JACKIE’S
COUNTY
COLUMN
October
Summer fetes and festivals are now over for
another year. Thanks to all organisers and
raffle prize donors. Small local businesses
make a huge contribution to the range of
prizes offered - and thus funds raised.
Please support them in return by buying as
locally as you can.
I was lucky enough to be invited to see
inside the cabin of the huge combine
harvester on the CLAAS stand at the
Alresford show. Over the summer, we have
heard machines like these humming through
the night as they made the most of the dry
days to gather in the crops.
Autumn is the season for consultations at the
County
Council.
Go
to
the
link
http://consultations.hants.gov.uk for the
two consultations on residential care and
highways management policy. Thank you for
the roads comments last month: especially to
one resident who thought the traffic build up
was greater than usual at Winnall. I passed on
the complaint. He was correct - a sensor was
defective: thank you!
Southern Water is now inviting comments on
its Business Plan 2015 - 2020. This is the
revised plan following meetings with
stakeholders. It has been interesting to share
conversations with environmentalists, health
and utility experts in this field. Southern Water
expects to spend roughly equal parts on
environmental, waste water and clean drinking
water parts of its business. Ofwat will examine
the plans in 2014, but it needs your views first.
To comment, email:
[email protected]
For more information, you can go to this link:
www.southernwater.co.uk/pdf/about-us/
publications/business-plan-2015-20/
BP15-20_Summary-consultation.pdf
The need for more school places is being
addressed at primary level and you will see
work starting at a number of school sites in the
division this month. But some schools cannot
expand although there are likely to be more
pupils in future. I have asked the County to
examine whether we will need another school
north of Winchester. There is a school planned
at Barton Farm, but with new housing being
built, there will be certainly be more children
north of the new development too. As an
example, I met Joint Forces staff at the
Sundown event at Worthy Down. They are
looking forward to their new training unit and
staff quarters there. This will be supported by
a range of training officers living in and outside
the camp. Many will have school age children,
I’m sure.
At the other end of their school lives, young
people are now required to be in education or
training until they are 17, but legislation only
provides free transport until 16. This can result
in high transport bills for families. I have asked
how Hampshi ɔ