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Still Awaiting LP Submission

On behalf of HIRA may I wish readers a very happy, healthy New Year. I hope that you’ll attend our next open Public Meeting on Wednesday February 12th 2020 7:15 for 7:30pm start at the URC, Hollow Lane. Speaker will be Mark Cubbon, Chief Executive of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. Hear his Presentation and put your questions.

Regarding our Borough’s Local Plan to 2036, Havant Borough Council gave us the frustrating news very late in 2019 that the Pre-Submission Plan has not yet been presented to the Planning Inspector as we had been told. Instead this is likely to be in the Summer of 2020. HBC’s December announcement explained that they are still working on “the issue of nutrient neutrality” which we know seriously affects fields and our harbours’ marine life. Despite continued uncertainty regarding this issue, HBC is working hard to persuade the Government to permit proposed developments on our green fields. We sincerely wish that there were similar passionate concerns for our natural environment and real sustainability - for all Hayling residents - of the projected major developments.

The other further required work has been on the Hayling Transport Assessment Addendum, a vital ‘evidence base’ for the Pre-Submission Local Plan. The Hayling Infrastructure Advisory Group’s two November Meetings, when HBC presented their revision, heard many residents express profound disquiet that there is little substantive change from the original, rejected, Hayling Transport Assessment. Indeed at the second November Meeting, Save Our Island group presented a detailed Report, which explained why HBC’s new workings are fundamentally flawed. This independent Report was written with the advice of University of Southampton Visiting Professor Nick Hounsell, well-known Consultant on Transport and Infrastructure. It also echoes facts provided by HIRA’s Responses in 2016 to the Draft Local Plan to 2036. It appears that the A3023’s limited traffic capacity, often demonstrated by well known traffic congestion on the Island, is simply being ‘smoothed over’ by a Council determined to press through building development. We have formally requested that all our critiques of the revised Addendum be presented to the Inspector.

Everyone recognizes the importance of Hayling coastlines to us all. HBC’s ‘Hayling Seafront Regeneration Analysis & Feasibility Study January 2019’ has detailed proposals following its initial summary and it includes illustrative photographs. It’s important to view all these very specific proposals: online type the title into your Search Bar or request copy from the Council. Is this how you see Hayling’s beaches/seafront developing?

The previous Regeneration strategy proposed reduction of car parking. The popular West Beach’s ongoing severe erosion contributes to a further reduction in its essential visitor parking; this questions HBC’s commitment to Hayling’s Seafront as a key contributor to Havant’s £190m Tourism Revenue. The December sighting of tidal seaweed - in the absence of strong winds or surges -yards from the boundary of the Public Par 3 Golf Course near West Beach, is very concerning. Let your Councillors know your views!

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