Anstey Residents Group News

Walker Friendly

The reputation of Alton as being a town suitable for walkers could soon be officially recognised. Alton Town Council has applied for Walkers are Welcome status, which aims to strengthen a town's reputation as a place for visitors to enjoy the outdoors. It helps to ensure footpaths and facilities for walkers are maintained in good condition, and can also influence local tourism plans and regeneration strategies.

To be eligible for the status Alton must show popular local support for the concept, take action to ensure footpaths are maintained in good condition, and promote walking and local paths. Alton's bid is being led by the town council's parish paths working party, established in 1996 to work with others to improve the area's footpaths and raise awareness of them.

Chairman Cllr Kevin Stevens said: "Alton already is a very popular place for walkers, demonstrated by the huge demand for many of the maps and leaflets about paths in the area. We have an enviable network of footpaths in beautiful countryside, including two long distance recreational paths, St Swithun's Way and Hangers Way. We already meet most of the criteria to get the status. What we need now is evidence of community support, so we have launched a petition which can be signed at the town hall and assembly rooms, and hopefully other venues in due course.

"We are also writing to many groups and organisations in the town asking for their support. With the South Downs National Park now right on our doorstep, now is the perfect time for Alton to be shouting its perfect walking credentials to a larger audience."

Report 128 by ARG Committee on Wed 1 Feb 2012, 10:20.

Happy New Year

Best wishes for 2012 to all ARG's many supporters and followers. The year ahead will doubtless bring many challenges for this part of the town, not least in the planning arena. A major housing scheme is scheduled to begin on the 'Chandos Lodge' site, while the ATFC sports ground continues to be under threat from similar development. Two new supermarkets are planned for the neighbourhood with work planned to begin on both this year. On these matters and more, your committee will continue to be vigilant in monitoring events and will strive to uphold the wider interests of the Anstey area. It promises to be an interesting year....

Report 127 by ARG Committee on Sun 1 Jan 2012, 10:36.

Love Anstey Park - Hate Dog Poo

The ‘Love Anstey Park’ collaboration of residents’ groups, which successfully campaigned against the building of a football hub in the park, is turning its attention to dog fouling in the area, with their ‘Love Anstey Park - Hate Dog Poo’ campaign.

Dog fouling is the biggest factor detracting from the public’s enjoyment of the park. The vast majority of dog walkers who use the park are responsible owners who pick up after their animals, but a small minority do not, and it’s those people that the campaign hopes to influence.

This community-based project welcomes dogs into the park and relies on the support of dog-walkers themselves to make it work. We have recruited a number of these regular park users, who will be donning a high-viz jacket bearing the message: ‘Ask Me For a Bag’. These volunteers, or ‘baggers’, are there to supply free pick-up bags to those dog-owners who have forgotten or run out of bags, they will also be a visible presence in the park to encourage people to pick up. We will also give prominence to a telephone hotline number to make it easier to report persistent offenders.

The campaign will be backed up with leaflets that explain what we are trying to achieve for the benefit of all park users, how you can join-in, as well as stickers and signs to remind park-users of their responsibilities.

This initiative is being conducted by the community, for the community, with funding from Alton Town Council, and support from EHDC dog-wardens, Anstey Residents Group, Anstey Park Casual Users and Alton Rugby and Cricket Clubs.

Most people are aware by now that dog fouling is unpleasant and a health hazard, more so when blighting an area set aside for sports and recreation. Picking up after their dog is the owners’ responsibility as well as a legal requirement and they are liable for a fixed penalty fine of £50, or even prosecution if they don’t.

If the initiative proves successful, it is hoped that it might be a template that can be usefully applied to other parks in the town. We are very fortunate to have the open spaces of Anstey Park, and anyone who feels they would like to help keep it as a place to roam and enjoy can get more information from volunteers who will be at the annual firework display in the park on 5th November, by visiting www.weloveansteypark.com or by emailing info@weloveansteypark.com.

Report 126 by ARG Committee on Thu 3 Nov 2011, 13:19.

Robyn Fitzer

It is with great regret that we've learnt that ex town councillor Robyn Fitzer has died. Cllr Fitzer served on the town council from 2003 to 2011 and was mayor in 2007/2008. Our thoughts and condolences are with her family at this difficult time.

Report 125 by ARG Committee on Thu 20 Oct 2011, 12:24.

Persimmon Homes

Due to an overwhelming response to the request for a name for the 'Chandos Lodge' development, the deadline for entries has been extended. Persimmon hope to pick a name shortly and will make an announcement on this website and in the local press.

Report 124 by ARG Committee on Thu 6 Oct 2011, 19:13.

Town Council Strategy Document

A revised version of the council’s own strategy document has been published by the Town Hall. The council is inviting comments from the public prior to its adoption by the town council. The deadline for submissions is 28th September.

To see the whole document click on the link below.

Report 123 by ARG Committee on Fri 2 Sep 2011, 17:51. To read the attachment click here.

Ideas Sought for Town Centre Improvements

Following the planning inspector’s decision to allow a Tesco superstore to be built in Mill Lane, Alton Town Council is calling for ideas that, in the words of the inspector, “strengthen the town centre and enable it to sustain its health and vitality”. As part of their planning permission, Tesco has to provide one million pounds towards improvements in the town centre and along the route of a new bus service they will be funding. This might be used towards visual improvements, better town centre management or supporting local businesses.

Ideas for improvements are needed, lots of them, to ensure that the money is fully and effectively spent. Alton Town Council is taking the lead in making the most of this major opportunity for the town. The council wants Altonians to be as creative and imaginative as they can in putting forward suggestions.

Ideas for projects or activities should be submitted by email to info@alton.gov.uk or by letter to the Town Hall, Market Square, Alton GU34 1HD, by 21 October. All that is needed is a brief explanation of what you propose, but if you can identify the possible costs and timescale involved, or any other available funding, that information would be very welcome.

To see the whole document click on the link below.

Report 122 by ARG Committee on Fri 2 Sep 2011, 17:40. To read the attachment click here.

Anstey Residents Too Big For Their Boots?

In a letter to the Alton Herald, Town Councillor Smith wants to know whether "you think some Anstey residents are getting too big for their boots"...! He also asks whether you feel "that sports facilities that you and your children need are unreasonably being put at risk by a licence [for the hub] not being permitted". You are also being asked to say "if you think that housing and even possibly jobs could be lost for years". If you would like to make a comment for or against, you can contact Cllr Smith or your own Councillor via the 'Town Councillors' tab on the ARG website.

Report 121 by ARG Committee on Sat 27 Aug 2011, 12:08.

Football Hub Appeal Dismissed

The Planning Inspector has dismissed Molson Coors appeal to build a junior football hub in Anstey Park. Full details of the appeal decision are available via the link below.

Report 120 by ARG Committee on Fri 26 Aug 2011, 12:20. To read the attachment click here.

The New Finnimore Pavilion

A ceremony on Monday to unveil a commemorative stone in the wall of the new Finnimore pavilion in Anstey Park marked the culmination of ten years of effort by the Town Council to raise the necessary funds and permissions to replace the old building, and the beginning of the main construction phase of the project.

The new building, costing £800,000 is scheduled for completion early in 2012 and will boast 8 changing rooms, a first floor club room accessible to all, equipment and welfare facilities for ground staff, and new public toilets to serve all park-users. Whilst the footprint of the new pavilion is slightly larger than the old building, its carbon footprint should be smaller as it contains many energy-saving devices such as a Ground Source Heat Pump.

The pavilion was named after Albert Finnimore, Chairman of Alton Urban District Council from 1959-61.

Report 119 by ARG Committee on Tue 23 Aug 2011, 12:38. To read the attachment click here.