Purbrook Place – 03/10/2012


Building work is forging ahead on Purbrook Place, one of the latest housing developments in the Waterlooville area.

Purbrook Place – 03/10/2012

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 ???

Purbrook Place – 03/10/2012

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.

Potential Solar Farm For Lovedean Site


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.

West Of Waterlooville – New Primary Schools


I’ve re-blogged this in the interests of providing the wider Waterlooville community with information about the developments that are occurring around them.

winchestercc's avatarWest of Waterlooville

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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Employment boost as Waterlooville business park plans are unveiled


I have been a tad busy with work for the last few weeks and have found it virtually impossible to get my head into blog mode let alone focus on local affairs. So I am sorry but this is old news but I wanted to bring it to your attention.

Finally, The News has discovered the planned development right here in Waterlooville. No not the enormous housing development known as WoW (West of Waterlooville). Even The News knows about that. No I’m referring to the development of the BAE site that I brought to your attention in my previous post

This is another of the Havant Borough Council / Portsmouth City Council/ East Hants Council job creation schemes. At least that’s what they say on paper. All of the proposed developments around Waterlooville are supposed to be creating jobs. But not one of them is being sponsored by any company that has signed up to move into the area and actually create those jobs.

The various councils will argue that you have to create the right conditions, prepare the environment to entice these erstwhile employers into the area. However, my fear is that what will be created will be empty commercial / industrial buildings.

We will have the new housing developments filled with a willing work force but no one to employ them. It is easier to build homes and to fill them than it is to get businesses started.

Just listen to the news regarding the economy and the apparent unwillingness of the banks to lend to businesses. To be quite honest I also wonder about the ability of folks to obtain mortgages to buy the new homes being built.

Employment boost as Waterlooville business park plans are unveiled – News – Portsmouth News.

New Development Proposed For Waterlooville BAE Site


Proposals have been put forward to Havant Borough Council for the development of the BAE site in Waterlooville. This site comprises the land bounded by Elettra Avenue, Silverthorne Way and Hambledon Road.

These proposals include

  • 60+ Bedroom Hotel
  • Restaurant
  • Drive Thru Restaurant
  • Car Show Room
  • Industrial Units
BAE_Site_Plan

If these proposals go ahead they could bring many benefits to the town, not the least of which would be the employment opportunities.

However, this would also be tempered by the additional industrial traffic that would be required to service the new industrial units at the heart of this proposal.

I have a growing concern that many of the new developments, being proposed for the Waterlooville area, include industrial units but there is no sign of the businesses that are going to take up these new properties. In the meantime there are many existing industrial units  that remain empty.

Waterlooville seems set to be swamped with such “opportunities”. One only has to look to the plans for the Dunsbury Hill Farm site.

Havant Borough Council and the developers are always quick to point to the number of jobs that these developments will create. However, they aren’t so quick to highlight that these are “potential” jobs. At no time do you see them parading a list of employers who have committed to move into these new premises.

Of course, in such economic times as ours it is always good to be prepared for the upturn.

And how about the existing Aston Road industrial estate. That could do with a bit of a facelift. It really does look a bit tired now.

It’s Polling Day !!!


The News, our local rag, has run an article imploring us to use our votes.

If you asked me, I would only be able to name two of our local councillors and only one for my own electoral ward.

The local candidate is Margaret Beauvoisin. I have never seen her, she certainly hasn’t come knocking at my door. Nor have any of her supporters.

So how do I know that she exists ?

Well someone stuck a screwed up leaflet through my letter box and I have read it.

I would have enjoyed the opportunity to discuss with her the issues that are important to me i.e. the slow death of Waterlooville Town Centre. I would have enjoyed the opportunity to discuss how she believes the further annexing of the Town Centre, by pushing additional commercial enterprise into the West Of Waterlooville development zone, is going to be

an asset to our town

Lifted from her leaflet.

Well at least I got a leaflet from the Labour candidate. Haven’t heard a dickie bird from any of the others.

So The News wants us to

Please make sure you have your say at the ballot box

Will there be an option that allows me to say that I have no idea what any of my local candidates stand for ?

Oh, at the beginning of this post I said I could name two local councilors.

The other was Penny Mordaunt and I know she stands for elephants.

‘Please make sure you have your say at the ballot box’ – Local – Portsmouth News.