Good Things the Council Does

Bloomin' Marvellous 

Hedge End Blogger has recently come in for some behind the scenes criticism from senior Lib Dem councillors for being too negative, and for concentrating on the petty, trivial and personal.

As it happens the Borough Council geranium planters have just reappeared in the village centre, and when in full bloom they certainly cheer things up and take drivers' minds off the condition of the road surface (I'm allowed to say that, because that's the fault of Conservative Hampshire County Council).

And that's just one of many positive things the Borough and Town Council have done in the last year:  there's also the preservation of a youth service at The Box and the protection of opening hours at the library - both in the face of Conservative cuts - the Berry Theatre and support for the Rose Ageas Bowl.

In fact last Monday's meeting of the HEWEB Local Area Committee formally agreed the Chair's annual report which detailed all the Hedge End projects, large and small, that the Borough Council has funded or assisted:

£12,000 on fitting out and equipment for the Berry Theatre
£54,000 on the digital projector and screen at the Berry Theatre
£22,000 to underwrite the Berry launch costs and first season
£52,750 contribution to the Town Council's skateboard project
£7,300 on pedestrian safe routes around Shamblehurst Lane / Charterhouse Way
£3,000 contribution to Hedge End Bowling Club's new changing facilities
£1,200 to resolve low lighting levels on route from Maunsell Way to station adjacent to Beattie Rise
£21,942 on crossing points for pedestrians on Turnpike Way
£400 for Hedge End Indoor Bowls Club to promote community participation
£5,250 annual subsidy for Hedge End Teenage Drop-In Centre
£6,500 to manage removal of traveller encampment at Dowd's Farm Park
£45,000 to extend Dowd's Farm Park play area
£17,000 for Dowd's Farm Park Youth Zone
£5,000 for minor works at Dowd's Farm Park
£350,000 to fund renovation of Dowd's Farmhouse
£7,600 for new 30mph signs in Upper Northam Road
£22,800 for new equipment to counteract County Council library service cuts
£13,500 contribution to youth worker's salary to counteract County Council cuts
£2,000 on running costs for Street Talk minibus
£4,600 to keep The Box open in the face of County Council cuts
£18,300 on road improvements near Kings Copse School
£85,000 on community use facilities at Kings Copse School
£47,000 on community use facilities at Wildern School
£2,000 sponsorship of the Berry pantomime
£1,500 for new boardwalk at Aspen Close
£8,000 for residents parking area in Ratcliffe Road
£3,000 to address parking problems in Allen Road
£5,000 for new footpath/cycleway from Nelson Gardens to Maunsell Way

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