Perspectives March 2010

perspectives March 2010

New Park and Ride see page 4

What’s On PULL OUT see pages 6 & 7

A to Z

of services see page 8

Hyde900 see page 11

New South Downs national park

see page 9

news from around the winchester district

Excellent Customer Service Here a few things we have done so far: One stop shop – Council services used to be scattered across the city centre, now they are all located in our customer service centre in Colebrook Street.

In your area – our district is more than just the City Centre so we‘ve opened three Local Offices in Whiteley, Bishops Waltham and Alresford so our customers can get advice locally.

So far this year a growing number of our business units have been accredited as working to the government standard, Customer Service Excellence.

On the web – our web services are developing so customers can access information 24/7. You can make a payment, report a problem, make a complaint or even a suggestion on www.winchester.gov.uk

These achievements demonstrate that we are delivering services in the way customers want them by listening to your comments and complaints, looking at why you need to contact us, and then using that information to make improvements.

Mystery shopping – we’ve set up a group of local resident mystery shoppers, who tell us how well (or not) we have dealt with their enquiries. We have made quite a few changes based on their experiences, especially on how we deal with the letters you send us.

We are proud of our achievements and are leading the field across Hampshire with our ambition to have all divisions accredited by 2011.

Garden waste bags – You phoned up in droves on windy days to tell us that your garden waste bags had blown away, so we made changes and ordered heavier bags which seem to pass the blow-away test and stay put.

High Street – Customers and visitors complained about the paving in the High Street so we are working with Hampshire County Council to improve it.

Abbey Gardens Toilets – Visitors complained about the state of the Abbey Gardens toilets, often the first view of Winchester that many of our four million visitors have of our city, and as a result we have made them “the loos to use”.

www.winchester.gov.uk

City and Parish Council Elections Elections for the City Council and some parishes are set to take place on Thursday 6 May 2010 in most parts of the Winchester District.

To vote, you will need to be on the Register of Electors for your address by 20 April 2010. Most people will already be registered following the canvass in the autumn, but residents who haven’t completed a form should contact the Electoral Services Unit. Poll cards are sent out about three weeks before the

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election, so get in touch if you don’t receive yours by the middle of April.

If you want to apply for a postal vote or change your postal vote details, you should do so before 20 April 2010.

Remember, if you have a postal vote, you will not be allowed to vote at the polling station.

UK Parliamentary Elections A UK Parliamentary Election must be held before 3 June 2010, but at the time of print the actual date has still to be decided by the Government.

The latest that an election can be called is just 17 working days before the date of the poll. This leaves very little time to register to vote and apply for a postal vote, should you require one.

If you are unsure whether or not you are on the Register of Electors, or would like to apply for a postal vote, please contact the team now, to ensure that your application can be processed in time.

Don’t lose your right to vote!

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Winchester leads the way towards a low

carbon society

Major organisations in the Winchester District have pledged to reduce their carbon footprints in a pioneering local declaration on climate change.

College and Winchester Area Community Action. Winchester and Eastleigh HealthCare Trust is already working on an NHS scheme for carbon footprint reduction, but it has the same goals as the Winchester Declaration so the Trust has also signed up.

Winchester District Strategic Partnership (WDSP) has been working with Winchester Action on Climate Change (WinACC) on 20:12, the campaign to cut the carbon footprint of Winchester by 20% by the end of 2012.

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The Winchester Declaration on Climate Change gives organisations of all types, including businesses, charities and the public sector, the opportunity to pledge to reduce their carbon emissions by 20% between 2009 and 2012.

The Declaration has been launched at the start of the New Year 2010 to encourage a fresh start and to get organisations to think about how they can reduce their impact on the environment. This first signing of the declaration is just the start of the two year long campaign to change habits and behaviour to create a low carbon future.

The first wave of organisations to sign up include Winchester City Council, The University of Winchester, Winchester

This declaration recognises the seriousness of the threat of human caused climate change and the potential

benefits, both social and economic, to the Winchester area, by becoming a leading city in creating a low carbon society.

Organisations agreeing to sign up will publish a plan for reducing their carbon footprints by 20% by 2012, sign up to at least one low carbon campaign, and support their staff in reducing their own personal carbon footprints.

For more information about climate change, how you can make changes, or to pledge to reduce your emissions go to

www.winacc.org.uk

May 2010 Top Return in Annual Canvass 2009/10 In August 2009, canvass forms were sent to over 48,000 properties in the Winchester District, to help compile the Register of Electors, which is published each year on 1 December.

Once on the Register, you are entitled to vote and it will also help you to obtain credit, open bank accounts, etc.

For the third year running, electors with no changes to make could register online or by telephone, as well as opt out of the Edited Register and request a postal vote application form in this way.

Once again this was a great success with around 35% of registrations completed this way, an increase of 5%.

Positive feedback was received from many electors who found this to be the easiest method of registering.

Thank you to everyone who returned their annual canvass form or registered by telephone or online – you helped us to achieve a 98% return rate and retain our place as one of the top performing Councils in the country for electoral registration!

Contact Electoral registration Tel: 01962 848 125 Email ereg@winchester.gov.uk

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How will you use your new Winchester Park and Ride?

April will see the opening of the new Park and Ride facility for Winchester. The new 850 space facility will put the eastern area of the city, including the hospital on Romsey Road and the station, on the Park and Ride bus route.

There will be six new Euro 5 standard buses joining the fleet, which will cover all three of the Park and Ride sites in the city. At peak times they will run every 10 mins and every 15 mins off peak.

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The new site and bus routes will offer residents, employees and visitors to the city cheaper and more convenient options, as well as reduce the environmental and air quality issues that impact on the city.

Look out for more details about the opening or visit www.winchesterparkandride.co.uk

High Street IMPROVEMENT

The second phase of the Winchester High Street repaving scheme began on 4 January 2010. This section of work, which will be completed by Easter, will see new paving from Middle Brook Street to the Buttercross and the side streets in between.

Mildren Construction, appointed by Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council to carry out the scheme, restarted work on 4 January on the footpaths outside HMV and in Upper Brook Street. This will be followed by repaving outside Marks and Spencer and continue up the High Street towards the Buttercross. There will also be small sections of drainage works between the Buttercross and Jewry Street.

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Park and Ride is the cheapest way to park in the city with prices as low as £2.40 with a season ticket and up to £3.00 for all day parking. There will also be a new off-peak charge after 10.30am of £2 all day, offering shoppers and people wanting to use the train, a cost-effective way to park in the city later in the day.

Shops and businesses will remain open as usual throughout the works. People will be able to access all shops and buildings on the High Street at all times, and deliveries for businesses will be maintained.

The work should be finished by October 2010.

Tel: 0845 603 5633 www.hants.gov.uk/winchester-high-street-improvement

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Supporting rural communities The Council is working hard to develop support and services for rural residents The Local Offices - based at Alresford Library, Bishops Waltham Citizens Advice Bureau and Meadowside Leisure Centre in Whiteley - provide information and advice on all the City Council’s services. Opening hours can be found at www.winchester.gov.uk/localoffices

Support for voluntary & community groups

Support for community planning

Do you need FREE support for your voluntary community group? Or would you like to set up a new one?

The City Council supports Community Plans across the District. Fourteen of the District’s 47 parishes are now involved with a community plan, seven of which are already beginning to be implemented.

Melissa Fletcher from Winchester Area Community Action will be available at Meadowside Leisure Centre, Whiteley alongside Winchester City Council officers and Police officers between 1.30pm - 4pm on the following Wednesdays: 24 February, 24 March, 28 April, 26 May, and at Bishops Waltham Citizens Advice Bureau between 10am - 12.30pm on the following Thursdays: 25 February, 25 March, 29 April, 27 May. For more information about WACA’s development services, please contact Melissa Fletcher at mfletcher@waca.org.uk or 01962 848 019 Tuesday - Thursday, www.waca.org.uk/html/funding.html

In September, as a result of New Alresford’s community plan, a new public car park and footpath were opened at Perins School to provide additional parking for visitors and workers, and to provide pedestrians with a direct route into the town centre.

Following recent meetings, the parishes of Hursley and Headbourne Worthy are both considering launching community plans in the coming months.

Affordable housing for Littleton Two rural affordable housing projects have been completed in the villages of Littleton and Swanmore, providing much needed homes for local people.

The new developments are to help meet the housing needs of people with strong local connections to the parishes.

Both projects were developed by the Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing Partnership and saw the City Council working in partnership with Swanmore Parish Council, Littleton & Harestock Parish Council, the Hampshire Rural Housing Enablers, HydeMartlet, and Drew Smith.

If your parish does not have a community plan and you are keen to know more about the benefits, contact the City Council’s Community Planning Manager, Steve Lincoln, on 01962 848 110 or slincoln@winchester.gov.uk

and Swanmore

The new developments are the result of detailed assessments by the parish councils and the City Council which identified a strong need for more affordable housing within the parishes.

The development sites were chosen after careful consultation with local residents.

12 homes were built at Main Road in Littleton, while 14 homes were built at Dodds Lane in Swanmore. The new properties at each site range in size from one to four bedrooms.

In December, a tree was planted at each of the new developments to mark the completion of the work.

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Your Winchester: What’s on 2010 will see yearlong Hyde900 celebrations, marking the 900 years that have passed since the founding of Hyde Abbey – King Alfred’s last known resting place.

See key opposite for venues

March The Treasures of Hyde Abbey Sat 6 Mar Sun 2 May The Gallery, Winchester Discovery Centre = www.hyde900.co.uk

April y Easter holida

18 Apr Fri 2 Apr - Sun

y Hop and Winchester Bunn other activities

inchester.co.uk See www.visitw

edral Winchester Cath

sive listing of For a comprehen ices visit events and serv at r-c hedral.org.uk www.wincheste

omas the Day Out with Th Tank Engine Apr Fri 2 - Sun 11 E e Lin s es cr er at W

rds Eggs & Young Bi

nday Mothering Su

Sun 14 Mar inchester.co.uk See www.visitw

Afternoon tea at Hotel Lainston House

01962 776 088 se.com www.lainstonhou

Cream tea on a steam train

E Watercress Line sline.co.uk es cr er at .w w w w

The Devil’s Wind: Lecture and Film Thu 18 Mar Christ Church, SO23 9SR 01962 842 832 curator@thegurkhamuseum.co.uk

This Year, Next Year Exhibition Wed 10 - Sun 21 Mar The Hospital of St Cross 01962 878 218 office@stcrosshospital.co.uk www.stcrosshospital.co.uk

World Storytelling Day at the Museums

Great Victorian Milling Weekend

Grange Park Opera

Sat 21 Aug - Sun 22 Aug Winchester City Mill F

Thu 3 Jun - Mon 5 Jul 01962 737 366 info@grangeparkopera.co.uk www.grangeparkopera.co.uk

War on the Line Sat 5 - Sun 6 Jun Watercress Line E

D-Day Salute Sun 6 Jun Fort Nelson I

Winchester Bike Week 12 Jun - 20 Jun TBC 01962 860 129

April Fri 2 - Sun 18 Marwell Wildlife

Father’s Day

ṧ

Re-imagining the Treasures of Hyde Abbey Sat 6 Mar - Sun 18 Apr Various venues, call 01962 840 500 or see www.hyde900.co.uk

June

World at War

Apr Sun 4 - Mon 5 Fort Nelson I

chester Activities at Win = re nt Discovery Ce

Jane Austen Exhibition Opens Sat 10 April Winchester Cathedral

Secrets of Hyde Guided Tour Thu 8 & Wed 14 Apr Winchester’s official tourist guides www.winchestertouristguides.com

Winchester Chamber Music Festival Fri 23 - Sun 25 Apr Winchester Discovery Centre = 01962 873 603 www.winchesterchambermusic.com

Sun 20 Jun

Big guns for Fa ther’s Day Fort Nelson I

Free entry for Da ds

Winchester City Mill F

Lunch at Lainst on House Hotel

01962 776 088 www.lainstonho use.com

July Hampshire Food Festival Thu 1 - Sat 31 Jul ww.hampshirefare.co.uk

Contemporary Art, Craft and Design Fair Sat 3 Jul - Sun 11 Jul TBC Winchester Cathedral

St George’s Weekend

Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend

Sat 24 - Sun 25 Apr Watercress Line E

Fri 23 - Sun 25 Jul 01962 840 500 tourism@winchester.gov.uk www.winchester.gov.uk/ liveyourdream

May Fine Food and Wine Show Sat 1 - Sun 3 May Winchester Cathedral

Alresford Watercress Festival

SummeSumme r holiday

Mon 26 JuActivities l - Sat 5 Sep Mon Jul - Sat 5 Sep See www .visit26win chester.co.uk See www.visitwinchester.co.uk

September Alresford Agricultural Show Sat 4 Sep Tichborne Park, SO24 0NE www.alresfordshow.co.uk

The Mega Medieval Event Sat 25 Sep - Sun 26 Sep The Hospital of St Cross 01962 878 218 office@stcrosshospital.co.uk www.stcrosshospital.co.uk

Heritage Open Days Thu 9 - Sun 12 Sep 01962 840 500 www.heritageopendays.org

October Hampshire Harvest Week Early Oct TBC Winchester Cathedral

Wessex Children's Book Fair Sat 23 - Sun 31 Oct Winchester Discovery Centre =

Halloween half term Sat 23 - Sun 31 Oct For a full list of activities see www.visitwinch ester.co.uk

Wizard Week at the Watercress Line E Explore the Wei rd and Wonderful

Marwell Wildlife

ṧ

November Making Merry Open Studios & Exhibition Date TBC 01962 840 500

Round Table Bonfire and Firework Display Sat 6 Nov TBC www.winchesterroundtable.org.uk

Sat 20 Mar 01962 869 864 (Westgate) 01962 863 064 (City Museum) www.winchester.gov.uk

Sun 16 May chamber@alresford.org www.watercressfestival.org

August

December

Eat into Green Living

Owslebury Art and Craft Exhibition

Children’s Art Festival

Sat 29 May Winchester City Mill F

Santa Specials

Sat 20 - Sun 21 Mar www.owslebury.org.uk

Countryside 2010

Sun 1 Aug - Sun 22 Aug Various venues i = 01962 840 440

Eat Out, Get About From Mon 15 Mar Family friendly rural pubs open their doors across Hampshire www.eatoutabout.co.uk

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Sat 29 May - Sun 13 Jun www.countryside2010.org.uk

term Summer half Jun

Sat 4 - Sun 5; Sat 11 - Sun 12; Sat 18 - Fri 24 Dec Watercress Line E

Day Out with Thomas Sat 7 - Sun 15 Aug Watercress Line E

n6 Mon 31 May - Su ester.co.uk ch in w sit .vi w w See w

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Regular diary slots Winchester’s official tourist guides

Venues MAYfest

Jane Austen’s House, Chawton Year round Jane Austen-themed events for Janeites everywhere. www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk 01420 83262

The Mayor’s Charity Events Fund-raising events for the Mayor’s chosen charities. www.winchester.gov.uk

Winchester Health Walks Get more active and meet new people with Winchester City Council’s weekly one hour walks covering up to three miles around the local area.

01962 848 725 llockhart@winchester.gov.uk www.winchester.gov.uk/activelifestylesscheme

Art & Mind A rolling programme of cafĂŠ scientifique/philosophique evenings building up to the 2011 festival. Various venues. www.artandmind.org

Winchester Music Club

Š Daniel Gradwell 2009

Winchester Film Festival Sat 5 - Sun 13 Jun Catch a great movie classic or cult favourite for free as venues across the city host screenings and special events. www.winchesterfilmfest.com

Big 30th Winchester Writers' Conference, Festival and Bookfair Fri 2 - Sun 4 Jul

Preceded by the In-Depth Weeklong Writing Workshops

Š Jo Low 2009

Š Paul Carter 2009

May - dates TBC Two days of music, song and dance in the streets, pubs and concert venues of Winchester. info@winmayfest.co.uk www.winmayfest.co.uk

Winchester Festival

www.winchesterchamber music.com 01962 873 603

Fri 9 - Sun 18 Jul Enjoy some of the greatest names in 21st century theatre, literature, visual arts and music. Various venues across the city.

01962 857 240 winchesterfestival@winchester-cathedral.org.uk www.winchesterfestival.co.uk

membership@warg.org.uk www.warg.org.uk

Winchester Rock Choir www.rockchoir.com 01252 714 276 A series of space lectures for adults and children aged 11+, followed by a short planetarium show about each month’s sky. Second Wednesday of each month (ex. Aug) 6:30pm – 8pm.

01962 863 791

The events listed above have been submitted to Winchester City Council and reproduced in good faith. However, plans may change over the year so please contact the organisers direct to avoid disappointment.

ṧ Marwell Wildlife

01962 777 407 marwell@marwell.org.uk www.marwell.org.uk 01489 577 464 meadowside@winchester.gov.uk www.winchester.gov.uk/meadowside

B River Park Leisure Centre 01962 848 700 enquiries@riverparkleisurecentre.co.uk www.riverparkleisurecentre.co.uk 0870 066 4777 www.everymancinema.com

Š Paul Carter 2009

01962 867 986 info@towerarts.co.uk www.towerarts.co.uk

i Theatre Royal 01962 840 440 boxoffice@theatre-royal-winchester.co.uk www.theatre-royal-winchester.co.uk

University of Winchester 01962 841 515 www.winchester.ac.uk

Sat 26 Jun - Sun 25 Jul Experience Winchester’s city-based arts festivals through the eyes of five award-winning photographers in a major new exhibition showcasing the highlights of the 2009 summer events programme at City Space in Winchester Discovery Centre. =

Railway) 01962 733 810 info@watercressline.co.uk www.watercressonline.co.uk

www.festivalsinwinchester.co.uk

Winchester Cathedral

Christmas in Winchester For more information on:

Visit www.winchester.gov.uk/events for more events and up-to-date information or contact Winchester Tourist Information Centre, tel: 01962 840 500 email: tourism@winchester.gov.uk.

Catch up on the latest happenings in Winchester by following King Alfred on twitter: www.twitter.com/king_alf See our new films: www.youtube.com/visitwinchester

01962 863 791 htct@intech-uk.com www.intech-uk.com

Tower Arts

Photography Exhibition

Space Lectures at Intech r

r Intech

x The Screen Cinema

Winchester Chamber Music

Winchester Archaeology and Local History (WARG)

Fort Nelson

01329 233 734 fnenquiries@armouries.org.uk www.royalarmouries.org/ visit-us/fort-nelson

Hat Fair

www.winchestersymphonyorchestra.org.uk

Winchester Symphony Orchestra

I

u Meadowside Leisure Centre

Thu 1 - Sun 4 Jul The UK’s longest-running festival of street theatre offers fun, entertainment and activities for all the family. 01962 849 841 info@hatfair.co.uk www.hatfair.co.uk

mrsjanettelloyd@hotmail.com www.winchestermusicclub.org.uk

07527 471 539 info2008@chesiltheatre.org.uk www.chesiltheatre.org.uk

Mon 28 Jun - Fri 2 Jul. Sir Terry Pratchett leads a star-studded line-up of internationally renowned authors, poets, playwrights, commissioning editors and literary agents, offering workshops, lectures and one to ones.

01962 827 238 barbara.large@winchester.ac.uk www.writersconference.co.uk Š JKin Ho 2009

A variety of special tours on historical, literary and topical subjects. ÂŁ4.50 per adult.

01962 840 500 tourism@winchester.gov.uk www.winchestertouristguides.com

Key to venues d The Chesil Theatre

G G G G G G G G G G

Cathedral Christmas Market Cathedral Ice Rink Cathedral services Christmas lights switch on Festive events Making Merry Theatrical delights Festive food Seasonal shopping Christmas holiday activities for the children

?

?

Watercress Line (Mid Hants

01962 857 200 cathedral.office@winchestercathedral.org.uk www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk

F Winchester City Mill 01962 870 057 winchestercitymill@nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/ w-winchestercitymill

= Winchester Discovery Centre 0845 603 5631 winchester.dc.enquiries@hants.gov.uk www.discoverycentres.co.uk/winchester

O Winchester Guildhall

?

01962 840 820 guildhall@winchester.gov.uk www.winchesterguildhall.co.uk

visit www.christmasinwinchester.co.uk

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Get in touch with Winchester City Council A to Z

In person City Offices

of services Abandoned Vehicles Affordable Housing Animal Welfare Arts and Entertainment Benefits – Housing/Council Tax Building Regulations Business Rates Business Support CCTV Community Grants Community Plans Community Safety Community Wardens Concessionary Travel Scheme Councillors and Committees Council Tax Enquiries Council Tax Payments Ditches, Drains and Flooding Dog Fouling Electoral Services Fly tipping Food Safety Grass Cutting Health & Safety Homelessness Housing Graffiti Grants Licences Museums Noise Nuisance Parking Parks and Play Areas Pest Control Planning Applications Planning Enforcement Pollution Public Toilets Recycling Rubbish and Waste Sports Strategic Planning Street Cleaning Tourism and Travel Trade Waste Trees and Hedges Winchester Guildhall Other services are provided by Hampshire County Council.

You can find out about their services at www.hants.gov.uk or by calling 0845 603 5638.

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Colebrook Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9LJ Monday to Thursday 8.30am - 5pm Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm

Alresford Local Office Alresford Library, 20 Broad Street, New Alresford, SO24 9AQ Monday 10am - 1pm (benefits and housing advice) Friday 9.30am - 1pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm (general advice)

Bishops Waltham Local Office Citizens Advice Bureau, 2 Brook Street, Bishops Waltham, SO32 1AX. Wednesday 10am - 1pm (benefits and housing advice) Thursday 10am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 4.00pm (general advice)

Whiteley Local Office Meadowside Leisure Centre, Whiteley Way, Whiteley, Fareham, PO15 7LJ Wednesday 10am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 4.00pm (general advice)

By phone Customer Service Centre General enquiries 01962 840 222 8.30am - 5pm Monday to Thursday; 8.30am - 4.30pm Friday

Other numbers Benefits Council Tax and Business Rates Meadowside Leisure Centre Out of hours emergency Parking Pest Control Contractors (Serco) Planning River Park Leisure Centre Tourist Information Centre Trade Waste Contractors (Serco) Winchester Guildhall

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01962 848 539 01962 848 288 01489 577 464 01962 865 407 01962 848 346 01962 828 400 01962 848 177 01962 848 700 01962 840 500 01962 828 402 01962 840 820

Customers who are hard of hearing or speech impaired can use our Text Telephone number 01962 878 982 for general enquiries.

Online Visit www.winchester.gov.uk to find out more information about services provided by the City Council. You can also use the website to make payments, report issues such as graffiti, and apply for licenses.

By post Please write to: Winchester City Council, City Offices, Colebrook Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9LJ. Please remember to include your name, contact details, and a reference number (if you have one).

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New South Downs National Park authority members, one of whom will be from Winchester City Council and one from the County Council. It will also include 6 parish council members drawn from across the three counties and 7 ‘national’ representatives who will bring specialist expertise.

The East Hampshire and South Downs ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ are about to be replaced by the new South Downs National Park, which stretches along the line of chalk hills from Winchester to Eastbourne in East Sussex - a distance of almost 100 miles.

The National Park will cover 40% of the Winchester District and will help to protect and manage some of the most beautiful downland and woodland in the south of England. The Park will be run by a National Park Authority which will begin to operate on 1st April 2010.

As well as final adjustments to the Park’s boundaries in Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex, the size of the National Park Authority’s membership has now been set. It will have a total of 27 members, including 14 local

There are still some issues which need to be fully resolved and these include how and where the Park Authority will work in practice with businesses, residents and visitors. There may be one administrative centre but there may also be more local bases to provide better public access to Park services. The new Park Authority will also become the planning authority for the Park area and this may alter the way in which its planning policy-making and control of development are dealt with in the future.

www.southdownsonline.org

Are you a responsible dog owner?

Owning a dog is a lot of fun but it is also a responsibility. If you follow the top tips below, you and your pets will be much safer and welcome across the district.

1 2

Do not let your dog play in prohibited areas i.e. children’s play areas.

Always clean up after your dog. Plastic shopping bags can be used to pick up dog waste and when properly tied, placed in any litter bin.

3

When walking on pavements and roads always keep dogs on leads.

4

Never allow your dog to be with someone who cannot control it.

5 6

Do not let your dog chase joggers, cyclists, or vehicles.

7 8

Do not allow your dog to approach other dogs uninvited.

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Your dog should have a well fitting collar with a tag giving the owners name and address, even if it has been micro chipped.

11 Do not allow your dog to stray

Keep dogs on leads near farm animals and wildlife.

Dogs found worrying livestock can be put down.

as you can be fined by the council if you do so. Dogs found straying can be taken by the Council and will be kept for 7 days to allow the owner to claim them. If they are not claimed they will be re-homed.

micro chipped don’t forget to 10 Ifchange your contact details with the micro chipping company, when you move house.

Do not let your dog approach other people without their approval, as not everybody likes dogs.

If you require advice on any dog related matter, please contact the dog warden on tel 01962 848 350.

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Offering businesses

Marketing support

a helping hand

A new visitor guide and business directory has been produced for Bishop’s Waltham to match those in Alresford and Wickham. The guides encourage local people and visitors to explore the District’s lovely market towns, villages, and shops.

Businesses across the Winchester District have been benefiting from a wide range of support measures from the City Council including grants, training, marketing, and city centre enhancements.

A new website at www.festivalsinwinchester.co.uk was launched in the spring to help promote the District’s major festivals and events, which draw many thousands to the area each year to enjoy our summer season of culture and entertainment.

Grants Start up grants - Up to £1,000 is available for businesses which have been trading for less than six months.

Contact Business Link on 08456 009 006 or info@businesslinkhampshireiow.co.uk Hardship rates relief - Up to 100% off National NonDomestic Rates bill for this year if you are able to prove a case of short-term hardship due to the recession. Contact the City Council's local taxes team, on 01962 848 288 or businessrates@winchester.gov.uk Village shop grants - Up to £20,000 is available for one-off costs to improve or secure the future of a village shop, and help the business to grow or diversify. Contact the City Council’s economic development team on 01962 848 563 or ecdev@winchester.gov.uk

Training The City Council is working with Southern Entrepreneurs to provide training for individuals and businesses coping with the recession. Visit www.southernentrepreneurs.com to see how you can benefit from training, events and other types of business support.

Additional support was also provided over the winter to Winchester Cathedral as they planned the hugely successful annual Christmas ice rink and market.

New car park in Alresford In September 2009, work was completed on a new car park and footpath at Perins School in Alresford. The partnership project, which was supported by local businesses, aims to make Alresford town centre more pedestrian-friendly. The new footpath links-up the town centre with the residential areas to the south west.

Other support Payment of invoices - the Council has been working hard to pay invoices within 15 working days, rather than the standard 30 days, to help the cash flow of our smaller suppliers.

Smarter Working Centres - the City Council, together with Hampshire County Council, is investigating locations for Smarter Working Centres in rural towns. This will help people to find local, affordable places to work closer to their homes.

Affordable business workspace - Basepoint has been redeveloping a site in Winnall to provide start-up and small business with affordable workspace in the city. The new facility will open its doors in February.

For more information about the City Council’s economic support activities, contact Kate Crawford on 01962 848 563 or email kcrawford@winchester.gov.uk

Economic strategy for the district The City Council recently invited local businesses and residents to have their say on the draft Economic Strategy for the District. The document, which spans ten years from 2010 to 2020, was put forward for public consultation in January.

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The draft strategy covers issues such as jobs, shops and businesses, traffic, environmental impact, quality of life, and tourism. The public consultation closed in February and the wide range of opinions and ideas put forward are now being considered carefully. Thank you to everyone who took part.

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Make a splash with FREE swimming at River Park

The Government-backed free swimming initiative, which began last April, has been a huge success in Winchester. River Park Leisure Centre now has over 5000 under-16s and over-60s benefiting from the free swimming scheme.

Adults aged 60-and-over and children up to the age of 16 can take advantage of the free swimming initiative until 31st March 2011.

Staff at River Park Leisure Centre presented a certificate to the 5000th member of the scheme

For information on how to register Tel 01962 848 700 or email enquiries@riverparkleisurecentre.co.uk

Treasures of Hyde Abbey celebrating nine hundred years of local history

A major new exhibition called Treasures of Hyde Abbey will open at the Winchester Discovery Centre on 6 March 2010. The free exhibition, which forms part of a series of events marking the 900th anniversary of Hyde Abbey, will reunite manuscripts, artefacts, carvings and other items for the first time in almost 500 years - including the original Hyde Abbot’s crozier; the Book of Life, and the Book of Hyde.

Hyde Abbey was the successor of New Minster, one of the great centres of learning and cultural life in southern England. Moving to Hyde in 1110, the monks brought with them King Alfred’s remains, their library, and other precious relics. Hyde Abbey became one of the foremost monastic houses in England until its dissolution in 1538 on the orders of Henry VIII. To this day, a magnificent 15th century gateway and the beautiful 900 year old parish church of St Bartholomew still continue to shine at the heart of the community.

The Treasures of Hyde exhibition, which has been given a £50,000 grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is being created

by Winchester City Council’s museums service in conjunction with local community project, Hyde900. The exhibition will include loans from national institutions such as the Bodleian Library, British Museum, and Victoria & Albert Museum. Hampshire County Council, the University of Winchester, and Winchester College are also supporting the exhibition.

Many of Hyde’s resident artists have come together to produce an accompanying exhibition showing modern works inspired by the fascinating artefacts on display. Reimagining the Treasures of Hyde Abbey will also open on 6 March in the City Space section of the Discovery Centre.

Have you been inspired

by Hyde900?

The City Council is keen to hear from people in other neighbourhoods who would like to develop projects to celebrate their local history and heritage.

Please contact Eloise Appleby, Head of Economic and Cultural Services, on 01962 848 181 or eappleby@winchester.gov.uk

www.hyde900.org.uk

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11

West Walk Wood is the first of four new woodland play areas planned for the District. It is located next to the car park and toilets at the Hundred Acre Road entrance to the woodland. West Walk is part of the Forest of Bere and just a mile from Wickham.

Free Fun and discovery in the great outdoors Families and young people can now enjoy fun days out in the woods thanks to a wonderful new play facility at West Walk Wood near Wickham.

The playground, which has been carefully designed to incorporate the natural surroundings, is suitable for children of all ages. It includes a huge oak tree house, wooden playhouses, wigwams, a sand pit, a climbing wall, a bridge, and a shingle stream.

and provides an ideal way to encourage children to take an interest in the wider natural environment; leaving them with fond memories and a life long love of forests and woodlands.

The natural playground is part of the Big Lottery Funded ‘It’s Okay to Play’ project set up in partnership between Winchester City Council and the Forestry Commission. It’s Okay to Play provides children of all ages with opportunities to interact with nature as they play in woodland and natural green spaces.

Designed to attract local families to the woods, the play facility is free of charge

New ways

Look out for the other three sites that will be available soon in Creech Wood West Wood and Micheldever Wood.

Visit www.forestry.gov.uk/itsokaytoplay or contact Emily Weller, Forestry Commission Community Project Officer tel 01962 774 883 or email itsokaytoplay@forestry.gov.uk

forestry commision car park charges may apply

to keep in touch

online

Twitter allows users to communicate with people and organisations in messages or ‘tweets’ of up to 140 characters. Facebook is a social networking service where users can keep in contact with Friends and Family.

Is it also a great place for Businesses to post updates, photos, videos and host discussions with followers.

Both Twitter and Facebook help us deliver updates, as they happen, directly to our customers via a PC, laptop, mobile phone or other handheld communication device.

This allows our followers to keep right up-to-date even on the move, or ask us a question as soon as it arises.

Both services are free to join and use, and within minutes you could be receiving all the latest news and information.

Find us on twitter.com/WinchesterCity www.facebook.com and search for Winchester City Council.

E panel If you like contacting us online why not join our e-panel and receive short surveys about our services to help us improve what we do. Just email jkelly@winchester.gov.uk with ‘epanel’ as the subject and you’ll be part of the group.

This magazine is produced by Winchester City Council. If you would like to contact us about any of the services featured in this issue, please see the contact details given in each article. You can also write to us at City Offices, Colebrook Street, Winchester, SO23 9LJ, call Corporate Communications on 01962 848 504, or email communications@winchester.gov.uk Telephone calls may be recorded.

Winchester City Council is not responsible for the content of external websites. This magazine is printed on 75% recycled paper.

Tape versions are available on request from Winchester Talking Newspaper, through our Corporate Communications Unit.

75%

PTC0045-0314 March 2010 Designed by Winchester City Council.

Residents and Businesses now have two new and easy ways to contact and keep up-to-date with all the goings-on at Winchester City Council, thanks to the web-based services Twitter and Facebook.