News
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Members of the Council and Parish met at 18.00 on Monday 28th April to officially open the new Play Equipment.
The Council would like to thank all who gave time and donations towards the New Equipment and we hope you are as pleased as we are with the result.
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A busy and productive year for Boldre Parish Council. Our Staff and Councillors have been working hard to consolidate progress, and to develop the support and facilities that we provide.
In May we developed a programme of work with Community Payback, who were able to improve access to the Shallows after the damage done by the wet weather earlier in the year. The staff and their crew worked hard, transforming the area, for a few months at least. It is important that we support this scheme and we are happy that Community Payback have come back to work with us again.
The Amenities Group were busy from the Fall of the year making final decisions on the second phase of the recreation area development. Planning and meetings with providers continued into the New Year. The Amenities Group’s vision, determination and commitment are reflected in the facilities now available for all ages. And there is more to come!
Our programme of Community Engagement continued with:
- a session on responses to invasive plant species, endemic in the Forest
- a well attended council meeting on a proposed CO2 pipeline through the area
- an event hosted by Wessex Internet on a fast broadband project for Boldre
- An Open Evening for local people in December, with a focus on plans for the Recreation Ground
- Two ‘planting days’ - in November (fruit and nut trees and bulbs) and in January (disease resistant elms, nut trees and further bulbs), in conjunction with Community Orchards and Hampshire Forest Partnership. The reward arrived in the Spring with an array of tulips and daffodils as well as blossoming fruit trees and sprouting elms, all looking splendid!
Our Planning Group have been assiduously vigilant throughout the year. Planning applications and enforcement situations have continued to increase. It is often a thankless task but our team have worked hard, as always, to preserve the character of the area while seeking to respond to local needs. Their experience and advice are invaluable to the Council’s work.
During the year, Boldre Parish Council took the decision to establish a ‘Staffing Group’ to support our work. The group will be able to identify training needs for the Council, ensure that personnel policies are robust and to provide support for our staff. This is a new departure for BPC but a welcome one.
The performance of our Highways Group, as ever, depends on the resources that we can mobilise from Hampshire County Council, which is the body responsible for Highways and Paths across the locality. The group has been persistent in reporting issues and exerting pressure on HCC representatives to improve the quality of the infrastructure. Currently the group is working with Countryside Services on plans to improve parts of our footpath network.
We are very grateful to our IT Officer (Oliver Moore) for the continuing expertise, advice and support that he kindly and efficiently provides. Similarly the Council is able to call on the continuing support, vigilance and responsiveness of our Tree Officer (Roger Bell) – Roger has been stalwart in dealing with a whole range of issues relating to trees within the local area – from planning applications, through advice on tree health, to support in planting, and monitoring our burgeoning ‘Community Orchard’. We are also fortunate to be able to call on the services of our Groundsman, Adrian Drodge, who continues to provide advice and practical support in the maintenance of our facilities.
The Council is facing significantly increased costs in the coming years but we are determined to continue improving our amenities and developing our service provision in new areas. With the continued guidance and support of our Parish Clerk, Victoria, we can be optimistic for the future.
Vincent Slattery
BPC Chair 2024-25
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Open Evening – Monday 28th April
Boldre Parish Council welcomes the community to come to an opening event of the new Play and Leisure Equipment on Monday 28th April at 18.00.
We will also take this opportunity to welcome Youth workers from The Handy Trust to talk to the community about their services and what a youth provision in Boldre Parish could look like.
Recreation Ground
You will have seen that the new Play and Leisure equipment has been installed and as a council we are really pleased to provide this extra equipment for the community. This has come from a successful range of local donations, fundraising and grants. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed.
The project is ongoing, and we are still seeking further fundraising ideas. Once further funds have been secured, table tennis table and further equipment can be purchased.
The council has plans for an outdoor amphitheatre and shelter hut and in the long-term adding further play equipment.
The trees that have been recently planted are now established. Unfortunately, they have been subject to intentional damage. As a Council we are really disappointed with this and the anti-social behaviour has been reported to the police.
The council is building a schedule of watering and maintenance. Do let us know if you have any time to volunteer to help out with watering.
The council would like to remind that both the recreation ground and the play areas are dog free zones. This is to protect our children’s and users of the sports ground health’s.
Community Grants
BPC community grants scheme opens on 1st April. If you have a local charity or group that may benefit from a small grant – please take a look at our grant application form. Applications close on 30th April and grants will be decided on during the Full Council meeting on Monday 12th May.
BPC Highways Report – March 2025
The Highways Group have contacted our HCC Representative (Cllr Dunning) regarding issues of poor, inadequate road drainage in the Boldre area and seeking support for inclusion of Pilley Hill and Rope Hill in a programme of scheduled road maintenance by HCC. This is especially urgent in the context of the scheduled large cycle events later this year. It is, of course, a request we have made on a number of occasions before. Unfortunately, a response has not been received, yet.
HCC have been informed of a significant problem on the verge of Walhampton Hill. A deep groove 23cm deep and about 30 metres long. Such a deep drop by the roadside poses a significant risk to cyclists and motorists alike.
Reporting Highways Issues - Please continue to report highways issues – potholes, flooding, damaged signs, hedge encroachment to Hampshire County Council:
Report a pothole | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
Report a flooding or drainage problem | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
Hampshire Alert
Hampshire Alert is a free messaging service that allows Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, Neighbourhood Watch and other partner organisations keep you informed about issues in your area that are relevant to you.
Once signed up you'll receive messages about crime, witness appeals and general policing activity and issues in your local area and being able to play an active part in helping make Hampshire and the Isle of Wight a safer place to live and work.
Pavilion and Football pitches
Do you have a group that could use the pavilion for an outside exercise class or use it as a base for some outdoor training? Contact the Clerk with your proposals.
The Pavilion is a great location for an event or a class. There are toilets, showers and a basic kitchen area. Do you have an idea for its use? Are you part of a regular group that could do with an occasional or regular venue?
As the future of football is still uncertain on the recreation ground, thoughts are being given to how the recreation ground as a whole could have alternative recreation uses.
Boldre Parish Clerk – Victoria Thomas
The next full meeting will be Monday 7th April at 18.30
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The time has come!
The installation of new play and leisure equipment will commence on Monday 3rd March and should be complete within 7 working days.
During this time the existing play area will remain open and unaffected.
We hope you are as excited as we are.
