This is the time of year for reflection. The sudden and quite shocking collapse of the Woolworths Store chain has caused me to reflect more than I normally would.

Woolworths has been part of my life for over half a century, something that has always been there. It’s been a very significant part of the Totton community, where I live.

As a very small child, about 4 years old, I can recall visiting the then Rumbridge Street Store. It had wooden floorboards and even then, a very wide range of goods on sale at reasonable prices.

As a schoolboy, I remember showing off a watch on my wrist to a friend and boasting that I had got it from a millionaire.... F. W. Woolworth !

My more recent memories of the store involve me in popping in for a pack of batteries, or sugary snack. More often than not, I would bump into somebody who would take the opportunity to grumble about something the local council was doing, or not doing. The store was always very much part of the fabric of our community.

The Totton store transferred to the main shopping precinct in the 1960’s. Here, it has seemingly traded successfully for over 40 years, so it seems difficult to believe that the business appears to have collapsed with debts of hundreds of millions of pounds.

It’s a real tragedy, for customers and especially all those employed by the store, but also for the thousands of businesses who supplied the store and have lost money and repeat business.

More than anything, as the chill winds of recession blow all around us, it is a timely reminder of just how little room for sentiment there is in a capitalist society. It represents an even greater challenge to those of us who want to see a lively town centre, beyond the two superstores.

Totton Library is going to be closed from the 26th January until the 16th March. During this 7 week period, a redecoration will be taking place, including new flooring in the children’s library, shelving, soft furnishing and signage.

County Councillor David Harrison says “The building is poor quality and has barely changed in the past 50 years. I think it should be demolished and a replaced with a high quality library or Discovery Centre of a type now seen in most other similar size towns. There is clearly a strong demand for more space, more computer terminals and an accompanying cafe.”

Cllr. David Harrison wants County Officers to consult properly with the Town Council before announcing expenditure from the public purse. He adds “It’s another example of Hampshire County Council failing to conduct a dialogue with local people and their elected representatives so that they can appreciate what is really needed”.

The long running saga of work undertaken in Rumbridge Street, Totton may be subject to a full County Council inquiry.

Local County Councillor, David Harrison, has written to Cllr. Mel Kendal, the Portfolio Holder for the Environment, asking that he agree to a root and branch review of the project.

Cllr. David Harrison says “Local people are completely mystified by what has been allowed to happen in Rumbridge Street. The work has taken far longer than ever anticipated and is still a long way off completion. The street has been closed off in places and dug up several times. The cost to local taxpayers has spiralled. I simply cannot understand why the drainage problems were not identified and attended to from the start.”

The project was aimed at improving the environment in Rumbridge Street for local businesses and shoppers. Many shops have closed since contactors first started work in Rumbridge Street. Remaining businesses have reported very difficult trading conditions as the work has ground on.

Councillor David Harrison says “There have been a catalogue of errors relating to this project ranging from a failure to check the adequacy of the drainage system before undertaking environmental enhancements at street level, dumping materials on planted and landscaped areas, buying the wrong sort of top soil that had been transported all the way from Scotland and a lamentable lack of project co-ordination.

We have had high quality improvements dug up, repaired and dug up again. It is only through an open and transparent inquiry that we can all learn the lessons from this sorry saga.”

Cllr. Harrison adds “Taxpayers have picked up the bill for putting right a lot of the mistakes. Unfortunately, it also means that the completed work will be of a lower quality than was originally planned”.

Stronger action will be needed to protect the lives of Marchwood residents from the threats posed by HGV traffic during 2009, says County Councillor, David Harrison.

The campaigning Councillor says villagers deserve a much better deal from authorities jointly responsible for managing HGV traffic. He has been working hard to convince the powers that be more needs to be done to reduce the dangers, pollution, noise and vibration nuisance from ever increasing volumes of HGV traffic in the area.

Councillor Harrison says “2008 was something of a mixed bag in terms of trying to tackle the ever increasing menace of HGV traffic. I opposed just about every planning application that would lead to an increase in lorry traffic in the area. I pressed for improvements to signage, road surfaces, design of a roundabout. I stepped in and part funded a major consultation about HGV movements around the village. I have met with individual residents and a local action group, taking up HGV related issues.

However, I have still to convince the local Parish Council that it would be worthwhile meeting with the owners of the Industrial Estate, to see if more might be done to ease the HGV nuisance, especially at night. At the New Forest District Council, I suggested declaring the area as a special Noise Quality Management Area. They haven’t done that, but they are at least now monitoring noise levels. I have been able to engage the assistance of a number of County Council Officers in looking at highway improvements and possible restrictions. I look forward to meeting them in the new year to look at the results of the public consultation and to discuss what might be done.”

The lights on Brockenford Railway Bridge, Totton are out of action. Local County Councillor David Harrison has contacted Network Rail, asking them to provide a better alternative.

He says “These important lights are essential for pedestrian safety. Unfortunately, they keep on being vandalised on a regular basis. I have asked Network Rail to come up with a vandal-proof method of lighting the bridge”.

Introduction

It has been another very busy couple of months, since I last reported to you. As always, I’m very grateful to the members of the Parish Council and to the two District Councillors for Marchwood. We continue to work in partnership with a lot of good will – and not just at Christmas time!

Marchwood Energy from Waste Facility

The facility continues to operate without any significant problems. I understand that a new design has been agreed for the transfer station and that the problems caused by contaminated land have been overcome. Still no definite date communicated to me as regards demolition of the old incinerator building, construction of the new household waste recycling centre. I’m pressing the County Officers for news.

Marchwood Power Station

Construction is still on track. I have had a few adverse comments about the size and design of the new structure – but little I can do about that. The number of HGV’s visiting the site has now reduced considerably. We have another liaison meeting scheduled for the 15th January. Please let me have any comments or questions before then.


Marchwood Transportation Strategy Group

I attended a meeting of this group, Chaired by the Town Clerk, on the 20th November. I am aware Minutes have been circulated to members. Suffice to say that some good progress is being made with the interest and assistance of SUSTRANS and County Officers. There are a great many things that can and should be done to improve the ability of people to move around both within and from the village. Some projects will take years to deliver, but at least a start has been made!

HGV Problems

I’m awaiting an invitation to take part in discussions about the results of the HGV restriction consultation. Due to the need to consider proposals carefully and to advertise and consult on new plans, further action on this is some months away.

I have notified the Traffic Commissioners of my standing objection to any more licences being granted to operators wishing to use Marchwood Industrial Estate.
I opposed the sighting of a new re-cycling centre at nearby Hounsdown Industrial Estate, due to fact that it will generate more HGV movements in the area.

I have attended a further meeting with local residents, explaining the steps that the County Council have agreed to undertake to ease the noise nuisance from HGV’s.

I remain of the view that it would be useful to discuss issues about HGV noise nuisance with the owners / operators of the industrial estate. As soon as MPC are prepared to do so, I will gladly join you.

Highway Matters

On the 4th November, I was invited to speak at a meeting in Marchwood, organised by The Motorcycle Action Group – who were prompted to arrange the event following the tragic deaths of two motorcyclists (and a young passenger). I was joined by County Cllr’s Ken Thornber (Leader), Cllr Mel Kendal and Cllr Brian Dash.

It was a very difficult and emotional event. However, some definite actions have already been taken and promised. The Twiggs Lane junction is already a little safer as a result.

I’m really pleased that the Twiggs Lane, (west of the A326), is very likely to benefit from a 30 mph traffic restriction. Concerns about traffic speed have been expressed to me by local residents for some time. I was able to get this on a list at a recent meeting of the Hampshire Action Team.
I have also asked the HAT to consider what might be done to better manage HGV movements in the New Forest District (sighting Marchwood as a particular example).

Marchwood Bus Services Focus Group

The group has not met in the past two months. The threat of further cuts to services will not arise, I suspect, until after the elections to the County Council in June.


Community Grants

I have made grant to the local Marchwood Brownies pack, a contribution towards special coats that will keep them warm when outside.


Fluoride Issue

County Councillors and Officers did a fantastic job scrutinising all of the evidence in a logical way. The 200 page report is well worth reading. When the report came to full council on the 20th November, all 78 County Councillors (with just one exception) voted to advise the Strategic Health Authority that the case for putting fluoride in Hampshire’s water supply had not been made.

Youth Matters

I organised a meeting with Alan Stevens and senior officers of the County Council involved in youth work, in order to explore the possibility of funding for the planned Marchwood Youth facility.

I was very sorry to learn that Alan had decided not to continue in his role soon afterwards. This, of course, is another set-back. I do think that the young people of today and future generations of young people in the village will greatly benefit if all of the problems can be overcome.

County Councillor David Harrison

The ruling Conservatives on New Forest District Council have come under fire from their chief political critic, Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr David Harrison.

A recent cabinet meeting, revealed increased charges across a range of services delivered by the local authority, some of which are well ahead of inflation rates.

Councillor Harrison says ;

"The Conservative administration are planning very sharp, above inflation, increases in car parking charges. This will hit local people hard in the pocket. It wasn't that long ago, when the Lib Dems were in charge, that residents benefited from a free car parking pass. This latest price rise represents a sting on top of a sting".

"Many of the above inflation increased charges with regard to disposal of commercial waste, will simply be passed onto local people who are customers of the businesses concerned".

"On Leisure services, it is sometimes difficult to make comparisons because the charging basis has changed. However, it seems a lot of adults will be paying more than an inflation increase to use District Council facilities, including golfers at Dibden".

"Overall, with the New Forest District Council withdrawing funding for Accredited Community Safety Officers in town centres, failing to adequately invest in youth provision, showing a marked reluctance to share investment in keeping bus services running, you might have expected them to deliver low council tax and below inflation increases in charges. Instead we have got high tax, high charges and it is local people footing the bill".

County Councillor, David Harrison has thrown his backing behind a new project launched by the the owner of Sunnyfields Farm, Totton.

The project has several strands to it, all relating to food - including sustainable production and transportation, marketing, education and employment.

A new web-site to help launch the project is now on line. It describes the project as -

"The Food and More Project is about inclusiveness not exclusiveness, it is about national and local agendas but one of the key aims of the project is ownership. We are very pleased to therefore list Local and County Councillor David Harrison as a supporter ".

Councillor Harrison says -

"I am very pleased to express my full support for this exciting project. Ian deserves the backing of everyone. This venture represents just the sort of forward looking thinking, translated into action, that has the potential to change lives for the better for thousands of people"

The web-site can be reached by the following link :
www.thefoodandmoreproject.com