7 October
New look Town Hall
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Those visiting the town Square may have noticed that the scaffolding surrounding the Town Hall has been removed at the completion of the restoration work. Those with good eyesight may have noticed that the Town Hall notice board now has see-through glass!! |
Sparklers
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Saturday saw the Sparklers Fun Morning to raise funds for their next Old Time Music Hall. This will now take place towards the end of the year - check the events page for details
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15 October
Whitchurch Association Launched
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The Methodist Church was full on Saturday morning at the inaugural meeting of the Whitchurch Association. Work to create the Association started some time ago with the bringing together of Healthcheck generated activities and the planning for the new Community Hall. The Association's object is to improve the local area, which includes Whitchurch, Litchfield, Woodcott, Tufton, Dunley and Hurstbourne Priors. Following on the sterling work led by Gill Nethercott and Harriet Titcomb. The meeting voted Susan Flawith to be the Chairman, supported by Harriet as Vice Chairman and Jean Watts as Secretary. The post of Treasurer remains vacant. They will be supported by an enthusiastic committee of 8. For more information visit the Association's webpage. On show at the event were the designs for the new Community Hall, which will be managed by the Association. Susan, with Association committee members, Action Group members and Gill Nethercott, in high spirits after the successful launch. The first activity to come under the Association's banner is the proposed Town Centre Christmas event see the item below. |
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18 October
Town Centre Revitalisation Kicks Off!!
Hot on the heels of Saturday�s (15th October) successful public meeting to formally adopt its Constitution, the Whitchurch Association has turned its attention to the subject of Christmas in Whitchurch.
At a packed meeting in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, local traders, and representatives from local Community, Church and Voluntary Groups discussed proposals put forward by the association to revitalise the Town centre.
Hampshire County Council Town Project Officer, Tony Corbin, who is assisting the Whitchurch Association explained -
�Christmas in Whitchurch is just the beginning of an ongoing Town Centre revitalisation programme that the Association hopes will make a positive difference for Whitchurch people. We recognised that a number of local groups already have individual events and activities planned over the Christmas period. The Whitchurch Association has essentially offered to help publicise these events as a part of an overall Christmas in Whitchurch promotion. We are also encouraging collaboration between event organisers and trying to get more local businesses to support the initiative�.
Leader of the working group tasked with coordinating and publicising Christmas in Whitchurch is local resident and Whitchurch Association member Stewart Parrington.
�The kick off meeting saw broad support for the longer term Town Centre revitalisation programme. As for the Christmas initiative, I didn�t even have to ask whether everyone wanted to come to a follow up meeting which is really encouraging. We went away with three flip chart pages full of ideas from the kick off meeting. These include a best shop window display competition, a children�s �treasure hunt�, a photo competition and thoughts on the cost and environmental benefits that might persuade more residents to shop locally�.
The next meeting will be at 6.30pm in the Town Hall on 25th October. It will start to tackle the detailed planning that will be needed if the initiative is to be a success. Anyone interested in attending please call 01256 892107, contact Tony by or just turn up.
The notes from the meeting and the ideas floated and issues raised are here.
23 October 2005
Millennium Dog Day a Great Success
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Sunday saw the Millennium Meadow bathed in sunshine and full of dogs and their owners taking part in a number of light hearted competitions. The event was opened by Richard Adams and started with an Agility demonstration by the Upandover Agility School from Hurstbourne Priors. Others (owners and dogs) were merely soaking up the sun or sniffing the air. Graham Burgess says there will definitely be another Dog Day next year and thanked Over My Shoulder and Pets at Home for donating the prizes and refreshments. Many more photos and information are here |
25 October 2005
Christmas in Whitchurch is On!!
The second meeting of the Town Centre Revitalisation group on Tuesday when even more businesses "signed up" to supporting Christmas in Whitchurch
Stewart Parrington, the Team Leader, reported good progress in arranging for lighted Christmas trees to be fitted to the shop fronts surrounding the Square; this is subject to planning approval, but Stewart is optimistic.
The meeting agreed that town centre events on the Saturdays between 3 and 17 December would be both feasible and attractive. The aim is to build on existing planned events such as the Silk Mill's Santa at the Mill, brass band music and the Combined Churches Choir's carol singing. The additional activities proposed included the provision of warm food and drink and shop window competitions for both children and shop owners.
Publicity was discussed and included road side boards and flyers delivered to all households. Brockenhurst Estate Agents very kindly offered to reproduce posters and use part of their weekly advertising space in the 2 local papers to publicise the events.
The next meeting will be at 6.30pm in the Town Hall on 1st November. It will take the detailed planning forward. Anyone interested in attending please call 01256 892107, contact Tony by or just turn up.
Full details of the project are here