Copnor Road before the bridge was built – Remember When – Portsmouth News.
The News carries on in its inimitable bumbling manner. The title of the article is in direct contradiction with the first sentence of the article.
Copnor railway bridge opened in 1908, three years before this picture of Copnor Road, Portsmouth, was taken.
I enjoy reading the many and various articles that they publish but I do wonder …. Does anyone at The News ever read what they publish ?
This story has been run in “The News”, my local paper, four times to my knowledge. More space has been given to this story than any other “near homeless” family tale.
So I can only guess that either the family know someone at The News and are playing the sympathy vote for all its worth or this is a pretty pathetic attempt at attacking David Cameron and the government.
The issues here are pretty straightforward, as reported by The News ……
After two years of Regular service you’ll have earned an Army pension that will be paid when you get to the age of 65. And if you serve for 12 years you’ll be entitled to a tax-free resettlement grant on retirement too. Anybody aged over 40 who has served for at least 18 years gets the right to claim an immediate pension and tax-free lump sum on leaving the Army, and a second lump sum when they turn 65.
With 23 years in the army Hampson more than qualifies for pension and lump sum. Add to this any additional funds, if Mark Hampson is being medically discharged. In one of the four articles he is quoted as saying
He applied to join the army’s security services but he said he was not deemed fit enough following his recovery from cancer.
In summary Mr Hampson has known for at least 18 years that MOD accommodation was not for life, that he would have to give up the house provided by the army.
He has known for sometime that he was leaving the army and did in fact leave a year ago. Since then it appears that he has done nothing to prepare for this moment. What has he done with the lump sum ? Has he used it as a deposit either for a mortgage or for rental accommodation ?
On the evidence presented by The News he is expecting the British Tax Payer to bail him out and apparently it is David Camerons responsibility
All this on the back of a pledge by the Prime Minister of the formation of a ‘heroes’ committee’ to give service personnel the support they need when leaving the forces.
The News reported this week how he has found it difficult to find accommodation through Chichester District Council’s housing scheme – despite assurances from Prime Minister David Cameron that former servicemen and women will be supported after leaving the armed forces.
The implication is that it is Camerons responsibility to hand him a council house or to allow him to remain in his current house.
He said: ‘It’s a bit of a shock that it’s happened so quickly. The stress of it is a bit worrying – we don’t know where to turn.
‘I’ve served my time and thought there might be a bit of advice and help to go forward.’
It hasn’t happened “quickly”, it isn’t a shock when you know it is going to happen. Even if you ignore the 18 year long awareness he has been ex-army for a year so knew he was on limited tenure in this house.
Mrs Hampson said they have been offered temporary accommodation but would have to re-home the family dogs – labradors Sasha and Mollie. She added: ‘We couldn’t get rid of the dogs, it would break us and Mark.
So they didn’t consider putting the dogs into kennels while they found permanent accomodation ?
And now that the eviction has happened and the family are living apart we are expected to be sympathetic. Well it’s not going to happen. This family have really made themselves homeless by lack of planning and an assumption that the government or the local council has a responsibility to look after them. Nothing reported by The News has shown this family to be anything other than a bunch of scroungers.
This is why I have no sympathy for this ex-soldier.
War veterans deserve so much more than this…- Defence – Portsmouth News.
War hero’s family writes to MP over eviction- Defence – Portsmouth News.
After 23 years of service veteran faces losing home- Defence – Portsmouth News.
Evicted ex-soldier apart from family – Defence – Portsmouth News.
A few days ago protesters lost their fight to prevent the building of new homes on a site just outside of Winchester. The Government has approved the building of over 2,000 homes at Barton Farm on the edge of the city. Campaigners have been fighting for over 15 years to prevent this decision.
This decision echoes that which has allowed the West of Waterlooville development to go ahead despite local opposition.
I note that the Winchester protesters concerns very much mirror mirror my own with regard to the loss of countryside, lack of infrastructure to support the additional housing, traffic and load on utilities. Once again the developers and planners are citing the additional jobs that the development will generate.
For Bartons Farm the developers are claiming generation of 8000 jobs ???
One can only assume that they are talking about temporary jobs for the construction workers. Once the development is completed will these jobs still be available. I don’t think so.
Strangest comment comes from Mike Emett, director of Cala Homes.
On traffic Mr Emett said the 2,000 homes would reduce the congestion because fewer people would need to drive into Winchester from Eastleigh and Southampton.
Does he assume that existing Eastleigh and Southampton based work force will all up sticks and move to Bartons Farm or perhaps that they will give up their jobs, hand them over to local workers who are the new residents of this development.
It really is bizarre to suggest that an additional 2000 houses will reduce traffic congestion. Time will tell.
My condolences to the residents of Winchester and to the protesters.
Here we are on the run into autumn and these sunflowers have appeared in a field on top of Portsdown Hill.
I hung this feeder a couple of weeks ago, loaded it up with bird feed. So far they, the birds, have ignored it. I’m guessing that they have plenty of other food sources which is why they haven’t touched this seed. With all the wet weather the seed has sprouted. I thought it would be worth a photo.
Building work is forging ahead on Purbrook Place, one of the latest housing developments in the Waterlooville area.
Permission was granted for the construction of 76 homes, consisting of a mix of 2, 3, 4 bed houses and 2 bed flats with associated parking. The landscaping is scheduled to include open spaces and play areas. There will also be a pumping station ???
The, main, road access will be from Stakes Road but there will also be pedestrian access to Stakes Hill Road. and the nearby schools.
It is a shame that, at this time, Havant Borough Council and the Highways Agency haven’t taken the opportunity to revise the nearby roundabout which will bear the brunt of the additional vehicles that this development will bring.
The Purbrook Place development on its own will not increase the burden dramatically. However when you take into account the additional traffic that will come this way from other developments in the Waterlooville area then it is imperative that some improvements are made. I have posted previously regarding the difficulty that can be experienced trying to negotiating this roundabout. These difficulties are primarily caused by virtue of the fact that drivers do not “have” to stop.
The News goes, once again, for the emotive headlines.
Huge solar farm could be built in Waterlooville to generate power
35 acres is hardly “huge” and it’s certainly smaller than the proposed 123 acre site at Fareham.
This is a potentially positive and green development which will in truth have little impact on the local community. Already though, there are dissenting voices.
A solar farm in this area is out of keeping and shouldn’t be considered
Dave Gorshkov, a member of Lovedean Residents’ Association, said:
…… what impact are they going to have on the environment – on the green fields and also from the reflection from the panels?
And this before the developer, London-based Lightsource Renewable Energy Ltd, has submitted a formal planning application.
Ray Cobbett, co-ordinator for Hampshire Friends of the Earth, said:
When new technology comes along, these installations can be dismantled and the countryside returned to its former glory.
‘It’s not a permanent damaging thing. Nuclear, on the other hand, takes millions of years to get rid of the waste.’
Apparently the panels would be mounted on frames about ten feet high. This is certainly less likely to be a blot on the landscape than say a 35 acre housing estate and will, after the initial construction, add very little to local road traffic levels.
So come on folks. Lets not put up obstacles where they aren’t necessary.
Huge solar farm could be built in Waterlooville to generate power – Local Business – Portsmouth News.
I’ve re-blogged this in the interests of providing the wider Waterlooville community with information about the developments that are occurring around them.
The Masterplan for the West of Waterlooville includes sites for two 2 form entry primary schools. Based on the expected rate of development, we are planning for the first of these schools (on the northern part of the Berewood site) to open in September 2014. Design work is now under way and we expect to make a planning application in October 2012. The new school would serve the northern parts of the Berewood development, together with the Taylor Wimpey (Old Park Farm) site as access from that development to the new school site will be available by the planned opening date.
Under the Education Act 2011, there is a presumption that new schools should be academies, so in the first instance the County Council has to seek an academy sponsor. This is done by publishing details on the County Council’s web site and notifying any potential sponsors of whom we…
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Burglary is a cowardly act at any time. To break in and steal from a charity store is even more so.
As Soon as Possible (ASAP) cat rescue and the Sue Ryder cancer shop, both in Wellington Way, Waterlooville, were targeted by thieves who broke in from the roofs.
These perpetrators are known to someone and should be handed over to the police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Waterlooville police station by phoning 101.
Summer, my great-granddaughter, brought me a blackberry today. One that she had picked herself.
Brought the biggest smile to my face.
WrAnTz 