David Jones
I
now understand that the formal transfer of ‘policing and managing’ vehicle
parking together with the car parks will be transferred from the Police to the
Havant Borough Council on 1 April 2005. Also that it is the Council’s intention
to then ‘take stock’, ie monitor the existing arrangements before proposing or
making any changes. If so, then this is to be welcomed. Parking is a very
important and sensitive issue in Emsworth and, understandably, is considered
from many different angles and interests; most are not easily quantifiable if
you don’t live or work here. It remains my hope and expectation that, together
with the EBA and any other bodies with significant interests in this issue, we
can meet with the relevant councillors and council officers to agree priorities
and a suitable compromise solution for parking in central Emsworth. It is
already evident that there are over 5,100 ‘solutions’, one from each household
and business in Emsworth!
Why
the Council, 7 months before the transfer of responsibility, has seen fit to
revoke all existing Off Street Parking Orders and remake them, with notable
changes for central Emsworth, is still a mystery. The invitation, published in
the Portsmouth News on Friday, 20th August, to send objections and
other representations to the Council does not equate to consultation in my
language. No explanation or justification for the changes has been offered. The
ERA has submitted its ‘objections and representations’.
As
many residents will already be aware, the Inspector, in his report to the
Council following the Public Inquiry, recommended the deletion of the reserve
site for 250 houses to the west of the Recreation Ground as proposed by HBC. In
its stead he proposed the western end of the large field to the north of
Westbourne Road, known as Hampshire Farm, as the substitute reserve site, also
for 250 houses. The ‘bottom line’ is that the Local Plan is required to
identify reserve site(s) in the Borough with a total capacity of 500 houses. So
the removal of one site from the plan must lead to its replacement by another
with at least equal capacity.
The
whole report into the objections to the Borough District Wide Local Plan is now
being considered by the Council Officers. Proposals for consequential changes
to the local plan will be submitted for approval at the end of the year. Only
then will they be published, and only then will the public have the opportunity
to comment and/or raise objections to the changes.
The
Council’s acceptance of the proposed Hampshire Farm reserve site may be one of
the changes. See also the article on page
by Chris Curry, the Vice-Chairman. It is worth reminding readers that
the designation of reserve site does not automatically mean that the site will
be built on. This will only happen if the rate of house building in southern
Hampshire falls behind the County Council’s requirement, as determined in the
County Structure Plan, and the County Council (not the Borough Council) selects
this particular reserve site to make good the shortfall. Reserve sites can also
be used to meet some ‘unforeseen situations’. Conversely the likelihood of a
reserve site being used can also be reduced, (or even disappear) if sufficient
windfall sites (those not foreseen when the plan was developed and approved)
subsequently become available.
In
the meantime the ERA will be keeping a close interest on this issue, not least
because this possible site, like its predecessor, is also in a strategic gap.
The
saga of the Post Office is now over. The fine new counter was opened in the
Co-Op Store on 6 August, and, I am pleased to say, with all the original staff
from its previous position in One Stop. Ideally, I would have preferred a site
in North Street to help support the business area north of the roundabout. We are, nevertheless, very grateful to the
Co-Op for its part in helping to maintain the active community spirit in
Emsworth through the new central position for the Post Office.
Thanks
due primarily to Richard Jannaway, the ERA now has its own website
(www.Emsworth-residents.co.uk). This will be used to inform its ‘visitors’ of
recent and current news and future meetings and other activities. We will take
stock after about six months and endeavour to measure its effectiveness.
Phoebe
Atkinson-Eberle and Peter Harris, previously editor and EMS distribution
manager have recently retired. For many years they were both stalwart members
of the labyrinthine organisation that ensures that the ERA fulfils its
purpose. We hope that both will attend
the next QGM on 18 October when we can publicly thank them for their services
and support.