I have been contacted by several residents about traffic issues around the village from Main Road traffic calming, Tavells Lane speeding to the problems near the Infant School relating to lorries and parents parking.
We as a Parish Council are endeavouring to ease some of these problems either by taking action ourselves or lobbying New Forest District and Hampshire County Council. Watch this space.
On a different issue, I am very pleased that I have been appointed along with Graham Walmsley to represent the Parish Council on the recently formed Marchwood Community Planning Group.
This independent group of villagers and interested parties has come together to produce a Parish Plan. This is a new government initiative for villages to identify how they want their surrounding area to develop in the future, from local services to further building work. The most important thing is that as many of the people and organisations as possible associated with the village are able to contribute and have their say.
Once we have a Parish Plan in place we can legitimately say that it represents the wishes of local people. For example one of the results of the consultation exercise on transportation might identify that a safe and direct cycle route connecting us with Totton was a major need. This could then be incorporated in future requests to Hampshire County Council, new planning developments, grant applications etc. It is vitally important that when you are asked for your views you take part.
The Community Planning Group will be looking at innovative ways of encouraging groups of our community, who don’t always feel able to contribute, to become involved. One village offered a pizza and coke evening to their teenagers so that they came along and said what they wanted for the future. Look out for future news on this important group which will assist in shaping our village for the next few years.
I was delighted recently to receive an invitation to attend Waterside Gymnastic Club’s Annual Gala. The ability and dedication of the youngsters taking part was stunning and definitely an antidote to the negative publicity that we see in the press about young people. I understand that some of the members of the group train six times a week and, from the excellent performance I witnessed, their hard work certainly pays off.
Now spring is on its way why not dust down those tennis rackets and hire our courts at the Lloyds Rec. I am able to issue the key out of office hours and the charge is only £1 for children to play for an hour at weekends or during the school holidays.
As always, if you have any issues or queries you wish to raise with me feel free to get in touch.
Cllr Keith Petty (Vice- Chairman)
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