Annual Village Meeting – The meeting will take place on 23rd April at the Elizabeth Hall. Entrance will be from 8pm when there will be an opportunity to visit exhibitors representing a variety of local organisations providing activities and support within Hook. If you have not previously attended the Annual Village Meeting, this is a great opportunity to learn more about what goes on in Hook and make new contacts. Hart District Council Corporate Director, Daryl Phillips, has been invited to speak about the failure of the Local Plan and what that means for Hook. Also, we have a number of new exhibitors this year, including Hook Young@Heart Club and the Citizens Advice.
The agenda and a full list of exhibitors can be seen on the Parish Council website and noticeboards. The formal meeting, with answers to your questions, will start at 8.30 pm. Please submit questions by 16th April to or by post or by hand to the Parish Council Office. This will enable any necessary research to be carried out and the most suitable person briefed to have an answer available. This will also help us to concentrate on the topics of greatest concern.
Parish Council Annual Report – The 2013-14 Report will be delivered to every household early in April. Watch out for it arriving through your door.
Major Planning Applications – At the time of writing we have been advised that the planning application for NE Hook will be submitted by the beginning of April. Please watch out for information about public consultations via our usual communication channels.
Neighbourhood Plans (NPs) – It has been suggested that Neighbourhood Plans are a way of resisting development of the type facing Hook. Though this is not the case, there may be other benefits. However, we still need to wait for Hart to be able to offer the essential resources required for the formulation of the NP. The Parish Council is determined to move forward with producing an NP and a resident has already kindly offered to lead a group on producing a Plan. We would be interested to hear from local people also wishing to participate in the process.
Bus services – Spring has sprung, so why not plan a trip out using the No 30 bus? Perhaps to have lunch in one of the nearby towns, garden centres or pubs and make more of a day out by combining it with a shopping trip. Not only is it easy to do this at any of the stops between Basingstoke, Fleet and Farnborough, but from various points along the route. Connections to Overton, Whitchurch, Andover, Winchester and more can all be reached on a bus from Hook. The new Circular Route 1 taxi bus, not only allows residents of the east side of Hook to access the centre, it can be used for a trip from the centre for a pub lunch and a walk at Bassetts Mead or visit friends? We are eager to hear about your creative journeys. Please write to us so we can inspire others to use our bus services.
Hook Community Centre – Work is now underway on the ground and drainage works, footings for the three extensions and internal walls. Completion of the work is on schedule for September of this year, and we will be posting more progress reports as the project continues.
Road works Crooked Billet – Planned replacement of the Fulsome Bridge parapets on the A30, adjacent to the Crooked Billet, is due to start on 7th April. Work will last approx. 26 weeks, due to the number of services carried over the bridges and will be undertaken on both bridges simultaneously. The A30 will be kept open with temporary reduced speed limit. However, each bridge will be closed for one night (from 9.00pm to 4.00am) at the start of the roadwork and one night at the end. Advance warning signs giving dates and duration of closures will be erected at site two weeks prior to closing the road.
New Leisure Centre for Fleet – The proposal for a new leisure centre to replace the current one at Hitches Lane, is going to cost £20-30m. As a significant part of this cost will be borne by residents, the Parish Council would like to hear whether you make use of the current facility or not. Please e-mail
Highway Maintenance – Many residents are kind enough to report maintenance issues to the Parish Council office. However, it is not always convenient to do so during office hours. Hampshire County Council has an easy to use website for reporting all highway maintenance issues, including pot holes, drainage problems, overgrown hedges & verges, damaged signs, worn carriageway lining, street lighting etc. www.hants.gov.uk/roadproblems or call 0845 603 56 33. You can also do this through ‘Fix My Street‘.
Anne Atkins – Clerk