Hayling Island Residents Association
Chairman's Report
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2011
We are pleased to note that our finances continued to be fairly healthy, almost breaking even. I should like to thank Barbra Gardner for her work as Treasurer this year. We could still do with quite a few more members and I am sure they are out there – getting to them is the problem. It is here that all of you could be helpful, by encouraging friends and neighbours to join. Members are reminded that the membership year starts on 1st September. I should like to touch briefly upon matters with which the Association has involved itself during the past year. Once again I shall divide these up into four areas, with the acronym of EPIC – environment, planning, issues and community, but there is inevitable overlap in a number of areas.
ENVIRONMENT
One of last year’s hot topics, Stoke Common, has recently come back to the surface, with new owner offering it back for £220,000, a profit of £100,000. HCC are still very interested in acquiring it, but not at that price! A national initiative, entitled Operation Watermark, was launched, suggesting that Hayling devise a flood plan, which is under consideration; Islander Bruce Bennett’s photo of beach huts in the snow was used as the Christmas card for the CPRE last year; the Hayling Billy Trail is becoming a nature reserve; Bosmere Field is to be retained as open space, following much pressure from local groups, including HIRA; the issue of exactly how any left over Liveability Fund money from the Eastoke Corner project was allocated has never been satisfactorily resolved; a volunteer Beach Wardens scheme was introduced, with training available; residents queried the tree-felling in Newtown and Tournerbury Lanes, with HCC Roads and Highways not being aware that the Residents’ Association should have been consulted – but they are now! St Mary’s Church was re-opened, following its impressive internal transformation and was the place chosen by the Landing Craft Association to lay their standard to rest, in a moving service last month; the Northney Farm Tea Rooms were opened in the summer to great acclaim and the adjacent barn’s superb restoration is taking shape; dog fouling continues to be a problem; the demand for more allotment space was noted; the Stead-Ritchie Memorial Garden on Selsmore road is to be tidied up; Queen Elizabeth Country Park was in a Green Flag Award competition for the nation’s favourite park and came 5th, following much networking and support for their bid locally; the closure of the Hayling Billy Line 50 years ago in 2013 is to be commemorated; there is a feeling that TPOs do not have much weight when developers want to chop them down and so should perhaps be strengthened.
PLANNING
We have of course been vigilant in our scrutiny of planning proposals, both individual projects and the bigger issues contained within the recently completed Local Plan, superseded by the Local Development Framework and now the Core Strategy, upon which we have made our views felt. The houses, flat and courtyard opposite the Shades are nearing completion, leading to a much improved area; we note with much regret that the Rose in June site is for sale, with planning permission for flats and houses, but with no apparent prospect of development. One of the reasons the DMC gave for agreeing to the change of use was that the site looked dilapidated and it is now even worse – but for their decision it could have once again been a thriving pub; no further news on the proposed lodges on the site of the former Broad Oak Hotel; we have no objection to the proposed development of Yachthaven, on the market at a price of £3.14m. There is no doubt, however, about what has been the biggest topic of the year, in respect of planning for Hayling Island: in January there was a presentation to the Community Board about the proposed development for housing of Mengham Fields, between Goldring Close and Beech Grove, off Tournerbury Lane. As a result of this a public meeting was called at the Community Centre in March, with standing room only. The vote at the meeting was unanimous in its rejection of aspects of the recently published HBC Core Strategy document, as it related to housing policy on Hayling Island. Subsequently, a petition, sponsored jointly by HIRA and HICB, was devised and 4,500 signatures gained. The petition will be submitted to HBC on Monday 31st October, demanding review of the ability of the Island’s infrastructure to sustain further high levels of building. A Facebook Cause site entitled ‘Save Hayling from further large-scale development’ attracted 671 members. The Community Board’s website has been a useful platform for this campaign. It has been noted that there are a large number of two to three bedroom properties for sale on the Island, which cannot find buyers; it was also noted that there is a great demand for retirement accommodation on the Island, with West Town’s Fountain’s Court being held up as a good example. It was noted that the former Hayling Bay Hotel has been sold on for development. An application for 32 static caravans on the Mill Rythe Holiday Centre site, overlooking Chichester Harbour, was the subject of much discussion, especially as year-round occupancy was being sought – a letter in objection was sent to HBC, with no reply as yet. There are still one or two flats unsold at Dilkusha – we have queried the permission for the oversized advertising boards at this location; HIRA is preparing its contribution to the revised Statement of Community Involvement on planning matters, for submission to HBC. Not much going on in the planning world, then!
ISSUES
There were two ‘traveller’ invasions of Beachlands, opposite Chichester Avenue, during the summer, the first being prolonged and the second much shorter, once HBC had sorted out what they needed to do to send them on their way – it is likely amendments to the law and the provisions for dealing with traveller trespass will be introduced at some point in the near future. There was another successful windsurfing competition at the Inn on the Beach, but the pub struggles to recoup their outlay on the event; speeding on the Island continues to be an issue, remaining a constant priority as endorsed by the Community Board – a Community Speedwatch initiative is being introduced, following success in other parts of the County; Cycle Hayling, the subject of January’s Open Meeting, continues to thrive, with about 40 members and is now part of Hayling’s Best MTI. They produced an excellent Cycle Map of Hayling and 5,000 copies were printed, with funding from both HCC and HBC. Their Safe Route to Schools project was endorsed by HCC, with promised funding and is making progress, despite inevitable obstacles; there was a safe cycling poster competition in the schools and CH participated in the Carnival and other events. On their wish-list is a path up the centre of Hayling as well as the proper re-surfacing of the Billy Trail. HBC is planning to extend the cycle path from Langstone further south to the bridge approach.; the April Open Meeting hosted Sue Hobbs, Clerk to the Hound Parish Council, who had written a university paper on the Parishing of Hayling Island; we registered our objection to the proposed cuts to the evening bus service between Havant and Hayling; we are still campaigning for easier access to the beach for elderly and disabled people; Hayling Ferry was closed for 6 weeks, due to H&S issues- we felt that this period was excessive and that the service deserves greater promotion and improvements; the plan for COPP’s granite memorial on the Seafront proved to be highly controversial, with much Islander correspondence for and against, the planned location having been moved from near the Coastguard Station to opposite Seagrove Avenue – much fundraising has taken place, with gala events at the Station Theatre in July. It is expected that the newly appointed patron, HRH Prince Charles, will attend the designation ceremony, once the monument is in place. HIRA has written in favour. There was an about face by HBC on parking charges at the Health Centre and for disabled parking at Beachlands; the CPRE recommended we write to our MP to propose amendments to the Localism Bill, now making its way through Parliament. The EA outlined their plans for the improvement of sea defences in certain parts of the Island. Work is currently going on along a stretch of coastline off Marine Walk, on the east of the Island. Residents of Bacon Lane area have done impressive work on a campaign to reduce speed on the lane; speeding on lanes is clearly on our minds, following the tragic deaths of the two young men on West Lane. We were astounded to learn that parking on Beachlands only makes a profit of £25,000 on income of over £240,000, with salaries of almost £200,000 being attributed to it. Beach huts made a profit of £162,000, however.
COMMUNITY
The Lions Club made a presentation at last year’s AGM and held a pretty-well attended meeting to promote involvement in the Carnival in January. However, after a lacklustre procession in August, it is likely that it will be abandoned in future – will a Hayling Summer Festival of some sort be a substitute? The Lions opened their Community Shop in the summer and it appears to be a great success, several former Cancer Research ladies being amongst the volunteers. The circumstances of the closure of the CR shop were regrettable. No doubt the shop will provide a substantial income, so that the Lions can continue their good work on the Island. The Hi-Rock climbing wall was built at Hayling College, with £50,000 of lottery funding as a result of a spectacularly successful campaign for votes, with third highest for any project in the country. There was consultation between the police and various community representatives about the front of house opening in South Road – the result was that the 20 hours per week was to be maintained. Later in the year it was announced that the station was one of those to be closed, but a new, perhaps shared, police location would be sought within the next few years. Hayling’s Best MTI had a successful Easter Egg window competition, rather than a Christmas window-spotting competition. The Scarecrow competition may not continue. The second 999 event was a popular success. The future of the Community Board, previously a little uncertain, has now entered new territory, with HBC cutting off funding and the Boards cut adrift. Hayling’s Board is seizing the initiative and is to have a meeting, with representatives from a large number of Island organisations invited to discuss the way forward, with the title ‘Hayling in our Hands’. It has the support of an HBC officer, who is keen for Hayling to prepare a Community Plan. It appears that ours is the only board with some continuation ideas, for the moment. The HIRA committee was treated to a presentation by Chichester Harbour Conservancy, explaining their environmental criteria. The Conservancy plans to plant 40 oak trees around the area, to celebrate their 40 years of existence – we shall help by planting one or two on Hayling. A presentation by Hayling College was the subject of our July Open Meeting. A party to celebrate 25 years of NEHRA took place; a controversial re-design of a large house (Langness) in Woodgaston Lane was the subject of much discussion; the input of the Safer Neighbourhood Team to the CB was greatly appreciated. Councillor Leah Turner is planning a ‘Hayling for St George’ celebratory concert, with a number of associated activities on 22nd April 2012. The block of housing association flats at Beachlands was completed and named Gorron House, after the twin town of the Hayling Island-Gorron Twinning Association (HIGTA). There was a very successful Ale-ing Fest this month, in aid of the Twinning, with the new canopy, partly funded by HIGTA being much admired.
HIRA is well represented on the Community Board, whatever its future brings, since both Tony Higham and I are on the Board. Young people on the Island are ably represented on the HIRA committee and we are continuing to support the Hi Y Café (now Club), which is continuing against all the odds
Committee members represented HIRA at a number of meetings and seminars on issues vital to the future of the Island. HBC keep us pretty well informed on important matters and we have regular correspondence and meetings with other local RAs.
We are planning a full programme of important and relevant subjects for Open Meetings in 2012. Let us hope that they are well attended.
I should also like to thank Tony Higham for his excellent articles in the Hayling Islander, which I am sure we all read with great interest.
In conclusion, I wish to thank all the members of the committee for their work during the year and the councillors for their support. I should also like to encourage new members to join the association, so that we can make an increasing contribution to the Island’s future.
Paul Fisher
Chairman, HIRA.
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