Newtown Parish Council
Newsletter 2024
Newtown Parish Assembly
Monday 13th May
Newtown Village Hall
Drinks and nibbles from 7 pm
Meet fellow residents
Meet your parish, borough and county councillors
Raise any concerns on local matters
Newtown Parish Council
Parish Clerk: Rebecca Cloke
Email: clerk@newtown-pc.org.uk www.newtown-pc.org.uk
Chairman: Tony Webb
Councillors: Sean Curry, Tom Reseigh, Jo Exelby, Bob Ward
Speed Awareness
NPC have also spent months petitioning HCC to allow us to gather information on traffic speeds and motorbike races on the Newtown Straight. HCC will still not let us use our own mobile device to do this, BUT they have agreed that they will conduct a 7-day traffic survey on the B4640, (though Newtown and Burghclere Parish Councils will jointly pay for this!). Getting objective data on traffic flows and speeds is key to implementing any enforcement measures.
In addition, residents have reported vehicle speeds on the unmade tracks across the Common. This undoubtedly contributes to the rapid deterioration of the surface and is potentially dangerous given that the tracks are shared between vehicles, walkers and horse riders. With permission from HCC, NPC is to trial the use of advisory speed signs along unmade tracks starting from the end of May.
Jonathan Hill car park repairs
NPC are leading the work to repair the car parking area at Jonathan Hill which is planned for Friday May 3rd. (weather dependent)
Whilst Newtown Common is owned by Hampshire County Council, the day to day management responsibility is with the Parish Council.
We are very grateful for the financial support from councillor grants from both Basingstoke and Deane and Hampshire which has enabled us to carry out this work.
Local Community Policing
The Parish Council is working closely with Basingstoke and Deane (as the enforcement agency for the Newtown Common Bylaws) to try to ensure effective action is taken to address anti-social behaviours such as motorised bikes and parking on the Common. We have posted a simplified update of the Bylaws on each of the noticeboards. If you are concerned about breaches of the common bylaws, please do email the Clerk providing details of the issue including location and times.
Common Management
The High Level Stewardship (HLS) funding has been utilised to fund 30 days to continue our annual Flail and Mulch activities both on the Wayleaves and adjacent to them and to clear vast areas of Holly. Green Gym and Sparsholt have continued to support the work plan for the Common.
Looking forward, efforts will continue to maintain and enhance the Common utilising HLS funding, Sparsholt students and Green Gym.
Newtown Common signage
NPC are upgrading signage for visitors to appreciate why Newtown Common is an area of scientific interest. We have several pairs of Nightjars (a protected species of bird) who nest on the ground along with many others which is why we ask residents and visitors to keep dogs on leads during the bird nesting season which runs from March to the end of July. Allowing dogs to roam in the open heather not only disturbs the birds but increases the risk of bites from ticks and particularly adders – another very good reason to stick to the paths during the summer months!
C45 road condition
After months of lobbying, Hampshire Highways finally arrived to address the surface water problems on the 11th March. Day long road closure signs were put up but the teams left after a matter of hours with no evidence of any remedial work being done. We have recently been updated that more extensive investigative work on the drainage will be required and two slot trench trial holes are required to ascertain the location of services running under the road surface to establish the next steps. NPC will continue to press Hampshire Highways for a satisfactory resolution.
We have further noted that the pothole in the flooded BT box has become quite dangerous, causing vehicles to swerve to avoid.
Please help us by reporting your concerns about these issues to Hampshire Highways (link can be found on the NPC website on the “Report it” page.
Parish Council recruitment
We are looking to “recruit” some additional councillors. Please see the additional leaflet delivered with this newsletter for further details.
Communication
Towards the end of 2023, the Parish Council launched our new website.
The new website meets the accessibility requirements and can be better accessed using mobile devices. There is a “Report It” page where you can find links to be able to report issues to the relevant authority. You can sign up on the website to receive select news articles about the village and the work of the Parish Council such as new planning applications and roadworks. You can also keep up to date with these news articles via our Facebook page (can be accessed from the website). (www.newtown-pc.org.uk)
Planning
Over the past five years, nine planning applications have been submitted for new properties within Newtown, Newtown Court Barn being the latest. Newtown Parish Council continue to object to these and hope that the recent change to the National Planning Policy Framework will help to support our call for development restraint in the village.
Agenda for Parish Assembly
Welcome by the Chairman
Apologies for absence
Approval of minutes of the 2023 Parish Assembly
Matters arising from the 2023 Parish Assembly
Report on 2023-24 by the Chairman
Report from County Councillor, Tom Thacker
Report from Borough Councillor, John Izett
Report from CSPO, Drew Mechen
Open Forum
Close