Upfront
Well
connected
T
ABOVE: CPRE 50 Dee Haas, Shaun Spiers and The Earl of Malmesbury
Rural issues – in defence
of the countryside
C
AMPAIGN to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Chief Executive
Shaun Spiers reflected on how there would be significantly less
countryside without the environmental campaigning charity’s
involvement and influence over its 90-year history.
Speaking at the Hampshire branch’s annual meeting recently, he said,
“CPRE stands for getting the development the country needs without
destroying the countryside unnecessarily and uneconomically. We have
always argued that well-planned, carefully located housing and industry
creates economic growth.”
CPRE Hampshire Chairman, Dee Haas added: “We work hard to save
our beautiful countryside for the enjoyment of all, and were active in
the county well before we were officially registered as an independent
charity 50 years ago.
“We have embarked on a major campaign to reinstate the 1960s’
concept of a Green Belt for South Hampshire to prevent further
expansion of all the Solent towns and cities, and are working on a
strategic vision for rural Hampshire.”
The AGM was supported by NFU Mutual.
es ter flood defences
River Park areas which saw the River Itchen flood in 2000-01 and in
2013-14 after prolonged periods of heavy rainfall.”
In Winchester, a low wall with deployable flood barriers at openings
will be built around North Walls/Park Avenue including St Bede
School, The Art College, homes and businesses.
It will be constructed in a red brick to match existing municipal
walls in the area and blend into the street scene, similar to the
recently constructed flood defence wall in Water Lane. However,
the core and foundation of the new wall will be reinforced concrete,
capable of resisting the calculated water pressures.
Work is planned to start in summer, once the tender process has
been completed, and finish at the end of the year.
www.residentmagazine.co.uk
UPFRONT Resident Aug-Sep.indd 5
HOUSANDS more homes
and business will soon
have access to swifter
connectivity as the multi-million
pound second wave of the
Hampshire Superfast Broadband
programme gets underway.
Hampshire County Council and
partners are pressing ahead to
boost the number of properties
across the county with access to
superfast broadband speeds of
24 megabits per second (Mbps)
or faster.
Wave 1 has delivered access
to superfast speeds to 63,000
premises across the county,
whilst Wave 2 will deliver to
a further 34,500 premises by
September 2018 – including
Winchester.
County council leader Roy
Perry said: “Wave 2 will further
increase coverage to 96%
of premises in the county,
supporting businesses, the
local economy, the provision of
educational resources, as well as
helping reduce social isolation.”
Many rural businesses have
benefited, including Egg Day
Nursery at Sutton Scotney,
which upgraded to Superfast
Broadband in April, increasing
speeds from 7mbps to 39mbps,
which has helped its 20 staff care
for 69 children.
Director Briony White added:
“Our administrative tasks and
online nursery management
system is wholly dependent
upon our broadband connection.
Our children’s learning and
development is also recorded
and shared with parents using
an online system. Staff, children
and parents have all benefited
as management tasks can be
completed more quickly. Staff
are spending less time battling
with uploading issues and more
time with the children.”
Resident 5
15/07/2016 11:24