Station Ticket Office Proposed Reduced Opening Hours

SW Trains has announced that it is proposing to close the Station Ticket Office on Saturday mornings. In an email to B&DBC's Transport Strategy Office, SW Trains' Stakeholder Manager, Phil Dominey, said:

South West Trains is a responsible business we are looking to operate as efficiently as possible, continuing to adapt and change in light of reduced passenger growth and a challenging economy. South West Trains customers are also changing. More than ever, they have become increasingly confident with using alternative channels to purchase tickets and seek journey information. In light of these changes, there has been an ongoing review of Retailing within South West Trains, looking at the number of transactions and level of service offered at ticket offices across the network. This has shown at Crewkerne that the number of sales through the ticket office has dropped with passengers choosing to use the Ticket Vending Machine or the Internet.

There is a current 21 day consultation period being carried out by Passenger Focus who are co-ordinating all responses to these proposals. Passenger Focus can be contacted on info@passengerfocus.org.uk. South West Trains still remains committed to developing facilities at Whitchurch station with a view to encouraging passenger growth.

I wanted to advise you personally of the proposed changes, the means to officially respond and assure you of our commitment to rail services and facilities at the station. Many Thanks.

The refernce to Crewkerne apperas to be an oversight as it is one of 24 stations, with Whitchurch, that will have its opening hours reduced.

An email request for information on the consultation exercise has not even been acknowledged.

Top Awards for Whitchurch Scout

At a presentation at Andover Guildhall on 27th February, Laura Tyler was presented with her Queen's Scout Award and Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award by the Hampshire Scouts County Commissioner, Adam Jollans.

The Queen's Scout Award is the highest award in Scouting. Laura started as a beaver at 1st Whitchurch Scouts aged 6 in 1998 and moved up through the sections at Cubs and Scouts in Whitchurch before becoming a member of Andover District Explorers. She is the first Whitchurch Scout to gain the Award in 17 years and believed to be the first girl ever in the Andover District to have been through all the scouting sections from ages 6 through to 18 and successfully complete both the Queen's Scout Award and Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award schemes.

Her expedition section for the award took her on a month long expedition with the British Schools' Exploring Society last summer to the northern tip of Norway, well within the arctic circle, where she spent her time between mountaineering on glaciers and kayaking in the surrounding fjords. Pat Cooper, Jim White and Nikki Farley, her former leaders from Whitchurch attended the presentation, as well as the leaders from Andover District Explorers.

"Progress" at the Railway

	Demolition work has started at the The Railway Hotel. A close inspection of the photo on the right shows that the tiles from the roofs have been removed. On 25th February the new owners, Lochailort Investments Ltd, applied for planning permission for a temporary 47 space car park.
The demise of "the Railway" would appear to emphasise that it is not campaigns that are required to keep businesses in Whitchurch - it's the support of customers. We've lost a bank, a post delivery office and a pub in the last 6 months, if you want to have the remaining businesses and services operating in another 6 months, please support them with your custom now! USE IT OR LOSE IT

Whitchurch Weather

You can now see Whitchurch's current weather on-line with the recent history. The history will build up with time. There's a permanent link on the left of the page.

Tree to be Felled

The Diocesan Chancellor, a legal officer, has ruled in favour of the All Hallows' Parochial Church Council’s request to fell the Lawson Cypress near the church entrance.

In his judgement, he comments on the importance of trees 'in the right place and setting' and he distinguishes between the Lawson Cypress, about which there are various issues, and the ancient yews around All Hallows which should be preserved.

There has been some confusion about the status of the other trees around the church but there has never been any suggestion that the ancient and divided yew on the corner opposite St Cross House should be removed.

No decision has yet been taken on when the felling will take place.

Fund Raising Success

Sophia Mattia, who organised the fund raising Valentine's Ball for the Foundation for the Study of Sudden Infant Death, would like to thank all those who supported the event. An amazing £4265.48 was raised.

A poster with full details is here, Whitchurch businesses supporting the event were Monkey Business, Glass-Foolery, Clacy's Garage, Serenity Health & Beauty and Lloyds Pharmacy

Is Your Broadband Fast Enough?

Basingstoke is the first town in the South East where BT Openreach has upgraded the network that serves thousands of homes and business in key parts of the town and urban area to next generation super-fast broadband. This does not currently apply to Whitchurch!

B&DBC has started a campaign to raise awareness of this new upgrade and to continue to get better and faster broadband for the rest of the town and borough. You can visit its website, check your access speed and add your name to the list of those who want higher speed access. This will help the campaign to get improved speeds in Whitchurch.

Parish Hall Improvements

Work has just started on a series of refurbishment/improvements to the Parish Hall. Using a combination of grants, donations and monies raised by the Committee's fund raising events; work has started to repair damage to the frontage caused by weathering.

Externally a new emergency exit ramp has been added to meet the latest safety requirements and inside a new heating system will replace the old inefficient one. The next project is to replace the windows which are all showing signs of age.

These projects are being undertaken as the Committee believes that the recent events which filled the Hall confirm that it is a very valuable town resource offering facilities not available elsewhere.

Whitchurch Businesses

An advertorial featuring 6 Whitchurch based businesses is in this week's edition of the Basingstoke Gazette. Flower Power, Pauline Forster, Gladstones Handbags, Hampshire Dolls House, the Newbury Building Society and Serenity Health & Beauty are featured.

Three of the businesses are offering discounts until the end of March with vouchers found in the newspaper. Working 4 Whitchurch has provided some of the funds for the feature which it hopes will be repeated, subsidising the businesses and promoting the Town.

Another Way to Get Fit

A new keep fit method will be available in Whitchurch from next week. The technique on offer uses kettlebells, the iron ball with a handle attached that was used by the ancient Greeks.

Courses start in the Parish Hall at 7pm on Wednesday 24th Feb. Will Dollar & Annie Bushell have 30 years fitness training experience between them and are offering the first session free.

Disabled Parking in Basingstoke

New rules on free disabled parking in the Alencon Link/Anvil car park come into force on 15 March.

If you hold a blue concessionary parking badge you need to apply using the form downloadable here or visit the car park's website.

You can register up to 2 cars and the automatic registration plate recognition system will allow you free entry and exit - you will still need to display your blus badge in the car park.

Jobs in the Area

Exciting new link has been added to theWhitchurchWeb - jobs!

This website is for local people who love some of the local things in life. Here you can recruit and find a job locally. It's hassle free, low cost and good for the planet by keeping things local. You can search jobs by distance. It is simple to use and no clutter to go through.

Support your local town and use it now to hire good local people!!! "locals helping locals"

Job in Whitchurch

R S Birch has a vacancy for a part time account's assistant.

Contact Sue Holmes on 01256 892661 for this job with this well established electricians on the Evingar Estate.

New team aims to get people more involved in their neighbourhoods

A new Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council team is working with residents and local groups aiming make their neighbourhoods even better places to live.

The council’s new team of community development officers has already started working across the borough, spending the majority of its time based in the communities they cover.

Whitchurch's Development Officer is Lucy Mackmin and we will share her with Winklebury, Rooksdown and Kingsclere. Her role is to work with residents to identify what is needed in their areas, for example youth clubs, children’s holiday programmes, lunch clubs for older residents or exercise sessions to promote healthier lifestyles.

Part funded by Sentinel Housing Association and Kingfisher HVHS Housing Association, the team will be a key link to bringing together public bodies, the voluntary sector, local businesses and the community. Focussing on helping local communities to find their own solutions to issues, they will work closely with residents, community groups, schools, churches and local service providers.

Cllr Clive Sanders, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Development and Transport, said: “We are putting more frontline resources into communities, committed to meeting their needs and making a difference to people’s lives. The team aims to increase volunteering and community participation, as well as supporting existing community groups and organisations to meet local needs.”

Lucy’s first priority will be finding ways of addressing gaps in community activities that have already been identified. If you have any ideas about community projects to benefit the local area to get in touch Lucy on 07775413251 or email Lucy.Mackmin@basingstoke.gov.uk.

Footpath Protest

Complaints about the lack of a footpath alongside the B3400 to Wells in the Field are taking the form of a campaign.

Working 4 Whitchurch representative, Bill Judge, joined a group of residents to express frustration at the lack of a continuous footpath giving access to Whitchurch businesses, from Wells in the Field, Laverstoke and Overton.

New Grandmother, Rosanna Marshall, said "It is ridiculous that for the sake of only 400 yards of footway, walkers, ramblers, older people, and young mothers with prams, should be diverted onto an unmade up, and isolated, footway".

"Hopefully our campaign and the new development of 52 Homes in Laverstoke Mill will persuade the Highways people of the need for action."

Film Night Success

The Parish Hall was literally packed on Thursday for the first film night. 117 people squeezed into the Hall to see Julie & Julia.

The Parish Hall Committee, which worked hard to publicise the event and make it the social occasion that it was, is well pleased with its effort and will be bringing Bright Star to the Hall on 4th March and other films on the first Thursday in each month.

Parish Hall for Sale

The Vicar has announced that the Parish Hall will be sold by auction in the near future.

Rev Kelvin Inglis has told the Parish Hall Committee, the current tenant of the Hall, that the Administrative Trustees intend the sell the Hall. This is viewed as great news by the Committee which has worked over many years to run the Hall for the benefit of all in the Town and has been particularly active in the last 2 years in refurbishing it to make attractive to the whole community.

Following on from the Committee's latest success, see above, it believes that there is a real need for the facility in the Town and is actively looking for financial support to buy the Hall.

Missing Black Cat

Missing male black and white cat, resembles the 'Felix' cat in the TV cat food adverts (and his name is Felix!) About 2 years old, has pale yellowish/green eyes. A bit on the tubby side! But very healthy and given the right circumstance he's very active and playful!! Eats like a chow hound! He's been missing since about the 11th/12th of January.

Felix has just been spotted (and disappeared again) at the junction of Bellevue and Lower Evingar Road. Please use the contact page to report any sightings.

Food Premises Registration

TheWhitchurchWeb has been reminded by Basingstoke & Deane's Food and Safety Officer that any body involved in the preparation of food for selling to the public or selling food needs to be registered.

All business entries and events notices will now be checked to see if the registration is in place before they are published. Registration is simple and full details can be found on B&DBC's Website. Help will be provided but anyone starting a new food business must register with B&DBC at least 28 days before doing so.

A number of events have been removed from the diary until registration is completed.