HIRA report for May 2004
- Wed 28th Apr 2004
Open Meeting Showed Way Ahead for Web Access to Havant Council
Here follows details of the HIRA meeting minutes: Open Meeting Showed Way Ahead for Web Access to Havant Council
Sandy Hopkins, who is Director of the Corporate Group on Havant Borough Council, gave of her valuable time to address Hayling Residents of the future aims of the Borough and of the Government generally on access to Government functions via the Internet.
She explained that by 2006, most of the services provided to residents by the Borough will be available via this mechanism.
For example, missed rubbish collections can be reported, availability of services, location and opening times of offices will be available, payment of bills and information on benefits will be on-line, planning applications can be accessed, all without having to go to an office of wait for a call back from someone who is otherwise busy. While it is possible that business will have more need for such services, individuals will be able to access information more easily and get a better response as a consequence.
To support all this external communication, the Borough has extensive internal systems to ensure that the view presented to its customers (us) fulfils all the intended aims.
This electronic access is paralleled by a manned phone service provided by the Customer Services Department that is potentially capable of proving a similar service for those without internet access.
To assist with the internet access Havant offers a ‘Havant On-Line’ service which is for educational and operational assistance in this area. The Hayling access point is in the Community Centre in the Park and costs 50p p.a. Staff are on hand to provide assistance where needed.
A leaflet describing the on-line service is available from various sources.
It is clear that from the poor attendance at the meeting, that most of Hayling computer users probably only play games on them. However, please consult www.havant.gov.uk to see what is on offer at present.
Football Ground
The move of Hayling United Football Club to The Hayling School has been approved.
This now raises the question as to what to do with that part of the building in Mengham Park being vacated by the Football Club. It appears unlikely that the old Buccaneer building has any chance of being used by the youth services, so the Youth Café will stay in the park for the present.
Other uses for the premises include possible extension of the medical provision on the Island, use by other Island and voluntary services, various clubs etc.
Please contact your Councillor or bring your ideas to us in the form of a letter.
Northney Traffic Calming
The NE Hayling Residents’ Association has been studying traffic calming in the village and sponsored a study on the matter.
After publicising the contents of the study and polling residents, it appears that agreement has been reached to propose the introduction of pinch-points at either end of the village to slow traffic and keep the speed low when passing through. However, these measures still have to be approved by the local authorities.
Some time age HIRA wrote to HBC requesting a review of traffic measures, particularly in the shopping areas of the Island, but at the time they were not responsive stating they wished to review the effectiveness of schemes in Leigh Park and Havant.
These schemes have been operating for some years now and views of their effectiveness must be available. Perhaps we should re-visit this issue and institute studies on the Island.
Vandalism in Parks
A meeting was held recently to deal with vandalism, particularly in Hayling Park, West Town.
Mindless morons are repeatedly breaking windows in the Community Centre because ‘there ain’t nuffink else to do’, usually after tanking themselves up with drink acquired from some local purveyor of booze who should know better.
The meeting apparently decided to arrange for CCTV to be installed at a cost that would have gone a long way towards solving the problem, if suitable physical precautions were taken instead.
I wonder what management skills exist in some organisations, particularly after attending a meeting recently in Bedhampton to be told that the organisation (the police) is short staffed. Five people from the organisation attended the meeting to tell us that.
At the recent Bosmere Hundred meeting with a similar audience, Gwen Andrews from HBC managed to carry out a perfectly satisfactory discussion without any support staff present at all.
Again we come to this issue of Police resources. The RNLI, the Fire Brigade, the First Responders, the Ambulance Service come on demand,
false alarm or not.
Surely a First Responder, Police Service based on the more extended use of Special Constables, on call via a rota system, could easily be set up. This could provide the initial response to virtually all incidents in which individuals expect Police action such as vandalism, burglary, nuisance etc.
If the situation calls for more support, then a call from a respected local colleague would carry far more weight at HQ and result in a better response when really needed.
I believe many more people would join such an organisation to deal with genuine local problems rather than the current Special Constable service which seems more to do with directing traffic at local fetes or being called upon to control football matches.
Such an approach could incorporate all the best elements of private security organisations or even ‘vigilantes’ who always seem to be anathema to people in public circles.
Bright’s Lane houses
This issue seems to have raised a certain amount of ire locally. HIRA has discussed this twice now, the last time expecting a representative of the objectors to come to our Committee meeting. In view of the apparent lack of use of the existing garage area we cannot see any particular reason for a campaign on this matter as it seems as good a location as any for a small amount of infill. The development would not be out of character for the area and would be highly prized by those being given the opportunity to live there.
Summer is Coming
The train is rumbling and tooting, the parking charges have gone up, the drop ride is facing in the wrong direction, the beach is all gravelly, the sand-hills are fenced off, the Billy Trail will disappear into the sea and the roads will be jammed so some of us will have plenty to moan about, BUT, these are minor irritants compared with the pleasures of summer on Hayling so, do not be downhearted and make the best of the next few months.
Tony Higham.
By forum user, Mat
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