Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Hampshire's Minerals and Waste Plan has now reached the final stage before adoption, with the independent Planning Inspector confirming the Plan has been found to be 'sound' (meaning it has been positively prepared, justified, effective and is consistent with national policy).

The final Inspector's Report states that the draft Plan is 'sound', subject to the implementation of the modifications considered during the public hearing:

"I conclude that with the recommended main modifications set out in the Appendix the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan would satisfy the requirements of Section 20(5) of the 2004 Act and meet the criteria for soundness in the National Planning Policy Framework," he said.

The Inspector, Mr Andrew S. Freeman, who was appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has put together his final Report following scrutiny of the draft Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan at the public examination hearings held in June 2012 and March 2013. The modifications recommended by the Inspector for inclusion in the Plan have been made after full consideration of the representations on these issues.

Councillor Seán Woodward Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at Hampshire County Council, said: "The Planning Inspector has confirmed that he considers the plan to be a sound document and suitable for all the Hampshire authorities to adopt as planning policy. Once adopted it will replace existing policy - the 'Hampshire Minerals and Waste Core Strategy' - and all future planning applications for minerals and waste development will be assessed and determined on the basis of the policies in the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan. The Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan will play a crucial role in protecting our environment and communities over the next 20 years. This includes ensuring the local economy is supported by enabling an adequate supply of minerals and sustainably managing Hampshire's waste.

Hampshire's draft Plan has been prepared in partnership with Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council and the New Forest and South Downs National Park Authorities, as part of their statutory responsibility for minerals and waste planning. The effects on surrounding areas have also been considered, including regular liaison with the relevant councils and communities.

• More information about the draft Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan, the public examination and the Inspectors Report

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

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

Wednesday, 05 June 2013

Hampshire County Council is backing a new campaign that aims to raise awareness of the dangers of Secondhand Smoke to children and to encourage smokers to stop smoking in their home and car.

Secondhand Smoke is emitted every time someone smokes and is a mix of 4,000 chemical compounds, irritants and toxins, and contains 50 known carcinogens. Children are particularly vulnerable to Secondhand Smoke. Nationally each year, smoking causes an extra 300,000 GP visits and 9,500 hospital admissions for children - and an additional cost to the NHS of £26 million.

The 'Smokefree Homes and Cars' campaign has been launched this week by Public Health England and highlights the fact that Secondhand Smoke, at home or in the car, puts children at increased risk of lung disease, meningitis and cot death. It aims to help people learn more about the dangers of Secondhand Smoke and protect others from the effects.

In Hampshire estimated smoking rates vary from 13.6 per cent in Test Valley to 24.3 per cent in Rushmoor. To help motivate smokers to quit, the campaign offers a free Smokefree Kit, which includes information, guidance and tools to help people stop smoking.

Councillor Liz Fairhurst's name, Executive Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing at Hampshire County Council said:

"Over eighty percent of Secondhand Smoke is invisible and has no smell, so even if the air looks clean and clear your children could still be exposed to harmful cancer-causing toxins and poisons.

"Children are at an increased risk from second hand smoke because not only do they breath faster and so take in more toxins than adults, but also their immune systems are not as developed and so protect them less.

"No level of Secondhand Smoke is safe for children and this is a great time and an excellent reason, for the two thirds of smokers who want to quit, to take the first steps to a smoke-free life. Not only will this have a positive impact on your children's health but it will mean that they will be less likely to smoke themselves - children of smokers are ninety per cent more likely to smoke themselves."

For more information on stopping smoking ask your GP or go to Quit4Life, or order your free Smokefree Kit.

• Advice to help you stop smoking - NHS SmokeFree

Monday, 03 June 2013

Construction of a new Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) for Havant at Harts Farm Way will begin on 10 June. The current site will remain open to residents until the new site is ready for use.

The new HWRC will be built on land between the existing site and Harts Farm Way and features a split level layout that will make it quicker and easier for local residents to deposit their household waste and recyclables. Site users will not have to climb up steps any longer as the bins are set at the lower level. Capacity will also be increased from the current 6 to 14 bins as well as additional upper level storage for other types of waste, such as old fridges and freezers.

A further benefit of the split level layout is that full waste containers can be removed and replaced without having to temporarily close the public access area, as is the case from time to time at the existing site, so that servicing vehicles can reach the containers directly from the lower level, both reducing traffic congestion and also ensuring that the HWRC can operate without interruption. The access road will feature an on-site stacking lane that can accommodate up to 46 cars, and there will be car parking spaces for up to 19 cars including two disabled bays.

Councillor Seán Woodward, Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, said: "Household Waste Recycling Centres are among Hampshire County Council's most widely used public services with more than four million people visiting them each year. Havant's current HWRC is no longer large enough to cope with the level of usage it receives, and consequently during busy periods it can get very congested.

"The new site will be a big improvement with more capacity and better segregation between householders and operational vehicles. When it opens it will help local people to recycle more material, more safely and therefore reduce waste, making a further contribution to Hampshire's table-topping record of diverting over 90 per cent of household waste from landfill."

The new HWRC will be built by Geoffrey Osborne Ltd and is expected to be completed by November 2013. The cost to build the new HWRC is approximately £943,000, funded from the County Council's capital programme.

• Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs)

Friday, 31 May 2013

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be arriving in Ashurst and Colbury 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 Ashurst and Colbury will see the replacement of approximately 152 lanterns and a further 161 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, 30 May 2013

An ambitious programme that replaces Hampshire's streetlights with the latest energy efficient equipment to reduce energy consumption and cut carbon emissions has marked its third anniversary of a five-year programme.

In partnership with SSE Contracting Lighting Services, Hampshire County Council is replacing 150,000 streetlights, illuminated signs and bollards with the latest in lighting technology. Started in April 2010, the project has so far seen almost 39,000 complete units (lamp posts and lanterns) and a further 36,000 lanterns replaced or updated.

As part of the project, 50,000 remote monitoring systems have also been fitted to the upgraded streetlamps, which give the ability to dim the lights remotely, report faults automatically and alter the switch-on/off times to reduce energy consumption.

This combination of energy-efficient lights and remote dimming has already reduced Hampshire's annual streetlight consumption by 8 million kWh (from a pre-project figure of 50m kWh per year to a current figure of 42m kWh per year). This saving is enough to power over 1,400 homes for a whole year. From 2015 the total annual energy saving is estimated to further increase from 8 million to 16 million kWh per year or the equivalent of 8,000 metric tonnes of emitted carbon: As all large public and private sector organisations are obliged to pay for their carbon emissions (currently £16 per metric tonne of emitted carbon) this represents further savings for Hampshire's residents.

The new streetlights produce a whiter and more focused light which makes it easier to see at night, as well as helping to reduce road accidents and prevent crime. LED lights are being installed in the two National Parks to minimise light pollution.

Cllr Seán Woodward, Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at Hampshire County Council said:

"It's great news that we are on track with our programme to replace all of Hampshire's streetlights. At a time when fuel costs are rising, and our services need to be even more efficient, this project is lighting the way and ensuring that Hampshire's streetlamps stay on. This long-term programme is already delivering real benefits to Hampshire's residents such as helping to reduce road accidents and prevent crime, as well as saving money and reducing carbon emissions."

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

Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Following the extreme weather last winter and the promise of summer at last, highways teams across Hampshire are busy trimming spring growth on verges during the annual grass cutting season.

Good visibility is vital for motorists and other road users and so it is important to trim back verges to maintain clear lines of sight. Verge cutting is also timed to manage designated Road Verges of Ecological Importance which have identified rare flower species. These verges are cut either early in the season during April, to reduce invasive plants such as thistles or vigorous grasses that may have taken hold over the winter, or in late September so that rare species have had time to flower and set seed for the next year.

Verge cutting is undertaken in both rural and urban areas. In general rural grass verges are defined as areas with speed limits of 40mph and above and are cut by the county council's highways term contractor Amey who use local sub contractors. Urban grass verges tend to be on roads with a speed limit of 30mph or lower and are cut by the 11 district councils in Hampshire on behalf of the County Council.

Rural grass cutting is carried out twice a year, with the first cut normally taking place in May and June. The second cuts starts in early September and should be completed by the middle of October. Work on most of the rural road verges consists of a one metre wide cut but at junctions, bends and in front of traffic signs the grass is cut back further to ensure good visibility for motorists. In addition, the remaining areas of verge are cut once every three years in rotation, in order to prevent them from becoming overgrown.

Cllr Seán Woodward, Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at Hampshire County Council said:

"Hampshire has almost 6,000 miles of road and over 2,000 miles of them are covered by the rural grass cutting programme and the same if not more in urban areas. Good visibility for all road users is critical and so it is important to make sure that our verges are trimmed. We balance this with the need to ensure that plant and wildlife habitats of special interest are protected and, with sensible timing, managed verge cutting can support wildflowers and rare species."

"This is a very busy time for our grass cutting contractors so please be patient if you get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle. We always try to keep any inconvenience to road users to a minimum but the work to keep our roads and verges in good condition is in everyone's interest."

• Maintenance of road verges

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Test Valley's energetic anti-litter campaigner Manuela Wahnon was one of the first official visitors to Hampshire County Council's new Leader, Roy Perry.

Manuela, who campaigns the length and breadth of Test Valley, particularly visiting schools and organising litter picks, wants to take her anti-litter message across other parts of Hampshire, hence her visit to the Council's headquarters in Winchester.

Manuela is already scheduled to organise a campaign at Lee-on-the-Solent where she wants to see more litter bins installed especially in the car park.

Councillor Perry said: "I wish we had more people with the sheer enthusiasm and determination to fight litter as Manuela and I wish her well in her campaigning. I am grateful for the annual visit she makes to Wellow each year, where I live, to help pick up litter particularly on the A36. I told her that I was writing to McDonald's in the light of the refusal of planning permission by the New Forest National Park, for a new McDonald's at Picket Post in the New Forest to ask them to deal with the litter their restaurant at Ower causes over many miles. I hope they may take my complaint seriously."

• Attitude of Gratitude - Keeping Test Valley Tidy