bartley Stores (12 noon – 1 pm)
Bramshaw Village Store (2 pm – 3 pm)

There is also a surgery on the fourth Friday of the month at the Trusty Servant pub in Minstead at 6 pm.

 

Parish Council

For the first time in many years, there was an election in one of the Parish wards at this year's parish elections. In the North Ward there were five candidates for three seats, with one long-serving member (John Samways) being unsuccessful. In the South Ward, four candidates were elected unopposed. The full membership (until May 2015) is now:

North Ward:

Stuart Bullen-Jarvis, Hillcrest, Winsor Road, Winsor (023 8081 3833)
Geraint James, 14 Pollards Moor Road (023 8081 2010)
Joseph Reilly, 1 Harewood Cottage, Winsor Road, Winsor (023 8081 2536)

 

South Ward:

John Goodwin, Baltimore, Chinham Road, Bartley (023 8081 2860)
Lady Kara Hawks, Old Romsey Road, Cadnam
Mike Moriarty, 9 Riverside Close, Bartley (023 8081 3770)
Charlotte Riddoch, 9 Shepherds Close, Bartley (023 8081 2430)

 

At the AGM on 17 May, Geraint James was appointed Chairman for the year 2011/12, with Lady Kara Hawks as Vice-Chairman.

The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7 pm in the Copythorne Parish Hall (rear extension). Members of the public are very welcome to attend the meetings and speak on any matter of concern at the start of the meeting.

The dates of the next few meetings are:

Tuesday 14 June 2011 Planning
Tuesday 28 June 2011 Council
Tuesday 12 July 2011 Planning

The Clerk to the Council (Mike Derrick) can be contacted at

3 Chichester Close,

East Wellow,

Romsey

SO51 6EY.

 

Telephone and fax 01794 322080

e-mail copythornepc@tiscali.co.uk

Web site: www.copythorne.org.uk

 

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