We are saddened to announce the death of Rear Admiral Ellis who worked so hard on behalf of this village. He was a councillor and Chairman of the Minstead Parish Council.

COUNCIL MEETINGS

Meetings of the Parish Council now take place monthly (instead of bi-monthly), usually on the first Monday of each month at 7:45pm. Notice of each meeting is posted on the Parish Council notice board 7 days beforehand. 15 minutes is allowed at the beginning of each meeting for Public Participation. Do come along to keep us informed of your needs and opinions.

Meetings are formally recorded by our Clerk who is not an elected member and does not have a vote in Council's decision making process, but is an administrator and facilitator who ensures that we comply with local government law and procedures.

Council's aim is that our parish community is able to control our own affairs, and to keep alert and active against others imposing their priorities and objectives upon us. We also seek to be properly served by the District and County Councils, and other organisations that have responsibilities in our area. This includes getting a fair return for the taxes we pay and ensuring that we influence external policies and plans to our community's best advantage.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II GOLDEN JUBILEE 2002

A County Service will be held in Winchester Cathedral on 2^nd June.

Bank Holidays are set for Monday 3^rd & Tuesday 4^th June.

Your PC is co-ordinating events in Minstead in celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee on the Monday. There will be a Period-Costume Tea Party and Fair on the Village Green, side-shows, games, floats and rides. We would be pleased to hear of other ideas and suggestions. We need everyone to suggest, plan, create, organise, co-ordinate, prepare, present and participate in this celebration for it to be a resounding success worthy of the occasion.

Cllrs Fisher & Andrews head the preparation sub-committee that is planning the event.

FLOODING

You will have seen the work carried out east of Yew Tree on Lyndhurst Road (C151) to alleviate the flooding of past years. It appears to have been most successful and only cost HCC £15,000. This is part of a countywide programme of work by HCC with a total budget of £10.039m. The problem of the recurrent deep ruts at the side of the road at Fleetwater (U139) will also be addressed.

We hope that the sterling work on the Village Green by local residents and Cllrs Cattell & Tugwell will continue to keep that drained and useable throughout this winter.

VILLAGE GREEN

The new posts have been installed but one has already fallen victim to an errant motorist's unwanted attention, do take care!

Two new lampposts similar to those in Church Close will be erected at either end of the Green replacing the rather utilitarian concrete one in the middle now. They will have full cut-off luminaires in an effort to be environmentally responsible, and will be "opened" on June 3^rd.

We hope to replace the present Litter Bins with some more suitable for our re-vamped Green, though finding the right design may take a while as they must, of course be animal proof.

DIBDEN BAY

The Public Enquiry into ABP's proposed Dibden Bay Port continues. Minstead PC has made written representations regarding the potential increase in traffic from the proposed port travelling westwards along the A31 through the parish.

COUNCIL TAX

There will be a 7-9% increase in Council Tax for the coming year. HCC Councillor Mel Kendall has indicated that this is more due to Central Government pressures than local costs. Increase in Minstead precept will be put towards our Lengthsman's salary and to bring the PC Clerk's salary up to the 2001 standard.

NOTICE BOARD

The Parish Map is being prepared and will include sketches of prominent and historic local buildings and places of interest as well as footpaths and bridleways. It will be installed on the Village Notice Board adjacent to the Village Green in time to be unveiled during the Golden Jubilee events.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

NFDC is conducting a trial (until April 2002) whereby immediate neighbours to the location of an application will be directly informed but details will no longer be published in local papers. The location referred to in each application will still have to display a Green Notice. We have decided to place a list of Planning Applications on the back of the Notice Board for all to see. The website and office address where the full application can be viewed will also be shown.

Recently a number of Applications have had to be turned down or sent back because of inadequate preparation or improper content. NFDC's Chris Elliot (Head of Development Control) comments "Please read the accompanying instructions and notes carefully before completing applications and if you still are not sure give us a call, we can help. Location plans should be clear enough to allow non-locals to locate the site."

MILL LANE / BLACKWATER ROAD

Work is to commence during spring / early summer 2002 to stop this forest lane being used as a commuter rat-run and a racetrack. Essentially large areas of verge from Blackwater Farm junction to Emery Down hall, which the carriageway has overrun or spread onto, will be restored to manorial waste resulting in the roadway being narrowed to single track. Several passing places will be made and "Dragon's Teeth" will be installed where necessary to prevent misuse of the verges.

CRIME

PC Dave Tatt has reported that the crime rate in our Parish has been minimal over the six months to November 2001 and says that this has to be just about the safest place that one could wish to live. He cautions however that that we should not become complacent as regards crime prevention or awareness.

There were two Thefts (one of contractor's roadwork equipment); five non-dwelling Burglaries (SEB & Little Chef); four Thefts from vehicles (3 were visitors' vehicles); and one Theft of Vehicle.

To that I must add one opportunist Theft from my own property of 2 Chain saws & a Hedge cutter which were most efficiently recovered by Police within five hours of their loss being reported. Well Done!

SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY

The section between M27 Junction 1 and Exeter is now subject to development of "Route Management Strategies" (RMS.). This is a new way of planning investment in the management of the road network. The heart of the strategy is a 10-year programme for the route, starting with a 3-year action plan. RMS is designed to make better use of the roads we already have. Exhibitions and consultations have centred on improvements to safety and environmental impact, and reducing congestion. A proposal to radically re-route the A31 directly from J1 to just before the Stoney Cross "junction" (i.e. avoid Malwood Hill) was discarded and now the feasibility of improving the alignment of sub-standard westbound carriageway just west of M27 is being evaluated. A "Climbing Lane" for slower traffic has been suggested, making Malwood Hill 3 lanes, though the authorities may also consider imposing a 50-mph speed limit uphill until after the Q8 Filling Station. Grave concerns about the dangers of the Rufus Stone Turnaround have again been very strongly voiced. Your PC has suggested redevelopment of the adjacent underpass to carry one-way traffic (to join A31 Eastbound carriageway) with an On/Off slip lane from the junction of Minstead's Lyndhurst Road (C151) with the A31W. Naturally there would also be access for those properties in the vicinity of the underpass. Another suggestion was for an "All Moves Junction" to be constructed there. Obviously this would have dramatic and dire environmental impact, whether an over- or under- pass were to be employed, and we could not support the idea.

The Highways Agency sees improvement to this junction and link as a High Priority. Studies and consultations will continue through 2002/3 with design and implementation planned for 2004/5/6.

Cllr Bill Andrews will be delighted to receive suggestions and has Consultation Questionnaires for you to complete if you wish your views to be considered. You may also do so at www.exso.org.uk via the "Your Views" link.

SPEED

Residents alongside the C17 (Emery Down - Stoney Cross) have complained about the speed of traffic using this road. The Police ran speed checks in the first week of November and found that 32% of traffic was speeding towards Minstead and 28% was speeding away. Draw your own conclusions as to the logical next step to be taken by Hampshire Constabulary. Speed within the village appears to have moderated following the introduction of the 30-mph limit, though one night-time persistent offender has had to be "spoken to"!

SUSTAINABLE LOCAL FOODS

CPRE has launched a new campaign to reconnect consumers with farmers and producers, and empower us to make informed choices about the food we eat and the way it is produced and distributed. A (£3) copy of their 12 page briefing "Sustainable Local Foods" may be requested from CPRE, 25 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PP; Tel 020 7976 6433 or email info@cpre.org.uk.

HEDGES & TREES

We applaud the work being done to keep the Parish hedges in good order but have to remind landowners that it is their responsibility to ensure that the verges are restored afterwards. Work done in wet weather results in great ruts in many places that are unsightly.

A number of trees have fallen or shed branches recently, some of which have blocked highways or footpaths. In view of the potential risk to persons and property, the Parish Council suggests that landowners assess whether such hazard exists on their land and take appropriate and timely action where necessary. NFDC Tree Preservation Officer for Minstead, David Cashman will be pleased to offer friendly advice on 023 8028 5329.

We hope that the damaged stile at the beginning of the footpath towards Clayhayes/Frogs Island will be replaced very soon.

CASTLE MALWOOD

Another chapter in the history of this 19^th century building begins this month with the occupation of Castle Malwood by Triangle Computer Services. On the site of a military beacon overlooking the Solent and Isle of Wight and built between 1802 and 1840 it was originally the home of Colonel Thomas William Robbins. In 1892 a Mr Charles Hill, a retired rubber plantation owner, bought it upon his return from Malaysia. His influence can still be seen today in his extensions of the property and in the inscription of "Salamat" - the Malay word for "Welcome" - above and in the floor of the front porch. Mr Daniel Hanbury, a director of Allen & Hann (baby food products) bought the estate in 1910. He wired the house for electricity and created a cricket pitch and tennis courts. He built a motor boat at Castle Malwood to compete in the British Trophy and kept a collection of Rolls Royce cars with one of the first "Silver Ghosts". During WW2 the house was used for refugee children under the management of Dr Barnado's. From 1948 to 2001 the Electricity Board, Southern Electric, used the house as offices. Jim Chapman of Triangle Computer Services has now had it sympathetically restored for use by his 21^st century hi-tech company ably demonstrating that old buildings can be revitalised to survive in this changing world.

BUS SHELTER

We hope to erect a new bus shelter for children waiting for their school bus at the eastern end of the village to the east of the entrance into Manor Park on the C151. (That is east of North Lodge - confused? So was I!) We have chosen to install a rustic shelter as this would be better suited to the rural nature of our village than the modern chrome and glass ones used elsewhere. We shall be making a site visit and assessment on 4^th February at 08.15 a.m. and welcome all who are interested or whose children might use this facility to join us there. We hope to receive external funding for most of the cost.

LENGTHSMAN

We cannot help mentioning again the very good work being done by Mr Short. Footpaths are clear, bunnies and ditches are open, damaged finger signs have been replaced and the village telephone box has been released from the clutches of the brambles. He is certainly making a very welcome improvement to the overall appearance of Minstead. Please direct requests and suggestions for Mr Short's labours to Cllr Steve Cattell in the first instance as he is co-ordinating the work schedule.

VILLAGE HALL

Mr Barnicoat has retired from the post of Warden through ill health. His daughter, Jane, has taken over as Temporary Warden, initially for six months.

The car park surface has deteriorated considerably in the past year, partly through ditching-pipe and other work not having been made good. Discussion within the Hall Management Committee has led to the re-surfacing matter being put on hold pending assessment of the results of the noise limiter now in operation in the Hall.

CONCEALED DRIVEWAY

Against the advice of this Parish Council, the Planning Committee of NFDC has granted permission for another partially concealed access driveway to be opened onto the C151 between Castle Malwood Park Farm and Yew Tree Cottage (now known as Gardeners Cottage). Work appears to be in progress already. We are concerned that this entrance is on or near to the apex of that corner, one that traffic rounds at speed in both directions even though it is not clearly sighted.