The Queen's College Hates Hedge End Countryside

Oxford Institution Wants to Build on Our Fields

With no fewer than ten comments on the draft local plan, The Queen's College is showing more interest in the future of Hedge End than many of our elected town councillors.  Clearly worried that the value of their own land holdings will go down if they are excluded from the development, most of their comments can be paraphrased as "build on our land, not Boorley Green", or "build on our land, not Chestnut Avenue". 

Desperate to get their land north of Hedge End included in the Lib Dem plans for almost 4,000 houses in Hedge End and Botley, they are even opposing the principle of gaps between our settlements and insist that the proposed countryside policy is "unnecessary".

The Queen's College is a wealthy institution that can call on and pay for all sorts of planning consultants and lawyers to defend its interests.  Ordinary people (the overwhelming majority of whom have opposed the Lib Dem's plans for large scale development in our area) rely on our local councils to stand up against these vested interests.  That is why Hedge End Town Council were guilty of dereliction of duty in refusing to debate and agree a response to the draft plan.  Just about every other parish council in the area has commented, but there is nothing from Hedge End.

The message given is that with two notable exceptions, the Lib Dems on the Town Council do not care what happens to Hedge End, and the wealthy landowners and developers are encouraged to bulldoze ahead with their plans to concrete over our green fields.

When will the Lib Dems keep their election promise to stand up for our area against more building and traffic?








The Queen's College Photo credit : James

Lib Dems Listen on Library Lolly

The rapidly increasing cost of installing self service kiosks in Hedge End Library set alarm bells ringing back in January when I blogged "Library Costs Treble in Three Months".  My concerns multiplied when I stumbled across an Isle of Wight blog which discussed the library self service project on the Island.  It quotes an expert and independent consultant on these kiosks saying that "you should expect to pay £6-12,000 for one of these devices". 

That means that the £7,000 figure quoted to the Community and Culture Committee in November is more reasonable than the £23,000 in the report presented to the HEWEB Local Area Committee on 30th January.  It certainly looks at first sight as if Ken Thornber's Conservatives are trying to rip off the Hedge End council tax payers.

Taking advantage of the invitation for members of the public to address the committee on any agenda item, I pointed out my concerrns at the LAC meeting (making clear that I was generally in favour of the steps being taken by the Borough and Town Councils to mitigate the worst effects of the County's library cuts).  It's impossible to know whether any of the committee members would have questioned the costs without my intervention, because the rules of engagement are that members of the public have to say their piece and shut up before the real debate (between members) gets going.

Once they had it pointed out to them however, Cllr Louise Bloom and one or two of her Lib Dem colleagues did seem to agree that there was a discrepancy that should be explained.  It may be that the increase is explained by additional cabling and new desks required to accommodate the kiosks.  It may be that the cost of tagging all the books is included.  It still looks a high figure though and I hope that our councillors will follow through and keep an eye on these bills. 

Lib Dems Split Over Station Car Park



Car Park is Rarely Full

 As predicted in my post last week, the issue of whether to extend Hedge End station car park proved a difficult one for local Lib Dems.   Asked whether to proceed with a project that will destroy a wild flower meadow in order to extend a car park which is only three-quarters full most days while commuters enjoy free parking in nearby residential roads, the Lib Dem members of the HEWEB Local Area Committee could not agree, leaving the Chair to use his casting vote to break the deadlock.



Council's Own Wildflower Meadow Threatened

 This came after the bombshell news that the committee meeting on 30th January was not in fact empowered to make any decision on the project, and that whatever the local councillors decided, the Borough Council cabinet would override them.  So the real decision will be made by councillors from Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Netley Abbey, Bishopstoke and Fair Oak and Horton Heath who depend for their cabinet posts on the patronage of Lib Dem Leader and supporter of the car park extension Cllr Keith House.

Despite having the wind somewhat taken out of his sails by this bureaucratic technicality, Grange Park Cllr Derek Pretty put up a staunch defence on behalf of the nearby residents (represented by two speakers from the public gallery who eloquently opposed the project).  His alternative recommendations to address immediately the parking problems in residential streets and postpone any decision on the car park extension until it is shown to be necessary were supported by fellow Grange Park Cllr Louise Bloom.

Cllr House made it clear that he would prefer to spend money now - even to the extent of "buying out" the covenants that currently protect the land - to solve a problem that might or might not exist in the future.  Cllr Dan Clarke agreed with his leader and showed off his growing Lib Dem loyalist credentials by quoting liberal luminary David Lloyd George(*).  Like Cllr Clarke, Cllr Bruce Tennent chose not to support his Grange Park voters as he spoke in favour of the Lib Dem leadership line.

When it came to the vote, five were in favour of Cllr Pretty's compromise proposal and five against.  Cllr Tony Noyce (West End) abstained, and Cllr Mick Wheatley (Hedge End) had mysteriously absented himself from the meeting without explanation.  The tension of a five-five split was broken a few seconds later when Committee Chair Cllr Rupert Kyrle put his casting vote at the disposal of the Lib Dem party line.

The votes in favour of delaying the decision came from Cllrs Pretty, Bloom, Welsh and (Jenny) Hughes from Hedge End and Cllr Goodall from West End.  Those against were Cllrs House (Hedge End), Fraser (Botley), Kyrle (Botley), Tennent (West End) and Clarke (West End).

Cllr Pretty's alternative recommendations having failed on the chair's casting vote, consideration then returned to the published recommendations.  These were amended to include a plea to cabinet that any yellow lines required to discourage parking in nearby roads be payed for from corporate, not local, funds. It is surprisingly expensive to get a yellow strip painted along the gutter (there have to be consultations, reports, additional signage and all manner of legal and administrative high-jinks).

When it came to this second vote, Cllr Noyce came off the fence and Cllr Goodall was clearly satisfied with the additional request for money, and now sided with the leadership so that the proposals supported by Cllr House were passed seven to four.  It therefore looks likely that the Lib Dem cabinet will bulldoze ahead with the car park extension despite the valiant opposition of some of our Hedge End councillors.

It must have been frustrating for the independently minded committee members who spoke and voted against the party leadership line in favour of Hedge End people.  It only needed one more vote, and we were all left wondering how Cllr Wheatley would have voted had he been in the room.  Would he have sided with Cllrs Pretty and Jenny Hughes in line with their joint election promise to "Save the Countryside"?  Would he have voted with the majority of Hedge End councillors or with those from outside Hedge End who mantained the Eastleigh leadership's preferred outcome?

(*) Footnote:  Cllr Clarke quoted an obscure Lloyd George aphorism that "there is nothing more dangerous than to leap a chasm in two jumps", which although witty and entertaining, was not exactly apposite in this case, because this is the second extension to the car park, so the Council supported by Cllr Clarke is doing precisely what Lloyd George was warning against.

RIP Cllr Pearl Hicks

The death has been announced of long serving town councillor Pearl Hicks.  Pearl had been admitted to hospital following a stroke and a fall resulting in a broken hip.  She died in the early hours of 23rd January.

The Hedge End Town Council web site today carried the following tribute:

"It is with great sadness that the Town Council announces the death of Cllr. Pearl Hicks after a short illness. Pearl had served the community as Councillor for many years and most recently for the St Helen's Ward. Renowned for her strength of character and determination, membership of the Community and Culture Committee, contributing to the Christmas Lights festivities and Chairman of the Council 2007/2008, she will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.

As a mark of respect the Town Council offices will close on the morning of Wednesday 1st February 2012 during the funeral service to be conducted at the Wessex Crematorium at 09.30am. Donations in memory of Pearl are to be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society."

In the time I knew Pearl she had been chair of the Town Council and chair of the Community Events and Grants Committee.  She was dedicated to Hedge End and was proud that her late husband Ray had also been chair of the Council.

Frustrated in recent months that failing health was affecting her mobility and ability to keep serving the community to the same standard, she still turned out for the Hedge End Christmas Lights event in December.

Pearl had also been chair of the local Lib Dems, but always put Hedge End before party.   She was one of the Lib Dem members who actively stayed in touch after I resigned from the party.  I will miss Pearl, and so will Hedge End Town Council.

Update Wednesday 1st February - Hedge End Town Clerk Kevin Glyn-Davies delivered an excellent eulogy at Pearl's funeral today.  I hope he has it typed up and published on the Town Council web site, as it gives a far more comprehensive summary of her service to our community.

(Photo credit: Hedge End Town Council)

Green Field or Car Park?

Threatened green space

The fate of one of Hedge End's fast disappearing green spaces will be decided on Monday when the Lib Dem Local Area Committee of Eastleigh Borough Council have to decide whether to push ahead with unpopular plans to extend the (rarely full) station car park.

A survey of nearby residents in June last year revealed overwhelming opposition to the plan.  The Lib Dems clearly did not like this result as they commissioned another consultation in September, this time asking people living even further away what they thought.  Even this exercise revealed a large majority against more concrete and tarmac.

In the face of local opposition and with the burden of a "Save Our Countryside" election promise last May, our councillors have a difficult decision.  The report to be presented recommends going ahead with the plan despite acknowledging that average occupancy of the existing parking spaces is only 70-75% and that even a £3 parking charge (which would be retained to pay for the extension) diverts commuter parking into nearby residential roads, for which there is evidence in my July blog post - here.

Other agenda items of interest to Hedge End are:

Allocation of funds totalling £11,000 to various youth and community organisations

Financial support for Community Speedwatch (Upper Northam Road, Turnpike Way, Botley Road and Kings Copse Ave are mentioned as early candidates)

Investment of £23,000 in library equipment to help Conservative Hampshire County Council cut back on paid staff in Hedge End library  (See earlier blog post - here).

The meeting starts at 7:00pm in the 2000 Centre and is open to the public.  The full agenda is on the Council web site - here.

Street Snooker - Town Council Consults

Whatever happened to jumpers for goalposts?  Street Snooker could be coming to a recreation ground in Hedge End.   The Town Council is consulting on whether to install one or more of these new games, which have recently been featured on BBC TV.


From a personal point of view I have concerns about how much they would really be used and for how long after the initial novelty wears off, and about the visual impact of a bright green wall on people who use our recs for informal leisure and relaxation, and whose houses overlook the rec.  Greta Park, Turnpike Way and Dowd's Farm Park have been mentioned as possible locations.

Details of the consultation are on the Town Council web site - here -, and I do hope that as many people as possible make their views known to the Council and their Councillors so that we can make an informed decision on how to spend your money.

You can email me at keith.day@hedgeend-tc.gov.uk if you do not want to leave a comment on this blog.

Picture credit - zawtowers

Library Costs Treble in Three Months

Something fishy in the figures has emerged following the County Council's consultation on reducing the opening hours of Hedge End library.

Both Hedge End Town Council and Eastleigh Borough Council opposed the Conservatives' plans to close the library on Wednesdays.  Discussions between the three bodies involved resulted in a plan to maintain the existing opening hours by recruiting volunteers and installing self-service scanning kiosks.  The Town Council would recruit the volunteers and the Borough (in the form of the HEWEB Local Area Committee) would assist with the provision of the hardware.

In November it was reported (to the Community and Culture Committee of the Town Council) that each kiosk would cost in the region of £7,000.   Next Monday, the LAC will be asked to approve a report which puts the costs at £22,800 per kiosk, a huge increase in just three months.

Link to Hedge End Blogger post on the consultation (2nd November)

Link to Eastleigh News article on the call for volunteers (22nd January)