May 2024

The results of the elections of 2 May 2024 were predictable, but the extent of the Conservative collapse in Havant was rather greater than we would have predicted. However it would be short-sighted to assume that these results simply reflect a natural reaction against the shambolic behaviour of the Westminster government. These personal reflections suggest that the cause of the rout may be closer at home.

Selected earlier articles

Recognise the date stone in this image? It’s ‘hiding in plain sight’, so if your daily walk takes you into the town centre through the Pallant, keep your eyes peeled. Click the image for an introduction to heritage and conservation matters, applied to sites within and around the town centre.
On Saturday 3 February, the main auditorium at The Spring hosted a summit meeting for leaders and trustees of local history groups across south Hampshire and West Sussex. 
Langstone shore – A bridge too far? First mooted many years ago, is this really what Havant Borough Council meant when they promised Hayling a new bridge at Langstone? If so, it’s heading in completely the wrong direction! As the silly-season gets under way, have we now seen the first of this year’s pre-election party political broadcasts from the council’s communication team? 
We’ve seen a little chatter on social media about the planning application for the LiveLink offices, some of which is a little confused. So to try and make things a little clearer, here’s a brief overview of the proposal. 
A new planning application for the former White Hart is prompting a bit of discussion. Take this link to find out more.
As we move into the New Year, we’re feeling cautiously optimistic. With a new executive team in charge at Havant Borough Council, the unproductive relationship with East Hants District Council is now behind us and with an ‘ever-so-slightly more balanced‘ elected council following last May’s elections, the signs are that the town’s prospects are looking up. 
Reflections on the Langstone Sea Wall drop-in session. We’ve put together the combined thoughts of the committee and one or two others following the Chichester Harbour Conservancy 12 December ‘Langstone Sea Wall’ drop-in session at the Plaza. It’s another long read, so if you’re not doing ‘dry January’, pour yourself a tot to help it down.
So how good a deal did HBC get when it decided to shoehorn Amazon into New Lane rather than put it in Dunsbury Park where everybody would have won?
The report commissioned by Chichester Harbour Conservancy on the potential technical options for a solution to the ‘Langstone Millpond issue’ has now been published and is available for all to read. Unfortunately, it appears just to ‘kick the can down the road’ again by omitting three essential topics which need to be explored before options can be properly ratified and a balanced recommendation made.
Barratt Homes are looking to move into farming in the Southleigh Gap, or so they’d have us believe. Fortunately, nobody sees through it. Another planning application that simply should not have got through the HBC Planning Services validation process, always assuming that such a process actually exists.
Campdown planning application confusion. Once again, the effectiveness of HBC Planning Services’ processes is called into question for allowing comments on the current Dandara planning application to be recorded against the previous Persimmon Homes application.
It’s come to life again! The Portsmouth Water ‘New HQ’ planning application. If you’re one of the 19,000+ patients of the Bosmere Medical Centre, you need to read this.
At last, it looks as if the grown-ups might have taken over regeneration! The Overview and Scrutiny Committee grill Wayne Layton, the new man in charge. Does this mark the end of five years of wasted time and money?

With the Council playing its Regeneration Strategy game with a brand new team of players in 2023, HCS takes a look at the numbers to see just what we’re getting for the money.
Fancy a couple of new marina developments on Hayling anyone? Details of the sites which have been submitted to Havant Borough Council for consideration in the upcoming Local Plan. The usual suspects plus a few new ones.
Hampshire County Council is about to embark on the next phase of its local cycling and walking infrastructure projects.
Bedhampton Heritage Alliance and HBC lose the appeal by Bargate Homes over Lower Road housing.
The Warblington A27 Junction and the Southleigh ‘Spine’ road – unveiled.
If you thought that PDP Architecture had already squeezed a quart into a pint pot between Streets and the Pallant, take a look at what they’re proposing here in South Street. An interesting development proposal for the town centre.
“Site 72”, Brockhampton West, sold by the Council for employment use to raise funds for the Meridian Centre re-development, now hijacked by Southern Water to build a recycling plant to enable output from Budds Farm to be pumped into the Havant Thicket reservoir.
Tuesday’s Development Consultation Forum for ‘Land at Palk Road’, Bedhampton, was an informative affair.
Anything connected to Portsmouth Water’s extensive town centre landholdings makes us sit up, even if this was ‘sold off to Bellway Homes and leased back’, which is by no means certain.
Langstone millpond. Without urgent action by the local authorities, this much loved stretch of coast path will be gone and the millpond will be abandoned to become a tidal swamp, changing the shoreline forever and destroying this unique environment.
Live Traffic and Transport links.
Live access to HBC meetings schedule.

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