Category: News

Berewood Begins


The artists impressions of new developments always look idyllic. The truth of the reality is very often far from that alluring image.

Well, we the current residents of Waterlooville are about to find out the truth of what we are to be saddled with. The new development was to be called Newlands. A sign had already been put up, on the exit from the roundabout, but shortly after had been roughly painted over. Newlands was a truly uninspiring name and certainly one lacking in any imagination. The developer, Grainger, has decided on “Berewood”. A name that at least has some historical linkage with an area which was once covered by the Forest of Bere.

Development director John Beresford said: ‘We will start work next week and by September hope to have the main infrastructure in place ready for the first house builders to start work in the autumn.

‘That being the case, we would anticipate that the first dwelling will be ready to be marketed by the beginning of next year.

Then we will see the start in the rise of the traffic which is going to clog up Waterlooville. Ignoring the construction traffic and the mess that will inevitably become a bane on our lives during the build.

Even now this area of Waterlooville all but comes to a standstill during peak traffic times. With the additional housing becoming available early in 2013 this situation is only going to get worse. The difference is that there will be more folks heading into this area as they head home.

Lets not forget the new Sainsbury store that is being built on the other side of the road from this new development  as well as the new service station. All will be bringing more traffic to the area.

This is set to become one of the busiest road networks in the area what  with three major roundabouts and a set of traffic lights all within a mile.

For the sake of the new development residents, I hope the developer will ensure that there are no new roads which will become rat runs. I can see that motorists will be looking for a way to bypass this area and a new housing estate might just provide the escape route they are looking for.

The development will be built in phases, with the first one comprising 194 homes, next to the new roundabout on Maurepas Way.

There is no new roundabout here. This really is only an adjustment to the existing one. So we will see the initial phase putting 194 homes with this as there only way in and out.

Waterlooville councillor Paul Buckley said: ‘Having accepted the fact it’s going to be built, it will be good to see it actually starting.

‘In many ways they are not our homes, they are Winchester homes.

Councillor Buckley seems like someone who is resigned to the fact that an issue he is opposed to is going ahead. I’m not surprised when further into the quote he also states that these  are Winchester homes.

How does Winchester get so much of a say in what happens in our area ?

‘In terms of the economy of Waterlooville, from a commercial shopkeepers’ point of view, the town can only benefit.’

Which commercial shopkeepers would they be then. All these new residents will be rushing in their hordes to visit the charity stores, the pound shops and the cafe’s.

All of the traditional shops are leaving. Waterlooville centre is dyeing. What are our planners doing to entice the big names, the prestigious names into Waterlooville.

What do we have now ?

For the Cafe Culture  we have Costa Coffee.  For the kids we have Macdonalds. Major retailers are  represented by Asda, Waitrose, Wilkinsons, Peacocks, Superdrug and Boots. Most of the major banks are represented too.

Much money has been spent of making Waterlooville look like a throwback to the 50’s idea of a modern town centre.

Sometimes it makes me wonder where the planners heads are. Time will only tell what kind of hell they have committed us to.

Construction to finally begin on huge new estate for Waterlooville – Politics – Portsmouth News.

‘Extreme’ haircut gets Leigh Park teenager kicked out of his lessons – That’s Tough


‘Extreme’ haircut gets Leigh Park teenager kicked out of his lessons.

Once again the News is printing non stories. Since when did a disobedient child become news worthy ? Since they have, I felt the urge to comment.

The 15-year-old, who lives with his parents at Cheriton Close, Leigh Park, said: ‘It’s stupid because I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my hair.

‘It’s fashionable and a lot of my friends have the same haircut, yet I’m the only one who has been punished.

I’ve got news for you, Master Davies, nobody cares if you think there’s anything wrong with your hair or not.  All schools have rules regarding dress. Not all of them enforce those rules as firmly as Park Community School, perhaps they should.

Personally I think that there are probably other issues behind this story. At least one of the comments attached to the article indicate issues with this lad outside of school.

‘I feel gutted because now I’m not in lessons with my friends and it’s going to be harder to concentrate on my work being sat alone.’

Why does being in a quiet room on your own make concentration difficult ? Surely having no mates to distract you, no mates for you to play about with, should help the concentration.

Billy’s mum Jackie Davies said: ‘The school is being pedantic.

Mrs Davies, That’s their job. Look it up.

Many people will argue that the style of his hair is not important when weighed against his education. In life we run into many such rules and we chooses to comply or resist. Whatever we choose we have to accept that there are consequences.

Headteacher Chris Anders said: ‘We’re an outstanding school and proud of our high standards.

‘Parents are well aware of the uniform policy and support it.

‘It’s always a shame when students do not follow rules but as adults working with children and young people we know it is important to be clear about the consequences of actions and to follow through when rules are broken.’

Just once in a while I would like to hear that parents of perfidious miscreants are actually supporting the schools, the teachers and the idea that their child goes to school to learn, not for some spurious fashion parade.

‘Extreme’ haircut gets Leigh Park teenager kicked out of his lessons – Education – Portsmouth News.

Waterlooville Wally Of The Week Award


Stupid or just cheeky. Either way it really isn’t a good idea to steal a bike belonging to the police.

Leon Spencer-Jones, from Laburnum Road, Waterlooville, pleaded guilty to committing the offence in Waterlooville on March 8.

So I award Spencer-Jones “Waterlooville Wally Of The Week”
Waterlooville man tried to steal pushbike – Local – Portsmouth News.

Why Is This Taking So Long


Waterlooville, Stakes Hill Post Office - geograph.org.uk - 625878

The Lavender Road shops were destroyed by fire last September. It is now seven months since the arsonist struck and there are still no signs of activity. This was a busy store, essential to the residents of this area. Especially since the Stakes estate has a large proportion of disabled and vulnerable people living in sheltered accommodation.

How can the rebuild take so long.

Officials at Brookton 2000 Ltd, which owns the site, said they were working up a planning application for the rebuild of Tesco and the pharmacy.

Working up a planning application ???

There was already planning permission to build and operate the previous stores. Surely the template is in place. All that needs to be done is modify the original application to suit current planning regs.

Daniel Kaye, director of Brookton 2000 Ltd, based in Chandler’s Ford, said: ‘We have a team of professionals appointed and we are working on submitting an application. Then it is in the hands of the local authority.

Again I say, since these facilities were already here it shouldn’t be much more that a rubber stamp after ensuring latest regs are being complied with. Brookton and the local authorities should be working in concert to sort this out. This should not be a linear process. Why aren’t Brookton and the local authorities not working “together” to submit the planning application. After all the local authority should be doing everything in their power to satisfy the needs of the local residents and we need this store replaced, now, not in eighteen months time.

‘Once we get planning permission, we can look to appoint contractors.

OK so you can’t begin to build until you get planning permission. How about clearing the site. It’s an eyesore the way that it is. Something better that the nasty blue boarding could have been put in place. Invite the local graffiti artists to get working.

‘Unfortunately these things take longer than members of the general public think.’

Try informing us what you are doing. How about a newsletter to the residents of the area. Even once every two months would be better that the apparent inactivity that we can see. Better yet, since it seems you are compiling a new planning application, try asking us what we want. The only communication that I have seen about this was back in September, when my daughter sent a photo of the damage to my mobile, while I was away on holiday.

And, what is happening with regard to replacing the takeaway. The quotes from Brookton only mention Tesco and the pharmacy. Is there any intent to rebuild ? Again, how about some communication.

As a resident I do not believe that we should be expected to wait up to two years to see this essential shopping centre replaced.

Pleas for fire-hit Waterlooville shopping hub to rise from ashes – Local Business – Portsmouth News.

Dr Jim Marshall RIP – ‘the Father of Loud’


At the age of 88, Jim Marshall, the pioneering creator of Marshall Amplification has passed on.

In his early career, Marshall used to sing and play drums. He became so proficient that he began teaching others. These were to include Mitch Mitchell, who became drummer to Jim Hendrix, and also Mick Underwood who would go on, via The Herd, to play for Ritchie Blackmore.

Marshall ran a music store and it was comments from customers such as Pete Townshend, “Big” Jim Sullivan and Richie Blackmore that spurred him into making amplifiers and ultimately the creation of the iconic Marshall Amp. I have lost count of the number of concerts I attended where the whole of the back stage area was a wall of Marshall amps and speakers. What a legacy.

Jim Marshalls name is and will forever be synonymous with rock music.

http://www.jimmarshall.co.uk/.

Chapter ends as Derrick closes door at Waterlooville bookshop – Local Business – The News


This is a real shame.

As far as I know, I never met Derrick Meakins, but I used Baytree Bookshop many times over the years. His shop will be missed but I hope that he enjoys his retirement.

From the perspective of Waterlooville town centre this is bad news. Yet another shop closing and I would think not much likelihood of a replacement business. This is a real blow as we are slowly losing any traditional shops. With the Sainsburys development starting over to the west of the town there is very little left to draw folks into the centre.

Chapter ends as Derrick closes door at Waterlooville bookshop – Local Business – The News.

Plans for business hub at Daedalus given the go-ahead


Thousand of new jobs can be expected for the region after plans for the creation of a huge new business hub were given the green light.

Outline planning permission to provide more than 1m sq ft of business space has been granted for the former HMS Daedalus airfield in Stubbington and Lee-on-the-Solent.

Good News for the Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent communities. Any potential for new jobs are always welcome.

Councillor Mark Hook, leader of Gosport council, said: ‘We are talking about creating potentially 4,500 jobs from this particular site.

‘What we are being asked is to kick-start the economy again here in Gosport. It’s jobs that are critical.’

4500 jobs is not to be sneezed at. I think the key word we should focus on in that statement is “potentially”. Nowhere do I see the local council publicising that any companies have committed to moving into the area.

There will also be more than 200 homes, some shops, allotments and a 34-acre public open space.

Nobody disputes that we need more homes in this area. More affordable homes. The big problem is where are all the jobs that are needed by the inhabitants of these homes. I refer you back to that word again ….. “potentially” 4500 jobs….

Another factor that might have slipped under the readers radar is a little matter of a new housing development planned for just north of Fareham. There they are planning to create over 7000 homes. The “potential” inhabitants of those properties also have their beady little eyes on jobs in the “The Daedalus enterprise zone”.

Underlying all of this is the total lack of infrastructure to support these plans.

Ian Lycett, chief executive of Gosport Borough Council, said: ‘The Daedalus enterprise zone is a vitally important project for Gosport. Not only will it create thousands of jobs for local people, but it will generate improvements to the surrounding infrastructure which will benefit all residents of the peninsula.’

Peter Grimwood, chief executive of Fareham Borough Council, added: ‘This is an important milestone in the development of Daedalus. We have always taken the view that the future of the site depends on the operation of a viable airfield.’

What I see here is, two different councils, each with their eye on the main chance.

Watch your backs !!!

For the moment, the only folks that I see will definitely gain from this is the developers.

Plans for business hub at Daedalus given the go-ahead – Politics – The News.

Pump Madness


This is ridiculous.

I have a trip planned for the weekend, going to visit my sister up in Hastings. That’s a round trip of 180 miles. With some additional miles around the Hastings area I would expect that to go up to perhaps 220 miles. According the electronic brain in my car I have around 300 miles worth of fuel. So I should be able to get there and back no problem.

However, I don’t like to take the tank down to the dregs so I would normally top up the tank before I set out. If I head into a garage on my way out on Saturday I’ll get lumped in with the mindless lemmings that are jamming up the garage forecourts.

These idiots are the same folks who clear the supermarket shelves of bread and milk whenever there is a hint of snow down here in the south of England. One of the comments to the attached article suggests that with all these folks sucking up all the fuel, the delivery trucks will run dry. As a result there will be no food in the stores.

I’m heading down to ASDA, use some of my precious fuel, so I can stock up before the shelves are empty.

LIVE: Pump Watch web chat – Local Business – The News.

Hampshire mum says Tesco suspended her for purple hairstyle – Time for a reality check Hampshire Mum


Time for a reality check lady.

Most companies whose business relies on their staff dealing with the public will have some kind of dress code. This certainly isn’t deserving of a spot in the local newspaper.

Everyone has to compromise at some time in their life. Suck it up. Christine Padfield, it’s your turn. Personally, based on the photo in the paper, I would find you intimidating. If I were you I would look a little deeper and see if they were trying to gently inform you about other issues.

Hampshire mum says Tesco suspended her for purple hairstyle – Local Business – The News.

A fifth of city youth crime is carried out by just six children – Why Aren’t They Locked Up ?


If the authorities know that 20% of the youth crime in Portsmouth is committed by just 6 children why are they still out on the streets ?

Instead of trying to redirect the little darlings, which costs money and leaves them on the streets to continue committing crime, why don’t we lock them up ?

It’s already costing Joe Public money to chase them down and persuade them of the error of their ways so lets just cut our losses. Lock them up. The shop keepers and their other victims will be able to relax. The reduction in shoplifting will allow the insurance premiums to come down and we will have cheaper goods to buy.

Seems like a win win situation.

‘A fifth of city youth crime is carried out by just six children – our job is to turn their lives around’ – Lifestyle – The News.