When I am not working for the NHS, on Hampshire County Council business, on New Forest District Council business, on New Forest National Park Business, on Hampshire Fire & Rescue Authority Business, or Totton & Eling Town Council Business, or dealing with case work or grant applications, I am generally out campaigning.

Today, I was delivering my latest Focus to households in Marchwood. I'm pictured here taking a quick break, dodging a shower by sitting in a bus shelter. It was quite useful because the local MP called me, to keep me updated on his latest efforts to keep enough local inpatient beds for those suffering from acute mental health problems.

Although of very different political views, we work very well together on a series of issues ranging from Fluoride in tap water, the Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre and Mental Health Facilities. I like to think of it as our own “Mini-Coalition!”

Mcdonald's coming to Totton......... Again?

The Famous Fast Food Burger Chain, McDonald's, have submitted an application to build a new drive-in restaurant in Commercial Road on the site where the Red Lion Public House used to be.

The site in question has been empty concrete ever since the pub was demolished following a fire. Rumours that it might be snapped up by Mcdonald's have proved to be accurate. A formal planning application has been submitted to construct a modern two storey building with internal and external seating for 85 customers, along with 41 car parking spaces.

The application will be determined by New Forest District Council in March. It is likely to be strongly opposed by some. Already officers on Totton & Eling Town Council are recommending refusal as such a building would be considered out of keeping with existing policy for the town.

The Totton Urban Design Framework (2003) says that “All new development will be required to contribute positivelly to local distinctiveness and sense of place, being appropriate and sympathetic to its setting in terms of scale, height, density, layout, appearance, materials and relationship to adjoining buildings and landscape features”.

Further problems are that the site sits on a flood plain. It is also adjacent to a school and and a nature reserve that has SSI and RAMSAR status.

On the plus side, McDonald's claim that the new facility would employ some 65 full and part-time staff.

McDonald's already operate a restaurant in Totton, located in the nearby Asda Store. There is no mention in the application whether this will continue if the scheme is approved.

County Councillor for Totton South, David Harrison says “ I would be very interested in hearing what local people think about this application. I personally don't think it is good or necessary for the town to have two McDonald's”.

Councillor Harrison can be contacted by e-mail on dharrison100@aol.com

Beware the MAMIL ! (Middle aged Men in Lycra)


The question of cycling is the latest controversy being tackled by the New Forest National Park Authority. You might be forgiven for wondering what the problem is with cycling. It's a healthy form of exercise, gets people out and about and causes no pollution. The National Park Authority (NPA) is already committed to helping develop and promote cycling in the New Forest as part of its' Recreation & Management Strategy.

So, what is the problem? Well, a long term concern amongst people concerned with the care of the environment and the tranquil nature of the New Forest is the fact that a lot of cyclists ignore the designated cycle routes in favour of other forest tracks. There is an argument as to how much damage this causes and real problems when it comes to policing and enforcement.

The more recent problem, which has placed the issue high up on the agenda of the NPA, is the growing trend for large groups of cyclists to use New Forest Roads for various events, including charity fund raisers, non competitive “Sportives” and triathlons. Somewhat surprisingly, there have been almost no organised large cycle races in recent years. Apparently, this is due to regulation applying to races and the costs involved in paying to police them.

The difficulties of having large numbers of cyclists attending events in the New Forest is that the wishes of the cyclists to pursue their sporting activities can clash with the sometimes very different wishes of local people. A fair degree of unhappiness has been expressed and the NPA has had to consider what action it might take to improve matters.

I was one of a number of NPA members who met at Lymington Town Hall to hear presentations from the likes of representatives of the British Cycling Association, a commercial organiser of cycling events, the Verderers & The Commoners. It was quite informative. A startling fact is that in Holland, some 27% of trips undertaken are by bike. In the UK, only 2% of trips are by bike. It's a small wonder that we have a major health problem here, with one in four of us obese!

We heard from a Parish Councillor in Brockenhurst who complained bitterly that large numbers of cyclists are seriously restricting her ability to drive a car, particularly at weekends. There were also examples of anti-social behaviour, including cyclists spooking animals and even interfering with the drift (the round-up of New Forest ponies). It seems a lot of people want to regulate these activities. The problem is that, as the law stands, there is no way of regulating them and anyway, nobody seems to have much idea as to how regulations could be effectively enforced.

The NPA is not the highway authority for the New Forest and has virtually no powers to limit numbers using the New Forest for cycling. There seemed to be a broad consensus that the NPA should try and do more to encourage responsible cycling through various means of communication.

The NPA has already teamed up with the South Downs Park Authority to make a joint bid for government cash to improve local transportation. If successful, we will hopefully see more things like signposted routes, facilities for parking bikes etc.

It should also be possible to extend and connect up some more of the designated cycle routes in the New Forest. The meeting finished on a positive note with various action points agreed upon, these to provide the basis of a report for all NPA members to consider.

Totton Town Market Survey

A survey of 5000 Totton households has shown strong support for the reintroduction of a Town Market.

Councillor David Harrison, a Town, District and County Councillor for Totton South, undertook a survey of half the homes in the town during December and January to find out what local people really think about the future of a Town Market.

The market, based in Salisbury Road, collapsed when traders withdrew support towards the end of the last year. The Town Council has been discussing the best means to revive it at a future date.

Councillor David Harrison says his survey gives the best evidence yet of the opinions of local residents and the chances of making the market a success in the future.

Key parts of the survey reveal :

70% of those surveyed felt Totton was suitable as a market town.

Almost everybody responding agreed that free car parking in the Town was an important factor in making a success of the market.

About 50% of those responding thought the market would be better supported if it was held in a different location, with many expressing a wish that it was held in the precinct.

Most of those surveyed felt that the market was advertised sufficiently.

There was a very strong preference for the market to be reintroduced as a “Farmers Market”, preferably selling good quality locally grown food.

Councillor Harrison has delivered a results sheet to all households that participated in the survey and will be sharing the information with fellow members of the Totton & Eling Town Council.

He says “I'm encouraged by the survey results. It looks to me like we can make a success of a market in the town, providing it offers the sort of things people want to buy. I'm hoping we can try out a Farmer's market, in line with people's wishes. A market also has more chance of succeeding if started when the warmer weather arrives”.

Here follows, with the very kind permission of Mr Morley, one of the responses to the survey from a local resident - reproduced here because Cllr Harrison thinks it contains some very good points and ideas :

David,

I have just read your latest Focus, thank you.

Totton Market

Since having recently read through the Mary 'Portas Review' about our
High Streets, sadly more retail chains are in trouble, public sector
cuts to severe and too quick - but dont get me started on that one.

Some of her ideas feature around making the High Street (or could be a
location in Totton) more of a meeting place, a daytime social hub. The
weather is a factor and I wonder whether a large frame marquee (with
the canopy or roof being added as needed)could be erected on Saturdays
and say one other day, where by small local entrepreneurs could rent
small trestle tables (set up by the Town Council), to sell crafts,
cosmetics, memorabilia, antiques, maybe stalls hired to businesess who
may only want a one off date or once a month.

Perhaps local charities,clubs, organisations, associations could be given space free to promote other activities. for example Totton Football club could have an
occasional stand to sell their scarves amd match tickets for example,
the Rugby club, the sea Scouts and their Donkey Derby tickets....The
Police might want to get a message across occasionally...

Portas also suggests car booters should be brought to the High Street
to increase footfall and diversity.

Some of this would be green, recycling goods rather than dumping them.

The local allotment associations could be invited so they can sell
seasonal surplus F&V to give the supermarkets some competition,
reducing food miles.

just some thoughts for you to consider if this has not been all covered
before.

Kevan Morley

Is this the worst pavement in Hampshire? I spotted this rather badly neglected example whilst out delivering leaflets in Powell Crescent on the Hounsdown Estate, Totton.

I have, as I always do, reported this to the local Highways Office for urgent attention. It is an extreme example of a pavement that is in such poor condition, it should not be used. I struggle to work out exactly how this one got into such a state.

Sometimes, underlying tree roots are the cause but not this one. My best guess is that the damage has been done by a Heavy Goods Vehicle.

A resident in Eling, Totton called me recently. She was very concerned that the Environment Agency have designated where she lives as “At risk of flooding”. She told me that she fears she won't be able to get insurance cover for the flood risk in the future and this could have implications for her mortgage and the re-sale value of her property.

I tried to reassure her as best I could. In fact, there is an agreement in place between the government and the insurance industry whereby insurers will provide cover for homes at risk, at least until 2013.

Central government have been looking at options for the future and a new announcement is expected in the spring. There are apparently tensions between the government and insurance companies because less money has been spent on flood defences than had been anticipated and government takes the view that it would sooner spend what little money there is available on preventative works than it would supporting a fund for victims should the worst happen.

It used to be said that homes in Eling were at significant risk of flooding once every 200 years. However, climate change seems to have increased the risk. My own view is that it would be better for taxpayer's money to be spent on prevention. Already this week, I have been on to the Environment Agency asking them to check cracks appearing in nearby flood defences.

Insurers should continue to offer insurance to homeowners in high risk zones but with special conditions attached. It might be some insurers will exclude the risk of flood damage altogether, whilst others might offer policies with a very large excess relating to flood risk only.

This is not something to worry about excessively. Even if climate change has doubled the risk of flooding for some homes, it still means we might expect a major flood incident to occur once every 100 years. With insurance companies able to collect premiums every year there isn't a flood, there should be enough available in the pot to pay out for claims when the water rises.

There has been an interesting flurry of New Year political activity going on, with bad news for all parties.

I understand that a Conservative District Councillor, (so far unnamed), has fallen out with his fellow Conservatives on the New Forest District Council and is to leave the group.

Meanwhile, here in Totton, a Conservative Councillor, elected only last May, has failed to show up for a single Council meeting in 6 months, thereby becoming disqualified from holding office. A bye election is sure to follow. The Tories have apparently persuaded former Lib Dem, Len Harris, who failed to get elected last May, to stand as the Conservative Candidate for the vacant seat on the Town Council.

Meanwhile, the Greens, have persuaded another former Lib Dem Councillor, Bill Catt, to stand for them in the same election. It's not all good news for the Greens though because their most prominent Campaigner, John Spottiswood, the man who led the "Hampshire Against Fluoride" has defected from the Green party and joined the Labour party.

This is a bewildering merry go round, reflecting the fact that party loyalty is not as strong as it used to be. What the voters will make of it all, it remains to be seen.

Road accidents that involve children are always likely to stir strong emotions. Unfortunately, there have recently been two incidents involving school children from Hounsdown school in the County Council area that I represent. I understand that they both occurred on the stretch of road, often termed the Marchwood Bypass, near a crossing on the stretch of road that runs from Rushington roundabout down towards Jacobs Gutter Lane.

Already, somebody has put together a WordPress website, titled "Marchwood Bypass Safety Campaign”, which has been picked up by the local press. It mentions the need for traffic calming measures and indicates that a petition will be put together and the local MP lobbied.

In fact, Hampshire County Council is the body concerned with safety on the local highway and I know that they will be looking carefully at the scene of these two incidents and taking on board any lessons gleamed from any accident investigations. I know this, because I have already alerted the Highways Department to my concerns and asked them to do so.

I will be leading the charge for safety improvements, if indeed these are justified following a careful analysis of the accident scene and circumstances.

There is always a pressure to rush to action, a natural human response to events like this. However, it's equally important to investigate matters fully before deciding how best to respond.