News Roundup

Back to the News Roundup after two weeks. I might have to keep this interval going as I've recently started with the Scouts, helping to run a new Beavers group at Holy Trinity, and demands on my free time have gone up, sorry!

Did you see the clouds over Abbotts Barton on Tuesday? It looked like we were underwater! This cloud formation is called Undulatus:

City Council activities 

On Wednesday a political shift happened at the City Council when two councillors left the Conservatives and joined the Liberal Democrats: "this is a change from a Conservative administration with an overall majority of 1 to a minority Conservative administration with no overall control." (Winchester City Council press release.)

I guess all of us have by now received the proper bin calendar that the Council didn't want to do any more to save money, I wonder if this had anything to do with it: Council faces fierce criticism for Christmas rubbish collections. Fact is they paid for two print outs, first the alterations calendar and then the bin calendar. Where is the money saving in that?

The proposal notice for 20mph on various roads in Winchester. Representations received by 19 February.

Good news for the skaters: New skate park to open in Winchester despite controversial plans

This might come in handy next time when looking for that elusive change for the parking meter: Pay by Phone

Chesil Street Surface car park consultation - don't miss your chance to give your views on the future of the car park (until 3 February). This is important as there are voices arguing that it would make more sense to use St. Peter's car park for this, so the outcome of this consultation might affect people in Abbotts Barton more than first thought.

More on the new parking strategy: Winchester councillors criticise new parking plan

Hampshire Chronicle reported that Winchester fails to hit house-building target, Government figures show. This looks like the Council's reply: House-building in Winchester district on track.

These don't sound like affordable housing is included: Eleven new homes on site of former care home in Winchester / Work underway on £8m housing complex in Winchester.

Civic chiefs vote for affordable housing rent increase.

Hampshire County Council news

Council Tax freeze on the cards, but changes to way some services delivered.
More cuts loom at Hampshire County Council.
Community safety officers to be axed by Hampshire County Council.
£149 million school buildings investment in Hampshire.
Potholes - your questions answered.

Hospitals

Winchester health chiefs defend NHS shake-up plans for RHCH and are proposing for a new hospital north of Winchester. According to Kelsie Learney ‏on Twitter, "bets are on Bullington Cross - road links to Winchester/Andover & Basingstoke - they don't mean at the edge of Winchester".
Winchester hospital 'almost certain' to be downgraded in NHS shake-up.

Leisure Centre

Council boss rejects call for independent review of new leisure centre plan for Winchester.
Complaint over handling of River Park Leisure Centre contract.

Play areas

I don't know why we ever met to discuss the play area planned for Abbotts Walk, nothing seems to go the way we were told at the time. See the research done by one of the residents: PLAY TIME!

Environment

See talks and facts from WinACC/FoE meeting on traffic blight in the Winchester district.

Send low cost attention-grabbing ideas to raise awareness of WinACC and/climate change to sparkle@winacc.org.uk in time for their open meeting on 1 February and win a prize!

Saving money on your heating is good for the environment too. Here is another article about how you can do this, aimed at tenants: What can tenants do? Some good advice, also for owners.

The energy efficiency 'savings' that are just hot air - our bill certainly didn't come down after we had the cavity wall insulation done, but there might be other reasons for that. Rising energy prices would be one... Read to the very end, some good advice there!

Winchester public urged to consider green energy.

Things to do

Fancy seeing some lambs? Sparsholt College opens its doors as lambing season gets underway.

See the Great Nave in Winchester Cathedral without chairs, only until 6 Februray!

Epic 'living pictures' at Winchester Discovery Centre - "Red Saunders’ epic photographic tableaux vivants (‘living pictures’) recreate momentous but overlooked events from Britain’s struggle for democracy and equality".

Learn something about the 'neighbourhood': Ten historical facts you may not know about Southampton.



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