Mid Hants Group Report 2006

Mid Hampshire District Group

by Dr Brian Foster

Planning Matters

Planning matters have been most prominent in the year's activity in Mid Hants district. John Neyroud has written 14 reports with objections or recommendations, liaised with parish groups, including the Old Bursledon Conservation Group who are fighting for the preservation of this haven on the Hamble river. Recommendations concerning the new 'Park & Ride' in Winchester resulted in a new and safer exit away from the main roundabout in St Cross. Chris Slattery has co-ordinated the planning policies and attends most Council meetings.

Contact with parliamentary candidates for the new constituencies of Winchester & Meon Valley has resulted in two interviews to explain the aims and achievements of CPRE and make our work known.

Fund Raising

John Budden has organised another barbecue at Landor House on 21st July, with a 'Bring & Buy'. Please reserve your tickets from The Treasurer, 22 Harvest Rd, Denmead - tel 02392 343731.

A car boot sale 'fee collection' in early March raised £800 for CPRE funds. A concert at the hospital of St Cross church is planned for Oct 5th with music for organ and trumpet of medieval origin - details from John Budden.
Editor's Note: this event is now to be held on 12th Oct - see district events page.

Membership

Membership remains fairly stable - around 370. We do need more members in order to increase and campaign; and especially, we need a representative for the Eastleigh district. Nick Perry will again organise our presence at the Alresford show in September.

Meetings

The AGM on 4th April, at Martyr Worthy village hall included a presentation by the Chairman of the CPRE Hampshire Transport Campaign Group - group captain Don Stewart - whose talk was entitled "Air Cleanliness in Hampshire". Don Stewart is a member of our committee and closely monitors the developments at Southampton Airport.

Committee meetings at Beaconsfield House have been well attended by all members and are exceedingly vibrant and rewarding in forming our policies. We welcome any members at these meetings, especially to encourage new members for the Mid Hants committee.

I was invited to attend a showing of the film "An Inconvenient Truth" - Al Gore's frightening film on global warming - a very extensive and convincing exposition. A week later I saw a programme on Channel 4 "The big global warming scandal" - with again, top experts blaming the 'sun spots' and suns atmosphere for climate changes - not CO₂. I am left confused - but in this age experts continually seem to differ. CPRE must accept that diminished pollution and CO₂ reduction is a good thing, and be aware that global warming will change our beautiful countryside and we must continue to protect it, whatever the outcome.