Special Notices

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 that due to the death of Cllr Margaret Corbett a casual vacancy exists in the office of councillor for the Parish.

If, within 14 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays) after the date of this notice, a request for election to fill the said vacancy is made in writing to the RETURNING OFFICER of the BASINGSTOKE AND DEANE BOROUGH COUNCIL, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire by ten electors for the Parish an election will be held to fill the said vacancy; otherwise the vacancy will be filled by the Parish Council by co-option.

Concessionary Travel Arrangements

Important changes to concessionary travel arrangements

All those eligible have received 'A Guide To Concessionary Travel' and a letter (see below) with Application Form for a bus pass from 1 April 2011. Travel tokens will no longer be available. For details see letter below or contact Hampshire County Council’s Concessionary Travel Team on 0845 045 8355 or the parish clerk on 01264 738039.

This letter advises you that your existing concessionary travel benefits are due to end on 31 March 2011.

As you are aware, these concessions have been administered by your District or Borough Council for a number of years. However, from 1 April 2011, this function is being transferred to Hampshire County Council and we would like to outline what options are now available to you.

To help with this process, please find enclosed a publicity leaflet outlining the new Hampshire County Council concessionary travel scheme which comes into operation on 1 April 2011. Owing to a reduction in government funding there will be some changes to the scheme currently administered by District and Borough Councils. You will need to be aware of these and how they affect you.

We invite you to complete the attached application form to ensure you have the most appropriate concession available by 1 April 2011.

You should also be aware that your existing data will be transferred to Hampshire County Council in order that you can continue to use your Concessionary Travel entitlement in future. If you are unhappy that your data will be transferred to the County Council, please contact your District or Borough Council by the 28 February 2011.

We look forward to receiving your completed form as soon as possible. Meanwhile, should you have any queries about this change please contact the Concessionary Travel Team on 0845 045 8355 or email concessionary.fares@hants.gov.uk.

The main change for residents in Basingstoke & Deane is that [£53 worth of] 'travel tokens' will no longer be available. This was a generous form and convenient way to pay for bus and train tickets as an altenative to a bus pass but fairly exclusive for Basingstoke & Deane. The type of concessions available from Hampshire County Council from 1 April 2011 are:

Southern Water - sewer infiltration update

Following many years of tankering and overpumping of raw sewerage into the Bourne Rivulet at times of sewer infiltration, caused by rising water tables, major investments were made by SW over recent years to repair and line the sewer system.

However, SW failed to deliver a sealed system fit for purpose and, pointing the finger at leaking private laterals, attempted to install a ‘permanent’ overpumping scheme. This caused a public outrage, was rejected by the parish council and had to be withdrawn (see July 2010 report below - Current and Future Plans).

In the meantime SW’s contractors ‘4D’ are progressing four individual so called 'cut and push' schemes to prevent backing up of sewerage into the most affected houses. ‘4D’ confirmed that sealing works on the main sewer and repair of additional leaks identified had to be abandoned due to severe ground water infiltration, and therefore tankering is still required.

The parish council is keeping up the pressure for a permanent solution and is now involved in regular discussions with key stakeholders to achieve this over time.

Latest sewer infiltration update by Southern Water - 20 January 2011

Southern Water’s work to help reduce the risk of property flooding from sewers in St Mary Bourne is well underway. The company’s supplier 4Delivery is building additional sewers and pumping stations in several locations around the village. These will enable the flows from properties to be collected and pumped away to help protect those homes that are particularly affected.

The project is progressing well despite the freezing weather conditions where sub-zero temperatures continued for significant periods, affecting the operation of machinery and the ability to get materials to the site.

The first of the four phases of work, in Applegate where a new sewer has been laid, is now operational with only minor surface reinstatement works left to complete. Elsewhere in the village, the schemes in Bourne Meadow and The White House are progressing well and are awaiting final electricity and telecoms connections. The installation at Holdway Cottages is running a little behind schedule which is partly due to the discovery that gas pipes and electricity cables were running at varying depths in the road. The restricted access to the site due to its proximity to nearby homes and the need to keep the public footpath open while the improvements are carried out has also slowed the work.

Dennis Taplin, Southern Water’s Contract Engineer for the scheme, said: “I am pleased with the progress we have made in St Mary Bourne, especially considering the recent poor weather. The vast majority of the work is on schedule and due to be completed by the end of March but Holdway Cottages may take a little longer.

We thank the villagers for their patience while these important improvements are carried out. They have inevitably caused some disruption to village life but we have worked hard to ensure that this is kept to a minimum.”

An information board outside the village shop shows details of what is happening in St Mary Bourne. For more information about the improvements in St Mary Bourne, please contact the Southern Water Customer Service Centre, at Southern House, Yeoman Road, Worthing, BN13 3NX or email customerservices@southernwater.co.uk.

Southern Water’s proposal to help reduce flooding in homes was to install a pumping station and pipework to channel screened storm water into the Bourne Rivulet through an overflow at times of high groundwater. We have reviewed this scheme following our presentation to residents at the public exhibition in October 2009 and, following feedback, have made a decision not to proceed with the above proposal.

Instead, we are working with the 14 households who have experienced internal and external flooding in order to implement anti-flood measures to protect their homes and provide continued use of their toilet facilities when the system becomes overloaded. This involves installing new sewers and pumps linked directly to the homes at risk. This will protect the properties but will not remove the problem of groundwater infiltration into the sewerage system. At times of very high groundwater, there may still be a need to tanker from the pumping station and the village centre, and occasionally over-pump into the Bourne Rivulet as has happened in the past.

Southern Water has been proactive in organising joint meetings between Hampshire County Council, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, the Environment Agency and St Mary Bourne Parish Council to discuss the causes and issues of flooding in the area. We will continue to work with these bodies to produce a long term plan to resolve surface water and groundwater related issues, as proposed by the ‘Floods and Water Management Act’. The next meeting is planned for May 2011, by which time there will have been opportunity to review the efficacy of the current works.

The contractor, 4D, working on behalf of Southern Water is planning to re-mobilise in St Mary Bourne on 19th July with an approximate works programme of 16-17 weeks.

The proposed programme starts with sewer improvement works within the Riverside area of the village (Applegate), followed by the installation of package pumping stations at Bourne Meadow, The White House and, finally, the Holdway Cottages PS in the centre of the village. Letters have been sent to the residents and the Parish Council has also been informed of the programme.

Planning permission was granted in May for the 3 pumping station kiosks. The White House permission is, however, subject to approval of a planting plan prior to commencement. Permission has also been received from the Environment Agency for undertaking the works at The White House, which includes a crossing of the Bourne. We are required to contact the EA with a site start date before work commences as they do not wish us to be undertaking works whilst the Bourne is still flowing. We are still awaiting the EA’s decision relating to the Holdway Cottages. However, similar to The White House, this work is proposed towards the second half of the construction period when the groundwater levels should be at their lowest.

The remaining works on the main sewer, of which approx 7km has already been relined, includes the installation of a final five ‘top hats’ on the private sewer connections. This work is also due to be completed in autumn 2010 when groundwater levels should be lower.

Community Speedwatch CHOOSE 30 initiative

Your Parish Council is very well aware of the strong feelings throughout the parish regarding SPEEDING DRIVERS ignoring the now-in-place 30 mph speed limit through most of the main highways in the parish as well as some lanes. Some of these speeding drivers are resident in the parish, some pass through from neighbouring parishes, whilst others come from further afield.

The Parish Council view speeding, especially where most of the village does not have footpaths and outside the school (20 is Plenty), and at junctions and where parked cars congregate, as a dangerous and anti-social practice. Having now had instated 30 mph throughout most of the built-up area alongside the B3048 (including the stretch between Stoke and St Mary Bourne), the Parish Council feels it is now time to implement an educational initiative by Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Constabulary for residents and those passing through to always CHOOSE 30 (or less).

The Parish Council was recently presented with information on the Community Speedwatch initiative by Hampshire Constabulary.

This is a scheme by which volunteers from the local community monitor agreed stretches of highway, within the parish, using a Speed Indication Device (SID) and recording the registration number, make, model and colour of car, where it has been recorded as exceeding the speed limit for the given stretch of highway being monitored.

Such information gathered would be entered into the Police Traffic database and an automatic warning letter sent out to the keeper of the vehicle. A repeat reporting of the same vehicle will result in a stronger letter being sent and if repetition of speeding takes place by the same vehicle either a visit by a Police Officer to the home of the keeper of the vehicle or enforcement at the place and time of day where speeding takes place could result in penalties both for the keeper of the vehicle and also any other drivers observed speeding in the same enforcement session.

Hampshire Police state that the impact on drivers receiving a warning notice about their speeding behaviour does have a desirable effect on their future average speeds through a speed restricted zone as well as the presence of monitors reminding residents and visitors alike to always CHOOSE 30 (or less).

With this in mind the Parish Council is interested to hear from residents across two counts:

1 - Your support for such a scheme to be implemented. The purchase of a SID involves a one-off cost of circa £2,000. The Parish Council is looking to sharing such a cost with neighbouring parishes to lighten the load on council tax payers.

2 - Volunteers to monitor stretches of highway in the parish and input data captured into the Police database. You must be over 17 years-of-age, have good eyesight, be able to attend a short, simple training session and be prepared to be vetted by Hampshire Constabulary.

Please contact the clerk by post, e-mail, phone or visit him at the parish council office to indicate your support for such a scheme and if you would be interested in volunteering for COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH.

Proposed Smannell Road Diversion at East Anton will go ahead (updated 18 January 2011)

Smannell and St Mary Bourne Parish Councils had objected to the planned permanent diversion of the C99, Smannell Road, through the East Anton Major Development Area (Augusta Park), a diversion which is believed to be completely unnecessary, dangerous and ill considered - see sketch on left.

In response to the approval of the Outline Planning Application for the diversion, over 70 legitimate objections from parishioners and two parish councils were received by the Department of Transport. The DoT subsequently decided to hold a Public Enquiry this July.

The Parish Council had submitted its objection to the proposal (see letter dated 16 June below) and is very concerned about the impact of the proposed stopping-up of the above highway and its subsequent re-routing through a new residential housing estate development under construction.

The existing road is an important road link for the residents of St Mary Bourne, Stoke and our other small hamlets. The proposed routing of the C99 through a housing estate will make journeys to and from Andover longer and result in more pollution, congestion and risk to pedestrians, parked vehicles and other users of the highway.

St Mary Bourne Parish Council's statement to the Inspector of the Local Public Enquiry into the stopping up of Smannell Road (see below), together with a petition of 255 signatures by local residents objecting to the stoppage, was submitted on 16 June 2010.

A Local Public Enquiry was held at the Lights theatre, Andover, on 20 July 2010. The enquiry lasted two days.

On 17 January 2011 the Parish Council received advice from the Department of Transport that following the Inspector's recommendation to make the Order, the Secretary of State has agreed and made the Order 12 January 2011.

Summary of the REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRANSPORT:

With regard to the criteria set out above ... , it is clear to me that there is no dispute that the area to be stopped up is indeed public highway ... , the proposed development has a valid planning permission ... and that the stopping up is necessary to implement the development because of the condition ... . I am therefore satisfied that these criteria have been met in full.

I turn now to the balance of disadvantages against advantages. In my view, bearing in mind the individual conclusions set out above and the limited weight which, in my judgement, should be apportioned to the disadvantages, they are clearly outweighed by the significant public advantages.

I have considered the subsisting objections and have concluded that they should carry little weight against my recommendations. I have considered the Amended Draft Order against each of the relevant statutory criteria and have concluded that it complies. Overall it is my view that the Stopping Up Order would be in the public interest and should be made.

The full Report to the Secretary of State for Transport can be obtained from the Parish Council Office.

For the attention of the Inspector for the Public Local Inquiry into the proposed stopping up of the Highway at Smannell Road, Smannell, East Anton, Andover.

c/o Department of Transport
National Transport Casework Team
Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4WH

Ref: NATTRAN/SE/S247/85 16 June 2010

Re: Stopping-up of part of Andover to Smannell Road (C99).

The Parish Council of St Mary Bourne is very concerned about the impact of the proposed stopping up of part of the above highway, and its subsequent re-routing through a new residential housing estate development of East Anton, currently under construction.

Although the proposed stopping-up lies in the neighbouring parish of Smannell, the existing road is an important road link for the residents of St Mary Bourne, Stoke and our other small hamlets, both for those who work in Andover and for shopping and leisure links. The narrow alternative route of the Walworth Road (C23) is already very congested with both Whitchurch to Andover traffic. Also, a major local employer’s large articulated lorries (Vitacress Salads Ltd) and their workers use this route. In addition the condition of the road surface and gullies of the C23 is very poor, and it is our understanding that no repairs are forthcoming for this route from Hampshire Highways in the foreseeable future.

The proposed routing of the C99 through a housing estate will not only make journeys to and from Andover longer, but will result in more pollution, congestion and risk to pedestrians, residents parked vehicles and other users of the highway, in the new housing estate.

The C99 is the only practical route for the Smannell Parish residents and visitors together with our Stoke residents and visitors, without involving a long detour, when journeying to and from Andover.

Andover is an important town for many residents of our parish, as well as neighbouring parishes, such as Smannell, for work, shopping and leisure purposes as well as for other services such as medical, legal and banking.

A recent survey undertaken by Smannell Parish Council showed that between 7am and 7pm, 1,275 vehicle journeys were recorded.

We also have concerns about emergency vehicle response times along this route being affected, as the Andover Ambulance station’s route to both Smannell and St Mary Bourne would use the C99, as well as an alternative route for the Andover Fire Station. Many homes in the parish and neighbouring parishes have thatched roofs and in the last decade we have had two serious thatch fires that have made four households homeless.

Despite the new housing development there still remains many hundreds of acres of working agricultural land in the area and consequently there will be slower-moving, large and wide agricultural vehicles still using this route. Also, fully loaded grain/straw lorries, which are very heavy and noisy, will be travelling at night during the harvest season.

These vehicles need to use this road when accessing fields closer to Andover as they are not able to utilIse the C23 because of the narrow road bridge on a double bend in the centre of St Mary Bourne village. Other commercial vehicles are also not able to use the C23 when accessing St Mary Bourne and will sometimes use the C99.

We urge you reject the stopping up application.

Yours faithfully

Derek Kane
Clerk, St. Mary Bourne Parish Council
cc: Mr Terry Thorp – WYG Trench Farrow
cc: Andover Library – for public inspection 22/6 – 20/7/10

Basingstoke Rural-Ride bus service

The bus service for those who have difficulty in using public transport to get to Basingstoke Town Centre.

For people living in the St Mary Bourne, Stoke and the parishes’ other hamlets

The service is available to anyone who has a mobility or sensory impairment where they are unable to use, have difficulty using or experience discomfort using normal public transport.

The drivers will pick you up from your door and take you to the door of your destination. You will be able to bring your wheelchair/scooter. You can also bring your carer/friend/family member and a guide dog.

Users can also use this transport on Thursdays to visit Hurstbourne Priors, Laverstoke, Overton, Steventon or Whitchurch. Users can also book for another destination or a journey on other days or at other times (days or evenings) but is subject to a mileage rate AND vehicle availability.

To register, telephone 01256 462101 and inform the dispatcher that you would like to register for Basingstoke Rural-Ride. There is no charge for this service. Following registration (which is followed up by post) you will then be able to book for any Thursday from the previous Tuesday.

Access to St Mary Bourne Lake

WARNING to all - Access to the Lake area is STRICTLY PROHIBITED

Attention is drawn to residents and visitors of St Mary Bourne that public access to the Lake located adjacent to the Recreation Ground and its environs are Strictly Prohibited.

Parents (or guardians) are reminded to ensure that their children are aware of this prohibition which is in everyone’s interest. The Lake is very deep in parts, underwater plants and fresh-water can be dangerous, even to a good swimmer, and the area is a wild life haven, best left undisturbed.

Only permitted grounds contractors, members of the fishing syndicate and members of the Model Yacht Club are granted admission to the Lake environs.