March 2011 Bulletin

More speed limits for Copythorne
Hampshire County Council has recently published a draft traffic order to amend speed limits on various roads in Cadnam, Copythorne and Bartley.  The principal proposals are:

Southampton Road (A336):

 

• Replacement of the present 40 mph limit with a 30 mph limit from Cadnam roundabout, eastwards to just beyond the Haywain junction
• A new 50 mph limit for much of the length between Winsor Road and Tatchbury Lane

 

Romsey Road (A31):

• Replacement of the present 40 mph limit with a 30 mph limit from Cadnam roundabout, northwards to a point just south of Pollards Moor Road
• Replacement of the present 50 mph limit with a 40 mph limit in the area around Pound Lane and Barrow Hill Road
  
  

A copy of the order and maps can be viewed at Lyndhurst Library and at Appletree Court,  Lyndhurst, or by contacting the Parish Clerk.  All objections and other representations must be sent in writing to the County Council by 9 March 2011.

 

Concessionary travel
With effect from 1 April 2011, administration of the concessionary fares scheme will transfer from New Forest District Council to Hampshire County Council.  While some changes will be made, older people and those with disabilities can still get free bus travel.  The main provisions will be:

For older people – free ‘off peak’ travel between 9.00 am and 11 pm Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays on local bus services throughout Hampshire and the rest of England

For people with disabilities:

• Free all day travel throughout Hampshire (excludes Southampton and Portsmouth)
• Free ‘off peak’ travel between 9.30 am and 11 pm Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays on local bus services in the rest of England

 

In addition, a bus pass can be used for the following:  Cango; Park and Ride services registered as local bus services (parking fee is still payable); County Council contracted taxishare and carshare schemes; Dial-a-Ride.

A new companion pass will also be available for people with disabilities, subject to certain rules.
Rules of eligibility for bus passes are also changing.  From April, the eligible age for both women and men will be the state pensionable age of a woman.  To check your eligibility and for further information, visit www.hants.gov.uk/concessionary-travel or call 0845 045 8355.

 

Help for the more mature driver from Hampshire Road Safety
People are living longer and expect to continue driving for longer.  With road conditions changing drastically and with more traffic on today’s roads, it makes sense for drivers to update their skills.
Hampshire County Council offers help and advice that will enable people to get the most from driving and continue driving for as long as they are fit to do so. 

 

On offer is a confidential driving appraisal that takes place in the driver’s own vehicle, with an assessor visiting them at home.  Following the appraisal there is a discussion on any issues of concern and advice and tips on how to deal with them.  There is also a written report for the driver to keep.

To find out more or to arrange an appraisal which costs £30, call the road safety office on 01962 846100 or e-mail road.safety@hants.gov.uk. 

 

Help keep the Forest tidy
Volunteers are being asked to donate time to help clean up the forest during New Forest Spring Clean week (5 – 13 March).  The event is being organised by Forest Force, a partnership between the Forestry Commission, New Forest District Council and the New Forest National Park Authority.

Volunteers can join one of the public litter picks taking place throughout the week, with participants being advised to wear strong footwear, warm clothing and trousers. 

 

All litter picks start at 10 am and will finish by 12.30 pm.

For more information call Davina Staples on 023 8028 5153 or e-mail davina.staples@nfdc.gov.uk. 

 

Copythorne Annual Parish Meeting
This year’s Annual Parish Meeting for Copythorne will be held on Wednesday 9 March at 7.30 pm at Copythorne Parish Hall (rear extension).  This is an opportunity to meet your County, District and Parish Councillors and to discuss local topical issues or raise matters of concern.  Light refreshments will be available and a warm welcome is extended to all Copythorne residents to attend.

 

Would you like to be a Parish Councillor?
Parish Council elections are being held on Thursday 5 May, with seven vacancies to be filled (three in the North Ward and four in the South Ward).

Becoming a parish councillor is one way of helping your local community.  You don’t need any special qualifications and the time spent on parish council duties will often depend on what the individual wants to achieve.  The main area of work is attending council and committee meetings and making decisions on local issues.

If you are interested in becoming a parish councillor or would like further information, please contact the Parish Clerk.  For this year’s elections, candidates will need to complete and submit a nomination form, any time between 22 March and noon on Monday 4 April.  Councillors will be elected for a four-year term, expiring in May 2015.

 

Local policing
The local Safer Neighbourhood Team covers the parish of Copythorne as well as Tatchbury, Bramshaw, Brook, Fritham and Minstead.  There were 95 reported crime incidents in the Team area in January,  with the following incidents occurring in and around Copythorne:

Assault  5                                 

Dwelling burglary  6
Non-dwelling burglary  1  

Criminal damage  4
Theft from motor vehicle 10                               

Theft  8
Theft of motor vehicle   1                                 

Road traffic incidents   9

There has been a slight increase in crime this month, especially in the Winsor and Copythorne areas.  However, there has also been an increase in the number of people arrested in connection with these offences. 

 

One of the burglary arrests was as a direct result of a Neighbourhood Watch member recording a suspicious vehicle number and reporting it to the Police at the time. 

 

The full January beat report is available on the parish council website as part of the agenda papers for the 22 February Council meeting.

 

Parish Council
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 during the first five minutes.

The dates of the next few meetings are:

Tuesday 8 March 2011 - Planning
Wednesday 9 March 2011 - Annual Parish Meeting (7.30 pm)
Tuesday 22 March 2011 - Council
Tuesday 12 April 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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