COVID 19 help

If Coronavirus has had an impact on you or any aspect of your life, including anyone who is self-isolating, you can telephone the Hampshire Coronavirus Support and Helpline on 0333 3 704 000 for advice and support.  They can help if you are struggling to get the food, medicine or essential supplies you need for yourself or your family.  They can also help with other worries you may have such as debt/money issues, Mental health support, domestic abuse, bereavement, problems with drug and alcohol misuse.  You can also find information about support at www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk/coronavirus and https://www.hart.gov.uk/covid-19

Staff Changes

After 16 years, we will be saying farewell to our Environment & Community Admin Officer, Marian Bright.  She is moving on to enjoy the freedom to travel (when it becomes possible) and explore new hobbies.  Many of our residents and their dogs, know Marian and have had her assistance with a variety of issues over the years.  She has been responsible for all our open spaces, facilities, trees, the Christmas lights, hanging baskets, poppies on the lampposts and the cemetery.  A number of large scale projects have been delivered under her oversight, including the skate park and the replacement of Wellworth Park play area.  Undoubtedly, she will be missed and a hard act to follow, but we would like to wish her well as she starts a new chapter in her life at the end of February.

Sarah McMeeken will be replacing Marian.  Sarah has joined us after 15 years working at Tylney Hall Hotel.  She is well acquainted with the wide range of facilities and organisations within Hook, so is well placed to continue to support our Community.  Being a dog lover, she will look forward to meeting all the dogs and the owners once we are able to reopen the offices.

Spring Cleaning

During the winter months, when trees and hedges are bare, discarded roadwork signs, traffic cones and temporary diversion signage become visible around the village.  If you notice any of these, or generally fly tipping, perhaps whilst out on your daily exercise, take a photo on a smartphone and upload it to FixMyStreet https://www.fixmystreet.com (or via our app). This is an easy and safe way to contribute to the clear up of the village in time for spring, when all the bulbs the Hook In Bloom volunteers planted in the autumn, will start appearing. 

Precept

The Council approved the budget and set the precept for 2021-22 at the January Parish Council meeting.  The parish precept is the portion of your council tax which is allocated to Hook Parish Council and is used primarily to pay for the maintenance of the PC owned facilities and green spaces, local services and the associated costs. Whilst we needed to apply a Cost of Living increase, the cost per household will remain almost the same as this year. On average, each household contributes less than the cost of a cup of coffee in a local Café, per per week.  This enables the Council to continue to provide and improve the amenities and services in Hook.  Where possible, we obtain additional funding to enable enhancements to the facilities in Hook and continue to offer free pre-application planning consultations.   We also offer support to numerous local organisations, events and charities and advice as to where to find information on a range of other matters.

Annual Village Meeting (AVM)

At the time of writing the AVM is booked for Wednesday 12th May.  It is hoped this can go ahead at Hook Community Centre as normal.  Obviously, we will wait to see how the vaccinations programme progresses and government advice nearer the time.

If you have not attended previously, the normal format of the evening is an exhibition by local organisations, followed by various presentations during the formal part of the evening and a chance to ask questions to the presenters and the Parish Council.    More than 25 groups were represented at the 2019 AVM and the presentations were enjoyed by 150 residents.

Echo Hotel Music Club/Hook Live

Due to COVID, the Echo Hotel Music Club programme was cut short and cancelled last year.  They hope to be back in the autumn and have provisionally booked a number of bands.  Please visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/echohotelmusichook/ for more information.

Village Connect

Village Connect is a new local initiative, led by Hook & Odiham Lions in partnership with Rotary Club of Odiham & Hook.

They aim to engage with local people, clubs and groups in Hook, Hartley Wintney and Odiham to hear ideas for local projects or services that could address community needs and support the wellbeing of our communities.