Click to Download pdfFebruary News

Boldre Parish Council - February 2024

Parish Improvement

We would like to once again thank our volunteers who helped with planting and construction of the new Willow Dome and flowers in the Children's Play area. Around 500 bulbs were planted. We are hopeful for a colourful spring show.

Over the course of the next month, 3 Benches will have their seating replaced and the noticeboard at Portmore will be fully refurbished. This is being made possible by a grant received from Hampshire County Council.

The hedges of Recreation ground will be cut in February.    

Recreation Ground Project

A grant funding decision from NFDC is pending. A grant will allow the council to proceed with the older children’s Play Area.

Once again, this year the mounds will be planted with wildflower turf in early spring.

Parish Emergency Plan –

Open evening with SSE and Hampshire Constabulary 26th February 18.30

We are expecting a visit from Police Constable 27390 Aimee Woodward, Hampshire Constabulary, Lymington Neighbourhood Policing Team.

The council has begun the process of an emergency plan which is at draft stage, and after the parish meeting with SSE on the 26th February can hopefully be rolled out.

This plan is being developed to help the residents of Boldre cope:

  • With less serious emergencies.
  • While the emergency services are dealing with more serious situations elsewhere or are unable to reach the incident.
  • With the ongoing situation, or a longer-term incident such as the Covid pandemic by providing support to local authority agencies after the initial emergency is over.

The plan would be activated for reasons such as a request for assistance from the Emergency Services, on receipt of flood warning from the Environment Agency or a wider scale incident occurs.

HCC Future Services Consultation

Hampshire County Council has recently launched a public consultation (8 January) to understand people’s views across Hampshire on proposals to change and reduce some local services and help the Authority address a £132 million budget shortfall faced by April 2025. 
The Future Services Consultation runs from 8 January to 31 March 2024

It is recommended that residents review this consultation and have an opportunity to have their say. (search for: HCC Future Services Consultation)

Assisted Bin Collections

If you are unable to put out your household waste to the edge of your property due to a disability, illness or injury, you can request an assisted collection. Details can be found on the NFDC website.

Boldre Parish’s Community Grants

Each year Boldre Parish council has a small budget for providing grants to the community for community projects. Applications will open in April this year. There is a form to complete. Please contact the clerk for more information.

Parish Highways

Walhampton Hill and Undershore Road – resurfacing work has been completed, with the ‘trench’ in the middle of the road being filled, it will now be safer for cyclists.

HCC sub-contractors have been active in the week ending 27/1 filling potholes on Pilley Hill.

Councillors are continuing to report highways issues – flooding, potholes, eroded road markings, hedge encroachment etc – to the Highways Authority and informing the Parish Clerk as reports are sent in.

A further car accident occurred on the Norley Wood Crossroads. The 4th in six weeks.

Cllr Dunning joined the meeting and BPC Councillors discussed with him options for road safety improvement. Examples being to lower the stop signs, add accident black spot signs as well as a long-term fix of changing the highway layout.  Half of the accidents in the last six weeks involved drivers who were not familiar with the road layout.

Cllr Dunning offered to research the historical records of implementation of a road amendment scheme, such as happened in Ipley.

The council will investigate how accidents can be reported on HCC website.

Please continue to report Road issues to the Highways Authority – Hampshire County Council – search:

Hampshire County Council Report a Problem and select Road Problem

Hampshire also have an App for ‘Phones – OurHants

Events – Save the Date

Boldre Parish Council welcomes you to join them for a spring open evening on Monday 22nd April at 18.30

The council will be joined by Catherine Chatters from Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust and give a talk on the invasive species on the Lymington River.

Come along to listen to our guest speaker, have some refreshments and an opportunity to talk to our councillors.

The council will next meet on Monday 11th March at 18.30. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting.