Winter Borough News 2023 - Eastleigh Borough Council

BOROUGH NEWS Winter 2023

@eastleighbc

eastleigh.gov.uk

The Point Café Bar relaunched in exciting new partnership The Point, Eastleigh’s popular Café Bar has been relaunched by the Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Nick Couldrey. Read more on page 12

Father Christmas leads festive celebrations Father Christmas tops the bill, bringing joy and cost-friendly options to this year’s festive entertainment in the Borough He’ll be visiting The Berry Theatre in Hedge End from 9 December until New Year’s Eve in Raymond Briggs’s Father Christmas – a fantastic alternative to panto from the author of the much-loved The Snowman. The family story of Father Christmas getting ready for a night’s hard work on “bloomin’ Christmas Eve!” will bring festive cheer to all ages and was described as “Magnificent” by The Observer newspaper.

Santa also joins the Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Nick Couldrey, as guest of honour at Eastleigh town centre’s Christmas Lights Switch-on event on Saturday 18 November. The countdown to Christmas is kicked off in spectacular style with festive illuminations, street entertainment, food stalls and children’s activities - all topped off with a breathtaking firework display.

Tickets from:

£15

The little ones can visit Santa in his grotto at The Point theatre during the day on Saturday 18 November - and on Sunday 19 November. Join other families as the man in red welcomes you with a song and a story, then collect your gift and take a selfie with him.

Three spinetingling festive tales can be seen in Yule at The Point, while Nick Cope’s Family Christmas Show is always a hit with children of all ages, and for the grown-ups the Hundred Watt Club’s: A Festive Evening of Burlesque and Vaudeville offers an evening of entertainment that’s both naughty and nice.

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Meanwhile, there are Festive Lanterns and Carols at Itchen Valley Country Park and a healthy New Year’s Day Walk to help work off some of the yuletide excesses!

Father Christmas highlight of a wonderful theatre season See page 8

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SHAPING PLACES

eastleigh.gov.uk

Our focus As a Council, we are focused on improving the quality of life of everyone living and working in the Borough, both now and in the future.

A revamp for Eastleigh Bus Station

The stories in this issue are themed around the key areas where we are making a positive difference to people’s lives.

Shaping places

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Creating and enhancing places where residents and businesses can thrive.

It is about ensuring that our neighbourhoods, buildings and spaces work well for everyone and that our places are attractive, vibrant, distinctive and safe.

Protecting our environment

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Maintaining and creating an attractive and sustainable environment that is valued, and which can allow residents, visitors and nature to flourish.

Enabling a healthier Eastleigh

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We want all residents and visitors to the Borough to live long, healthy and happy lives and so we are focussed on improving health and wellbeing and reducing socio-economic and health inequality.

Creating homes & communities

11

To help support a buoyant housing market we are delivering high-quality homes of all tenures to provide opportunities for people looking for affordable rent, or a new home to meet the diverse needs of residents.

We are also co-creating communities, alongside housing development, by delivering infrastructure, employment, leisure and open spaces.

Blacksmith’s son returns to revamp Eastleigh Bus Station benches Local blacksmith William Normandale (pictured), returned to Eastleigh to remove, refurbish, and reinstall 16 benches within Eastleigh bus station.

William is the son of Charles Normandale who originally installed the benches

20 years ago. The improvements also included a deep clean of the paving and brickwork, installation of bird deterrents, resetting block paving, and the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting.

Chair of the Eastleigh Local Area Committee, Cllr Alex Bourne, said: “I’m pleased to see the bus station looking so tidy, the benches look fantastic and it was great to be able to complete the work on schedule.”

National Theatre beckons for The Point Eastleigh’s youth ensemble A youth theatre ensemble from Eastleigh will be given a national profile next year – and they’ll be welcoming new members to join them on the journey.

The Point Eastleigh’s Ensemble performing arts company is delighted to have been selected to take part in the National Theatre’s Connections 2024 festival, following on from the success of their participation in the 2023 festival with their production of Simon Longman’s (Circle Dreams Around) The Terrible, Terrible Past.

Connections is the National Theatre’s annual nationwide youth theatre festival that brings together the theatre-makers of tomorrow. The programme has been established for 29 years and champions the talent of young people from across the UK. Each year, Connections commissions ten new plays for the participating youth companies to choose from, with a chance for one production of each play to be performed on stage at the National Theatre.

The Point Ensemble has been partnered with Southampton’s MAST Mayflower Studios for the 2024 festival.

EASTBROOKE HOMES

@eastbrookehomes

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Council unveils eastbrooke homes housing agency The Council’s commitment to helping local people achieve their ambition of living in high quality, sustainable housing was on display on the eastbrooke homes stand at the Southern Affordable Homes Show at The Ageas Bowl.

Find out more: eastbrookehomes.co.uk @eastbrookehomes

The Council is developing and marketing homes across the Borough and eastbrooke homes is its new housing agency that will offer properties for sale on the open market, as well as privately rented accommodation and affordable housing.

Picture above: Simon Mason, Horton Heath, Residential Disposal & Marketing Lead and Michelle Wright, Senior Marketing Manager with the newly branded eastbrooke homes hoardings at Postmark Place

Residents will see the eastbrooke brand appearing on hoardings around the One Horton Heath development, at Postmark Place (the former post office site in Eastleigh town centre) and other housing schemes as they take shape.

Buying or renting a home - jargon busting

Shared Ownership

Buying or renting a home can be a bit overwhelming with many confusing terms. Here is a jargon-busting guide with some commonly misunderstood rent/purchase terms to help you through the process.

The Government’s Shared Ownership scheme lets you buy a share of the property (typically between 25% and 75%) if you cannot afford all of the deposit and mortgage payments for a home that meets your needs you can buy a share of the property and pay rent to a landlord on the rest of your home to a housing organisation such as VIVID or Abri.

Freehold

Stamp Duty Land Tax

First Homes Scheme

This means that if you own a property, you also own the land it’s on, and you own it forever. This means you don’t have to pay any ground rent. Since 2019, the law requires all newly built homes to be freehold.

A percentage of the total cost of a property which must be paid as tax when the property is purchased.

Currently, any property valued under £500,000 is exempt, as are first-time buyers. For high-value properties, the rate is between 3% and 12%.

If you’re a first-time buyer, you may be able buy a home for less than its market value. This offer is called the First Homes scheme. There will be homes under the First homes scheme built as part of our One Horton Heath development.

Leasehold Leasehold is a different legal status to freehold. Rather than owning the property forever, as you would with a freehold, a lease gives you the ‘right to occupy’ a property for a stipulated amount of time (usually between 99 and 999 years).

You won’t need to remain living in the property for the full length of the lease – leasehold properties are frequently bought and sold.

Service Charge With many leasehold properties there is also an annual service charge. This is a set amount of money for the upkeep of an area or for a service they have communal use of - for example, cleaning and lighting communal hallways or maintenance of shared gardens.

Warranty An insurance policy that protects buyers of new homes from structural defects, usually for the first ten years.

The warranty for internal issues is usually 1-2 years.

Affordable Housing You will often come across the term ‘affordable housing’.

This relates to housing that includes social and affordable rental properties that are set at lower rents than the current private rents. In our Borough, the Council are developing some but currently are mostly provided by housing organisations such as VIVID and Abri.

It also provides the opportunity for residents to access subsidised routes to home ownership through schemes like Shared Ownership, see next section or First Homes.

Eligibility You must be: • 18 or older • a first-time buyer • able to get a mortgage for at least half the price of the home • buying the home as part of a household where total income is no more than £80,000 We may also set some eligibility conditions such a giving priority to essential workers, people who already live in the area and those on lower incomes etc.

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PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT

eastleigh.gov.uk

Schools award scheme promotes clean air A new award scheme for schools in the Borough, that aims to reduce air pollution and encourage parents and children to travel more sustainably, was launched at Toynbee School in Chandler’s Ford, ahead of Cycle to School Week. The event coincided with the unveiling of the school’s impressive new bike shelter.

Schools that demonstrate their commitment to improving air quality in their area will be recognised with an Eastleigh Clean Air Aware Award.

The aim of the award is to reduce the number of car journeys made on the school run and encourage the use of more sustainable transport in the form of cycling, walking or scooting. As well as cutting pollution from exhaust fumes, the scheme will also help families work together to reduce their carbon footprint and improve children’s fitness.

Grassland buzzes at Lakeside Country Park Survey work of grassland at Lakeside Country Park this summer has shown how positive management by Eastleigh’s Countryside and Country Parks Teams has greatly improved its biodiversity.

School heads and pupils across the Borough will be learning more about the award scheme, which the Council is running in partnership with Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, during the autumn term. Schools will need to meet Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution as their bodies criteria in four areas to win their award, are still developing – and the increased and will then receive a flag to mark their volume of traffic around schools at pick- successful participation in the scheme. up and drop-off time has been shown The Council’s Cabinet Lead for to increase concentrations of harmful Environment, Cllr Rupert Kyrle, welcomes pollutants, particularly when vehicles the scheme. He said: “The issue of are idling.

pollution and its impact on the health of growing children has been in news a lot lately and the Eastleigh Clean Air Aware Award is one of a number of initiatives to tackle the problem – and help us move towards a carbon neutral Borough.”

Picture: Chair of the Chandler’s Ford & Hiltingbury Local Area Committee, Cllr Alan Broadhurst, joined representatives of Sustrans and Toynbee School pupils to launch Eastleigh Clean Air Aware.

The grassland has been grazed annually since 2010 by around ten cows from May until the end of September. The grazing has enhanced biodiversity by creating a patchier environment within fields. This provides micro-environments for different types of plants and animals.

Lakeside volunteers also cut back blackthorn and willow to prevent them becoming too dominant.

This grazing and volunteer work has allowed the grassland to steadily develop into a more species rich and varied habitat. The grassland supports a range wildflowers such as yellow vetch and southern marsh orchids which are an important nectar source for a variety of insects.

The conservation work at Lakeside has been funded by a grant from Natural England.

No gas central heating?

Make sure your home is energy-wise this winter

You might qualify for help with energy efficiency

Don’t forget that there are lots of things you can do to make your home more energy-efficient this winter. You can save money by:

• Decrease your

• Get into the habit of

• Layer up – wearing

• Turn unused switches

thermostat temperature to 18°C. warmer clothes and multiple layers will help achieve that cosy feeling.

• Fancy a brew? – simply

fill up your cup with water and pour into the kettle to boil just the amount you need.

• Consider lower energy

cooking in a slow cooker or air fryer.

turning off lights in rooms you aren’t occupying. and devices off and not in standby mode.

• Defrost your freezer so it isn’t working harder than it should.

If your home doesn’t have gas central heating, you might qualify for energy efficiency upgrades to improve your home and save money on energy bills.

If you’re on a low income, you don’t use gas to heat your home and your property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of D, E F or G, you could be eligible for a range of improvements.

These include insulation, air source heat pumps, solar panels and heating controls – and could save you between £220 and £400 a year on your energy bills.

The funding is available under the second phase of the government’s Home Upgrade Grant (HUG 2). £41.4 million has been awarded to local councils, including Eastleigh.

• Use draft excluders and thick curtains to keep the warmth in and the cold out!

Supported by

To find out more, please visit www.warmerhomes.org.uk or call freephone 0800 038 5737

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT

Eastleigh Borough recycles

@eastleighbc

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Let’s get it sorted... this Christmas What can I put in my green recycling bin?

Recycle your food waste Make small changes and get into the habit of recycling your food waste. The festive season generally sees us eating more so it’s a great time to ensure you recycle your food waste in your weekly food caddy collection and not your black bin.

It’s not just fruit and vegetable peelings that can go in your brown food caddy – you can recycle:

• All your raw and CUT OUT AND KEEP THIS PAGE FOR CHRISTMAS

cooked food waste leftovers including:

• Teabags and coffee grounds

• Fruit and vegetables • Meat and bones

• Bread and pastries • Fish • Dairy • Small amounts of shredded paper

only plastic bottles

tins and cans

empty aerosols

• Cut flowers

Please remember your food waste needs to be wrapped up in paper or in compostable bags, (NOT plastic bags) available from most supermarkets and put out in the larger of your two brown bins.

cardboard

paper

(no pizza boxes)

Your Christmas waste collections Normal Collection Day

Revised Collection Day

Monday 25 December

Wednesday 27 December

Tuesday 26 December

Thursday 28 December

Wednesday 27 December

Friday 29 December

Thursday 28 December

Saturday 30 December

Friday 29 December

Tuesday 2 January

• Plastic bottles

• Paper

Monday 1 January

Wednesday 3 January

• Aluminium cans

• Cardboard

Tuesday 2 January

Thursday 4 January

• Metal tins

• Empty aerosols

Wednesday 3 January

Friday 5 January

Thursday 4 January

Saturday 6 January

Friday 5 January

Monday 8 January

Monday 8 January

Tuesday 9 January

Tuesday 9 January

Wednesday 10 January

Wednesday 10 January

Thursday 11 January

Thursday 11 January

Friday 12 January

Friday 12 January

Saturday13 January

Please note that the garden waste service will be suspended from Friday 22 December and resumes on Monday 8 January.

Scan the QR code or visit eastleigh.gov.uk/recycle The Council’s ‘Let’s get it sorted’ campaign aims to encourage residents to put the right items in the right bins.

In Eastleigh there are only SIX items that should go in your green recycling bin. These are:

All other general waste should be placed in your general waste bin. When it comes to placing items in your green recycling bin, simply remember ‘if in doubt, leave it out!’

Make sure your Christmas waste goes in the right bin Plastic trays and packaging - Go in your black bin

Tin foil - rinse and take to your HWRC (tip) for recycling

Gift wrap/ cards - if it’s shiny, glittery or hard to tear we cant recycle it. Please place it in your black bin

Christmas Lights - any lights that are damaged can be recycled take them to your local HWRC (tip)

Batteries - place in a clear bag on top of the bottles/jars in your glass recycling box

Food waste - all bones uncooked food and left overs can go in your brown food waste bin. Just wrap it in newspaper or compostable bags.

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ENABLING A HEALTHIER EASTLEIGH

eastleigh.gov.uk

News round up Bishopstoke, Fair Oak & Horton Heath

Great progress at Itchen Valley Country Park

Update from the Mercury Library and Community Hub It has been a very busy time at the Mercury Hub with regular activities including the monthly children’s quilling sessions.

We are very proud to announce that two young members of the group won first and second prizes in the junior category at the Quilling Guild Competition in York. Well done to them for such an achievement.

Work to transform Itchen Valley Country Park is making great progress, with a new play already welcoming young visitors and their grown-ups and tracks and trails for walkers and cyclists open or nearing completion.

The park’s newest play area, The Den, is now open. Designed with the Country Park’s youngest visitors in mind, children can enjoy a small slide, toddler swings, balance logs plus more fun play features for them to begin their first outdoor adventure!

Meanwhile, older adventurers can now enjoy a double zip wire, a larger slide, swings and more in the area at the top of the park.

Chair of Hedge End, West End & Botley Area Committee, Cllr Cynthia Garton, said: “Visitors can enjoy a relaxing walk around the quieter routes with the path network at the top of the Country Park now complete. With beautiful vistas to be seen from the highest points, and winding paths through the Remembrance Avenue, walking here is very special.”

A lovely shrub, in a personalised pot, has been planted in memory of George Owen, one of our favourite visitors, to make sure he is fondly remembered.

And people on two- wheels haven’t been forgotten. The popular cycle track is being upgraded and will form part of the wider network which will connect all of the park’s trails.

We are open every Tuesday from 2pm - 4pm for board games.

Picture left: Chair of Hedge End, West End & Botley Area Committee, Cllr Cynthia Garton with Jenny from our Countryside Team enjoy a walk on the new trails

Chandler’s Ford & Hiltingbury

Funding approved for additional Youth Sessions at The Hilt Young people in the Chandler’s Ford and Fair Oak areas will have a new place to hang out over the winter months.

At the recent Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee, Councillors approved funding for extra and extended youth drop-in sessions for the winter months.

The Hilt (Hiltingbury Community Centre) youth session will run from Fridays, 6pm - 8pm.

Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Local Area Committee facilitate The YZone (Fair Oak) youth centre who will be increasing their offer with an additional winter Monday session, 6pm - 8.30pm.

These welcoming and inclusive sessions form part of the wider Borough weekly timetable and targeted outreach, provided by Youth Options, which include activities at Energy Youth Centre (Eastleigh) and Fryern Pavilion (Chandler’s Ford).

For more information, visit eastleigh.gov.uk/youngpeople/borough-youth-centres

Crafty Places opens Crafty Places, designed to engage and inspire our youngest children to adults is now open at Places Leisure, Eastleigh.

It enables children and adults to explore their imagination through various crafts and you get to take home something amazing that you’ve created and made yourself.

Times and days of the sessions are Crafty Tots for up to 5 years are at various times on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays Crafty Kidz ages 4 + years are at various times on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays Special Educational Needs sessions are on Fridays and Saturdays Crafty Coffee is on Mondays Adult Workshops are on Thursday evenings Check availability and book your places placesleisure.org/centres/places-leisureeastleigh/centre-activities/family-kids

Jumpstart Your Health and Wellness in 2024 The Council will launch its annual New Year Boost programme in December, to help residents in the Borough to boost their wellbeing in 2024. Activities are aimed at adults (16 years plus) who are currently doing little to no exercise.

The promise of a fresh start in 2024 not only brings resolutions but also an exciting opportunity to revitalise your health and well-being through the annual New Year Boost campaign that offers a range of activities to help achieve a healthier and more active lifestyle. Last year these included, health walks, Couch to 5K, Walking netball, Martial arts, boxing , parkrun etc. This year’s activities will be announced in December.

Cabinet Lead for Health and Social Policy, Cllr Tonia Craig, said: “There’s something for everyone whether you’re

looking to shed a few pounds, explore new hobbies, feel better about yourself, or simply meet new people. New Year Boost provides a simple one- stop location for local people to explore and choose activities that capture their interest. Whether you’re just getting started, kick-starting at a leisurely pace, or looking to try something new, you’ll find the support you need.”

Why not sign up to MyEastleigh and be the first to know my.eastleigh.gov.uk

WHAT’S ON

@eastleighbc

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Festival of Remembrance Sunday 29 October • 3pm - 5.30pm The Point ££ (All proceeds from ticket sales to The Poppy Appeal) Eastleigh Christmas Lights Switch-on Saturday 18th November • 11am - 7pm Market Street - Stalls from 10am Leigh Road Recreational Ground (Bandstand) - Light Switch On at 6pm Eastleigh Indoor Christmas Market Sunday 26 November • 10am - 3pm Places Leisure, Eastleigh Pop Up Christmas Market Saturday 2 December • 10am - 7pm Eastleigh Market Site - Leigh Road Light Up Netley and Lantern Parade Saturday 2 December • 5pm - 5.45pm Procession through Netley Bursledon Christmas Carols Saturday 9 December • 4.30pm - 5.45pm Lowford Centre Netley Christmas Carol Service Thursday 14 December • 5pm - 5.30pm Procession through Netley from Woolston Road Christmas Lights Train 8, 15, 22 December • Various times Lakeside Steam Railway ££

Concert for Mayor’s charities Friday 8 December from 7pm The Burns Unit is an excellent five-piece blues/rock band who are playing a concert in aid of the Mayor of Eastleigh’s Appeal on Friday 8 December at The Railway Institute, Eastleigh (SO50 9FE) All profits from the concert will donated to Eastleigh Citizen’s Advice Tickets are £10 in advance or £50 for a table of six. They’re available from Eventbrite or phone 07702 980677.

Doors open 7pm, the band are on stage at 8pm.

FREE EVENT

JOIN OUR GARDEN WASTE SCHEME Don’t waste time and fuel booking a trip to the tip

Join over 23,000 other borough residents and sign up in the New Year.

Starts on 1 April.

Whether you have a small amount of garden waste, or lots of grass cuttings, shrub prunings and weeds, the collection will save you time and make it easier for you to help the environment.

BENEFITS INCLUDE: • saves you time and is more convenient • no more mess or creepy crawlies in your vehicle • collected fortnightly from your kerbside • no more booking or queueing at your local tip • wheeled bin is easy to manoeuvre around your garden

You can sign up to join our 2023/24 garden waste service from early January.

Free 3km guided walks to spend time in nature in a safe and friendly environment.

Book online: itchenvalley. co.uk/whats-on Lakeside Tuesday 7 November 1pm - 2pm

Bursledon Wednesday 8 November 10.30am - 11.30am

Itchen Valley Country Park Thursday 9 & 23 November 10am - 11am

Hound Wednesday 15 November 10.30am - 11.30am

Hamble

Sign up at eastleigh.gov.uk/gardenwaste

Wednesday 29 November 10.30am - 11.30am

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WHAT’S ON

eastleigh.gov.uk

Tiny Dancers Tuesday 31 October & 14 November 10.30am - 11.30am

Picture credit: Richard Lakos

The Berry Theatre presents Raymond Briggs’

Father Christmas 9 to 31 December

One of the most beloved stories of the festive season is Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, a charming tale that follows the adventures of a grumpy but lovable old man as he delivers presents around the world on Christmas Eve. The book, published in 1973, has been adapted into a delightful stage show by the Olivier award-nominated Pins and Needles Productions, which has been running at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre since 2012.

Think Floyd. The Dark Side of the Moon at 50 - Tribute Thursday 2 November • 7.30pm - 9.35pm Bonus Round - Quiz Night Friday 3 November • from 7.30pm Spinners Dance Studio. Infinity Saturday 4 November • 1.30pm and 6.30pm Baby Disco Tuesday 7 November & 5 December • 10.30am Cracking - A New Dark Comedy By Shôn Dale-Jones Thursday 9 November • 7.30pm - 8.40pm

Santa’s Grotto Saturday 18 - Sunday 19th November Various times Wonder Gigs Tuesday 21 November • Various times Anything Funny Open Mic Night Tuesday 21 & 19 December • 8pm - 10pm Spot On Productions. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Wednesday 22 - Saturday 25 November Various times Arty Party Tuesday 28 November • 10.30am - 11.30am Inclusive Cinema. The Witches Tuesday 28 November • 10.45am - 12.30pm

This Christmas, you can enjoy the 50th anniversary of this festive treat at The Berry Theatre in Eastleigh, where the production will bring the magic of Briggs’ illustrations to life on stage, with puppetry, music and humour that will enchant children and adults alike.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the most beloved stories of all time in a fun and heartwarming performance for the whole family – the show runs from 9-31 December.

Book now: theberrytheatre.co.uk

Raymond Briggs Renowned British author and illustrator Raymond Briggs is best known for his classic children’s books such as The Snowman and Father Christmas. He was born in London in 1934 and studied art at Wimbledon, Central and Slade schools. He worked in advertising before becoming a children’s book illustrator and a teacher at Brighton College of Art. His most famous works include The Snowman - which tells the story of a boy who builds a snowman that comes to life, and Father Christmas – a charming tale of how Santa prepares for his busy night of delivering presents around the world. Both books have been adapted to animated films that have become Christmas classics.

Figs in Wigs. Astrology Bingo Friday 1 December • 7pm - 8.30pm

NLP Ltd. Tales from Acorn Wood Sunday 11 & Saturday 12 November • Various times

An Afternoon with Sound Pop Academy and Love Soul Choir Saturday 2 December • from 4pm

The Paper Birds. In Your Shoes Schools Project Tuesday 14 November • 7pm - 9.30pm

Love Soul Choir. Winter Show 2023 Saturday 2 December • 8pm - 10pm Timothy The Yeti Thursday 7 - Wednesday 20 December Various times Lulus Sister. Yule - Winter Tales Told In Shadow Saturday 9 - Sunday 10 December • Various times

Raymond Briggs picture credit: David Sandison

Self defence classes A new self defence class, specifically designed for visually impaired people, has been launched by The Point Eastleigh in partnership with Open Sight Hampshire, a charity dedicated to supporting individuals with visual impairments.

Designed to provide an inclusion and engaging experience, this will increase awareness of self defence in a fun and informative class.

Each session is held every Friday at 11am, lasting for an hour.

The cost of each session is £6.50.

Find out more: thepointeastleigh.co.uk

The Paper Birds. Feel Me Wednesday 15 - Thursday 16 November 7.30pm - 8.50pm The Sorting Office. Christmas Maker’s Market Saturday 18 November • 10am - 5pm

Wessex Dance Academy. Graduation Performance Wednesday 13 December • from 7pm Ed Byrne. Tragedy Plus Time - Phil Mcintyre Live Friday 15 December • 7.30pm - 9.10pm

F or further information and to book tickets visit thepointeastleigh.co.uk or phone the box office on 023 8065 2333 The Point Eastleigh, Leigh Road, Eastleigh SO50 9DE

The Berry Theatre

WHAT’S ON

9

@eastleighbc

Nick Cope’s Festive Family Concert Saturday 16 December • Various times Inclusive Cinema: Elf Tuesday 19 December • 10:45am - 12:55pm Hundred Watt Club. Festive Burlesque Friday 22 December • 7.30pm - 9.30pm

Red Entertainment. Mum’s the Word Friday 3 November • 7.30pm - 9.35pm

The Point presents

Timothy the Yeti 7 to 20 December A magical, interactive storyworld for local families to enjoy in Eastleigh this winter.

Red Entertainment. Dreamcoat Stars Saturday 4 November • 7.30pm - 9.35pm Geoff Norcott. Basic Bloke Wednesday 8 November • 8pm - 9.30pm The Comedy Network Friday 10 November & Friday 1 December 8pm - 9.45pm Inclusive Cinema. The Lost King Wednesday 15 November 10.30am - 12.18pm Simon Evans. Have We Met? Saturday 18 November • 7.30pm - 9.20pm

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and Pins & Needles.

Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas Saturday 9 - Sunday 31 December Various times

F or further information and to book tickets visit theberrytheatre.co.uk or phone the box office on 023 8065 2333

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Following the success of SNUG last December, The Point are transforming their Studio Theatre this festive season into a magical, winter storyworld for young children under five to enjoy with families and caregivers.

Christmas Trail

Audiences are invited to tiptoe into Timothy Yeti’s cave to listen to heart-warming stories of love, family, and friendship, in this interactive and immersive experience. Alongside the storyworld cave, there will be a series of interactive activities, including craft making. There will also be an accompanying Timothy the Yeti book, available to read in the space, as well as on sale to help families carry on the stories at home.

Collect a trail sheet from the Woodland Café and follow the festive route, exploring the Twelve days of Christmas at Itchen Valley

The Point is delighted that Timothy the Yeti will be generously sponsored by energy supplier Utilita, who will be present on certain dates to offer advice on saving energy in the home and in-turn saving money.

Timothy the Yeti is a free drop-in experience. The Point believes everyone should be able to experience its magic, regardless of financial barriers. If audiences are able to contribute, the venue would gratefully welcome a suggested donation of £5 per person to allow them to help create an Eastleigh for Everyone.

Timothy the Yeti’s cave will be open from 7 to 20 December at 9.30am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 3.30pm every day (excluding Sundays), with special interactive storytelling sessions taking place at 9.45am, 10.45am, 11.45am and 2.45pm.

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Friday 24 November • 7pm - 7.45pm

Winter events at the Country Parks

For further information on Timothy the Yeti visit: thepointeastleigh.co.uk/events/yeti-dec-2023

Gold standard customer service at The Point Congratulations to the Front of House team at The Point who have received a Gold Award for excellent customer service.

As a member of Eastleigh Business Improvement District (BID) the theatre takes part in the Mystery Shopper Customer Experience Awards. At the BID’s recent awards evening the team picked a Gold Award.

Janice Munday, Front of House Manager, said: “We achieved a customer service assessment score of an amazing 97 per cent.

Well done to the team on their fantastic work.”

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Friday 1 December 2023 - Monday 1 January 2024 10am - 3pm • Cost: £3

Festive Lanterns and Carols Saturday 16 December, Workshop 4.30pm Carols from 5.30pm Join a workshop to make a glass jar lantern for a procession through the woods, followed by carols accompanied by Otterbourne Brass Band. £10 for workshop and Carols, £5 for Carols only (includes parking)

New Year’s Day Walk Monday 1 January 10.30am - 11.30am Make time for nature this new year!

Join a 3km walk around the country park and feel the benefits of our wonderful natural world. £5 and includes a hot drink

To book visit: itchenvalley.co.uk/whats-on Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane,West End, Southampton SO30 3HQ

ONE HORTON HEATH LATEST UPDATE

10 eastleigh.gov.uk

Link road reaches halfway point

Revealing history through soil The all-important link road scheme connecting Allington Lane to the north to Burnetts Lane to the south has passed the halfway point

Excavated from a depth of 150 metres, at the development’s Lower Acre housing site, a collection of soil samples are uncovering the history of the local landscape. Antony Jennings, Managing Director (and Founder) of Synergy Boreholes, who donated the soil samples, commented: “The soil will date from as far back as 48 to 56 million years ago. It contains small shell fragments as few land creatures were about at the time”.

The all-important link road scheme for the exciting One Horton Heath development, that connects Allington Lane to the north and Burnetts Lane to the south, has passed the halfway point.

The soil samples will be used in future educational activities for children and students visiting the site to help see and learn about the natural environment.

The teams at One Horton Heath and main contractor Luddon celebrated the milestone marker as the next phase sees the start of road surfacing works get under way.

More than 180,000 cubic metres of soil, enough to fill 72 Olympic swimming pools, have been

excavated and reused within the site, saving 20,000 lorry journeys.

Council Leader, Cllr Keith House, said: ‘It’s great to be able to celebrate the halfway point of this 1.2-mile new road scheme.

Our infrastructure-first delivery approach is on track.’

Once complete in early summer 2024, the scheme will see new walking and cycling connections from Hedge End and Fair Oak open. All future construction traffic will use the link road to access the site.

Picture above: Teams celebrate halfway point onsite

Careers in construction The One Horton Heath project team was out and about recently at Wyvern College Careers Fair 2023 talking to year 11 students and parents about careers in construction and development. Our partners at Luddon construction are keen to talk to any students interested in an educational site visit.

Email onehortonheath@luddon.co.uk

Find out more and keep up-to-date on the development visit: onehortonheath.co.uk or email: onehortonheath@eastleigh.gov.uk Follow us on: onehortonheath One Horton Heath

Picture above: Shell fragments in excavated soil

Ground Source Heat Pumps explained

Watch our latest video One Horton Heath

Can we support your community project?

One Horton Heath is welcoming interest from community representatives or groups who are involved in running community or educational-led activities or groups who require outdoor space. Visit the website to get in touch with us: onehortonheath.co.uk

CREATING HOMES & COMMUNITIES

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Bampton House opening soon News round up The Council will soon be opening Bampton House that will provide specialist temporary housing accommodation for local families and individuals.

The redevelopment of a vacant office block began in January 2023 and has created 13 new homes.

The scheme was funded and developed by the Council with grant funding from Homes England provides much needed specialist accommodation to tackle both housing issues and address the ongoing cost of living crisis. It will also help reduce expenditure by the Council on emergency accommodation such as Bed and Breakfast.

Each flat benefits from an open plan living room, kitchen and diner along with bathroom and bedroom. Flats are equipped with electric boiler heating, built in oven and hob, wifi, parking, local amenities within walking distance and excellent transport links.

Cabinet Lead for Regeneration, Cllr Paul Bicknell, said: “This is a very exciting Council project transforming the building into high quality selfcontained flats. It enables local people to remain in the Borough and allows easier access to the services in Eastleigh needed to get support in securing a permanent home.”

485 SPACES

New public art for Hatch Farm

Park in

Eastleigh Town Centre Award-winning artist Felicity Hammond will be collaborating with architecture and design studio ‘CAN’ (Critical Architecture Network) to develop a new public art project with residents of The Willows.

The artists were selected for the project in West End that is funded from contributions from local developers for public art in Hatch Farm. Felicity Hammond and CAN will work with local residents to determine the location and the final design for their concept titled ‘The Barrows’.

The scheme is inspired by historic barrows including a nearby bowl barrow off Moorgreen Road. The new artwork will create a meeting

place with sculpted earthworks and panels made from a sustainable material known as eco-resin.

This Autumn, local residents will be invited to participate in walks and photography workshops led by the artists, which will determine the shapes for the final artwork. Further information including dates and how to attend these workshops will be shared by Eastleigh and West End Councils in newsletters and on social media.

for

only £5 a day* at

Mitchell Road Multi-Storey Car Park *£5 for all day parking between 6am to 6pm Monday - Saturday.

Prices may be subject to change.

Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice & Hound

Removable bollards installed at Kestrel Park Earlier in the year, it was discovered that the Country Park space in Kestrel Park was vulnerable, leading to unauthorised access by travellers. Once they’d left, a substantial volume of waste was uncovered, incurring removal expenses. To prevent this from happening again, the LAC (Local Area Committee) allocated funding for the installation of removable bollards at various access points surrounding the Country Park.

Local Community Centre receives Furniture Funding Pilands Wood Community Centre was issued funding to purchase 60 new chairs and a trolley for use in the Community Centre. It replaced the existing tired seating thanks to Developer Contributions.

Hedge End, West End & Botley

Chancellor Park play area Local children are enjoying a new play area that has been installed at Chancellor Park, Boorley Park.

It provides a safe, fun and challenging experience and is aimed at children from five years of age. Based on a ‘roundcourse’ design it enables children to move between different bits of equipment without touching the ground. The course includes a rope swing, net traverse, hammock swing, rope climb and crow’s nest viewing area, together with a rotating rope spinner.

The play area was funded from financial contributions from the developers of nearby new housing schemes.

CREATING HOMES & COMMUNITIES

12 eastleigh.gov.uk

Hampshire increases monthly payments to Ukrainian host families Hampshire County Council has announced that it will be paying an extra £200 per month to all Hampshire residents hosting Ukrainian guests as part of the Government’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme, until the end of March 2024. This takes the monthly payment to £700.

The new payments will start in October and be funded entirely via the grant paid to County authorities to support implementation of the Homes for Ukraine scheme locally.

Find out more information about hosting a Ukrainian family hants.gov.uk/host

The Point team are confident that The Beetroot Group’s new approach will enhance the Café Bar experience for customers – offering them a warm, welcoming atmosphere alongside delicious food and beverages.

Shannon Wood from The Beetroot Group said: “I am so excited about this new partnership with The Point to look after their Café Bar. We’ve received such a warm welcome so far from all the regulars and importantly, we’re looking forward to helping grow and nurture the safe community space that existed before we arrived.”

The Point Café Bar relaunched in exciting new partnership The Point, Eastleigh’s popular Café Bar has been relaunched by the Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Nick Couldrey.

The event marked the start of an exciting partnership with innovative Hampshire-based catering company, The Beetroot Group.

Louisa Milburn, Business Director at The Point said: “The Beetroot Group is already well known in the Borough and brings specific catering expertise to enhance the customer experience at The Point. There’s a delicious Café Bar menu on offer, and we’re open for afterwork drinks, plus there’ll be special food and drink events – so watch this space!”

Find out more: thepointeastleigh.co.uk/hang-out Picture: (L-R) – Amy and Shannon from The Beetroot Group; Eastleigh Mayoress Ann Couldrey; the Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Nick Couldrey; James Strachan, Chief Executive of Eastleigh Borough Council and Charlotte Hall from The Point.

Council extends support for war veterans The Council has revised its policies to ensure that all military compensation paid to our war veterans is disregarded as income when they apply for all means tested benefits such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) and Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).

The Council will now disregard any war-related income in the financial assessment during the DHP or DFG application.

Borough prepares to remember Services of Remembrance will be taking place across the Borough on Sunday 12 November.

The Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Nick Couldrey, will be attending the morning service at the War Memorial, Leigh Road Recreation Ground, whilst past Mayor, Adam Manning, will be attending the morning service at St Edward’s Church, Netley Abbey.

The Mayor will also be attending the service at the Military Cemetery, Royal Victoria Country Park at 3pm in

the afternoon. Other services will be taking place in West End, Hedge End, Botley, Chandler’s Ford, Fair Oak and Horton Heath. Road closures will be in place.

Armistice Day Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Nick Couldrey, together with representatives of local groups and organisations and residents will be attending the Royal British Legion’s Two Minute Silence at 11am on Saturday 11 November.

DHPs help people with housing costs and play an important role in helping them to stay in their homes, prevent homelessness and enable tenants to move to more affordable accommodation. DFGs are grants awarded to pay for essential adaptations to a person’s home to enable them to remain living at home for longer and maintain or increase their independence.

Council Leader, Cllr Keith House, said: “Eastleigh Borough Council signed up to an ‘Armed Forces Community Covenant’ in 2013. These amendments to our means tested benefit policy will allow us to further support our Armed Forces community.”

Hannah Pearce, Director of Campaigns, Policy and Research at RBL, said: “It’s really good news for the Armed Forces community in Eastleigh that Eastleigh Borough Council has taken action to remove this injustice. We want to thank Eastleigh Borough Council for working with us and doing the right thing by veterans and the whole Armed Forces community.

COST OF LIVING

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RECEIPT

TOTAL

TOTAL TOT TOTAL TO

Our check list to tick off cost-saving and income support

T ried the best place in the Borough for advice?

Citizens Advice Eastleigh are there if you need help with finding what support is available and what you are eligible for. They have trained local advisors and a website filled with advice and guidance.

They have an Eastleigh office and a range of outreaches in Bursledon, Hamble and Hedge End. citizensadviceeastleigh.org.uk 0808 278 7682

A re you eligible to receive support or benefits?

Search gov.uk for their ‘benefits calculator’. This can help you narrow down anything you may be entitled to. It’s free and independent and only takes around 15minutes to complete.

C heck in on your wellbeing or that of someone struggling Solent Mind Eastleigh, 111 Leigh Road, Eastleigh SO50 9DS, provides group or 1:1 support over the phone or online and can help with employment needs.

023 8061 1458 Samaritans support you on the phone (116 123) or online 24hrs a day, 365 days a year if you are having a difficult time and are struggling to cope.

Samaritans.org

C hecked out the local free and low-cost food outlets • Eastleigh food bank, Unit G6 Wells Place SO50 5PP, 07563 609994 Tuesdays and Thursdays•10am - 3pm

• Hedge End food centre, King’s Community Church SO30 4BZ Mondays and Thursdays•10am - 1pm

• Hound food bank, 30 Queen’s View, Netley Abbey SO31 5AE, 07485 007800 Tuesdays and Thursdays•10.30am - 2pm

• Pavilion on the Park,

Visit eastleigh.gov.uk/ costofliving-support for more information on what’s available locally as well as support for debt, housing, energy saving and vulnerable groups.

1 Kingfisher Road SO50 9LH О

О

Eastleigh Pantry, £5 per visit for £15’s worth of food per week, 01794 522106 Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30am - 12 noon and Tuesdays•4pm - 6pm Community Fridge, help yourself to what you need Monday to Friday•10am - 3pm and Sundays•9.30am - 12 noon

this winter This winter we are again working with local charities and organisations to provide a ‘Warm Welcome’. These are locations and venues which will be offering activities and a warm space for vulnerable residents who may be struggling to pay their energy bills.

The network offers spaces spaces where people can come together to stay warm, enjoy some company, a cup of tea, or get involved in an activity.

Eastleigh Pantry, Eastleigh Cable Works Elim Pentecostal Church, Eastleigh The Mercury Library & Community Hub Pavilion on the Park, Eastleigh Places Leisure Eastleigh

We regret to report that many cost of living and energy saving scheme scams are operating at this time, targeting vulnerable people. Please remain vigilant and if in any doubt: stop, challenge and protect. actionfraud.police.uk

Have you checked if tax relief, marriage allowance or cost of living payment apply too? Search on gov.uk

St Andrews Methodist Church St Paul’s Church, Bursledon St Thomas’ Church, Fair Oak The Point Eastleigh

Covid-19 Community Recovery Grant

Velmore Community Centre, Chandler’s Ford

The Eastleigh Covid-19 Community Recovery Grant provides local community groups and organisations with the chance to apply for funding to help local people who are still recovering from the mental and physical effects of covid.

Chandler’s Ford Library

The Borough-wide scheme offers grants of up to £10,000 and priority will be given to groups that support:

• activities that support the health and

wellbeing of vulnerable people and those who were shielding and/or self-isolating

• organisations that support individuals experiencing hardship caused by the pandemic

• organisations that support mental health,

bereavement and emotional needs arising from the pandemic

• mental and

physical health support for young people and adults including mobility, long covid

The activities can offer advice/ information or promote self-help and must have a wide community benefit and must be open to anyone.

Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/covidrecovery-grant

YMCA Eastleigh (North Stoneham) Libraries:

Eastleigh Library Hedge End Library Netley Library West End Library Fair Oak library Learn more and view venues near you eastleigh. gov.uk/warm-welcomes or call 023 8068 8000 to find out which Warm Welcome is nearest you.

YOUR COMMUNITY

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Borough-wide grants open in New Year The Council’s Borough-wide Community Grant scheme opens in the New Year to support local community initiatives and projects.

The grant offers up to a £1,000 to community organisations, charities and not-for-profit groups whose aims promote and enhance people’s health and wellbeing, and which align with our corporate priority for ‘enabling a healthier Eastleigh’.

In particular, we are keen to hear from applicants who can demonstrate how their project or organisation/ group will benefit local residents and that the funding will be used to help address emerging challenges, including: social isolation, supporting young people, tackling deprivation, addressing health inequalities and promoting community engagement and neighbourhood connections.

The grant be used for: • Funding specific projects,

programmes or initiatives

• Purchase of equipment

or materials

• Contribution towards running

costs

• Development of the

organisation

Applications open Wednesday 10 January and close Wednesday 21 February 2024 To apply visit: eastleigh.gov.uk/communitygrants

YOUR COUNCIL

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New Hendy showrooms coming soon people. It also brings a vacant brownfield site into viable use, provides economic benefits to the local area and supports an existing business.”

He added: “The Council retains ownership of the site and the business premises will add to the Council’s property portfolio that provides a significant rental income to the Council.”

Exciting new Hendy car showrooms will be opening soon on the former civic offices site.

The new Hendy Group state-of-the-art showroom complex in Eastleigh will be home to Nissan, Renault, and Dacia and is part of the second phase of the re-development of the old civic offices site. It includes the construction of a car dealership comprising two showroom buildings and a car display courtyard on the site frontage. Access to the showrooms will be from Villeneuve St Georges Way. Deputy Council Leader, Cllr Ian Corben, said: “Hendy is a longstanding local business and this exciting development brings more business investment into our borough. The new Hendy car showroom provides additional jobs and opportunities for local

Hendy Group Chief executive, Paul Hendy, said: “The partnership with Eastleigh Borough Council has created a complex which will employ around 50 people and provide space for 18 new vehicles in the showroom together with 84 used vehicle display spaces.”

He added: “This is another exciting development for the Hendy Group and not only reinforces our commitment to the area but will provide our customers with the very best in terms of facilities. This investment is part of our ongoing expansion plans, and we see Eastleigh as a key location for our long-term future.”

Have your say

During August, your household will have received a form from the Borough Council showing the names of residents who are currently registered to vote at your property.

Please check this information to ensure the details are correct. If the information needs to be updated, please visit householdresponse.com/eastleigh to make any changes.

The information is used to confirm who, at your address, is eligible to vote. This information can also be used when applying for credit such as a mortgage or personal loan. Not being registered can risk you being refused credit.

It is a legal requirement to respond to the letter if it says you must respond - Please help us by responding now to prevent the need for personal visits to your property between 16 October – 19 November 2023.

Bishopstoke, Fair Oak & Horton Heath (6.30pm) 2 9 November • 31 January Visit eastleigh.gov.uk/bifohh or contact kitty.budden@eastleigh.gov.uk 023 8068 8418 Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice & Hound (6pm) 30 November • 25 January Visit eastleigh.gov.uk/bhh or contact Public question sessions are held at the ross.mcclean@eastleigh.gov.uk start of each meeting and if you would like to speak, you must register before 023 8068 3367 the meeting begins. Please email democraticservices@eastleigh.gov.uk Chandler’s Ford & Hiltingbury (7pm) 15 November • 17 January or you can register at the meeting.

Visit eastleigh.gov.uk/cfh or contact Each LAC has a Local Area Manager guy.riddoch@eastleigh.gov.uk who works with the Councillors 023 8068 3369 to set the strategic direction of the

Local Area Committees hold public question sessions at the start of each meeting Local Area Committees (LACs) are made up of elected Ward Councillors.

They take decisions and make representations relating to their area on a wide range of Council business, including determining planning applications and environmental improvements.

Keeping the electoral register up-to-date

Eastleigh (7pm) 14 November • 23 January Visit eastleigh.gov.uk/elac or contact guy.riddoch@eastleigh.gov.uk 023 8068 3369 Hedge End, West End & Botley (7pm) 20 November • 29 January Visit eastleigh.gov.uk/heweb or contact ross.mcclean@eastleigh.gov.uk 023 8068 3367

committee’s work.

Contact us: Eastleigh Borough Council, Eastleigh House, Upper Market Street, Eastleigh SO50 9YN 023 8068 8000 @EastleighBC eastleigh.gov.uk • my.eastleigh.gov.uk Sign up to receive updates from us at:

eastleigh.gov.uk/weeklynews

Details are correct at time of print.

Distribution period - We try to ensure that the dates featured or listed in the Borough News fall after the last copy is delivered. However, some events may occur during the delivery period. We try to avoid this, but we are keen that events get as much publicity as possible.

Eastleigh Borough Council makes no representations, endorsements, warranties or guarantees, and is not liable for any loss or damage, in relation to any advertisements placed in the Borough News.

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CHRISTMAS 2023 AT THE BERRY THEATRE! LYRIC HAMMERSMITH THEATRE AND PINS AND NEEDLES PRESENT

RAYMOND BRIGGS’

SATURDAY 9 - SUNDAY 31 DECEMBER See website for times and prices

Tickets from:

£15 WWW.THEBERRYTHEATRE.CO.UK 023 8065 2333

The Berry Theatre, Hedge End, SO30 4EJ

Image credit: Richard Lakos