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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Cllr Roy Perry, Leader of Hampshire County Council, was one of the founding co-chairmen of Hampshire's Interfaith Network.

He said: "I know from my many good contacts with Muslims in Hampshire formed since we created the Interfaith Network, that they are just as appalled as people of all other faiths at the terrible murder of the young serviceman in Woolwich.

"Sadly all religions including Christianity have people who distort their faith and do unacceptable things supposedly in the name of their religion as we saw in Northern Ireland for instance.

"I am confident the good and peaceful inter community relations we have in Hampshire and which we have worked collectively to achieve, means this appalling incident will not detract from the peace and harmony we enjoy in our county. I thank our local Imams for their leadership and their clear statements of condemnation of the perpetrators of this act."

• Hampshire Interfaith Network

Friday, 24 May 2013

Hampshire County Council's street lighting replacement programme will be arriving in Colden Common 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 Colden Common will see the replacement of approximately 84 lanterns and a further 160 lanterns and posts.

A number of streetlights belonging to the parish council will not form part of the project. There will be signs to indicate ownership and details of the number to call in the event of a fault.

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

Tuesday, 21 May 2013

"A good foster carer is like a safety net. I knew that if I messed up someone would be there to catch me. Good carers don't judge you and you can tell them anything."

Powerful words from a young person who knows the very real and positive difference a foster carer can make to a vulnerable young person's life.

Nikki is 18 now and living independently in supported lodgings but to mark Fostercare Fortnight , 13- 27 May, she is helping Hampshire County Council to raise awareness of Fostering in a bid to recruit more carers.

Nikki, who is one of Hampshire's Care Ambassadors supporting other young people in care, spent around ten years in foster care. She still has contact with the family she lived with prior to living independently. "Penny was everything I could have wanted in a foster carer," said Nikki. "She made me feel at home in her family, she understood the difficult things I was dealing with. When I made mistakes she was there to help me but she never judged me. A good foster placement helps you feel safe and secure and for me it enabled me to be a child again."

Security and stability are very important for vulnerable children coming into foster care. Emma, 19, who is studying Philosophy at university with the aim of becoming a teacher has lived with foster carers for the past five years. She said the ability to give and take is key to the success of a placement. "Sometimes carers need to stick with it," she said. "When you come into care you may have a range of feelings, there may be upset, stress and some conflict. It's really important for carers to be willing to work through the hiccups. My carers are lovely people, supportive, consistent, and reflective. I can talk things through with them and they don't let problems escalate."

Like Nikki and Emma, children and young people are looked after by the local authority in foster placements when their own family, for whatever reason, is unable to care for them. It is often a time of turmoil and the one thing they need is someone who will be there for them, listen to them and support them with whatever challenges they are facing.

Nicky from Waterlooville is one of Hampshire's dedicated team of foster carers. She and her husband Steve have looked after around 25 children in the five years they have been fostering. They currently have four boys living with them and their own teenage son. "It certainly makes for a full house," said Nicky, "but I can't remember it being any different. It's the little things which make it so rewarding. I had one little boy and no-one had ever sat and read a book with him. He was so happy to do that and his enjoyment was great to see."

Nicky mainly fosters older boys now and it is not without its challenges: "It's not always easy," she said "but when you see a young person who may have come to you troubled or quiet and withdrawn, gain in confidence, smile and succeed at things they didn't think they could do, it is worth it."

It is not just the child who benefits. Nicky is in touch with one mum of two boys she cared for. "Mum really turned her life round so she could have her boys back. She and the boys are doing well. That's when fostering really works and it is a pleasure to see."

The County Council is always on the lookout for more people, like Nicky, who can rise to the challenge and make a real difference to a vulnerable young person's life by being a foster carer. Right now the County Council is especially keen to hear from people who can offer a stable and caring home environment to a teenager, sibling groups, or children with complex needs. Opportunities exist which range from long-term caring roles to respite and short break care. Carers are also needed to support parents and babies.

Anyone can be a foster carer as long as they have what it takes to care for children. To help foster carers Hampshire County Council has a range of training courses and comprehensive support recognised by Ofsted who judged the Fostering Service to be good with outstanding features. The Council also offers a competitive package of fees and allowances according to skills and experience.

John Coughlan, Hampshire County Council's Director of Children's Services said: "Foster carers like Nicky are vital to us - without them our job of ensuring good outcomes for vulnerable children would be much harder. It can be challenging at times as all parenting can be, but carers tell us it is a very rewarding role and as we can see from the testimony of Nikki and Emma being a foster carer is a chance to make a real difference to children's lives."

To find out more about how you can make a difference, call the Foster Care team on 0845 603 5620 or log on to the website.

• Foster with Hampshire County Council

Monday, 20 May 2013

A campaign designed to remind Hampshire residents and visitors to be 'tick aware' this summer includes new leaflets on how to prevent tick bites and reduce the risk of contracting Lyme disease.

Part of a national programme by Public Health England (PHE), the campaign aims to raise awareness of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses among health professionals and the public. Ticks are small, spider-like creatures most common in late spring, summer and autumn. a tick is the size of a poppy seed and once detected, it is important to remove the tick with tweezers as soon as possible to reduce the risk of getting bitten and becoming ill. Most ticks do not carry the infection but any area where ticks are present could be a potential risk for Lyme disease.

Dr Ruth Milton, Hampshire's Director of Public Health said: "We want people to go out and enjoy the countryside this summer but it's important to be aware of ticks which can bite and lead to unpleasant illnesses such as Lyme disease. The new leaflets help explain the risks and how to avoid and treat tick bites.

"As there is currently no effective vaccine against Lyme disease, the most important ways to protect yourself and your family are by being 'tick aware', avoiding tick infested areas, wearing the right clothing where ticks are more common and quickly removing any attached ticks.

"Not all tick bites result in disease, but some can transmit bacteria that cause diseases such as Lyme disease, which can lead to very serious conditions if left untreated. Symptoms of Lyme disease can include a circular rash, tiredness and muscle and joint pain.

"Lyme disease can be contracted in parks, gardens and rural areas across most of the country, and is common in areas such as the New Forest and South Downs. Therefore it is important to raise awareness of this disease amongst our residents and those who visit the area."

Since June 2012 1,928 samples from Hampshire have been tested for Lyme Disease by Public Health England's Rare and Imported Pathogens Department at Porton Down. Of these, 190 were found to be positive for Lyme Disease - approximately 10%. Most cases occurred between June and August, however not all samples necessarily belong to Hampshire residents as the data reflects samples sent from hospital laboratories within Hampshire rather than residents. The positive rate of around 10% is consistent across the UK.

Cases are often the result of outdoor activities including camping, walking, hiking and mountain-biking, where tick exposure is more likely.

• A factsheet providing important health advice and some basic precautions is available from PHE