MINSTEAD MAIL
Volume 2 Issue 4 Spring 2008
PARISH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY
The Minstead Parish Council Parish Annual Assembly will be held at 8.00 p.m. on Wednesday 26th March 2008 in the Green Room, Minstead Village Hall. This is an excellent opportunity to meet your Parish Councillors and discuss current issues. Wine and nibbles will be served. Further details will be placed on the noticeboard and PC website nearer the time.
VILLAGE SHOP
Most will have met and welcomed Pam and Stewart Pritchard, the new owners of the village shop. They are working hard to ensure they meet the needs of the community as best they can and will welcome all the support we can give them.
POST OFFICE CLOSURE - UPDATE
It is with great regret that we have heard that Post Office Ltd has decided to proceed with the closure of our Post Office. The Parish Council, the New Forest District Council and Postwatch all made strong representations about the grave impact that closure of our Post Office will have on our community and the concerns that have been raised by many residents, particularly the difficulty of access to alternative Post Offices. Sadly, these points seem to have fallen on deaf ears! The exact date of closure remains uncertain but it will probably be sometime in February. On the plus side, however, the Village Shop will continue to provide cash from its machine and sell stamps and other stationery items.
COMMONABLE ANIMALS
Animals grazing on the open forest are vulnerable to harm in many ways. Everyone who lives within the New Forest is obliged to maintain safe fencing around their properties if they wish to prevent animals from entering. Particular care should be taken to ensure fencing cannot cause harm to animals particularly when using materials such as barbed wire.
TRAFFIC CALMING
Traffic calming remains an important Parish Council objective. Hampshire County Council has undertaken to conduct traffic surveys at locations to be agreed with the Parish Council. The volume and speed data from these will be used to determine whether traffic calming measures are justified and if so what type is appropriate. Parish Councillors have been impressed by a new type of Driver Feedback Sign which is portable and could be shared with other Parishes, though how this or any other device might be funded is not yet clear.
ROAD REPAIRS
Although Hampshire County Council has been able to take on some of the repair tasks agreed last year, there are a growing number of places where our roads are in a poor and deteriorating condition. Obviously the present bad weather does not make this sort of work any easier, but our Clerk is in regular contact with HCC to encourage them to do their best for Minstead.
HOME FIRE SAFETY VISITS
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) can provide a free home fire safety visit where there is an identified need. If you are in one of its target groups it will come to your home, fit smoke detection and provide fire safety advice. If you are not in one of the target groups they will invite you to a programmed presentation which will contain the latest fire safety advice and provide you with guidance to undertake a risk assessment of your home and a free ten year smoke detector. For further information and an application form visit www.hantsfire.gov.uk or contact the Community Fire Safety Department by telephone on 023 8062 6809 or write to the Community Fire Safety Team, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Headquarters, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO50 9SJ.
FLOODING
Although there is no evidence that Minstead is at particularly high risk, very heavy rain and poor or blocked surface water drainage might cause localised flooding which could affect homes. Key recommendations from Hampshire County Council and the Environment Agency are to: check your home and contents insurance covers this risk; be prepared by putting a home emergency pack in a safe, accessible place; know your home, especially how to turn off your electricity, gas and water. Further information can be obtained on www.hants.gov.uk, on Floodline 0845 988 1188 and on www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
LIVING REGISTER
The New Forest Centre, the New Forest Commoners Defence Association, the National Park and others have launched an initiative to collect words and phrases that are thought to be special to the New Forest area. They also wish to include the names of any places in the locality whose origins are of interest. If you can contribute to this project you can do so either by collecting a Form and Freepost envelope from the Village Shop; or by contacting Jo Whapham on 01590 626707 or at livingregister@btconnect.com.
HOT WATER SYSTEM SCALDING DANGER
The tragic death of a baby in Somerset from scalding occurred when a thermostat failed on an electric immersion heater, which overheated, and sent boiling water back into the plastic cold water tank and caused it to collapse and send water cascading down on to the baby. Many homes now have failsafe devices, but there are a number of tell-tale warning signs. The hot water cylinder would have to be boiling and bubbling to send hot water up to the cold water tank, making excessive noise. Water coming out of hot water taps would be excessively hot, and there might also be hot water coming from some cold taps. Steam or moisture in the roof space could be a further sign.
COMMUNITY POLICE VISITS
The Hampshire Police Mobile Office will be outside the Village Shop from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. on 13th February and 12th March. It will be manned by PC Mike Bemand your local Police Officer. If you would like to report a crime, other incident, lost/found property or discuss any local issues please call in.
HOUSEHOLD WASTE RECYCLING CENTRES
HWRCs are licensed to accept household waste only, though it is estimated that around 17.5% of all waste delivered is trade orientated. From 14th February, Hampshire County Council is tightening up regulations to try and reduce the amount of trade waste being delivered to HWRCs. After this date you will be unable to take waste in a commercial-type vehicle unless you are in possession of a household permit which can be obtained by calling Hantsdirect on 0845 603 5634 or visiting www.hants.gov.uk/recycling. Householders using cars do not need to apply for a permit. [Let's hope this initiative does not cause yet more rubbish to be dumped in the Forest! - Ed]
SURFACE WATER DRAINAGE
Many in Minstead are not connected to mains drainage and therefore do not pay a wastewater charge. If you are paying a separate surface water drainage charge this may qualify for a rebate if it does not enter a public sewerage system. In such cases you should apply to your sewerage company. For most in Minstead this is Southern Water (0845 279 0845) or Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water (01202 590059).
BHOTE GOUN EAST NEPAL
A report by Steve Cattell
As most will be aware, with all your help Bhote Goun School was completed over 4 years ago. Unfortunately, because of the political situation, it was impossible to officially open it, although it has of course been in constant use. I can now report that the school was opened in the first week of November by a doctor from Bristol who has built a medical centre in the neighbouring township of Taplejung. At present the school caters for 6 to 11 year olds. The Nepalese education minister has recently announced new legislation creating revised age bands of 6 to 8 years and 8 to 12 years. In order for Bhote Goun to continue to cater for the older children it will be necessary to increase the number of classrooms by rebuilding part of the school. In view of Minstead's past involvement I was hoping we may be able to find the much needed funds to complete this project. At the moment I am waiting for plans and approximate costs and will keep you informed. Incidentally, Bhote Goun Village presented Minstead Village with a brass teapot and brass horn, both of which can be seen on show at the Trusty Servant.
WHAT'S ON....
- STRICTLY FUN COME DANCING
In Minstead Hall Sat 9th Feb in aid of the Fenwick2 mini bus fund. Details on the Village Shop noticeboard.
22nd Feb at 7 p.m. Circus Bezercus presents "A Komedy of Errors".
14/15 March Junior Minstead presents its famous annual pantomime.
Further details from Marion 8080 2636 or Village Shop
Minstead WI has been suspended. In its place there will be a brand new women's group - so new it doesn't even have a name yet - which will usually meet at 8pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month in the Village Hall. Watch the Notice Board by the Village Shop. Join early and help make this new group what you want it to be. You don't even have to live in Minstead!
An informal meeting for anyone interested in Minstead's History will be held at the Social Club at 8 pm on Tue 12th Feb. Bring along anything of interest. Non members welcome
The Social Club also presents the Old Tyme Players' production, "Kiss Me Goodnight Sgt Major" on Sat 2nd Feb. Further details from Liz on 8086 5071.
The Trusty is organising a number of excellent events in the near future with the local community very much in mind. These include a themed menu Burns night on 25th Jan with live singing; a Valentines Night with set menu and live singing; and a set menu lunch on Mothering Sunday, 2nd March. More is planned, including live music, from Easter onwards so keep an eye open for these on the shop noticeboard, or give a ring on 8081 2137! The Trusty always has a good choice of real ales, lunch and evening menus and can cater for parties too, so do give this hard working team your support!
