HIRA 2003 December Report

- Tue 9th Dec 2003

HIRA Programme for 2004




HIRA is currently preparing its programme for public meetings in 2004. During 2003 we had meetings covering Beach Issues, Meeting the Councillors, reviews of the new Policing regime and the proposed football ground at the Hayling School and on the Nature Reserves on the Island....HIRA Programme for 2004



HIRA is currently preparing its programme for public meetings in 2004. During 2003 we had meetings covering Beach Issues, Meeting the Councillors, reviews


of the new Policing regime and the proposed football ground at the Hayling School and on the Nature Reserves on the Island.




This year we are hoping to organise meetings on:




• The Hayling Billy Trail - the Way Forward. A presentation by parties involved in planning the next stages in the development of the trail (Thursday Jan 15th 7.30 pm URC Hall)




• Sea and Flood Defences on the Island, whatever became of them? We understand that finding a bit of land to flood for the benefit of who knows what, is standing in the way of building defences that may stop YOUR house from flooding




• e-Government, i.e. the effects of providing easy access to many of the functions available to the public, i.e. planning, road matters, transport assistance, waste disposal etc. via the Internet thus avoiding the need to visit Council offices so much




• meeting our MP, David Willetts, which will probably be at our AGM next October.




We still would like to hear from members and others on the topics YOU would like us to organise. Our best attended meetings have been the controversial one, on the Bridge and on the Beach so do you want controversy or more reasoned presentation and explanation.




Planning.


HIRA and the Hayling branch of the Bosmere 100 organisation often deal with the same planning issues and it has been suggested that the organisation combine this function to simplify matters and give more weight to our arguments.




A recent concern is that of a case on the Island where, apparently, a developer put in an application that was refused on good local grounds, put in another more in line with local thought that was passed and then went to appeal on the first and won thus making nonsense of the whole procedure. It is cases like this that make people wonder as to the point of even having a planning process (which incidentally in Havant alone costs some £5M p.a.) and, God forbid, allow local people to exert any degree of control whatsoever.




HCC Budget Meting.


I recently attended the Hampshire County Council pre-budget meeting in which various interested organisations are informed of the proposals for the next year's likely Council Tax demands.




You will be PLEASED to know that the HCC precept in ONLY likely to rise by about 7%. We do not yet know of the DEMANDS of the Police and Firemen, both of whom apparently now tell us what they want and over which there is now no local control I understand.




A few comments: It is odd that organisations always predict inflation figures that are higher than national predictions thus causing the inflation to achieve that figure. Having said that though most of the problems are due to Central Government forcing Councils to provide extra services without giving them extra money. This has to be found locally and allows the Central Government to claim that it is keeping down costs and that it is the Counties that are failing to manage things properly.




A point of concern is the budget of £100 million for children in care a figure that is rising partly due to the successes of the medical profession in preventing infant death. If ever there was a resource that should be funded centrally then surely this is one. Similarly vast rafts of other Social Service activity over which Councils have no control should be funded centrally.




A small example is the building of post hospital services for the elderly for which the County is responsible. This is to relieve bed-blocking in the NHS. The County will be fined considerable amounts of money if it fails to provide these services. To meet the County commitment to save the NHS money, HCC are building new nursing homes that had to meet the proposed Government regulations that have now been relaxed because they cost too much and were impossible to implement. Again we are paying for failures of Central Government to set sensible guidelines.




By the time this is published a similar meeting will have been held with Havant Borough.




Sand hills at Gunner Point.


People may be interested to know that the sand hills at Gunner Point have now been fenced off and included in the Golf Club enclosure which club of course owns the land. The reason for this is that English Nature feels that the public have been damaging them by various forms of "mistreatment"




As regular observers will have noted, the sand hills have moved some tens of feet downwind over the years and engulfed the Golf Course fence, thus requiring it to be moved.




I find it hard to believe that people climbing on them occasionally can have more effect than the wind that exists for most of the year at this location and is clearly capable of moving them many feet over a period of time. I have asked English Nature staff to consider better ways of encouraging the deposition of more sand in the area thus solving the problem not the result.




TESCO


The new TESCO in West Town was opened by our Chairman Paul Fisher, in his role of helping to organise local fund-raising activities. TESCO made a donation to local charities at the opening.




The vigilance of people will need to be exercised to ensure that TESCO does not harm other local enterprises that many individuals may prefer to patronise. At the same time of course, the profile of the West Town shopping area may well get a considerable boost which may help reduce some of the traffic going on and off the Island to shop.




Meeting with MP.


Local residents’ organisations are meeting David Willetts, our MP. This will be to discuss local issues that David may be able to raise in Parliament and thus influence decisions that may affect us in the future. The outcome of the meeting will be reported later if any items affecting us are raised.




Parking near TEXACO Garage.


There is a move afoot to improve the parking south of the bridge opposite the TEXACO garage. This is a desirable area to stop allowing access to the northern end of the Hayling element of the Billy Trail. The local Nature Reserve Management Forum in the past has been ambivalent on this issue when I have raised it. English Nature would like this area to wash into the sea thus providing habitat for our feathered friends so there is likely to be an argument over the matter.




Of further concern would be improvement of vehicle access bearing in mind the nature of the road at this point and so the number of issues involved may be quite extensive.




Having said all that the HIRA committee feels this would be a useful additional parking area that would provide worthwhile benefits but involve little constructional effort. Thus we support our local Councillors who are looking into the matter.




The Committee of HIRA now wishes all our members and readers a very merry Christmas and a New Year in which the voice of Islanders is heard loudly and heeded even more.




Tony Higham

Main contacts:

Chairman: Paul Fisher 92461412



Membership: Fred Gibson 92466995



Notice Board: Lois Neale 92469339



Reporter: Tony Higham 92464723.

By forum user, Mat