Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Hampshire residents are being invited to show their support for the Armed Forces by joining in the celebrations to mark the start of Armed Forces week.

Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council will be marking Armed Forces Week with a flag raising ceremony in Winchester on Monday 24 June 2013. This is an annual event that helps raise public awareness of the military and gives the local community the opportunity to show their support for the Armed Forces. The ceremony will include a military band leading a Tri-Service march past through Winchester city centre.

The lunchtime celebrations begin on Monday at 11.45am with a Winchester Garrison Band, comprising musicians from The Band & Bugles of the Rifles and The Adjutant General's Corps, playing a selection of military music at the Buttercross in the centre of Winchester's High Street.

The band will then march down the High Street where it joins a contingent of 45 service personnel drawn from the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force. At 12.35pm the band will then lead them up the full length of the High Street to The Great Hall, Castle Avenue, where the Armed Forces Flag will be raised at 1pm.

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan, Leader of Hampshire County Council Councillor Roy Perry, and Mayor of Winchester, Councillor Ernest Jeffs have organised the flag raising ceremony.

The Lord-Lieutenant, who will inspect the Parade, said: "The annual Flag Raising Ceremony demonstrates Hampshire's strong commitment to our Armed Forces and the appreciation we have for all that they do. I am delighted that representatives from all three services will join us for this year's ceremony and I hope that members of the public will show their appreciation by turning out to support the contingent as they march through Winchester, and attending the short ceremony outside The Great Hall."

Councillor Roy Perry said: "Hampshire is home to the largest contingent of Armed Forces personnel in the country and we are immensely proud of our strong connection with the armed forces. Operational units of all three services are based here along with the headquarters of both the British Army and the Royal Navy. As a local authority, we want to show our debt of gratitude for the contributions and sacrifices of the armed forces community and all that they do to protect our country and serve the cause of freedom. I hope that people from around the county will join us in Winchester for these celebrations."

The Mayor of Winchester, the Right Worshipful, Councillor Ernest Jeffs, said: "Last month I signed a Community Covenant in recognition of Winchester's close connections with and support for the Armed Forces. I am looking forward to the flag-raising ceremony as a great opportunity to show that support and as a marvellous spectacle for the city."

Armed Forces week will see celebrations across the country leading up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 29 June 2013 which is an annual opportunity for the nation to show its support.

• Armed Forces Day - Show your support

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Hampshire County Council has been awarded £4 Million to help reduce congestion at the Queen's Roundabout in Aldershot.

The funding comes from a Government fund designed to target key bottlenecks around the country and make life easier for the thousands of motorists and businesses who use the local road network every day. The recent announcement relates to the second tranche of funding from the £190 million Local Pinch Point Fund, first announced in December 2012.

The Queens Roundabout currently experiences significant congestion, particularly in peak times, impacting on the effective operation and performance of local businesses in the area.

With a number of proposed new commercial and residential developments nearby traffic is set to increase. The Queens Roundabout would provide one of the main junctions on the road network facilitating traffic movements to these new development sites.

The scheme aims to reduce the impacts of the increased traffic volume and involves the introduction of traffic signal control on all four approach roads to the roundabout, widening of the approach roads and provision of safe pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities.

The total scheme costs are estimated to be £5.764 million funding awarded is £4.034 million.

Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, Cllr Seán Woodward, said:

"I am pleased that our bid for Local Pinch Point Funding for Queen's Roundabout has been successful. One of the key challenges for economic growth is to ensure high quality transport links for businesses to enable existing firms to expand and to attract new organisations to the area. The improvements at Queens Roundabout will help unlock economic growth by supporting the new developments, reducing congestion and improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists."

• The County Council's bid was supported by Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Hampshire County Council has signed a contract with the Argenti Telehealthcare Partnership, led by PA Consulting, to deliver telecare services to vulnerable adults across the county for up to five years.

Telecare uses wireless sensors to help people remain independent in their own homes by minimising risks, promoting a sense of security and giving peace of mind for their families and friends. Telecare systems, which are much less intrusive than traditional home care, range from devices mainly focused on preventing problems - such as a fall or forgetting to take medication - to intervention monitors which check sleep and activity. If the service user requires help, the 24-hour monitoring centre is alerted to respond appropriately.

Telecare provides a bespoke solution for individuals but is only one of many tools available to choose from when designing a care package. Telecare can be used to complement traditional care or be used to replace it. For example someone who requires help with tasks such as gardening will be visited by a carer but they may also have Telecare to remind them to take their medication and detect any falls. Through the contract Telecare will be free for all critical and substantial users making it a more viable choice for people who are looking into different care options.

The wider roll out of Telecare will also offer good value for money for the County Council at a time when funding from government is being dramatically decreased and demand for care is increasing due to an ageing and increasingly frail population with more complex needs. Mainstreaming Telecare is part of the Council's work to transform Adult Services to meet these challenges and sits alongside other new ways of delivering social care - such as Extra-Care schemes to ensure that Hampshire residents continue to receive quality services at the lowest cost.

Councillor Anna McNair Scott, Executive Member for Adult Social Care at Hampshire County Council said:

"People want to stay in a home of their own for as long as possible and Telecare can provide the confidence to enable them to do this. Telecare can significantly improve people's sense of dignity and quality of life, and complements traditional care. For example, someone who remains in a home of their own, but has help with washing or dressing, may also use Telecare to remind them to take their medication or detect any falls. Telecare can also offer people with a learning disability much greater independence as it enables them to travel safely on their own.

"As the average age in the UK rises, due to better health care and nutrition, it will become increasingly important to find more effective ways to care for older people and help them enjoy their lives in the way they choose. Telecare, as part of an overall package of care, is sure to play a more prominent role in future care plans."

Steve Carefull of PA Consulting and the Argenti Programme Director, comments:

"It is tremendously exciting to be partnering with Hampshire County Council on this journey to deploy Telecare at scale. We have brought together a world-beating consortium consisting of PA Consulting Group; Tunstall; O2; CareCalls; Medvivo and Magna Careline. Between us, we have unmatched industry experience and expertise, operating to Telecare Service Association Platinum Standards. As importantly, we all share a passion for assistive technology, believing it to have been long under-exploited as a way to deliver significant benefits to vulnerable people and their carers."

• Telecare wireless alarms and sensors for people in Hampshire

Friday, 14 June 2013

Hampshire County Council has received two 2013 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards for building design quality at Runways End Outdoor Activity Centre in Aldershot.

A RIBA Regional Award 2013 and RIBA South East Sustainability Award were awarded to the Council's Property Services Department this week for their work to design the Centre.

The RIBA Awards are given for buildings that have a high architectural quality and make a substantial contribution to the local environment. The awards are annual, and have been running continuously since 1966.

Runway';s End opened in October 2011 and is an ultra-modern children and young people's activity centre which gives youngsters from across Hampshire the chance to take part in world-class, challenging and exciting indoor and outdoor activities from archery, canoeing and abseiling, to rope courses, caving and camping.

The County Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and the Blackwater Valley District Scouts were successful in securing a significant capital grant from the then Department of Education, Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Co-location Fund to help fund the project.

Set in eight acres of woodland next to the Basingstoke Canal, the Centre has residential accommodation and a campsite, and includes a climbing and abseiling tower, a bouldering wall, and ropes and obstacle course designed for young children to tackle in teams. The underground caving experience also caters for people with physical disabilities, and there is a multi-activity hall for archery, shooting and team games. In addition, groups can use the beautiful Basingstoke Canal for canoeing.

Sustainability is the key ethos at Runways End. The centre produces its own hot water and heating through a biomass boiler plus a rainwater harvesting system recycles rainwater to flush toilets. These unique eco-friendly additions not only reduce the site's impact on the environment but reduce its utility bills.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Roy Perry, said: "I am delighted that our in-house Property Services team have received national recognition for their efforts to provide these award-winning facilities for children and young people at Runways End, providing a top-class venue offering indoor and outdoor activities for children of all abilities in the north of the county.

"These awards are highly prestigious and represent a significant achievement in professional building design. The quality of public buildings across the county is very important to help create attractive and inspirational surroundings in which the people of Hampshire can feel proud, so I congratulate all those involved for their outstanding work."

• Runways End Outdoor Centre

Friday, 14 June 2013

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be arriving in Stockbridge in August, improving local streetlights with the latest energy efficient equipment.

Much of the county's lighting stock is over 30 years old and needs replacing. As part of the improvement programme, 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards across Hampshire are being replaced or upgraded with the latest technology in energy saving lamps and dimming controls. Hampshire's new street lighting will also comply with Government targets for carbon reduction.

The new lighting in Stockbridge will see the replacement of approximately 27 lanterns and a further 75 lanterns and posts.

This long term investment will help improve the county's energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. As well as replacing older lighting columns which are coming to the end of their life, the new lamps will improve lighting levels on the ground, reduce light pollution at night and help make people feel safer in town centres and residential streets.

The preparation and planning for the Street Lighting programme aims to keep disruption to a minimum by coordinating work with other schemes and ensuring that work on key roads is planned to take place outside of rush hour periods.

• Street Lighting and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Recycle for Hampshire, a campaign that raises awareness and encourages people to recycle more, is urging Hampshire residents during Recycle Week to recycle their small, portable electrical items such as kettles, mobile phones, irons and toasters. With the chance of winning an iPad Mini or Kindle Fire there's no reason not to recycle your unwanted or burnt out electricals this Recycle Week (17-21 June).

Collection events are being held in Eastleigh, the New Forest, Havant and Portsmouth where you can drop off your small electrical goods and enter a prize draw to win an iPad or a Kindle. Details of all events and accepted items are available from the participating local councils themselves or from the Recycle for Hampshire twitter feed @RecycleHants.

Chair of the Project Integra waste partnership's Strategic Board, Councillor Leslie Keeble, said:

"Most people actively recycle a lot of things like paper and metals, but don't realise how easy it is to recycle electrical items too. You can take old and broken electricals to any of our 26 Household Waste Recycling Centres in Hampshire all year round as they all have special collection containers for them. Plenty of local charities will also accept them if they're reusable.

"It's vital that we recycle as many of our broken electrical goods as possible. Each year in the UK we go through 1.2 million tonnes of electrical waste the equivalent of 150,000 double-decker buses which would fill Wembley Stadium to the brim six times and a typical domestic iron contains enough steel to make as many as 13 food cans.

"I am proud of our recycling record in Hampshire and with the efforts of local residents we have reduced landfill by almost 90% in the period from 2001/02 to 2011/12. During last year's Recycle Week we collected 4,200 items, or seven and a half tonnes, across the county and it would be fantastic if we could dig out all our old small electricals and beat that record this year."

• Recycle for Hampshire

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Consultation on proposals to improve the western access to Gosport, including initial high level ideas for a potential Stubbington Bypass, has been given the green light by Hampshire County Council and will start in July.

Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, Cllr Seán Woodward has approved a consultation that will:

Present detailed plans for the proposed improvements to the northern section of Newgate Lane between Palmerston Drive and Tanners Lane for comment

Ask for views on interim measures to improve the Peel Common roundabout junction

Seek early views on three possible routes for the Stubbington bypass and related improvements.

The proposals aim to provide improved access to the Solent Enterprise Zone, and to help address existing traffic problems on the Gosport peninsula including the Stubbington area.

Cllr Woodward said: "Although there has been long standing local interest in a potential Stubbington Bypass we are looking at this as part of a wider set of highway works to improve access to Fareham and Gosport on the western side in order to support the local economy and improve the quality of life for those living and working in the area."

Now is the perfect time to be taking these proposals forward with the Government creating a more favourable climate for investment in major highway infrastructure in order support economic growth. We have already secured a funding package for the Newgate Lane north scheme and for the Peel Common roundabout improvements, but is important to ensure that we will be in a good position to bid for funding to improve the access to Gosport from the west as soon as an opportunity becomes available.

• Newgate Lane Fareham, Major Improvement Scheme and Gosport Western Access

Thursday, 13 June 2013

In response to concerns from local residents, Hampshire County Council has given the go ahead for a pavement along Pilcot Road, and to promote a reduction in the speed limit to 30 mph along the route.

The new footpath will link into the existing footway on Knights Close in Crookham Village and extend westwards to the entrance of Dogmersfield Village. By providing a footpath and reducing the speed limit, pedestrians, drivers and cyclists can all benefit from a safer environment.

Pilcot Road has no pavement and is a rural road with a 40mph speed limit. During a 12-hour period in July 2010, a traffic survey found that over 3,000 vehicles used the road and traffic volumes are set to increase with future housing developments in the area. Pedestrians walking along Pilcot Road to reach local facilities, including the local schools, have reported motorists passing by too closely and, in the absence of a designated path, some pedestrians are choosing to walk along the steeply sloping grass verge which is a cause for concern in wet weather, particularly for parents with young children or those pushing prams.

Taking the location of utilities, trees and open ditches into consideration, it has been recommended that the footpath will be 1.2 metres in width and 425 metres in length, with a 0.5 metre safety verge created where the new footway will be running alongside existing open ditches. As part of the scheme, highway drainage will be improved or constructed where none exists currently.

Councillor Seán Woodward, Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at Hampshire County Council, commented:

"I am pleased to be able to respond to local concerns and pressure for a new footway to be provided on Pilcot Road. This is a busy rural road, and the planned reduction in the speed limit together with the provision of a new footway will significantly improve things for all road users. There is a sound business case for this scheme and in agreeing the investment and it is my view that this work should be carried out at the earliest opportunity."

The County Council is investing £315,000 of developer contributions to fund the scheme and work is estimated to start in the autumn. Some minor advanced works may be required prior to the main construction. A road closure will be necessary so that work can be carried out safely and traffic will be diverted while the road is closed. More information about the diversion will be made available when the arrangements have been finalised.

• Roadworks and road maintenance

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Royal Victoria Country Park celebrated a special birthday on Sunday 9 June as 2013 marks the 150th anniversary of the site's former military hospital admitting its first patients.

To mark the occasion the park at Netley hosted a free event to reflect on the park's rich history. Cllr Peter Edgar, Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Education was helped by 'Queen Victoria' to bury a time capsule, plant a Mulberry tree and unveil a special plaque next to the Chapel to mark the occasion.

A Mulberry tree was chosen particularly because of its medical history. It is widely used in traditional folk remedies to treat ailments including fevers, headaches and asthma.

The time capsule included 2013 minted 50p, 20p and 10p coins, a 2013 first class stamp, Royal Victoria Country Park summer programme for 2013, a Hampshire County Council tie, and a poster of the 150th anniversary celebrations.

Cllr Edgar, said: "Royal Victoria Country Park is such a valuable historical site. It is wonderful that we can mark this significant historic 150 year milestone with this tree and plaque which everyone, especially children, can learn from. This will help all of us to understand the important part the former Hospital played in the service of our country. These symbols will help keep in the forefront of everyone's minds the sacrifices that were made by the wounded and sick soldiers who came to this pioneering military hospital on this beautiful waterfront site. It will also remind us of the care they received and the work of the doctors and nurses who cared for them."

From 1863 until 1966, the site was home to the Royal Victoria Hospital. It was more than a quarter of a mile long and the British Army's first purpose-built hospital which devoted more than 100 years of service to caring for sick and wounded soldiers from across the world. Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone herself on the 19 May 1856 and visited the site over 20 times in her lifetime. The Army demolished most of the building in 1966 except the former Chapel to the hospital.

The site was acquired by Hampshire County Council and in 1980 Royal Victoria Country Park was opened to the public.

Following the weekend's celebrations, members of the public are still being encouraged to share their stories, memories, family connections or photos of the former military hospital and Country Park by posting them on the park's Facebook and Twitter pages @RoyalVictoriaCP.

Recollections will be recorded for prosperity.

• Royal Victoria Country Park

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Hampshire County Council is highlighting safer sex and screening advice to help reduce further the rate of sexually transmitted infections.

Data released by Public Health England indicates a small decrease in the number of new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed in local sexual health clinics across the Wessex area which includes Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

However rates of STIs remain high and Public Health England says this suggests that too many people are continuing to put themselves at risk through unsafe sex especially young adults and men who have sex with men.

Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed in Hampshire followed by genital warts and herpes. Those aged under 25 experience the highest STI rates contributing to almost 74 per cent of Chlamydia diagnoses in the area.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst, Hampshire County Council's Executive Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing said: "Left untreated, sexually transmitted infections can lead to a range of complications including ectopic pregnancy, infertility, disability, cancer and premature death. As part of our new public health responsibilities, Hampshire County Council already commissions a range of programmes and services delivered in a variety of community settings that support people to develop and maintain good sexual health.

"Getting screened for HIV and STIs can lead to early diagnosis and treatment, as often these infections have no symptoms. In addition, reducing the number of sexual partners and avoiding overlapping sexual relationships can reduce the risk of being infected with an STI."

Individuals can also significantly reduce their risk of catching or passing on an STI by:

• Always using a condom when having sex with casual and new partners.
• Getting tested regularly if in one of the highest risk groups:
• Sexually active under 25 year olds should be screened for chlamydia every year, and on change of sexual partner
• Men who have sex with men having unprotected sex with casual or new partners should have an HIV/STI screen at least annually, and every three months if changing partners regularly.

• Further information on local sexual health services in Hampshire

Friday, 07 June 2013

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be arriving in Overton in August, improving local streetlights with the latest energy efficient equipment.

Much of the county's lighting stock is over 30 years old and needs replacing. As part of the improvement programme, 150,000 street lights, illuminated signs and bollards across Hampshire are being replaced or upgraded with the latest technology in energy saving lamps and dimming controls. Hampshire's new street lighting will also comply with Government targets for carbon reduction.

The new lighting in Overton will see the replacement of approximately 54 lanterns and a further 411 lanterns and posts.

This long term investment will help improve the county's energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions. As well as replacing older lighting columns which are coming to the end of their life, the new lamps will improve lighting levels on the ground, reduce light pollution at night and help make people feel safer in town centres and residential streets.

The preparation and planning for the Street Lighting programme aims to keep disruption to a minimum by coordinating work with other schemes and ensuring that work on key roads is planned to take place outside of rush hour periods.

• Street Lighting and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract