Smannell and Enham Lib Dems launch Affordable Homes Campaign

In the field behind Lib Dem County Councillor Robin Hughes (above) will be 2500 new homes to be built in the East Anton MDA. Robin Hughes and Len Gates fought a long campaign to ensure that Smannell did not lose out from this development.

The deal has now been done and work has started, changing the face of our parishes for ever. However, our campaigning has not stopped. Developers can be made to pay for improvements in the parish such as Roads, Schools, Playing Fields and communications.

Lib Test Valley Councillor Len Gates is already looking to ensure that adequate broadband is extended to Smannell, Little London and Enham.

Smannell & Enham Lib Dems want people young and old who live in the parish or
cannot afford to live in the parish to benefit from this massive investment. We totally
support 40% of the new houses being affordable homes either for rent or part ownership

We want a planning agreement with an allocation of affordable homes which benefits those who have a connection with the ward. This agreement would ask that the
allocation favours those who live, work or have connections with the parishes or area.

Smannell Parish Councillor Nigel Gooding is leading the campaign. Nigel was a Parish Councillor in Devon and involved in a similar scheme there.

The scheme would work as follows:

The affordable/rental housing on the MDA would be allocated first and foremost on the basis of need. We ask that allocations then follow this order.

· Those who have lived in Smannell, Enham or Alamein Ward for the last 3 years
· Those who have worked in Smannell, Enham or Alamein Ward for the last 3 years
· Those with a family connection to the area

Test Valley Borough Local Councillor, Len Gates said “the high cost of homes in Andover has meant that those born and raised here can no longer afford to live in the area. This scheme helps young and old gives local people a chance to remain in the area”

Nigel Gooding said” People need to register with Test Valley’s Housing Department. That will define the need in the local area. As someone who was lucky enough to be raised in a Council House I understand the real pressures on seeking affordable homes. Once people are registered and we are successful with our campaign we hope they will stand a real chance of remaining in the area.”

Tories dump a rubbish policy again by allowing longer vehicles to use re-cycling centres

Councillor Robin Hughes told me today that trailers longer than 1.8m entering Hampshire household waste recycling centres will be allowed to use the County re-cycling centres.” Cllr Robin Hughes said “ I am delighted that the Conservative run Hampshire County Council has finally caved into Liberal Democrat and public pressure and dumped their insistence that trailers longer than 1.8m would not be accepted at Hampshire’s household Waste Recycling Centers.”

In a complete U-turn the blanket ban on trailers above the 1.8m x 1.2m limit is to be lifted. The County Council will shortly be introducing a permit system for trailers above 1.8m and less than 3.0m in length. The new permit system for trailers will work in the same way as the one that has recently been introduced for householders to only have access to a commercial vehicle. The permit will allow for up to 12 visits to any HWRC in a calendar year using a trailer of the specified size.

Cllr Hughes said, “ When these restrictions were introduced in February, Hampshire Liberal Democrats believed that these new restrictions were not thought through. We said they should think again.”

Cllr Robin Hughes
HCC Andover North Divison

Anti Social damage at Little London Playing Fields

Following reports of the following graffiti incident at Little London Playing Fields the Police have told me that they believe they know who the "tagger" is and close to making an arrest! Good news.

The Police and Test Valley are also investigating another matter we have reported to them re: flytipping and arson but we cannot divulge the full nature just yet.

Smannell white lines highlighted and ready for repair

Following our reported potholes and action yesterday you will see that a number of areas of Smannell roads have white lines/boxes around them indicating areas of damage and roads that need repair.

This was undertaken by Hampshire Highways pending permanent repair!

Watch that hole for a perm replacement!

Ed

Further pot holes reported to Hants CC today

Please find enclosed two further 'shockers' on the Smannell Road. I would say that one was reported 6 weeks ago a temporary repair made but as you can see by the picture it has grown after the recent bad weather.

The Little London picture is 40 metres South of Little London outside the property called Ottershaw The pothole picture was reported 6 weeks ago and is 200 metres south of the Smannell Church on the Smannell/Andover Road just before one gets to the two houses. This hole has been filled and patched before but has grown in the bad weather.

I would like to thank you on behalf of the Parish for your efforts in recent weeks the place is looking cleaner and smarter.

I look forward to meeting you when you visit the Parish.

Regards Councillor Nigel J Gooding MCMI MBIFM

Dangerous road fixed in less than 24 hours by Councillor Hughes

At 10.00 pm on Tuesday of this week the Chair of the Smannell Parish Council reported a dangerous pothole on the A343 junction with Green Lane, the lane that leads to Little London and Smannell. The pothole was lethal. By 1030 pm Councillor Robin Hughes had been out to site and reported the hole, by tea time yesterday, Wednesday the pot hole had been filled, all be it "patch and mend"

We Lib Dems have noticed a number of patch and mend repairs to roads in the Smannell/Enham area, which frankly is not good enough, we will be raising this face to face with Hampshire Highways when we meet them in the next 2 weeks.

Here is Councillor Hughes report.

A343 / Green Lane Junction‏
From: Robin Hughes (robin.hughes@tiscali.co.uk)
Sent: 23 April 2008 22:17:45
To: George Chisenga (George.Chisenga@hants.gov.uk); John Clark (john.clark@hants.gov.uk)
Cc: Phil Duke (phil@duke-family.co.uk)

George John,

I have been informed of a dangerous pothole that has appeared on the A343 Newbury Road - travelling south from Newbury to Andover close to the junction with Green Lane (Green Drive on MSN maps or Green Drove on Google maps). It appears that some previous trench work may have collapsed causing a pothole some 2 -4 inches in depth. I took the photograph at about 10:30pm this evening. Whilst not a perfect image it gives a good idea of the size of the pothole on the main road. Just the right size to unseat someone on a motorbike. Can this be looked at as a matter of urgency. Thanks

regards

Robin

Cllr Robin Hughes

County Councillor Andover North

Tel 01264 355241Fax 01264 323583