Parish Council News

From Jan Martin — Chairman of Hurst PC
contactable on 0118 934 xxxx or visit www.hurstpc.org.uk

Road Saftey

As part of the Parish Council's road safety policy, a vehicle speed survey using SID (Speed Indication Device) was carried out on Broadwater Lane, near the Gospel Hall, on Friday 2nd April. Between 12:00 and 13:00, the speed of 63 vehicles was recorded in this 30 mph zone.

The 85 percentile speed was calculated to be 45mph. In view of these very high figures the police have proposed additional future SID visits to this site with police support.

The Parish Council has asked WDC for a SID assessment to be carried out for their vehicle activated sign (VAS) programme at other sites. These are: Lodge Road, Hinton Road and the A321 to the south of the village. An update on the VAS programme is due from WDC's Highways Board in July.

Local Nature Reserves

The Parish Council has written to a local landowner to explore the possibility of designating some of their land for a Local Nature Reserve (LNR). As this is a big step for the landowner to take it will be some time before we get a formal reply. In the meantime the Parish Council is making further enquiries with English Nature and other Parish Councils who have been through the process of designating an LNR.

The Parish Council is keen to know both the positive and negative aspects and it is essential that we gain sufficient knowledge of the costs and liabilities before committing public money to this project. It is clear that, should this project go ahead, we will require the assistance of many people to manage, maintain and fund the LNR.s upkeep. To keep up to date with this project, visit our website at: www.hurstpc.org.uk/news/lnr.html

Community Shelter

This project is well underway and is on target for completion in the summer holidays. The shelter will be positioned in the School Road recreation ground (opposite Townsend Pond).

It should be noted, however, there remain a number of residents who object to the Community Shelter and have made their views known at the meetings held by the Parish Council and directly to the HVS Committee.

Youth Provision

The popular Mobile Youth Facility will continue to meet at the Village Hall car park on alternate Tuesday and Friday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30pm, but will switch to the School Road recreation ground when necessary work has been completed.

Village Clean-up

The Parish Council would like to thank all those who took part in the annual village clean-up. A record number of helpers collected nearly four skips of rubbish with many unusual items being found. The waste team at WDC arranges for the removal of rubbish dumped on roads, verges and footways, so please report any incidents to WDC on 0118 974 xxxx. Please also report anyone you suspect of dumping rubbish to either the Environment Agency on 01xxx xxxxxx or WDC on 0118 974 xxxx or 6339.

WDC has a hotline (0118 974 xxxx) for residents to report incidents of graffiti on private property which will be removed or covered free of charge by the Council's street cleansing contractor.