Anstey Residents Group News

Energy Alton Update

Here is an update of two events at Energy Alton....

Paul Towers, Director of Saving Light Bulbs will be at the Energy Alton Advice Centre, 51 High Street Alton, on Saturday April 28th from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm.

Do drop in with your lighting queries and any bulbs that you want to change to low energy versions. Paul will be on hand to explain about new LEDs and other lights that are so much better than the first low-energy bulbs. He says "the new range of lights are now bright, fast and come in many styles to suit all tastes and homes. People were right about the old ones that took ages to warm up and gave out fairly dim light, but thankfully the engineers have worked hard to overcome these early problems".

You may recall we won a grant of £82,000.00 from the government last January, to spend on improving the energy efficiency of homes in and around Alton, to be completed by the end of March.

We hope you will join us on Tuesday May 8th at 7.30pm in the Garden Room at Alton Community Centre to hear the report on the project and find out about our plans for the next few months. Do bring your ideas about what Alton should be doing in the future

Report 134 by ARG Committee on Tue 24 Apr 2012, 16:57.

The Tesco Million - the latest from ATC

More than 200 ideas have been submitted to Alton Town Council as possible projects that can be funded by developer contributions secured as a result of Tesco gaining planning permission for a new store in Mill Lane, Alton. Now the council wants residents to help them decide which of the ideas submitted that meet the criteria, should be taken forward.

All the suggestions have been carefully considered by a panel of Town Councillors and representatives of Alton Chamber of Commerce & Industry, against the stringent criteria set by the planners, which broadly say that the projects must improve the vitality and vibrancy of the town centre. The sum available, £1million, will be released by Tesco when they open for business.

The various projects suggested have been whittled down to eight and residents are being invited to visit Alton Assembly Rooms on April 10th (from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm) and on April 14th (from 9.30 am until 2.00 pm). This will also be an opportunity for residents to propose any new projects which have not so far been considered.

By the 10th April, the Town Council will have received clarification from the retail giant on when they are likely to start on site, and when the doors are expected to open to their first customers.

Cllr Graham Hill, Leader of Alton Town Council wished to thank the many Altonians who had taken the trouble to share their wide-ranging ideas on how the town centre could be improved, adding “The impact that the out of town Tesco store will have on the vitality of Alton Town Centre will be substantial. It is essential that we use the £1million from Tesco to best effect to minimise this impact. It is therefore imperative that we make the correct decisions and that we are fully supported by the people of Alton. This public consultation is a unique opportunity to tell us if we are on the right track or not, so please come along on one of those days and let us know what you think and feel about these projects.”

Report 133 by ARG Committee on Tue 27 Mar 2012, 19:38.

Planning Reforms Announced

Planning Minister Greg Clark explained that the coalition's approach to reform was based on three principles objectives; to empower communities to have more say in how their areas are developed; to better support growth and give the next generation the chance at home ownership, and to create the jobs on which the UK's prosperity depends.

“Our reforms to the planning system take on each of these challenges, they enshrine the local plan produced by local people as the keystone of the planing system. They make planning much simpler and more accessible, reducing over a thousand pages of often impenetrable jargon to around fifty pages of clearly written guidance,” he said.

The Home Builders Federation has already responded to the National Planning Policy Framework and said the proposals were "sensible".

In a further concession to the Government's critics, the document will also contain a specific protection for school playing fields and other public leisure facilities.

The Football Association had warned that talented footballers of the future would have nowhere to train if councils were allowed to sell off pitches. More than 80 per cent of the sport is played on publicly-owned land.

Sport England also argued that weakening protection of sports facilities could limit the Olympic legacy by failing to safeguard facilities for future athletes.

Addressing these concerns, the text of the National Planning Policy Framework is now expected to say that “existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should not be built on unless the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision”.

Report 132 by ARG Committee on Tue 27 Mar 2012, 17:12.

Partick Burridge Resigns

Received via Twitter: "With great sadness I called time on my role as leader of EHDC today. The demands were effecting my Parkinson's Disease badly".

Report 131 by ARG Committee on Mon 13 Feb 2012, 19:29.

Roger Fitzer

It's with regret that we report that Roger Fitzer passed away at the end of last month following a long illness. A former mayor described as "a great champion of Alton", he had lost his wife, Robyn, to cancer last October. Both committed LibDems, the Fitzers did sterling work for the community during their time in Alton as councillors. Robyn and Roger leave two children to whom we extend our sincere condolences.

Report 130 by ARG Committee on Sun 12 Feb 2012, 10:14.

Waitrose Update

We've heard from Discovery Properties that work will begin on the Waitrose store in Station Approach on 20th February. September 2012 is the provisional target for the opening of the new store. More details as we receive them.

Report 129 by ARG Committee on Thu 9 Feb 2012, 19:47.

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.