HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
So much was achieved as a community in 2016 and the final success story of the year was the Christmas Community Lunch. Volunteers and guests joined forces to enjoy a wonderful time at Hook Community Centre on Christmas Day. This was organised by the Parish Council’s Health and Wellbeing Group with sponsorship from Bell Cornwell, Cllr. Jonathan Glen, Hook Fun Run, Hook & Odiham Lions, Rawlings Transport, Taylor Wimpey, Tesco, Trees Newsagents and Wm. Grant & Sons. This will be an annual event, so if you or anybody you know are on their own and would like to join in next year, please put Monday 25th December in your diary and register your interest with the Parish Council.
RECYCLING CHRISTMAS TREES
If you have a real Christmas tree, please dispose of it sensibly. You can ring 7th Bramshill Hook Scout Group on 01256 469236 from 9am on 4th – 6th January and they will collect it on 7th January for a small donation of £3.50. Just leave your tree outside your property with an envelope containing your donation tied to the tree.
You can also take the tree to Crossways Car Park, Reading Road, between Tuesday 3rd January and Monday 30th January and place it in the cordoned-off area for Hart’s team to remove on a regular basis and recycle during January. Alternatively, you can cut it up into small pieces and put it in your green waste bin or sack.
FIX MY STREET
If residents experience problems in and around Hook with potholes, streetlight faults, fly tipping, footpaths etc. the quickest way to get them fixed is to log on to www.fixmystreet.com. All you have to do is enter the post code of where the problem is located, together with a short description and this will be forwarded to the correct authority for resolution. Residents say this system is extremely efficient – within days of reporting a missing manhole cover in Station Road, a team from Hart cleared the railway bridge of weeds and debris and the cover was replaced before an accident occurred.
WHO DOES WHAT?
With several authorities and service companies involved in keeping Hook functioning efficiently, residents are not always sure to whom they should report problem or seek advice. Visit www.hook.gov.uk/about-hook-parish-council/ for the link to a list of useful contacts.
DEFIBRILLATORS
Did you know we have a defibrillator in the centre of Hook, with a second one due to be installed at the Community Centre? Some residents have already received training and more training sessions are planned as part of the Health and Wellbeing Event in May. Please register your interest in CPR/Defibrillator training with the Parish Council Office – you might just save someone’s life.
BETTER BROADBAND IN HOOK?
We regularly receive enquiries from residents about high speed broadband provision and recognise that not all service providers can offer this throughout Hook. One frequently recurring query is that whilst the Head Office of Virgin Media is located in Hook, Virgin does not provide a cable service in the village. Other areas in Hart that already have cable enjoy speeds up to 200 Mbps, compared with the 78 Mbps currently available, at best, in Hook. After consulting Virgin Media, we understand that a faster broadband service is planned for Hook within the next 3 years. However, the more people who register an interest in obtaining cable, the better the chance of accelerating this timeframe. Spread the word to neighbours and friends to register an interest at: http://www.virginmedia.com/cablemystreet/.
NEW TEAM MEMBER
Hook Parish Council welcomes Annalie Hadfield to the office team. Annalie is the Administrative Officer responsible for planning and deals with the input and consultation of planning matters concerning Hook.
COMMUNITY AWARDS
Do you know anyone who should be recognised with the Hook Community Award? The only firm rule is that service to the community, for which the award is to be considered, must have been on an entirely voluntary basis and over a sustained period. Previous nominations that did not result in an award will not be carried forward, so please re-nominate. Nominations should be emailed to by 31st March 2017.
SAVE THE DATES
Events at Hook Community Centre:
- Children’s Animal and Wildlife Fun Day (Free) – Wednesday, 15th February 2017, 11.30am – 4pm
- Hook Health and Wellbeing Day – Saturday, 20th May 2017
- Hook Annual Village Meeting – Wednesday, 24th May 2017