Your vehicle will be looked after by qualified technicians with many years of experience. Receive a dealership level service at local garage prices.
Receive complete attention to detail and thorough safety checks in our MOT centre.
Stay warm, dry and keep the children entertained in our relaxing waiting area. Coffee and tea making facilities available and clean toilets with child changing area.
Don’t fret about getting the car to us if things go wrong. Just give us a call and let us make the arrangements for your car repair stress free. (vehicle recovery is chargeable unless covered by your insurance policy).
We are more than happy to have you wait for your car. Take advantage of our warm, dry and clean customer waiting area.
Extremely competitive prices on all exhausts. Tyres supplied direct from the leading suppliers. Order Online. Why travel and join a queue when you can simply pay us a visit. We are also an award winning GT radial dealer.
Don’t let your breakdown or service cause problems. Take full advantage of one of our clean and reliable automatic or manual courtesy cars.
We have recently invested in one of the latest computer Wheel- Alignment systems where we can carry out full alignment checks and adjustments, increasing the life of your tyres and improving your driving experience!
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Forum Publications Offices New Farm Road, Alresford, SO24 9QE Tel: 01962 735137 www.forumpublications.co.uk
The Itchen Valley Forum contains facts, views, opinions, statements, recommendations, advertisements and other content and links to external websites not owned or controlled by the magazine. Itchen Valley Forum takes reasonable efforts to include accurate, current information on its pages, but make no warranties or representations as to the accuracy, safety or value of the published items that are displayed. No liability or responsibility can be taken for errors or omissions in magazine content. Itchen Valley Forum magazine content does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or recommendations of its creators and any reliance upon its content is taken at the user’s sole risk. Adverts designed by Forum Publications remain the magazine's legal ownership. Readership figures calculated on an average national statistic of 2.5 readers per household © Forum Publications Ltd, 2023
People have been in love from time immemorial. It would be unjust to ascribe any particular history and origin to love and the feelings that come with it. But Valentine's Day, the day which celebrates love worldwide, sure has a history and origin of its own. February is historically chosen to be the month of love and romance and the month to celebrate Valentine's Day. Can you possibly overlook the deluge of love-drenched feelings, the slushy outbreak of 'being in love' and the pervasion of the color red all around when the calendar turns to the month of February? No. None of us can! For, the one thing that's inextricably linked to the month of February is Valentine's Day--the most coveted celebration after Christmas and a day kept aside to let love rule everywhere. Come what may, the hype and hoopla surrounding Valentine's Day never goes unnoticed, no matter which part of the world you are placed in! And Valentine's Day incidentally is the 2nd largest card-sending occasion, after Christmas.
Valentine's Day has shadows of both the Christian and Roman traditions. Celebrated famously on February 14 every year, some believe that Valentine's Day has its history and origin in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. The latter was an annual feasting and celebration by the Romans to keep fearful wolves at bay from damaging their crops. Lupercalia was celebrated on February 15 with the young men striking the women because it was believed that these blows would make them more fertile. This association of Lupercalia with fertility is probably one reason why Valentine's Day is linked to this ancient Roman festival. Also, on the eve of Lupercalia, which is on February 14, it was quite popular for young women to find their partners for the festival. The romantic origin of Valentine's Day can even be traced to this practice.
No matter what the history and origin of Valentine's Day includes, it sure includes this patron saint named St. Valentine. Now history even has it that there has been more than one legend related to St. Valentine. Summing two legends, we now know that there were two saints (of the same name Valentine) belonging to the early Christian church. One legend holds that when the Roman Emperor Claudius II forbade young men to marry to make better soldiers out of single men, a priest named Valentine defied the orders and secretly married young couples. Consequently he was beheaded on February 14 for his 'crime'. Some even hold that Valentine was killed for trying to help Christians escape the atrocities prevailing in
the Roman prisons. But whatever the facts, ever since, February 14 came to be celebrated as Valentine's Day commemorating this great patron of people in love worldwide. The other story talks of another Valentine who was a children's favorite but was despised by the Romans for his religious defiance. The Romans had him behind the bars but the children still managed to send fond messages to their favorite Valentine. The current custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day might have roots to this age-old tale.
Yet another legend holds that when Valentine was in prison, he fell in love with the prison guard's daughter. And history states that before his death, he wrote a letter to his beloved signing off as 'From your Valentine'. It's not known to which extent these Valentine's Day legends related to its origin are true, but this expression 'From your Valentine' sure caught hold like wildfire. And people still send gifts and cards on Valentine's Day with this tag hanging from them - 'From your Valentine'! So you keep the tradition going too.
Probably, the Americans began exchanging handmade Valentine's Day cards in the early years of the eighteenth century. And around 1840, a person called Esther A. Howland began selling the first big production of Valentine's Day greetings in America. Now, apart from all the facts and figures of Valentine's Day history and origin, one thing that's for sure is the choice of February as the month for celebrating love. In ancient Rome, February was the official kick-off month for the season of spring and was a time to feel happy all over again. Then in the Middle Ages, it was quite a popular belief in France and England that February was the birds' mating season. All these and many more taken together contributed to the consolidation of mid-February as the time for Valentines.
Finally, around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius I declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day!
Sean Carter writes on holidays, Valentine's Day and world events. He also writes on family, relationships, celebrations, religion, love and friendship. He is a writer with special interest in ecard industry and writes for 123greetings.com. He is an active blogger at Valentines Day Blog.
Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sean_Carter/42553
Happy Kitchens completely renovated our kitchen, transformed two wardrobes and built us a lovely cupboard in our storage room. Ben was really enthusiastic during our initial consultations and extremely helpful with assisting us with our choices. He was also very accommodating when we changed our minds on a couple of elements during the process.
Dan, our main fitter, could not have been more professional, flexible or helpful when we had a couple of small niggles, all of which were resolved with a smile – an absolute star! The other fitters who worked with Dan were all very courteous and hard-working. The key thing we recognised is their desire to make the customer happy – Job well done!
Thank you Ben, Dan and James. Mr Wyatt, Winchester
Happy Kitchens are quite unique as we are able to offer top quality products, available in any size, fitted by the best professionals in the business. Change your kitchen and bedroom with a makeover or design and install a new kitchen and bedroom, whichever suits your needs or price range.
ALRESFORD
Offers In Excess Of: £1,000,000 | EPC Rating: Exempt
With the worst of the winter weather hopefully now behind us, we can look forward to the days getting longer and the temperatures improving as we move towards spring.
It is noticeable how many people are telling us they want to move home this year, many having put off the decision for years. Demand for quality homes in Alresford, and the surrounding villages, remains strong, and we anticipate an active selling season this spring.
To satisfy this demand, we are in need of fresh sales and rental stock. If you are considering selling or letting out your home this year, now is the ideal time to find out how it is worth and how we could assist with your move.
Call one of our friendly team today to book in a free market appraisal. We hope to hear from you soon!
In 2022, the lettings market saw rents increase across the country by approximately 11% (according to Rightmove) as demand continued to outstrip supply.
We expect to see a similar trend in 2023, with many properties attracting multiple offers from tenants. This high demand and low stock has a number of contributing factors. An increase in mortgage rates has meant that many people aren’t able to afford to purchase, and so will continue to rent. The increase in the cost of living has also led to tenants staying put, rather than upsizing. Alresford and the surrounding villages are always popular with tenants looking for good quality rental properties of all sizes. This is borne out by the number of enquiries received for every property advertised.
Changes for this year include the Government's planned rental reforms, which have caused concern for many landlords. Whilst these changes are yet to be set in Law, there appears to be an appetite from the Government to make changes to the way that notice is issued to tenants, along with an increase in the minimum EPC requirements. We expect these reforms to come in sooner rather than later.
Although these changes may seem daunting, our fully qualified team are on hand to guide you through the legislative minefield, and we would encourage landlords to speak to us for up-to-theminute advice.
www.hellards.co.uk
Tel: 01962 736333
lettings@hellards.co.uk
Hall
Available to hire for … parties, wedding receptions, meetings etc. Email: andrenacatesby@hotmail. com or telephone
07790 422229
Alresford and District Horticultural Society AGM
Wednesday 7th February
From 7.30pm St.Gregory's Church Hall, Grange Road, Alresford
Contact: Chairman, Stephen Morley, 01962733524 or hortic@ allthemorleys.co.uk. This month’s talk is by Simon Justice, Course Manager, Alresford Golf Club.
Alresford Community Cinema - Fisherman's Friends 2 - One and All
Tuesday 7th February
From 7.00pm
Alresford Community Centre, 7 West Street, Alresford SO24 9AG
Tickets £8Card or cash on the door.
Reservations 01962
736282Licensed bar. A great true storty with excellent music. Based on a true story. Fame is never plain sailing. Brought to you by the Friends of St Johns.
Alresford Community Theatre Society presents
Thur
overcomes a childhood life of bullying and stigma with support from Nitta, a young girl in a similar situation. A small cast of children and adults from the local community in and around Alresford. STAN includes songs and memories from old school days and is sure to have you smiling as you reminisce!
Written by Tony Bevan.
Alresford Art Society: A demonstration of Woodland Trees in Watercolour
Friday 24th February
At 2.30pm
Bishop's Sutton Village Hall, Alresford Road, SO24 0AH
By Karen Pearson on Friday 24th February 2023. Non-members welcome – admission £3. For further information: 01962 732043 or visit www.artsociety. alresford.org
'Music For St Peters'
Saturday 25th February
From 7.00pm St. Peter's Church, Ropley
Christmas Trees 2022
We would like to say a huge thank you to the Alresford Pigs Association and all volunteers, including those from the Chamber, for all their help and expertise in delivering our Flagship Project ‘Lighting Up Alresford’ again this year with the wonderful array of brightly lit Christmas Trees around town. Thank you again to New Alresford Town Council for their financial support and, lastly but by no means least, a SPECIAL THANK YOU! to everyone who purchased a tree and by doing so helped to brighten up our town during the festive period
Goodbye and Thank You!
The Chamber of Commerce would like to say a heartfelt thank you to our beloved Chair Fiona Isaacs. Fiona has been Chair of the Chamber for 7 years and ensured that the Chamber continued the market town projects after WCC stopped the role. Wrote both the Easter Egg Hunt & Ghost Hunt for the last seven years. These projects will carry on. Worked for all the businesses in our area through the pandemic ensuring everyone had access to grants and information. Lead the LED Bulb project to ensure the Christmas trees moved over to LED and secured joint funding from NATC for this. Also, volunteering every year in putting the Christmas Trees up along with other volunteers. And much more. As a Winchester City Councillor Fiona will still be supporting businesses in our area and will continue to work alongside us.
The Chamber Committee has voted Estelle Bentham to take up the role as The Alresford Chamber of Commerce Chair. Estelle has been deputy chair for the past 2 years, has her own business and knows the issues businesses are facing at present.
From 7pm (matinee 2.30pm)
Sun Hill Infant Schhol, Sun Lane, Alresford, SO24 9NB
Tickets available online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ alresford-community-theatresociety. Adult £10, Child £8
A musical theatre production based on the life of STAN, a young student who we observe in both past and present school days of the 80's and today. Stan
A concert of Sacred a Cappella Music by the Winchester Cathedral Chamber Choir
Conducted by Joshua Stephens
In St Peter’s Church, Ropley on Saturday 25th February
At 7.30 pm (doors & bar open at 7.00 pm)The programme will include Finzi Seven Partsongs, Op. 17 - Britten Hymn to St Cecilia - Gary Davison Awake, my soul. Tickets £20.00 per person online. https:// stpetersropley.org.uk/music-forst-peters/ or from Julesflory16@ gmail.com. All proceeds to St Peter’s Church, Ropley.
We are happy to announce AJB Wealth 3, East Street, Alresford as our recent New Member to the Chamber. They offer bespoke wealth and investment management and take the time to get to know about you and your life goals. If this is something they may be able to help you with why not pop in to see Paul or Nicky!
Any businesses or individuals wishing to participate, sponsor or generally assist with any of our projects please do email us.
Keep track of our events, follow us on Facebook Twitter & Instagram@AlresfordChamberofCommerce / AlresfordCofC / info@alresfordchamber.co.uk /www.alresfordchamber.co.uk
Apologies for this item not being included in the January edition it was an error on the behalf of the Forum Magazine.
Being a landlord has changed over recent years, particularly from a regulatory and compliance perspective, but there are still many benefits. With the support of Charlie Dixon, Branch Partner, and your dedicated Property Manager, Helen Nicol, you are in safe hands when it comes to letting in and around Alresford.
There has never been a more important time to choose the right lettings agent. Helen will guide you every step of the way, and as your proactive Property Manager, she will be appointed to help you with the support of an experienced team of lettings experts.
ALRESFORD ROAD, OVINGTON
£5,000 PCM
Introducing this stunning five-bedroom barn conversion which forms part of an exclusive development and backs onto open countryside, on the fringes of Ovington and Avington. This impressive oak timber frame barn is rich in character with exposed beams, vaulted ceilings and oak joinery, provides a spacious family home. Long Barn boasts sizable and versatile accommodation including an open plan kitchen dining room with views over the rear garden.
Security Deposit: £5,769.23
(based on advertised rental price)
Minimum Term: 12 Months
Council Tax Band: G
“Helen in Property Management is always very efficient in dealing with any problems that occur and nothing seems to be too much trouble for her to deal with. This is very reassuring for a Landlord that there is someone you can depend on to manage your property to great satisfaction.”
Josephine (20 January2023)
If you are thinking about selling or letting your home, get in touch with us.
Call 01962 734633, click or pop-in to book a FREE market appraisal of your home.
By the time this Article is printed the Hampshire Yellow County Booklet could be making an appearance in all the normal places - Libraries and Garden Centres probably being the most popular. We are very pleased to announce that Knight Frank - Estate Agents are Sponsoring the Hampshire Booklet for 2023. This is a huge boost for us. So keep your eyes peeled. We have several garden owners who get off to an early start with their garden visits. Joining the Snowdrop Gardens, we have the Spring Gardens coming along in March. Two fine examples are below:-
Bere Mill
Lesley Rose, Advice Services Manager for Citizens Advice Winchester District gives advice on what to do if you have mould or damp in your rental property. I’ve noticed mould and damp in our flat. It’s mainly in our bedroom, including some black mould on the carpet. I’ve been chasing our letting agency, who say they’ll speak to our landlord. I’m really worried about how this might affect our health. Our tenancy agreement isn’t up for eight months, what can I do?
It’s good that you’ve already raised the issue with your letting agency. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to work out the cause of mould or damp This can make it difficult to work out if your landlord is responsible, unless there’s an obvious cause, like a leaking roof. There are many causes of damp that properties can get. The most common are rising, penetrating, construction and condensation damp. On our website there is information that may help you work out what type of damp you have, who is responsible and what you can do. Check your tenancy agreement too for mentions of repairs and damp, and reach out to Citizens Advice on anything you’re unsure about. A landlord will have to act in relation to damp if it makes the property unsafe for someone to live in. This could be for example, if it is making the tenant or a member of their family ill. The landlord will also be responsible if the damp is related to repairs they should have carried out, like if heaters are broken. If the damp has damaged items that the landlord is responsible for, such as carpets and window frames, they’ll likely have to cover the cost of repairs. One of the most common causes of damp is condensation. To prevent this, it’s important to keep homes well-heated and well-ventilated, but for a lot of people this will be trickier to do given the colder weather and higher heating costs. You may be eligible for help to insulate and heat your home, and should visit our website to find out more.
London Road, Whitchurch, RG28 7NH. Opening: Monday 27th March 1pm to 5pm. Admission: £7.50 children free. Refreshments: Home-made teas. This garden can also take coaches from February to October. Information. 01256 892210 rupertnab@gmail.com
The garden was built around early C18 mill on an idyllic isolated stretch of the River Test, east of Whitchurch. The gardens have been built incrementally over 30 yrs with extensive bulbs planting; herbaceous borders with magnolia, irises, and tree peonies; summer and autumn borders; a traditional orchard and two small arboretums, one specialising in Japanese shrubs and trees.
This is closely followed by:-
Beechenwood Farm, Hillside, Odiham, RG29 1JA
Opening: Wednesday 29th March 2pm to 5pm. Admission: £5.00 children free. Refreshments: Home-made teas. This garden then opens every wednesday until 27th june, and also By Arrangement for groups large and small. Contact owners to arrange: beechenwood@aol.com 07944 162419
2 acre garden in many parts. Lawn meandering through woodland with drifts of spring bulbs. Rose pergola with steps, pots with spring bulbs and later aeoniums. Fritillary and cowslip meadow. Walled herb garden with pool and exuberant planting. Orchard inc white garden and hot border. Greenhouse and vegetable garden. Rock garden extending to grasses, ferns and bamboos. Shady walk to belvedere. 8 acre copse of native species with grassed rides.
Best Wishes - Pat Beagley (Publicity)
National Garden Scheme - Hampshire
On our website we also have advice on things that can make damp worse and may impact the landlord taking responsibility for repairs. These include drying clothes on heaters or blocking air vents. If your landlord is responsible for the damp in your property but doesn’t act, there are steps you can take, such as reporting them to the local authority. If you’re in social housing you might also be able to use the landlord’s formal complaints procedure. There is more information about this on our website. If it reaches the point where you want to get out of a fixed term tenancy agreement early, do speak to an adviser first, as there might be better ways to approach the issue.
You can contact Citizens Advice Winchester District for free on 0808 278 7861 or you can also find more information on the Citizens Advice website (www.citizensadvice.org.uk).
Spring is a great time for lawn improvements - As the days lengthen and warm, recovery is rapid. Spring renovation work will help your lawn become what you want it to be. We've helped hundreds of customers improve their lawns - now is the ideal time to improve yours.
Lawn Moss Control - Lawn moss can seriously impact grass health. Our moss treatment and moss removal (scarification) services will reduce lawn moss issues and help your grass through the challenges of winter.
FREE moss treatment with every scarification 25% off all treatment plans booked this month
Limited availability so call now to avoid disappointment
Upto 50m2 £5.90 a month
Add £1.60 for each additional 50m2
3 visits a year
Grub
Upto 50m2 £12.60 a month
Add £4.20 for each additional 50m2
5 visits a year
Winter Moss Control
Winter Lawn Tonic
Spring Fertiliser
Spring Weed Control
Summer Fertiliser
Summer Weed Control
Autumn Fertiliser
Autumn Moss Inhibitor
Autumn Weed Control
Grub Monitoring Service, Disease Detection
pH Testing
Upto 50m2 £22.85 a month
Add £3.20 for each additional 50m2
6 visits a year
Winter Moss Control
Winter Lawn Tonic
Spring Fertiliser
Spring Weed Control
Summer Fertiliser
Summer Weed Control
Autumn Fertiliser
Autumn Moss Inhibitor
Autumn Weed Control PLUS
Drench, Drought, Stress
Prevention (2 seasonal applications)
Ourmost popular plan
Annual Lawn Aeration
Grub Monitoring Service Disease Detection
pH Testing
One off treatments from £30 - We also provide full lawn make-overs, over-seeding, and top-dressing. Hard surface weed control for gravel or paved drives, paths, and patios. Call now to arrange your first treatment visit and FREE full lawn analysis survey. Our work is fully guaranteed, check our website for more information.
A garden should add real value to your home if done properly, in the same way an extension or well designed interior can do so too. It is therefore a great investment. You also want to enjoy this outside ‘room’ of your house to the maximum, otherwise it is simply wasted space.
At DP Garden Design we will take the surrounding area, style of our clients home, scale, materials and planting into consideration to design an outdoor space you will treasure large or small.
Services Include
Treat
• Site Analysis
• Complete bespoke design package
• Planting plans & Plant Sourcing
• Setting out and Construction Drawings
• Management of tender process with landscape contractors
• Project Management
• Maintenance Plans
Please contact us on info@dpgardendesign.co.uk, 07376114531, and visit our website at www.dpgardendesign.co.uk
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1973 BUILT ON GREAT SERVICE & VALUE FOR MONEY
Please visit our website for all the latest news, information, second-hand machines for sale and special offers in the showroom.
Tel: 01962 771800
steve.cann@btconnect.com
www.georgecanngardenmachinery.co.uk
LACEYS FARM, BRAMDEAN, ALRESFORD, HAMPSHIRE, SO24 0JT
Winter lawncare is often overlooked, but it is crucial in ensuring the health and longevity of your lawn. Winter lawn treatments not only protect your grass from the harsh cold weather but also prepare it for a lush and healthy growth in the spring. In this article, we look at the importance of winter lawn care, the steps you can take to protect your lawn during winter weather and the best practices for maintaining a healthy lawn throughout the winter months.
Winter lawncare is essential to maintain the health and beauty of your lawn throughout the year. The harsh cold weather and frost can be detrimental to your grass if proper measures are not taken to protect it. Neglecting your lawn in the winter can lead to damage of the grass plant, discoloration of the leaf, and in extreme situations even death of the grass, leaving bare areas for moss or weeds to establish.
Winter weather can cause a variety of damage to lawns if they are not properly protected. Cold temperatures and frost can cause grass blades to freeze and become brittle. Walking on the lawn whilst frozen can leading to bruising of the leaf and discoloration. Worst still, bruised leaves are more susceptible to diseases such as snow mould. Snow mould, a fungal disease, can also develop when snow or heavy frost lies on the lawn for extended periods of time. This blocks air circulation and provides ideal conditions for this fungal disease to attack the grass plants.
Prepare your lawn for winter
Proper autumn maintenance will help protect your lawn from damage. One of the first things to do is to remove any fallen leaves and moss from your lawn. These can trap moisture, block out light, and lead to the development of fungal diseases that kill the grass. Fertilising in the autumn will help to strengthen the grass and make it more resilient to cold temperatures and the rigours of darker, wetter days. Aerating the soil will also help to relieve compaction, reduce waterlogging, and ensure that water and oxygen can reach the roots of the grass.
Proper winter lawn maintenance not only protects the lawn from damage caused by winter weather, but it also promotes healthy growth in the spring. A well-cared-for lawn in the winter will be better equipped to bounce back in the spring and recover more quickly from any damage that may have occurred due to poor weather. By taking the necessary steps to protect your lawn in the winter, you can ensure that it will be lush, green, and healthy when the weather improves and you want to get outside and enjoy your
garden. Lush, thick grass also has less issues with moss and weeds as there are fewer bare areas for these troublesome plants to establish themselves. Aerating your lawn can also help to protect it from winter damage. Aeration involves making small holes in the soil and cracks beneath the surface, which allows water, oxygen, and fertiliser to reach the roots of the grass. This can help to prevent compaction and ensure that your lawn stays healthy during the winter. It also aids root development which promotes heathier grass plants that are more drought tolerant.
It's important to address any existing problems with your lawn before winter and again once winter has passed. If you have any bare spots or areas of thin grass, you should reseed those areas. This will help to protect your lawn from further damage and ensure that it is healthy and strong when spring arrives.
Moss is a common problem in lawns, especially during the winter months. Moss not only makes your lawn look unsightly, but it can also choke out the grass, making it difficult for it to grow. Moss thrives in damp, shady areas of the lawn, and if left untreated, it can quickly take over.
One of the most effective ways to control moss in your lawn is by using moss control treatments. Iron is a natural moss killer, and when applied to the lawn, it will help to dehydrate the moss and prevent it from becoming dominant. Iron also helps to harden the grass, making it more resistant to disease attack. The iron treatment will penetrate the moss and cause the moss to turn brown. This moss should then be removed with a spring rake or scarifier. Moss treatments can be difficult to apply. It’s easy for the amateur gardener to get this wrong and kill areas of the lawn. It can also stain hard surfaces so extreme care should be taken. At this time of year we are also applying our lawn tonic to boost general grass plant health and help it through the challenges winter throws at it.
It’s often cheaper and easier to use a professional lawncare company than to buy and apply treatments yourself and risk getting things wrong. Read our reviews online and contact us to benefit from our exceptional customer service and great result.
Ian Kenyon sits on the committee of the UK Lawn Care Association and owns Shrekfeet Professional Lawncare. He is always happy to offer friendly, professional advice and help: T: 01962 460146 www.shrekfeet.com
The Alresford Gift Shop
The Quintessential Mirage Scarf £24 100% Recycled polyester made from plastic bottles Tel: 01962 732192 | alresfordgiftshop.co.uk
Andrew Smith & Son Auctioneers
Monthly Antiques and Interiors Sale - Sat 11th February, Viewin; Friday 10th 10am, Sat 11th at 8.30am. FREE valuation day Wed 1st and Thur 23rd Feb Tel: 01962 735988 | www.andrewsmithandson.com
D.Barker & Son
Silver heart pendant by Ti Sento Milano - £99 40A West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 732200 | www.dbarkerandson.co.uk
#shoplocal
Enticing and eclectic items now available on your high street this summer. Stay local and support your diverse retailers!
Interior Style Etched Diamond Vase 61cm - £55.50 29 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AB Tel: 01962 736311 | www.interiorstyle.biz
The Alresford Gift Shop
Valentines cards, presents and gift bags available now Tel: 01962 732192 | alresfordgiftshop.co.uk
Kingsworthy Foundry
Winchester's best kept secret! Come and browse our conservatory furniture upstairs in our large showrooms. Kingsworthy Cane Tel: 01962 883776 | www.kingsworthycane.co.uk
D.Barker & Son
Rainbow Geocube necklace by Coeur De Lion at £149 40A West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 732200 | www.dbarkerandson.co.uk
The Naked Grape
Chateau La Grange d'Orlean Now 25% off at 2 for £21 Superb example of maturing Bordeaux West Street, Alresford SO24 9AT Tel: 01962 732002 | www.thenakedgrape.co.uk
Extensive choice. An exciting collection of performance ski kit and cold weather wear for every age. New location. Our fabulous showroom outside Alresford is the best way to try a variety of styles & sizes before you buy. Open by appointment from October to Easter, please email us to book a slot or make an enquiry. Same great service. Seasoned skiers ourselves, we offer buyers guidance in our showroom and at selected school events.
email: skiwear@polarexchange.co.uk www.polarexchange.co.uk | 07783 538389 | 07767 238874
40a West Street, Alresford, Hants Tel: 01962 732200 www.dbarkerandson.co.uk
40a West Street, Alresford, Hants Tel: 01962 732200 www.dbarkerandson.co.uk
40a West Street, Alresford, Hants Tel: 01962 732200 www.dbarkerandson.co.uk
40a West Street, Alresford, Hants Tel: 01962 732200 www.dbarkerandson.co.uk
Your local independent ladies’ fashion retailer catering for the discerning lady who likes stylish every day wear ideal for the home or office. Come and see what we have to offer. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with both the quality and the price. We also have a range of Mother of the Bride/Groom wear.
Find us in Warsash next to the Coop near the Clocktower. Free car parking available opposite.
Tel: 01489 880900
or shop online at: www.davinasladiesfashion.co.uk
7 Warsash Road, Warsash, Southampton, SO31 9HW
Open Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm
We are your local independent fashion retailer located in Warsash adjacent to the Co-op and Clocktower. We have been established for 25 years, originally in Fareham, and in Warsash since 2018.
We have a full range of general clothing comprising dresses, tops, trousers, jeans and jackets. Our range goes from jeans to evening wear. We are currently receiving our latest spring and summer collections. This includes some fabulous summer dresses in resplendent colours. We also stock the Marble colourful range of sweaters and trousers at very reasonable prices. There are 3 rooms fully stocked and we welcome customers to come in and browse. We also welcome husbands and partners who wish to buy a surprise gift for their special lady. They are also encouraged to accompany you and help select your new wardrobe. Please don’t think our prices are out of your range deterring you from coming in. Do give us a try. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at both the quality and price.
We have a reputation for Condici Mother of the Bride/Groom outfits and currently have a choice of 140 to choose from. We also stock matching hats, hatinators, shoes and clutch bags making us a “one stop shop”.
There is a carpark opposite which is free for 4 hours. We hope we have enticed you to give us a try.
Do visit our website at www.davinasladiesfashion.co.uk which is a showcase of some of what we have to offer.
• 360g cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 Tablespoons (10g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 115g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 400g granulated sugar
• 240ml rapeseed or vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs, room temperature and separated
• 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
• liquid or gel red food coloring
• 240ml buttermilk, at room temperature
450g full-fat block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
170g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
660g icing sugar
1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract pinch of salt, to taste
Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease two 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper rounds, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans.
Make the cake: Whisk the flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside. Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the oil, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and vinegar and beat on high for 2 minutes. (Set the egg whites aside.) Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 2-3 additions alternating with the buttermilk. Beat in your desired amount of food coloring just until combined. I use 1-2 teaspoons gel food coloring. Vigorously whisk or beat the 4 egg whites on high speed until fluffy peaks form as pictured above, about 3 minutes. Gently fold into cake batter. The batter will be silky and slightly thick.
Divide batter between cake pans. Bake for 30-32 minutes or until the tops of the cakes spring back when gently touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If the cakes need a little longer as determined by wet crumbs on the toothpick, bake for longer. However, careful not to overbake as the cakes may dry out. Remove cakes from the oven and cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
Make the Icing: In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on medium-high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the icing sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes until completely combined and creamy. Add more icing sugar if the icing is too thin or an extra pinch of salt if icing is too sweet. Icing should be soft, but not runny.
Assemble and add icing: Using a large serrated knife, slice a thin layer off the tops of the cakes to create a flat surface. Discard or crumble over finished cake. Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand or serving plate. Evenly cover the top with icing. Top with 2nd layer and spread remaining icing all over the top and sides. I always use an icing spatula and bench scraper for the icing. Refrigerate cake for at least 30-60 minutes before slicing. This helps the cake hold its shape when cutting.
Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for 5 days. Iced cake or un-iced cake layers can be frozen up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before decorating/serving.
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All across rural Hampshire, there are properties that are disconnected from the main sewer system. Instead, these properties use private 'off-mains' alternatives: cesspits, septic tanks, and sewage treatment plants. The three types vary in how they store, treat, and release waste, but aren’t a cause for concern when working well.
When something goes wrong, however, both people and wildlife are put at risk. While off-mains properties are in the minority, they have the potential to massively impact their surrounding environment. This is because systems that are incorrectly sized, sited, or maintained can cause chronic sewage pollution.
This pollution can damage homes and gardens, but is also rich in nitrogen and phosphorus - highly effective fertilisers. When it gets into our local chalk streams, it encourages the rapid growth of algae. The resulting ‘blooms’ starve the streams of sunlight and oxygen, with devastating consequences for wildlife.
The contamination of our waterways is especially serious in Hampshire, where pollutants can easily reach the underground chalk aquifer. As the source of both our chalk streams and most of our drinking water, this natural wonder is hugely important. Once inside, pollutants may continue to emerge even years later.
Luckily, expensive repairs and environmental harm can be avoided with a little know-how. Owners are responsible for ensuring that their system is suitable for their property and the number of residents. They must schedule frequent emptying and maintenance, and perform regular checks for signs of trouble.
Swampy ground, pooling water, a leaking tank lid, a grey film on the ground, and spots of lush grass growth can all be clues that something is amiss. Inside the home, look out for sinks, showers, and toilets draining slowly or noisily. Staying alert to potential problems is the best way to fix them before they escalate.
Care over what gets ‘flushed’ is also key, as the wrong additions can make off-mains systems inefficient or non-functional. Oil, fat, food waste, ‘flushable’ wipes, and sanitary products can cause blockages. Medicines, chemicals, bleach, and drain cleaner can kill the bacteria that help to break down the waste.
Learn more about how to keep your system safe and effective, with the Septic Smart project. It forms part of the Watercress and Winterbournes scheme, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
To get involved, visit www.hiwwt.org.uk/septicsmart or email: winterbournes@hiwwt.org.uk.
Does your home have a cesspit, septic tank, or small sewage treatment plant? Flushing the wrong things down your drains can cause expensive faults and environmental pollution.
Can cause blockages:
• Fat, oil, and grease
• Food waste
• Cotton buds
• ‘Flushable’ wipes
• Nappies and sanitary towels
Can kill waste-digesting bacteria:
• Medicines
• Disinfectants
• Antibacterial products
• Houseplant and garden pesticides
• Bleach, caustic soda, and drain cleaner
Learn how to dispose of these things safely: www.hiwwt.org.uk/septicsmart
“What do you fancy on Tuesday? We could get fish and chips,” she suggested.
Valentine’s night, arriving after (largely) virtuous weeks of salads and vegetables since the overindulgence of Christmas, heralded a treat of forbidden carbs and fried foods. In a landscape of galloping inflation, they had opted to dine in.
Himself considered... “What about an Indian takeaway? We won’t even have to leave the house for that - since Covid they deliver out here.”
Himself went on. “A global pandemic causing devastation in the lives of families everywhere. Lockdowns that affected the mental health of many and altered the working practices of companies and institutions. A disease that cost the UK hundreds of billions of pounds and… delivered tikka masala to our doorstep.”
“It’s an ill wind – as my mother would have said,” she commented wryly as she looked at an on-line takeaway menu.
“Looks like their prices have gone up,” she observed. “Well, how about chicken in a bucket, then. Bargain.”
“Ditto – inflation has hit the humble drumstick and spud I’m afraid. And do you know, it’s nothing that I can’t cook, at a fraction of the price too.” She announced with confidence. “Pretty sure I can find the secret recipe containing eleven herbs and spices somewhere on the net.”
“But Darling, the point of a take-away is that you don’t have to cook. We haven’t had Chinese food for a while. Perhaps we could splash out on one of those. Sweet and sour crispy chicken balls and some ribs shouldn’t be too expensive. And they deliver. If you like, you could cook the rice – that would save some money.”
“Rice?” she announced, incredulously. “I can do better than that! I can cook a whole Chinese meal – no problemo..”
“Are you sure? What about specialist ingredients?” He looked dubious.
“Remember the great liquid glucose hunt of 1990?” Himself gave her an appraising look. “We scoured the South of England for the vital ingredient of Delia Smith’s chocolate truffle torte – to no avail. As I recall, you made a chocolate mousse instead for the dinner party. Was delicious.”
“As I recall, you found me in the kitchen fuming over soft peak egg whites and banging on about showstoppers.” She blushed at the memory.
“Yes, well you were a bit intense and focused about your cooking in those days, Darling.” Himself said kindly.
“And apparently nothing has changed,” she murmured, “because I’m going
to produce the best Chinese meal. Ever.” The bit between her teeth, she again consulted the interweb.
“What we have now,” she said as she jabbed and swiped her phone, “that we didn’t in 1990, is one’s heart’s desire courtesy of a search engine.”
Over the next few days deliveries appeared.
“Another for you darling,” Himself dropped a package into her lap. A corner cupboard and the fridge were filling up with exotic bits and pieces and when the day arrived, she used them all. Grinding, whisking, stirring, chopping. Sesame oil and fish sauce. Ginger, star anise and Sichuan peppercorns. Spring onions, straw mushrooms and rice wine vinegar. Ribs, prawns and chicken – mange tout and water chestnuts. Bamboo shoots and beansprouts. Every inch of the work surfaces was covered and every utensil utilised.
“Been burgled by the cast and crew of masterchef?” Himself exclaimed as she raised her hot, flushed face from feverishly frying spring rolls.
“I know,” she said tiredly. “I had no idea how much work was involved producing a set meal for two. But it’s nearly ready. Just the prawn crackers left to do..”
Presently they sat down at a table groaning with all of their favourites and Himself tucked in. “It’s nice. Not quite the same, but.. nice...” Lukewarm praise, she thought, but secretly agreed. “Was it much cheaper than a takeaway?” He asked, hesitantly. She looked furtive and sipped her drink. “Um I think it will be. You know. In the long run.” Her eyes darted guiltily about the room. “When I’ve made a few more meals and used up all the spices and sauces. There seems to be a lot of pak choi and baby sweetcorn left in the fridge. And duck – I had to buy a whole one for the crispy duck pancakes. Plus a new wok of course..” She trailed off and slumped in her chair, picking unenthusiastically at her egg fried rice.
“Darling,” Himself asked “aren’t you very hungry?”
“I’ve been cooking all day and I’m sick of the sight and smell of it!” she announced wearily.
Himself laughed. “No problemo. Let me just… take it away!” He rose and removed her plate, scraping the food onto his own. Wielding chopsticks with one hand he scrolled his phone with the thumb on his other. “There. I’ve ordered you fish and chips. Apparently since Covid they deliver that out here too...”
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Contact Steve Morgan, an Alresford resident for a free initial consultation on 01252 711244, smo@wiseandco.co.uk
Contact Steve Morgan, an Alresford resident on 01252 711244 or email smo@wiseandco.co.uk for a free initial consultation
www.wiseandco.co.uk
Wey Court West, Union Road, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7PT
www.wiseandco.co.uk
Wey Court West, Union Road, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7PT
3 East Street, Alresford, SO24 9EE Tel 01962 736926
email: mail@gibbonssolicitors.co.uk
www.gibbonsolicitors.co.uk
Gibbons Solicitors Limited
Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority no. 617854’
Gibbons Solicitors Limited Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority no. 617854’
We are a local independent family run business which operates on a 24 hours basis. You will always have a personal continuity and we will go through all the arrangements and look after you throughout. Also located in Winchester, Eastleigh &
You are an extension of our family when in our care
Beware of cheap Apple, Fitbit and Samsung smartwatch lookalikes that snoop on users. According to a recent report in the Which consumer magazine all the cheap lookalike watches are full of security flaws including excessive tracking. Some of these watches are ridiculously cheap and purchasers might be fooled in to believing that they are a serious alternative to the real thing. They are not and should most definitely be avoided. The biggest problem is that they can look like the real thing!
All broadband providers give a basic router as part of their package and for small houses or apartments these are OK. For larger houses it is worth considering changing a basic router for one with Wi-fi 6 as this provides a much better coverage without the need for extenders or repeaters. Larger multi room properties will also benefit from adding a Mesh extender system. If anyone is considering doing this, please contact me for unbiased advice.
Most iPhones have great cameras, especially the iPhone 14 Pro. However, there are times when you might want to have a camera strap for security. I took a scenic train ride recently and it had an open carriage for taking photos. The driver made an announcement making it very clear that if anyone dropped their camera the train would not be stopping for them! It was then I wished I had a case with a strap. They are not expensive, just search online for phone cases with a lanyard strap, much cheaper than buying a new phone.
Natasha, Katie and Iza are all RCM postgraduates, pursuing their Masters degrees and freelancing, while Toby is currently on trial with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
The programme has yet to be finalised, but will include a selection from pieces by Rachmaninov, Puccini, Haydn, Mendelssohn and Bacewicz. Tickets £20 (U18s £7.50) from stockbridgemusic.uk or on the door.
Friday 3 March 2023, 7.30pm
St Peters Church Stockbridge SO20 6HE
Giving young musicians a platform: the first concert of 2023 in Stockbridge Music’s young musicians’ series.
Salisbury Chamber Chorus: Mozart’s Requiem
Saturday 18 March 7.30pm
St Peters Church, Stockbridge SO20 6HE
This is an additional concert: Stockbridge Music is pleased to be providing a box office service for Salisbury Chamber Chorus for this performance.
As well as performing in many RCM concerts, including the annual Chamber Music Festival, FestivALL, and the Essential Bartók and Legacy of Vaughan Williams series, the quartet has appeared at the Berkshire Chamber Music and Dartington Music Festivals alongside the Brodsky Quartet, and at venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Snape Maltings and Sage Gateshead. They have also toured abroad extensively, including to France, Austria, Germany, Poland, Russia and China.
We are delighted that Salisbury Chamber Chorus has chosen Stockbridge as a venue for a performance of Mozart’s famous Requiem, both his final piece, and also one of his most familiar. In addition, the Salisbury-based choir will be performing four choruses from Mozart’s opera Idomeneo; less well-known, but perfect curtain raisers. SCC will be joined by the Nova Foresta Classical Players for this concert. Tickets £15 (U18s free) from stockbridgemusic.uk or on the door.
We
We understand that an item on the recent Council meeting agenda relating to Alresford Town Football Club (ATFC) has raised concern in the town. We hope that this statement will clarify the position. ATFC uses the Council’s facilities under a licence dating from 2007 that runs to 2032. However, the club and the Council have agreed that the licence is not fit for purpose and its terms do not work for either party. So in June 2021 we entered into renegotiations that are still ongoing. The negotiations do not affect Alresford Town Youth Football Club, which is a completely separate organisation to ATFC.
Under the current licence, ATFC uses one football pitch together with changing rooms and all associated services and utility costs (including heating and hot water, but excluding floodlights) for a fee of £75 a year. The Council estimates the total cost of the utilities and the repayment of a loan associated to the facilities to be around £9,000 per year. This cost is ultimately borne by the residents of the town. Under the terms of the current licence, the Club is required to vacate the pitch between 1st April and 1st September each year. This is not practical for the Club, not least as it does not cover the whole of the football season.
To stand for election to a local council you must be:
• A UK or Commonwealth citizen; or be a citizen of the Republic of Ireland; or be a citizen of another Member State of the European Union
• At least 18 years old
• An elector of the local council; or in the past 12 months occupied land or other premises in the area the local council serves (as owner or tenant); or work in the area local council serves (as your principal or only place of work); or live within three miles of the local council boundary
One of the members of the Council, Cllr Divall, exercised his right to ask for an item to be included on the agenda for this month’s council meeting. The item he raised related to the licence with ATFC. However, he chose to withdraw it at the beginning of the meeting, so it was never debated and agreed by the remainder of the Council. The Council would like to reassure residents that negotiations are continuing with ATFC with the aim of reaching a fair and workable agreement for both the council tax payers of Alresford and the football club. With good will on both sides, we would hope to bring this matter to a conclusion in the next few months.
The role of the Councillor is a voluntary position and the Council is always glad to hear from members of public in writing or at our monthly meetings. Members of the public are very welcome to attend in person or virtually. The vast majority of our meetings are conducted in public, however, we hope you will understand that we are required to discuss a small number of matters involving legal or HR issues in confidential sessions.
Hampshire County Council have no plans to close Alresford Library.
In May 2023 there will be elections for 11 Town Councillor roles at New Alresford Town Council
TEL: 01962 865602
MOBILE: 07752 570787 OR VISIT
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OTHER JOURNEYS
Engine Diagnostics
Offsite M.O.T Tests
Nissan Elgrand Specialists
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Standards you can rely on for airport, ferry port and city transfers
Carpe Diem Executive Cars has built its reputation for excellence, professionalism and reliability offering a premium service at competitive prices
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Tel: 0330 6600 029 Mob: 07801 816 062
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Clutch Repair Courtesy Car Opening Times Mon - Thur 8-5pm Friday 8-3pm
Contact Steve on: 01962 735777
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Shelf House, New Farm Road, Alresford, SO24 9QE
L.P.G.A approved autogas conversions
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Allows your petrol engine vehicle to run on Autogas, a fuel costing approximately 76p per ltr, with the environmental benefits of a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide production and 2000 times fewer particulates produced from the exhaust fumes when compared with a diesel. Widely available across the country and locally in Winnall, Winchester and West Meon Hut service station. The government has committed to this fuel difference for the future.
M.O.T Testing Centre
Class 7 Vans from 3,000 - 3,500kg
Class 4 Cars and Vans up to 3,000kg
All makes of cars and vans serviced and repaired All makes of truck and horsebox up to 7500kg maintained and prepared for ministry plating tests
CERTIFICATED ENGINEERS • RECOVERY AVAILABLE •
Although the cost of living is in the news at present, there may be other reasons why you need help with your finances. Our local Citizens Advice provides an amazing service for all queries, including online, face to face and by telephone. Led locally by Dr Sue Campbell, CA has good networks with HMRC, charity including cancer care providers, energy and housing providers etc. They also currently receive additional funding to help you cope with the heavy burden of inflation of food and energy costs for families and older people. Go to the ‘get advice’ tab for details of how to contact them, face to face time for calls & visits etc. https:// citizensadvicewinchester.org.uk or call 0808 278 7861to talk to an advisor Mon-Fri 10am -4pm.
Adults are usually invited for vaccination, but it’s not so easy to know what to do for children who may not be vulnerable themselves but are in regular contact with someone who is medically vulnerable. I asked Simon Bryant, Director of Public Health. His advice is to call the NHS HIOW helpline 0300 561 0018 for details of all under 18’s clinics. Unfortunately, there are no current Winchester venues for infant boosters/vaccinations, so you may have to travel further afield if the mobile unit isn’t in place soon. If you have any direct queries for Simon, please email simon.bryant@hants.gov. uk or contact me.
The wet weather conditions are creating problems for the County Council as roads are literally being washed away leaving huge holes in the tarmac surface. Please report any you see so that they can be filled as quickly as possible (although that may be with a temporary material just for safety). Please call 0300 555 1388 or go to the hants.gov.uk website and search ‘report a road problem’. You can report overgrown hedges, flooding and more from here too. Thank you.
this is they contain POP’s: persistent organic but toxic pollutants. Alresford is not one of the sites accommodating this change because it is too small to accept yet another skip, so it’s best to book a trip to Winchester or Alton.
PS: Rumours abound but I have written confirmation from HCC: there is no plan to close Alresford Library.
All patients who have been referred by their doctor for a chest X-ray are now able to attend Radiology without an appointment at the following sites; Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital - Monday to Friday, 2pm - 4pm. Royal Hampshire County HospitalMonday to Friday, 8am - 12pm and 1pm - 4pm All other X-ray examinations, Ultrasound, DEXA, CT or MR requests require an appointment.
HCC Grants continue to be offered for greener energy and recycling schemes, and community hubs. Please contact me if you have an idea and we’ll work out which grant is the most useful for you.
The M3 Junction 9 application
Called a Development Consent Order, the DCO application has been validated by the National Planning service, due to be decided in 2024. Local County Councillors were briefed on the implications of construction diversions just before Christmas. Inevitably, although diversions do not include the A33, realistically, it will affect traffic levels as drivers get used to taking the shortest route/ using satnavs from Winchester, Basingstoke & between.
Safer Roads
It can be extremely stressful when your child is unwell. We know that there is a huge amount of information available at your fingertips, but finding something that provides clear and accurate information is not always easy! The resources on the Healthier Together website have been developed in partnership between parents and healthcare professionals from across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You'll find clear information on common childhood illnesses, including advice on what 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required, what you should do to keep your child comfortable and how long your child's symptoms are likely to last.
https://what0-18.nhs.uk/
We are excited to announce the arrival of Dr. Shereen Elboray who joined us as a salaried GP at the beginning of January, her working days will be all day Wednesday & Friday.
We are also excited to announce the arrival of Dr. John Robinson who joins us on 13th February as a salaried GP & will be working Monday, Tuesday & Thursday.
Enhanced access services
Mid Hampshire Healthcare started running our enhanced access services in October. Extended hours will be offered every Tuesday & Thursday evening as well as every other Saturday. These appointments can be booked via Reception.
A change in arrangements
Most HWRC’s will now have a separate skip in which upholstered seating will be collected for disposal by incineration: the reason for
Finally, I must mention the Cart and Horses junction. Most local people will be pleased to hear that I will continue to campaign for a safer junction here. Thank you for all your encouragement to do so. The Exec Member, Cllr Adams-King, has agreed to meet me again with local councillors when we know more of the accident investigation, which should be this month.
Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk
Telephone: 07973 696 085 My website: www.jackieporter.co.uk
The Alresford Surgery, Station Road, Alresford, Hampshire
SO24 9JL
Telephone: 01962 732345
Website: www.alresfordsurgery.co.uk
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AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LACK OF AVAILABLE CARS BELOW, NOW WOULD BE A FANTASTIC TIME TO SELL ANY CAR NOT BEING USED AND GET A GREAT PRICE FOR IT.
The following cars have been carefully selected because of their low mileage, excellent condition and service history.
2019 (19) Honda Jazz 1.3 EX Nav Automatic, 5 door, Sat Nav, front and rear parking sensors rear camera, climate control, cruise control, 19,000 miles £16,395
2016 (16) Nissan Note N-Tec 1.2, £20 road tax, sat nav, Climate and cruise control, parking camera, 18,000 miles. £8995
2018 (68) Hyundai i10 S, 5 door 21,000 miles £7895
2014 (14) Skoda Rapid 1.6 TDi Elegance, Automatic, sat nav, air conditioning, cruise control, parking sensors, Panoramic moon roof, 1 owner 59,000 miles £6395
MOT TEST CENTRE
• Welding specialists
• Tyres for cars and motorcycles
• 4 wheel laser alignment
• LPG for sale for cars
• Recovery services
• Free collection
• Diagnostic testing (including Landrover)
• Courtesy cars
• Certificated engineers
MOT TEST CENTRE FOR:
Cars, motorcycles and vans up to 3,000kg. All makes serviced and repaired. Class 4 MOT's Class 1 & 2 Motorcycles
MOT's WHILE YOU WAIT
Tel: 01962 733888
e:mike1ams1@aol.com
Repairs
VIEW OUR CURRENT STOCK AT www.andrews-autosource.co.uk/vehicles-for-sale
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL CARS HAVE SERVICE HISTORY
BRAMDEAN GARAGE, A272, BRAMDEAN TEL: 07811 041653 OR TEL: 01962 732 995
WILCAN MOTOR COMPANY LTD
Servicing, MOT, Tyres & Bodywork Repairs
FREE Local collection and courtesy cars (T&C's apply)
Free Safety Checks
Please ring our friendly team on: 01962 736186 andy.wilcan@live.co.uk www.wilcan.co.uk
THE LONG BARN, WINCHESTER ROAD, ALRESFORD, SO24 9EZ
At Town and Country, we take pride in ensuring every client receives the best customer service, from the informative and knowledgeable sales process through to the extensive after sales care.
Our boutique showroom showcases some of the finest kitchen and bathroom furniture available, with a strong emphasis on UK and European manufacturing. Bathroom manufacturers on display include Ambiance Bain, Pelipal, Hansgrohe, Roper Rhodes and Miller of Sweden, with Porcelanosa and Ca’Pietra tiling throughout the showroom. Our kitchens are expertly crafted by Schuller, the second largest German kitchen manufacturer, and Uform. Both have an extensive and inspiring collection ranging from the contemporary to the more traditional.
Please contact us regarding our complementary design and quotation service, we look forward to hearing from you.
Visit Town & Country
8 The High Street, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO3O 2EA
Telephone: 01489 536187
Email: sales@town-and-country.co.uk
www.town-and-country.co.uk
New Year, new resolutions – and new plans! Whether you are thinking of throwing that big birthday party, or entertaining your kids’ friends or organising that wedding reception, why not consider holding it at the Itchen Abbas and Avington Village Hall?
Located in the heart of the beautiful Itchen Valley and easily accessible from all directions, it is surrounded by its own grounds alongside the B3047.
Built at the turn of the Millennium, it is a modern, light and airy hall with all the accessories you will need to make your party go smoothly. It is a huge space which can hold 150 standing or 120 seated and it is licensed to midnight. Tables, chairs and staging are available, or you can arrange to bring your own. There is good wifi internet access and a Bluetooth sound system
The hall is divided into two spaces, the Edmonds Room which measures 8.75m x 18.25m and a smaller Burge Room for more intimate gatherings, measuring 7.9m x 5.5m.
The kitchen is equipped with a 6-burner gas hob, bain marie and heated cupboard, oven, microwave, fridge, freezer and dishwasher. There is china and cutlery to accommodate your guests and the other accessories needed, such as trays, jugs etc.
On a fine day guests can enjoy the enclosed garden to the rear of the hall, accessed through the two sets of large double doors onto a decking which also has benches to relax on. Kids can have the freedom to run around in safety and to enjoy the climbing frame.
In addition, there is parking for up to 30 cars, 2 disabled spaces with extra parking available on request.
In addition to the popular Montessori Nursery School there are several clubs and activities held weekly or monthly: Short Tennis, Swing It Dance, Tumble Tots, Badminton, Pickle Ball, Valley Gardeners, Itchen Valley Choir, Beekeepers, Zumba, Green Apple Fitness – to name a few.
For further details have a look at the website www.iaavillagehall.co.uk –you won’t be disappointed! There are discounted rates for local residents
A well respected long established family run business based in Bishop's Waltham
ELECTRIC GARAGE DOORS
Sun Lane development
I have received concerns from residents within the Tichborne Down area that the developers have requested a further change of route for heavy traffic against Hampshire highways recommendations. I have been in contact with Rob Green, the lead officer in planning on this, and he is liaising with both parties to establish what the restrictions and applications are. He will be updating everyone accordingly.
Bishop's Sutton footpath
undertake a study and review. Whilst speeding reports from speed cameras etc are useful residents can also report online using the below link. https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tellus-about/soh/seen-or-heard/
No key information like number plates will be required and reports can even be anonymous, but if a particular area is experiencing issues it raises a review. This is the best way to increase the resources for an area.
Missing drain hole covers
The WCC out of hours emergency number WCC failed to provide adequate assistance over the Christmas period, leaving me trying to help a single mother of 3 at 11pm, at -3 degrees, who had a water leak and couldn't get any help. At the moment WCC outsources the out of hours service to a third party. Sadly, they failed to answer calls, failed to triage in any way or acknowledge the resident's issues. This was a huge failure. I raised this issue at a recent meeting, seeking a way to stop situation happening again in the future
Here are the emergency numbers if needed at the moment.
Parking Emergency 01962 848268
(parking Mon-Sat 8am-6pm )
Emergency out of hours 01962 865407
Housing emergency 01962 865405
Alresford school student and up and coming kart racer, Frank Ward (13) has won a trophy from the respected Clay Pigeon Kart Club near Dorchester in only his first year of racing. At a gala dinner on 7 January Frank was awarded the Batcotiques Trophy, recognising his endeavour and commitment last year.
Always a keen motorsport fan, especially of Formula 1, Frank took up karting in 2022 and immediately showed promise. Having been given a kart for his 12th birthday, and with the support of his family, Frank has been improving his laptime at local circuits all year, entering his first race back in June.
I will be having further meetings with Highways on this matter, as we now have two amounts of funding available, amounting to (160K). Priority will be to given to ensure the footpath is on the same side joining Alresford and Bishop's Sutton areas. The resurfacing between these new additions has also been agreed along with cutting back of the footpath. In January I liaised with officers of both departments to establish timelines and actions. It was raised at the Bishop’s Sutton parish Council meeting if we could have the resurfacing work done first. I have followed up since this meeting and I am in discussions with the relevant officers about this.
Concerns over bad driving and speeding by both cars and bikes
I have been dealing with a number of issues regarding this. Cllr Nick Adams-King, lead portfolio holder for Highways for HCC has asked to remind residents that the police need feedback from residents about speeding issues to
Racing karts at speeds of over 65 miles per hour, on narrow tracks with over 30 other racers and experiencing tremendous G Forces, requires great concentration and physical fitness. Frank has been putting in the hours at the gym and working out at home in between keeping up with his schoolwork in order to be race fit and ready to compete at the highest level.
Frank was awarded the trophy for his racing at the historic Clay Pigeon Raceway, where former and present F1 drivers Jenson Button and Lando Norris learned and refined their craft. With long-term aspirations of making Formula 1, Frank is keeping his feet on the ground and knows there is a long way to go. Frank says: “I am so pleased to have been awarded this amazing trophy. I absolutely love karting and am putting in a lot of effort to make my dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver true. My family have been very supportive and it’s great to know that I’m making them proud.”
(Thefts across Hampshire on these) call 0300 555 1388. From (8.30-5pm) out of hours call 101 or report online or if road users are in imminent danger dial 999.
Questions to the full council
On the 18th January 2023, I raised the following questions to the council
1. What actions are the council planning to take to ensure that the out of hours doesn’t fail residents again?
2. To reconsider the policy for Grade 2 listed buildings to allow sympathetic double-glazed windows in heritage buildings. This assists households struggling in the climate emergency, who are suffering increased heating costs. Many Parish Coucils within the district support this and agree a change to the policy is required.
I can be contacted in the following ways. Email - fisaacs@winchester.gov.uk
Telephone - 01962 738671
2023 sees Frank taking his racing at Clay Pigeon Raceway to the next level and building on the great start to his motorsport career as well as venturing wider afield, competing in the National Kart Cup. Visiting different circuits across the county will present a new challenge for Frank as he pits himself against competitors from across the UK in a very competitive field.
Racing at a national level, while maintaining his schoolwork and fitness is not only challenging but also very expensive, especially to compete with the best. Like many who start in motor racing Frank needs support from the local community and his family is keen to hear from individuals and businesses that would like to be a part of Frank’s future journey and perhaps help towards putting Alresford and Frank Ward into the Formula 1 story.
Find out more about Frank by visiting frankward.uk
Probably mid Hampshire’s Quiz of the Year
The Quiz takes place at Itchen Abbas village hall on Friday 31st March starting at 7.15 p.m. Tables of 6 (£75 per table) or £12.50 per person to include hot supper. As of mid-January Selling Fast - Book early to avoid disappointment!
Rotary is for all!
Alresford Rotary is a lively, expanding group aiming to recruit more members and Friends. Our membership is increasingly diverse, not just old men! Involvement with Rotary need not involve significant expense nor more time than you can spare. Please let us know if you feel you can help Alresford Rotary to make even more of a difference, both locally and internationally!
Can Rotary help you?
Thanks to your supporting such events as Guy Fawkes night and the Christmas tree sale Alresford Rotary currently has funds available to support “good causes” but it can only assist those of which it is aware! Please contact us if you think Rotary may be able to help.
James Pinniger
In 2022 Alresford Twinning Association celebrated 40 years of twinning with Bricquebec in Normandy. The Association in Alresford was set up in 1982 to promote and foster friendship and understanding between the two towns. Throughout all the changes over the years this link between Alresford and Bricquebec has remained strong.
To celebrate the 40 years of this partnership, a group of friends from Bricquebec visited
Just before Christmas the Alresford Museum was presented with some outstanding gifts. Two Alresford Crafts dolls from the early 1980s and a 200 year old miniature domino set made by French prisoners of war. The two dolls are each from a limited set of 2500 dolls produced to celebrate the births of Prince William and Prince Henry (Harry) in 1982 and 1985. At the time each doll came with a Certificate of Authenticity and these are still in their possession.
The dolls were presented to the museum, together with twin dolls Amanda and David, by Helen Walker, whose mother Mrs Joan Apps of Gosport, was an avid collector purchasing the whole of her collection from Grannys’s Toy Cupboard in Lee-on-Solent.
Alresford Crafts dolls were made primarily for collectors which means most have survived in very good condition and the Museum has a substantial collection on display.
Alresford in June and in return a group from Alresford visited Bricquebec in August. These visits re-established the pattern of annual exchange visits post covid and we expect that they will continue for many years to come. The photograph above was taken in the June at the Weald and Downland Museum, which our French friends thoroughly enjoyed.
As well as the exchange visits with Bricquebec , the Twinning Association is also a social group and we have a programme of social events for members throughout the year. Events planned for 2023 include:-
The Miniature Domino set was made during the Napoleonic era. During the long-running wars with France in the 18th and early 19th centuries Alresford was a so-called 'parole town' where, over the years, hundreds of French officers held as prisoners of war were allowed to live relatively freely within the community having given their word of honour that they would not escape. One of the ways in which they earned pocket money was by making and selling model ships and trinkets. This miniature Domino Set, carved from animal bone, is an example of their work. The case, no larger than a cotton reel, contains a complete set of domino pieces.
The graves of a number of French prisoners of war can still be seen in St. John’s churchyard today opposite the main door. The set was kindly donated to the Museum by the Purkiss family of Alresford. The Museum will next be open on Easter Monday 10th April.
Roy Gentry• A French meal and film in February
• Coffee morning in April
• Spring Walk with a pub lunch also in April
• Weekend trip to Bricquebec in May
• Pétanque picnic in June
• Summer wine evening in July
• Quiz in October
• AGM and meal in November
We are a friendly group and always welcome new members. Speaking French is not a necessary requirement to join us. If you would like more information please contact Alison Love on alison. twinning@gmail.com or phone 01962 734039.
Here’s why one of the Stockbridges’ most trusted carpet cleaning companies is cleaning local, nearneighbours carpets for a fraction of the normal cost
Value conscious local residents love a great deal.
If you need your carpets cleaned and are looking for an award-winning company who will arrive on time, will be courteous, respectful and above all trustworthy -
-- then you’re invited to take advantage of one of the three extraordinary value, high quality, carpet and upholstery cleaning deals we’re offering new customers this month-- because we want to give you the chance to get to know our service and to find out how impressively new, fresh and bright your carpets will look when cleaned and freshened by The Carpet Care People.
The Carpet Care People
Our approach is simple:
We are proud to run a celebrated professional carpet and upholstery cleaning business, and we insist on providing you with good oldfashioned service and value. Call now and find out why our award-winning service is probably the most requested carpet cleaning in the local Stockbridge area
The next thing for you to do is call us on 01962 690 005we’ll welcome your call, answer your questions and take care of everything for you.
Deal
Have any your carpets for just £97 Deal
Have your suite freshened just £97! Deal
Have any and your freshened £177!
Upholstery we cleaning and refreshing (at our current offer Fabric Master, our special and cleaning system and very effective. Fibres to their original beauty you’ll see!
Here’s a selection of frequently asked questions especially for you sceptics (you 1. When you say ‘carpet’ what do you mean? We mean average size areas, don’t quibble if the areas are a little larger - it’s all done on fairness really. 2. Do Our pricing policy reflects the time it takes to clean working around furniture, That said, we are for example, happy to move your three piece suite backwards under it and replacing it back into position. What we don’t price into the job at moving large pieces of furniture like bookcases, sideboards or wardrobes. Similarly to move electrical items, in particular flat-screen tvs. Again we apply common situation and inevitable we do end up moving some furniture around, even at Are there any ‘hidden’ extra costs? The prices quoted above are fully-inclusive prices you will pay.
With between 30 to 40 members (their only qualification being a willingness to help and a certain level of physical ability – and a propensity for weak jokes and strong beer) the Alresford Pigs are known for their events – such as The Duck Race and the Arrival of Father Christmas, we also support and help organise events such as the Alresford Show and the Watercress Festival amongst many others. These are the public facing events that we have become known for and are one of the main ways we raise funds. But what the Pigs are really about is helping local people. For this we have dedicated committees responsible for distributing funds for Local and Special Needs, Schools and Youth, and Mobility.
We have helped families in financial difficulties, helped young people with educational and health related expenses, we have helped our schools with exceptional items and costs, and we have serviced, mended, sourced and donated endless mobility aids – and we will continue to do so.
We are a resource upon which many local organisations, charities and otherwise, are able to rely. With the proven ability to lead, organise and deliver the Pigs are proud to help the people of Alresford. Also, we don’t have much to do with Pigs – apart from James, but that’s another story.
We will be selling and distributing compost again this year, probably around March or April so please keep an eye on our website alresfordpigs.org or Facebook page.
While we are lucky to live in an affluent area this does mean, of course, that there are not those who are pushed by circumstances into difficulties. We all know that tighter finances mean making hard choices, sometimes deciding between heat or food. It can be an embarrassing and stressful thing to ask for help, we understand this, and all enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence, by
people who care, and are responded to with a willingness to help - if at all possible. Contact us in confidence: info@alresfordpigs.org or call 01962 658961.
Trouble getting around? The Pigs can help! The Pigs provide mobility equipment and aids for many people in and around Alresford If you have borrowed some of our equipment in the past and no longer need it please return it or call us to collect it from you. We also have several powered mobility scooters in stock, please just ask, we have the experience and expertise to help – and it’s free!
Help is available
If you, or someone you know, needs help please contact us. Be assured all enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence. We consider any request for financial support from within the area and although it’s impossible to list all of the people we have supported down the years they include organisations such as the Scouts, Guides, sports & youth groups, local schools for specific projects, families who are unable to fully fund school trips for their child, single parent families needing white goods, families needing support that cannot be provided by other services, mobility scooters, park benches, senior residents events and activities and life-saving defibrillators scattered all round Alresford, plus donations to others in the wider area.
The Alresford Pigs Association is a registered charity (charity no. 1163001). More information can be found at www.alresfordpigs.org or email us at info@alresfordpigs.org or for an immediate request for support call the Pigs Help line 01962 658961.
At COP meetings world leaders reaffirm the climate emergency, stress the urgency of action “in this critical decade” and commit to moving away from fossil fuels. These are all fine words, but the question is always will they follow through with action? Away from the spotlight of global media attention, it’s all too easy for commitments to slip. Well, thanks to the burden of the unfortunate war in Ukraine, we are now seeing real resolve to decarbonise our energy supply here in the UK, from which there will hopefully be no turning back.
The south coast is no stranger to renewable energy. There are few locations up on the Downs from which it’s not possible to see the outstretched arms of the Rampion Wind Farm off the coast. The turbines have become as much of a local landmark as the trees of Chanctonbury Ring or the mast on Butser Hill. However, renewable energy is not just about making a big splash for all to see, it’s also about the multitude of small projects across the region that make an equally valuable contribution to our energy supply. Many of these installations have been put up by local Community Energy Co-Operatives. Never heard of an Energy Co-Op? In a nutshell, they find suitable renewable energy projects in their local area; raise capital from members, who often reside nearby; carry out the installation; sell the energy locally for less than it would have cost from the grid; and pay back investors from the sale of this energy. Assuming suitable sites can be found, it’s a very simple and effective model that brings significant benefit to local communities and businesses alike.
The South Downs area is home to some of the longest established and most respected Community Energy Co-Ops in the UK. Since 2007, OVESCO and Brighton Energy Co-op have invested millions of pounds in over 70 solar projects. However, no-one has thought to replicate this model at the western end of the Downs. That is until now. Set up earlier this year, and still very much in its infancy, Energise South Downs (ESD) is the brainchild of dynamic Petersfield mum Catriona Cockburn (see box). ESD has a remit to cut carbon emissions at the western end of the park and surrounding areas. To achieve this, Catriona has spent the last 6 months engaging with individuals and local community groups in our area to not only help identify a range of feasible projects for investors, but also to expand the group’s pool of volunteer expertise. One project that seems likely to make it off the drawing board, is with Petersfield Festival’s beer supplier Langham Brewery and landlord Cowdray Park. With energy costs a significant brewing overhead, Langham’s are keen to investigate how they might mitigate possible price rises. Co-owner Lesley Foulkes welcomes the idea of working with ESD, saying "Brewing is energy hungry, and given ever increasing energy costs, we need to find a more sustainable solution.
We are working with the University of Surrey to establish our technological, environmental, and economic baseline. Energy is a key component of their analysis. Being in the South Downs, we had practically ruled out the possibility of solar due to our location and were also fearful of the cost implications of alternative solutions. We were delighted to be introduced to ESD, who clearly presented not only a way through planning with the South Downs National Park Authority, but a route to funding. As a business we support local - energy solutions in the community, by the community and for the community!" To help keep the costs of a favourite local brewery in check, let’s hope this solar project makes it to the next stage.
If you are interested in renewable energy, have time or a particular skill that could benefit ESD ….or maybe know a local business or community project that could benefit from Energise South Downs helping reduce its energy costs & carbon footprint, do please get in touch with ESD at hello@ energisesouthdowns.org.uk
A concert of Sacred a Cappella Music by the WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL CHAMBER CHOIR
Conducted by Joshua Stephens
In St Peter’s Church, Ropley on Saturday 25th February At 7.30 pm (doors & bar open at 7.00 pm)
The programme will include Finzi Seven Partsongs, Op. 17 Britten Hymn to St Cecilia Gary Davison Awake, my soul
Tickets £20.00 per person online https://stpetersropley.org.uk/music -for-st-peters/ or from Julesflory16@gmail.com all proceeds to St Peter’s Church, Ropley
Looking for secure storage facilities?
Looking for secure storage facilities?
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Looking for secure storage facilities?
Looking for secure storage facilities?
Silk Self Storage have a selection of containers and individual units, 24 hour CCTV, easy access, gated entry and based in a friendly rural location offering very competitive rates.
Looking for secure storage facilities?
Contact us on 01962 771815 or email: storage@silkservices.co.uk
Contact us on 01962 771815 or email: storage@silkservices.co.uk
Silk Self Storage have a selection of containers and individual units, 24 hour CCTV, easy access, gated entry and based in a friendly rural location offering very competitive rates.
Silk Self Storage have a selection of containers and individual units, 24 hour CCTV, easy access, gated entry and based in a friendly rural location offering very competitive rates.
Contact us on 01962 771815 or email: storage@silkservices.co.uk
Contact us on 01962 771815 or email: storage@silkservices.co.uk
Silk Self Storage have a selection of containers and individual units, 24 hour CCTV, easy access, gated entry and based in a friendly rural location offering very competitive rates. Contact us on 01962 771815 or email: storage@silkservices.co.uk
Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH
Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH email:storage@silkservices.co.uk Tel: 01962 771815
E: storage@silkservices.co.uk
Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH
T: 01962 771815
E: storage@silkservices.co.uk
T: 01962 771815
Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH
E: storage@silkservices.co.uk
T: 01962 771815
Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH
E: storage@silkservices.co.uk
T: 01962 771815
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Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire. SO24 0JH
W: www.silkservices.co.uk
Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH
E:jason@silkservices.co.uk
T: 01962 771815 M: 07917 150027
W: www.silkservices.co.uk
T: 01962 771815 M: 07917 150027
E: jason@silkservices.co.uk
The Government has brought in new legislation requiring all people voting at a polling station to produce photographic identification, such as a driving licence or a passport. (A surprising number have neither). People lacking these documents can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate from Winchester CC. Since this legislation is so new the process has had to be created. Please do not wait, apply now. It is not known either how much delay will be involved on polling day as each form of identification is checked by the additional clerk required at every Polling Station. Another good reason to apply for a postal vote. One might query the wisdom of spending taxpayer’s money on preventing voter identity fraud, when there were only two cases in the last general election, one of which resulted in a conviction. There are other instances of fraud (about 570 in the elections), mostly to do with posters and documents, which this Act does not seek to address. So, make sure you have the right sort of ID or you will be prohibited from voting!
To check acceptable ID go to: Voter Identification Requirements - Winchester City Council
If you think it’s a waste of money you can join the campaign at https://www.electoral-reform.org. uk/campaigns/voter-id/
them as much as very hot dry summers when they are also stressed. As a result, they become more easily damaged by pests and diseases. Species like the oak processionary moth can survive mild winters.
To address these serious issues and to allow our precious trees to flourish, WCC has adopted a Tree Strategy for the long term care of its approximate 32,000 trees, and those protected trees in other ownership. This covers both the legislative and managerial duties towards Winchester trees. There are obvious budget implications, not least the increased costs of tree surgery.
The major cost of new and replacement trees is not the planting but the watering for the first couple of years. New Leaf in Alresford successfully recruited foster parents adjacent to several sites to provide the necessary aftercare.
££
Just before Christmas Winchester City Council received news of a better-than-expected settlement from the Government amounting to about £1.9 m for the next two years. The long-term pressures remain however, suggesting deficits in 2025/6 and 2026/5 of over £2m. The work we have commissioned to investigate areas for savings continues - the principle being that the few should not be subsidised by the many.
A recent resident’s survey rated Winchester City Council as above the average against other local authorities. The results can be seen at https:// www.winchester.gov.uk/data/residents-survey . We will continue, as always, to improve our services and their efficiency.
Margot Power - 01962 734167 mpower@winchester.gov.uk
Russell Gordon -Smith - 01962 733219 rgordon-smith@winchester.gov.uk
It is hard to find anyone who doesn’t appreciate the value of trees. All too often though, we prefer them on someone else’s land. When they come into leaf in the Spring, Winchester City Council (WCC) has complaints about blocked light and in the Autumn, complaints about blocked gutters and slippery paths. Our native trees face a huge threat from climate change. Deciduous trees need a cold period to rest, so very mild winters damage
With energy costs so high, not many will have welcomed the cold snap before Christmas, (unless perhaps you are an oak tree!) The sudden thaw at the end of it brought a great many boiler and plumbing problems. Many Council tenants and others had been reluctant to put on their heating earlier during the mild November, so when they did, many issues became apparent, all at the same time. The cold spell brought problems like frozen boiler condenser outlets. As a result, the emergency response system jammed due to the volume of calls. This badly affected a local family. Russell arranged an emergency plumber, and a senior officer was on site the next day. We have followed up to help with water damage and insurance claims. We are looking at ways of avoiding this situation happening again and measures to better prepare our properties for cold spells, particularly during the festive season. Two bits of advice, locate the stopcock in your house or flat. If you can turn the water off quickly you can save a vast amount of damage from water cascading through a ceiling. (It is worth turning the stopcock on and off occasionally to stop corrosion.) If you know there is a cold spell coming perhaps think about running the heating for a bit to check that it works. If there is a problem, you have a chance of getting an engineer out before there is a rush for their services.
