WINTER/SPRING NEWSLETTERFEBRUARY 2019

Draft Local Plan 2036

Havant Borough Council approved the next stage of the draft Local Plan 2036 at its Meeting on 30th January 2019. The Pre-Submission Plan is now available for public consultation until 18th March, and it is important that everyone examines the document and submits comments on the sections most likely to adversely affect Langstone. All the supporting reports can be found on www.havant.gov.uk/localplan.

Particular points of interest for Langstone residents include:

1. The redevelopment of Langstone Technology Park to increase the range of accommodation for business, which will involve an intensification of use and possibly the creation of a new access to the site from the westbound slip road from the A27 roundabout or traffic lights on Langstone Road.

2. Section 4 of the Hayling Island Transport Assessment, entitled Infrastructure, is critical for Langstone. All traffic passes through our area on the A3023 to access or leave Hayling Island. The Transport Assessment acknowledges that more development will create more traffic, but using a modelling programme suggests a range of mitigation measures can be implemented to increase flow and journey time to cope with the increases.

Of special concern to many Langstone motorists is the mitigation proposal to modify the A3023 between the A27 roundabout and Southbrook Road to a two lane highway. This would increase the ‘stack’ effect of southbound traffic. Further ‘friction’ to traffic flow is vehicles executing right-hand turns across the traffic. To remove this friction right-hand turns out of Southbrook Road and Woodbury Avenue would be banned. However, to allow vehicles from those roads to join the main carriageway, traffic signals are suggested. The cost of such work is estimated at £700,000. Your Committee will be seeking further details and clarification.

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The estimated cost for all the mitigation measures across Hayling Island and Langstone is £24,315,000.

Councillor Satchwell (Hayling East Ward) requested an amendment to the Transport Assessment Report, and it was agreed by Cabinet to publish a second version to clarify the mitigation packages needed for Hayling Island and the Mainland before the Local Plan is submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

3. The good news within the Plan is the absence of Southmere Field from the Housing Sites Allocation. Developers may still attempt to build on this land, but the Local Authority will have powers and be in a stronger position to resist such proposals. We must remain vigilant.

Now that the draft Local Plan 2036 has been published, please make your views known to your local councillors regarding the deteriorating environmental conditions we suffer as a result of the poor traffic management in this area. Public consultation on the Local Plan will end on Monday 18 th

March and the documents, once any comments have been reviewed will be submitted to government in the autumn with a view to being adopted in 2020.

Havant Borough Council will be holding a number of ‘drop-in sessions’ to provide residents with answers to questions about the Plan and to explain the paperwork and format for making a comment. These cannot be comments on the Plan itself, but on its ‘Soundness’ and ‘Legal Compliance’ with the relevant legislation. Session locally will be on: Thursday 28th February -3pm-7:00 at Brook Hall, Emsworth or Wednesday 6th March -3pm -7:00 at the Public Service Plaza.

RAILWAY COTTAGES

The News on Wednesday January 9th reported ‘Joy as Council orders rebuild of cottages’. Planners have demanded that the Grade II listed buildings must be rebuilt and restored to their ‘likeness’ before they were destroyed by fire in December 2018. The Notices were served on January 4th 2019, and will take effect on February 14th. The time for compliance is eighteen months from the date of the Notices taking effect. A petition locally has been signed by more than 1400 people. There is hope, but perhaps our ‘joy’ should not be unconfined at this stage. Strength of feeling in favour of the rebuild must be maintained. The scaffolding recently erected around the chimney stacks is believed to be a measure to prevent those weakened structures from collapsing before the real repair work can commence.

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Mitigation ideas for Hayling Island once traffic has passed through Langstone!

FOOTPATH IN SOUTHMOOR

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Efforts are continuing to gain approval for local residents to repair the dangerous holes in the footpath along the shoreline.

THEFTS FROM MOTOR VEHICLES

Havant Police have informed us of a large increase of TFMVs. Windows have been smashed in cars and vans, and tools and other items stolen. The thefts are mainly happening at night and early morning, both in Havant and Waterlooville. Please make sure that vehicles are not left insecure or with valuable items on display.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

The collection of the annual subscription for 2018/2019 has now concluded. If any family was inadvertently missed, and would like to contribute the £2.00, please contact the Chairman or Secretary to arrange a collection.

The Post of Honorary Treasurer remains unfilled. However, the necessary duties are being covered by other Committee Members until a suitable volunteer comes forward.

IN MEMORIAM

In recent weeks the deaths have occurred of two long-term residents of Langstone. Dorothy Hawkins was one of the original residents in Hamilton Close, and Julia Stimson, from Southbrook Road, grew up in Emsworth, and lived in Havant and Langstone for many years since her marriage to Tony. We send our sincere condolences to both families.

Dorothy and Julia will both be greatly missed by the many residents of Langstone who knew and loved them.

CN/DGP 17/02/2019

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