Rose in June site and a Town Council.

- Mon 18th Feb 2008

At the February HIRA Executive Committee meeting there was unanimous agreement on two topics. The first being that the Rose in June site was much too valuable as the community resource to allow irrelevant housing to be placed on it and that without a Town Council there was no way in which pressures such as this for random housing on such an important site could be resisted.

The Rose in June site is perceived as one of the few remaining central sites in Hayling on which a number of amenities could be located. It would be absurd to permit housing of the type proposed to be placed there. As I have said earlier, on talking to the presenters on the plan at the meeting recently held at the Community Centre, it was stated that the purpose of the plan was to obtain planning permission for the site for housing to determine a potential value and THEN to sell it on to a developer.

Such a developer could THEN put in an amended plan, perhaps even doubling the density, and we would end up with an even worse outcome than that previously presented. We understand that the current owner wishing to sell is an off-shore company with no direct interest in Hayling.

During further discussion on this matter an example was cited in which a development with potential community involvement was generated and given permission, at which point the plan was changed, density increased and all community features discarded, the final outcome being to sell the degraded development to a housing association. We do not want that to happen here. We need an agreed plan that is acceptable and enforceable.

There is a reasonable evidence that people would like a pub to remain on the site. This has been pursued ,without success, by a number of people. The failure to reach a conclusion has been because of the belief of the current owners that they could get more for the site if housing were permitted. While there are clearly pros and cons relating to the presence of a pub on any site, the general feeling is that continuing the tradition of a pub on this site would be welcome.

The presence of the listed barn on the site raises many possibilities and, associated with the pub, its development and improvement could provide a community resource of considerable potential and value. This could be an attractive venue for many community activities and, with the land immediately behind it, could provide elements of an Island arts centre. Museum, historical centre etc. Associated uses of the site could be as a drop in centre for advice and for police liaison and other developments could include a proper youth facility.

While the Bridge Centre in West Town is developing some of these uses these are understood to be only of an interim nature and a more permanent location may be needed in due course.

In terms of site value, some £500K in addition to the value of the site as a pub could secure this site for the future. This would be for joint use as a pub and community resource. Neither party alone can raise the funds needed to buy the whole site, but together this might be possible.

At present there in NO COORDINATING GROUP on the Island that has the interest the ability, financial or otherwise to, bring this type of development about, at this site or anywhere else on the Island.

The existence of a Town Council, while it does not have the absolute power to control such issues, would have a far greater influence on behalf of the Island than we have at present. The pressure to move in the direction of a Town Council for Hayling is brought about by the perception, rightly or wrongly, that the existing councillors do not present a common front on any of the major issues affecting the Island. A classic example is the recent decision to permit the extension of the TESCO site in Havant. At the planning meeting there was no representation from Hayling whatsoever in the formal discussion, either for or against, even though this could have a major impact on Island residents and traders alike.

On the basis of the above discussion and a wide range of other issues, the HIRA Committee has decided to continue to investigate the pros and cons of working towards to establishment of a Town Council for Hayling. This is Government policy and, surprisingly, in spite of all the propaganda, also the policy of the Conservative Hampshire County Council.

The only consistent objection to such a Council is the persistent issue of extra cost for tax-payers. All the evidence points to this not being a serious issue and much of it points to the fact that satisfaction with such Councils increases with spend, providing the electors are satisfied with the services they then get.

We would welcome constructive letters and emails on this topic to the Hayling Residents' Association (hira@hayling.co.uk or PO Box 30 Hayling Island PO11 )

Tony Higham

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