A more reasonable attitude towards dog owners in the New Forest has been warmly welcomed by local people.

The New Forest National Park Authority had intended banning dogs from some car parks in order to protect sensitive sites, including areas often used by ground nesting birds. However, in a change of policy, the authority is now promising to work more closely with dog owners.

Councillor David Harrison is a dog owner, (pictured here with “Sandy”) and new member of the authority. He says “Many park authority members, like me, are dog owners. We believe it is better to educate people and to encourage them to co-operate, rather than to battle with them. The vast majority of dog owners are very responsible people and have no wish to see the wildlife of the New Forest destroyed”.

Cllr. David Harrison is gearing up for another round of Street Surgeries to be held in Totton & Marchwood.

The surgeries held earlier this year were well attended, with a whole range of concerns raised.

David is a Town, District & County Councillor, so there are very few things that he can’t influence. Of course, some things are easier to achieve than others. When asked to say what was his favourite case-work, he says it was the litter bin outside Testwood Sports College.

He explains “A resident told me that he had been asking the local Tory Councillor to provide a bin outside the college gates for some years with no success. The gentleman was very public spirited, even picking up litter outside on an almost daily basis. As soon as I was told about the problem at my Street Surgery, I got hold of an Officer and we got a bin installed within a few days. Needless to say, he was deeply impressed and very happy!

If you live in Totton South or Marchwood, look out for a leaflet inviting you to Street Surgery near you in the coming weeks and months.

Southern Water has been fined a huge £30,000 for a catastrophic pollution spill that killed hundreds of fish and obliterated wildlife at Bartley Water, Totton.

The sewerage spillage followed the failure of all three pumps at Ashurst Bridge Wastewater Pumping Station caused by a power surge at the station in August last year. The sewage stripped oxygen from the river and increased the concentration of ammonia to almost four times the lethal limit for fish.

A spokesman for Southern Water said: “We greatly regret this incident and apologise to our customers for falling below our usual standard of operation on this occasion.”

Local Councillor David Harrison has welcomed the news. He says “I reported this incident to the Environment Agency and strongly urged them to prosecute Southern Water. I’m delighted with the result. It sends a very clear message that they must not be allowed to fall short on their duty to protect the environment.”

Councillor David Harrison adds “It’s alarming that Southern Water is the same company that are being asked to add fluoride to our tap water. It only adds weight to the public demand for an urgent re-think of such plans”.

The credit crunch has increased the risk that hundreds of homes in Totton will be flooded. Last year, Town, District and County Councillor, David Harrison, urged Totton & Eling Town Council to persuade the Environment Agency that action was needed to protect homes from flood risk.

The Environment Agency has now written to the Town Council confirming that it has requested government money to commence investigations during a period 2011 to 2013. However, in a worrying development, Mr Bradley Randall, Team Leader at the Environment Agency warns, “In the current economic climate and the pressures on the public purse I would not be surprised if budgets were reduced and local resources reallocated with an impact on our local plans”.

The funding decision rests with the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Councillor David Harrison has written to the government minister expressing the need for the funding to stay in place. He says, “Climate change has significantly increased the risk that hundreds of homes in Totton will be subject to the risk of flooding. The financial cost of delaying or not taking action will be counted in millions of pounds, as opposed to the cost of investigating what might be done to prevent or reduce the risk. The government must realise that it would be a false economy to withdraw funding in this area”.

Liberal Democrats on New Forest District Council are calling for a review of existing policy following a recent report that sunbeds can increase the chances of developing skin tumours by 75% and pose the "highest" risk of cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer said ultraviolet-emitting tanning devices were more dangerous than previously suggested.

The research, published in the latest edition of The Lancet Oncology medical journal, found the risk was greatest to children and young adults. "The risk of skin melanoma is increased by 75% when use of tanning devices starts before 30 years of age," the report said. "Additionally, several case-control studies provide consistent evidence of a positive association.

Almost all local authorities in Hampshire have already withdrawn sundbeds from leisure centres, following advice from the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health and the British Medical Association. However, New Forest District Council Leisure Centres still offer the service. Income is reducing as the public has become more aware of the risks. However, income figures show that that the council raked in some £280k in recent years, promoting tanning sessions.

Councillor David Harrison, Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group, has written to the conservative council leader asking that he urgently reconsider the new evidence and withdraw the service in the interests of public health.

Councillor Harrison says “Over the years, we Liberal Democrats have tried several times to persuade the Tory administration that sunbeds have no place in leisure centres. It’s putting profit before public health. Perhaps this recent report will finally convince them”.

The two County Councillors for Totton, Alan Weeks and David Harrison met up with senior police chiefs today, to discuss a range of local issues.

Chief Inspector Gary Cooper and Acting Inspector Ian Smith hosted the meeting at Totton Police Station. Topics discussed included ongoing problems with speeding traffic, anti-social behaviour, fly tipping and initiatives aimed at helping people feel more secure. There was also a lot of discussion about the possibility of introducing a Designated Public Places Order, (restricting alcohol use).

Totton has one of the lowest reported crime and anti-social behaviour problems in the country. However, there had been a surge of incidents in the Rumbridge Street / Osborne Road area of the town earlier in the year.

Councillor Alan Weeks says “This was a good chance for us to review community safety issues, specific to Totton. I was assured that the police have a very good grasp of what is happening and are well placed to respond to challenges”.

Councillor David Harrison says “Our local police carried out some very effective work following the distressing surge in anti-social behaviour problems earlier this year. It was a chance to thank them but also to emphasise the need for more enforcement work, especially the speeding traffic issues."

The British Fluoride Society, the organisation responsible for promoting the benefits of adding fluoride to tap water, have been sensationally exposed for misleading the public.

Campaigners against the proposals have uncovered a public relations scam, aimed at giving people confidence in the organisation. On web-sites and in literature, the British Fluoride Society has made much of the National Fluoride Information Centre. In fact, it does not actually exist.

The government’s flagship “Centre of Excellence” is actually an unmanned telephone answering machine in a locked room in a building abandoned by the School of Pharmacy two years ago. Located at Manchester University, the building was deemed unfit for modern science.

Councillor David Harrison, a leading campaigner against local plans to add fluoride to tap water says, “People will be quite shocked by this latest development. This is the main organisation responsible for promoting the benefits of fluoride. They have been deliberately dishonest about their facilities. It calls into question how much the public can trust other claims and reassurances they have made.”

Councillor Harrison is actively lobbying for the proposals to be put on hold whilst they do not enjoy public support. He adds “The more you examine this issue, the more concerns you have. I very much regret the way the so much public money has been wasted promoting something that the public clearly won’t put up with”.

Highway Tour of Totton South : 22nd July 2009

I undertook a further tour of highway issues today, accompanied by two highway officers (based at the Area Office, Jacobs Gutter Lane). As usual, it was a very god chance to pick up and deal with issues raised with me in recent months (often during my special “Street Surgeries”).

I list the locations below, with an indication of the problem and action agreed. Anyone reading this and would like to know more, please do give me a call!

Jacobs Gutter Lane

There is still a problem with some cars parking on the zig-zag lines around the entrance to the school, especially at school closure time. Officers have met with a teacher designated as the health & safety representative.

Agreed, we should try better enforcement measures. I will raise this John Taylor at New Forest District Council for targeting by the wardens and share my concerns about the possibility of an accident with the local police.

Valley Road

Grass verges that have been damaged by parking at the junction of Valley Road and Jacobs Gutter Lane will be repaired. Officers will progress a scheme to replace the grass verges at this location with grids.

Hounsdown Avenue

A resident has asked whether the roundabout (junction with Powell Crescent) could be reduced in size to allow for more car parking. Officers told me that, whilst possible, it would be regarded as low priority and unlikely to attract funding.

Meadow Close

Contractors have recently undertaken some work to the green island, with the intention of making it easier for large vehicles to manoeuvre around it. It was seen that the work had not been carried out satisfactorily. There was a large rut which had obviously been caused recently by a vehicle (probably a refuse lorry). Contractors will be asked to return and put matters right.

Spicers Hill

A new cycle way has recently been constructed with the intention of getting cyclists well clear of pedestrians using the pavement (near to the public house). Unfortunately, as I had witnessed myself, many cyclists were continuing to use the pedestrian pavement – probably because it avoids having to climb a short slope. Officers will install new staggered barriers to discourage cyclists from using the lower pedestrian pavement.

Further down Spicers Hill, there is an issue of cyclists meeting pedestrians on the bend (next to Rushington roundabout). Officers will consider how this might best be tackled.

Bartram Road / junction with Downs Park Avenue

Issue here with large vehicles hitting a nearby wall, having mounted pavement to negotiate the junction (vehicles are often parked opposite the junction). It was felt that the junction could be improved by re-aligning the kerb, allowing vehicle to park a bit further back, away from the junction. Agreed, officers will implement a scheme to do this.

Downs Park Crescent / Milverton Road

I raised the issue of poor visibility as a consequence of vehicles being parked tight up to the junction at the last highway tour, in March. The bollards which will prevent this have not yet been installed. Agreed, officers will chase this up.

Eling Lane

The existing signs, warning HGV drivers not to continue down into Eling Lane have become obscured by vegetation. This will be cut back. Additional signs are to be displayed, (following a meeting of the Totton Traffic Management group, early June).

Rumbridge Street

There have been some reports of people slipping on the new lighter coloured pavement surface in wet weather. HCC are monitoring the situation and a note taken of any reports, (including the precise location).

Officers have confirmed to me that there will be a very comprehensive review of the whole project. They were not sure to what extent, if any, local councillors will be able to have input into this. I told them that there is a very strong local feeling that an inquiry should take place, allowing local members to examine what happened and to scrutinise matters.

There is a very strong public interest in ensuring that similar mistakes, that have cost thousands of pounds to put right, are not allowed to happen again.

High Street

I told the Officers about problems with speeding traffic in the High Street and asked them what they thought would be the best means of addressing the problem.

Officers think that better enforcement of the current speed limit would be the best means of tackling the problem. I have a meeting with the local Chief Inspector next week and will raise it with him. I know that he is keen that the issue of speeding is tackled (from recent press reports). I should be pushing at an open door!

Officers did not consider it appropriate to plan for engineered traffic calming measures, mainly due to the additional noise nuisance it would likely cause.

Junction Road

Both problems with sunken manhole covers, (mentioned in my previous report) have been attended to – Thanks!

Warwick Road

We met with residents on site and discussed problems with the green island.
Agreed – The area left in a poor condition by contactors will be re-seeded, as a priority. Some measures to protect the re-seeded area will be introduced. Officers will have contractors re-shape the end of the island, so as to avoid the problem of vehicles mounting it.

Beaumont Road

There is an ongoing problem with cars often parking on the grass verges. It seems the drivers are ignoring the double yellow lines. They are committing an offence. Agreed, I would make John Taylor (NFDC) aware of the problem and ask that he step up enforcement measures.

Officers considered a request put to me by a local resident, asking for some sort of physical barrier to protect his property from the possibility of a vehicle crashing into it. HCC do not, as a policy, provide physical protection for privately owned property. It was thought that the risk was in any event very low (due to the camber of the road).

Sylvia Crescent

Concrete posts have been installed in areas where verge parking, causing obstructions, has been a problem. A grid has been installed at a point where a grass verge was very often getting badly damaged. It is believed that the flooding problems have been sorted out, now that the drainage system has been thoroughly jetted.

There are to be some further parking restrictions in and around the junction with Salisbury Road. Hopefully, this will have a positive impact on congestion in this area.

Brackley Way

Officers have agreed that there needs to be some new white lines installed, making it clear who has priority (about half way down Brackley Way). I told them that a local resident had witnessed two near misses. They will get Hampshire’s “White-Liners” on the job.

Tennyson Road
The barriers which caused a problem for users of mobility scooters in the footway that links Tennyson with the Calmore Estate have been removed. However, it now seems that there is a problem with motor bikes and scooters being ridden through, risking injury to pedestrians.

It was felt that the bet compromise would be installation of some staggered barriers. This would allow mobility scooters through. Although it won’t prevent motorbikes using the footway, it will at least slow them down.

Shakespeare Drive
Some residents overlooking the green triangle (junction with Tennyson) have asked if proper parking provision can be provided on the grass area.

Officers told me that they householders concerned could formally apply for a proper car access to the front of their property but, even if agreed, would have to pay for themselves, (likely to cost at least £2,000). It is thought unlikely that local councillors would agree to the loss of the green space which does have some visual amenity value and worth as play space for young children.

Ewell Way

An HCC officer has already met up with and discussed improvements to footways and verges at the bottom end of Ewell Way. A scheme is being put together with the hope that it will attract the necessary funding to proceed.
Ashurst Bridge

We looked at the small roundabout in Cockleydown Lane. Residents are concerned that traffic often approaches this small roundabout at speed, increasing the risk of an accident happening.

Agreed, white lines on and around the roundabout that have become faded will be repainted. Attention will be given to the signage on the central island (defaced).

Vegetation on approach to the hump backed bridge will be cut back and signs that have become faded, replaced. An additional sign, warning of oncoming traffic, will be displayed.

Asda Roundabout

A new “Keep clear” box is to be installed to help with traffic flows. In this respect, I’m grateful to a resident of Hawthorne Road who shared his idea with me.

A326

The A326, between Rushington roundabout and Jacobs Gutter lane is to have some improvement work carried out. Details not available yet, although I understand that this will include re-surfacing which will help reduce noise nuisance.

Conclusion

This was another very useful tour, picking up a large variety of issues that are in need of attention. My next tour, later this year, is likely to include Marchwood.