On Monday evening, 25 March, HCS held a 'Public Forum' in St Faith's church with two invited members of Havant Borough Council's new executive management team, Alex Robinson, Director of Place, and Wayne Layton, Exec Head of Finance and Regeneration. We were all given a warm welcome by the Rector, Tom Kennar to whom Havant … Continue reading HCS Public Forum – 25 March 2024
Great British Railway Journeys visits Havant
In the current series of Great British Railway Journeys, Michael Portillo visits Havant, for a program which preserves for posterity the sight of Havant Station's soon-to-be-replaced footbridge. HCS were delighted to see that the presenter and his team spent much of their time in Havant at The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre in East Street. … Continue reading Great British Railway Journeys visits Havant
HS2 is now on schedule to arrive at Havant Station in 2025
In a welcome change of direction for the regeneration of the town centre, it seems that the ghost of HS2 may be appearing at Havant Station sometime in 2025. The government's 'Local Transport Fund', generated from the recent HS2 project cancellation savings, is not just being redistributed across the North of England and the Midlands, … Continue reading HS2 is now on schedule to arrive at Havant Station in 2025
Havant’s charity shop trail
It’s a frequent grumble that nowadays High Streets are all charity outlets and coffee shops. It is sad that there aren’t the shops that existed ten or fifteen years ago, but Havant is lucky that most of its shop units are occupied. The charity shops are bringing in a good income for their causes, which … Continue reading Havant’s charity shop trail
The town centre gets a well-aimed kick up the backside
Two of the HCS committee members, also members of the fledgling Havant Town Centre Partnership Board, were invited to a High Streets Task Force workshop at East Street's hidden gem, The Spring, Arts and Heritage Centre on Monday 26 February. The workshop was led by Steve Millington, Professor of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, … Continue reading The town centre gets a well-aimed kick up the backside
White vans. If you can’t beat them, join them!
If you're anywhere out and about in Havant between 9:30 and 12:30*, seven days a week, you'll probably have noticed this logo, usually stuck on the back door of a tattered white van along with a separate sticker advertising 'driving jobs'. They're usually tucked into a bigger, even more anonymous fleet of similar vans, mostly … Continue reading White vans. If you can’t beat them, join them!
Portsmouth Water’s recurring threat to Bosmere medical staff and patients
Various iterations of this same planning application have been causing concern for Bosmere Medical Centre staff and their nineteen thousand registered patients since October 2019, long before the Covid pandemic. The original planning application was submitted in partnership with Chancerygate, whose commercial incentive was the development of industrial / warehouse units sited to the west … Continue reading Portsmouth Water’s recurring threat to Bosmere medical staff and patients
Traffic – Havant’s ticking timebomb
This year, we're going to put the spotlight on traffic, given the evident disconnect between Hampshire County Council, Havant Borough Council and reality as far as traffic planning goes. This first of a series of posts sets out the background and provides context for the ones which will follow. Understanding why Havant town has a traffic … Continue reading Traffic – Havant’s ticking timebomb
HLHG – Local History Summit Meeting
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. Organised and facilitated by the ever-energetic Neil Spurgeon, chair of the Havant Local History Group, and hosted by Sue Dickinson as her final event before taking a well-earned … Continue reading HLHG – Local History Summit Meeting
Havant – Heritage and Conservation
Since the Civic Amenities Act 1967, local planning authorities have been required to decide which parts of their area “are of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance” and to designate them as conservation areas. Date stone in the wall next to the Dissenters' … Continue reading Havant – Heritage and Conservation
Havant Civic Society 