News
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In partnership with FareShare, Food Banks and Citizens Advice New Forest, NFDC have implemented a Food Larder at various locations across the district. The Food Larder is a community larder run by FareShare and volunteers. FareShare obtain surplus food from supermarkets and other food outlets, e.g. ASDA, Tesco, CO-OP and Allied Bakeries, and Food Banks will top this up if needed. It is a membership scheme aimed at helping those on a low income by making their money go further by reducing food shopping bills. Membership depends on household size, with weekly subscription costs being:
- £2.50 per week for a single person – 10 products plus fruit and vegetables
- £3.50 per week for a 2 person plus household – 15 products plus fruit and vegetables
- £5.00 per week for a 4 person plus household – 25 products plus fruit and vegetables
The value of the “bag” is worth considerably more than the subscription and Food Larders tend to offer a greater variety of products, including fresh/frozen foods (which Food Banks do not provide). A membership form needs to be completed.
NFDC are working with partner organisations to sign post customers where appropriate and will be contacting regular food bank users to encourage them to use this scheme, most people want to pay something! NFDC have also arranged for a representative from Citizens Advice to be present at each Food Larder (restrictions dependent) to offer advice and information and aim to build on this to provide further support, e.g. information about fuel poverty, to provide holistic support.
Current Food Larders are detailed in the flyer and NFDC are already supporting lots of families across the district.
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The NHS have issued a leaflet providing guidance on "Important information to keep you safe while
isolating at home". This leaflet is for patients with suspected coronavirus who have not been
admitted to hospital and will be isolating at home.
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The Council discussed several concerns resulting from the recent diversion caused by emergency roadworks on the A337. There was significant damage done throughout Sandy Down and Royden Lane due to vehicles mounting verges to avoid on-coming traffic. The Council agreed to write to NFDC to request that they repair a damaged ditch in Royden Lane. Hampshire County Councillor Michael White provided feedback on behalf of Hampshire County Council. It was agreed that the damaged caused was not acceptable. HCC will be requesting Southern Gas Networks to repair the damage done throughout the diversion route.
The Council highlighted to Cllr White that communication about major road closures is poor and has become worse since NFDC relinquished a co-ordination role. Cllr White agreed and agreed to provide feedback on this and other longstanding highways issues to Hampshire Highways. It was also suggested that Highways should review their diversion routing and consider introducing one way flows on narrow lanes to prevent congestion.
The Council was pleased to approve a payment to restore the footbridge that used to be next to the cattle grid between Portmore and Norley Wood. This will allow the footpath that runs from the forest gate up towards Portmore to be used to cross the stream without having to walk along the busy B3054.
The Council approved a grant to St. Johns at Boldre towards the upkeep of the graveyard there. With COVID this year, income to the church has been significantly impacted.
There have been vacancies on the Council for some time. Recently, there have been a number of interested applicants. The Council was pleased to co-opt Debbie Ware into one of the vacant positions and look forward to welcoming her to our next meeting.
The date for the next Parish Council meeting is January 11th. This will be an online meeting and details will be made available for the public to join.
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Over the Christmas and New Year bank holidays, there are some changes to collection days for household rubbish, recycling and glass in the New Forest district.
The changes to rubbish and recycling collection for Christmas 2020 and the New Year 2021 are:
Black rubbish sacks and clear recycling sacks: collections due on Friday 25 December 2020 and Friday 1 January 2021 January will be collected on Saturday 2 January 2021.
Glass box: collections due on Friday 25 December 2020 will be collected on Saturday 2 January 2021. Collections due on Friday 1 January 2021 will be collected on Saturday 9 January 2021.
Garden waste: There will be no garden waste collections between Monday 21 December 2020 and Sunday 3 January 2021.
All other collections are unchanged.
Normal collections will resume 4 January 2021.
Details of these changes will be delivered to every household in the New Forest week beginning 14 December
Recycling Christmas waste
All greetings cards, sweet and biscuit tins, and cardboard packaging can be put in the clear recycling sack.
If gift wrapping paper cannot be reused it should be put into the black rubbish sack.
The majority of wrapping paper cannot be recycled because it is mixed with plastic or foil.
Christmas tree recycling
From Saturday 2 December 2020 to Sunday 17 January 2021 real Christmas tree can be dropped off for recycling at selected car parks across the district. The collected trees will be chipped and used as mulch. (Please note there are some changes this year and some sites previously used are no longer tree drop-off sites)
- Blackfield, Gang Warily Community Centre car park SO45 1GA
- Burley, coach park BH24 4AP
- Fordingbridge, A338 slip road car park SP6 5JA
- Hythe, New Road car park SO45 6AQ
- Lymington, Bath Road car park SO41 3SE
- Lyndhurst, Village Centre car park SO43 7BF
- Milford, Hurst Road East overflow car park (by Sturt Pond) SO41 0PY
- New Milton, Crossmead Avenue car park BH25 6NF
- Ringwood, The Furlong long stay car park (follow signs to the designated area) BH24 1AT
- Totton, Rumbridge Street car park SO40 9EA
All decorations must be removed from the tree before taking it to a drop-off point.
Tree must be left in the designated fenced bays only, and placed at the back to avoid blocking the entrance for others.
Customers who subscribe to garden waste collection service can recycle trees under 6 feet, cut up and placed in the garden waste bag between 4 - 18 January 2021.
Residents are asked not to leave Christmas trees in car parks that are not on the above list, or outside of the designated fenced bays, in disabled parking bays, on footpaths, by litter bins or recycling banks. Trees left in these locations will be treated as fly-tipping, an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Offenders can face an unlimited fine, a criminal record and a prison sentence.
Note that in a change from previous years the following car parks will not be used for as Christmas tree drop off points this year;
- Brockenhurst, Brookley Road
- Lymington, St Thomas Street
- Totton, Westfield
Full details are available at https://newforest.gov.uk/christmasrefuse
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Households across Boldre will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021.
The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941.
It will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.
“A successful census will ensure everyone from local government to charities can put services and funding in the places where they are most needed,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics, said.
“This could mean things like doctors’ surgeries, schools and new transport routes. That’s why it is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”
Census day will be on March 21, but households across the country will receive letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March.
The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.
For more information, visit census.gov.uk.