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April 2010 Bulletin
New Forest and Hampshire County Show
This year’s show is taking place from 27th to 29th July at New Park, Brockenhurst and will be celebrating its 90th year. Tickets are 20% off until 11th July and can be bought from the booking office (01590 622409) or on the web site (www.newforestshow.co.uk)
As part of the celebrations, the organisers are planning to plant 90 trees and 90 metres of new hedgerows and give 90 free tickets to local charities. They also hope to enrol 90 new members and attract 90 new sponsors.
There will also be a marquee full of memorabilia so residents are being asked to search their attics for any memorabilia on the show from years gone by. People who are 90 years old this year, live in Hampshire and are relatively active, are asked to get in touch as the organisers plan to invite one every day to be their special guest.
The New Forest Non-Native Plants Project
Conservation organisations in the New Forest have joined forces to tackle the spread of non-native plants which are invading our countryside, especially along rivers and in the Forest’s wetlands.
Plants such as Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed were introduced as ornamental garden plants in Victorian times but have grown so vigorously that they have ‘jumped the garden fence’ and are now causing problems in the wild. They can out-compete our native wildflowers and cause problems for people managing river banks and farmland. Giant hogweed is another non-native plant and is a problem as its toxic sap can react in sunlight to cause nasty blisters and ‘burns’ on human skin.
The New Forest Non-Native Plants Project was set up last year to find out where these plants are growing and to find ways to control them. Other plants being tackled by the Project include parrot’s feather, New Zealand pygmyweed (introduced as an oxygenator for garden ponds), creeping water primrose and American skunk cabbage.
If you would like to help with the battle against these problem plants, you could join a conservation working party to pull up Himalayan balsam. This plant is a particular problem along the Cadnam River in the Copythorne/Newbridge area. For details of how to get involved, please contact Mrs Catherine Chatters (New Forest Non-Native Plants Officer) at the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust on 023 8042 4205.
Annual Parish Meeting
A number of topical issues were raised by local residents at the Annual Parish Meeting on 10 March. They included the following, all of which are being followed up by the Parish Council or the relevant District or County Councillor:
M27 road noise at Cadnam – provision of acoustic barriers
Winsor Road, Winsor – enforcement of 30 mph speed limit
A3090 (Ower to Romsey road) – accumulated roadside litter
The Haywain, Bartley – excessive lighting on pub exterior
Land adjoining Copperfield, Pollards Moor Road – concern about delays in enforcement action regarding land filling operations
Another financial scam
The local Police have passed on details of a scam affecting residents in Copythorne in early March. People have received a call from someone claiming to be from Lloyds TSB head office and offering to refund thousands of pounds in overpaid bank charges.
They then ask for bank details and request that 10% of back tax must be paid before the refunds can be released. The caller encourages people to make immediate payment by credit card to an account in India or to visit their local Post Office as a matter of urgency to deposit the money. Post Offices are being alerted and elderly and other vulnerable residents are being warned not to be drawn into the scam.
IT Workshops for Older People
Just a reminder about the new Computer Club being run by Age Concern which aims to teach older people the basics of using a pc. Club sessions will be held at Copythorne Parish Hall on the following Fridays from 2 pm to 4 pm (all at £3 per session): 16 and 30 April; 14 and 28 May. For more details contact 023 8084 119.
Local Policing
The number of reported incidents in the local beat decreased again in February, falling to 52. Details for Copythorne parish include:
Assault: 2 assaults arising from same incident outside a Bartley pub involving two people with a previous history. Both are being dealt with by police.
Criminal damage: Damage to windscreens and headlights of four vehicles on the forecourt of the Crossway Garage. Damage also caused to wing mirror of a vehicle parked outside Cadnam Garage.
Dwelling burglary: No cases but there have been a number of incidents in neighbouring beats.
Non-dwelling burglaries: No incidents this month which is good news for the area.
Theft: Snake stolen from Cadnam Nurseries and handbag stolen from under a table in a Cadnam pub.
Thefts from motor vehicles: Motorists continue to leave possessions on view in the car or have been watched hiding valuables in the boot or under seats. Incidents this month were again mainly in Forest car parks. Police ask motorists not to leave valuables in unattended vehicles.
Your local police officers are: PC Dee Faulkner and PCSO Lisa Quinn.
To contact your Safer Neighbourhoods team, phone them on 101 or e-mail to new.forest.north.snt@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
The 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 of the meeting.
Local planning applications are discussed at both full Council and Planning meetings, and the Council welcomes the views of both applicants and neighbours to help formulate a response to the planning authority. Details of applications to be discussed at forthcoming meetings can now be found on the parish web site at www.copythorne.org.uk. Just click on ‘Planning’ on the top menu.
The dates of the next few meetings are:
| Tuesday 13 April 2010 | Planning |
| Tuesday 27 April 2010 | Council |
| Tuesday 11 May 2010 | Planning |
| Tuesday 25 May 2010 | Council (AGM) |
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
