Chairman to fight for Island council
Hayling Island Residents' Association report By TONY HIGHAM PRIOR to the talk by the Island's MP, the formal AGM of HIRA was held during which chairman Paul Fisher pledged to continue to push for a parish council for Hayling.
He opened proceedings by commenting on the poor turnout last year which he blamed to late alterations to the HIRA report in the Hayling Islander.
The minutes of the 2008 AGM were distributed, commented upon and approved.
The treasurer's report was presented showing that adequate funds were held for the foreseeable future.
However improved methods of collecting membership fees were clearly needed.
A question was asked about how HIRA distributed the income from life members across their anticipated membership period.
The answer was that it was not considered worth while to do this.
The chairman appealed for any offers to take up the position or treasurer as the present incumbent was no longer able to continue.
Paul then gave his review of the year covering environment, planning, issues and community, these often merging.
Of great concern was the lack of progress on completion of the Eastoke Corner scheme (see Community Board report below)
This was now being pursued by the Community Board chairman, who was most concerned by the way that the remaining funds seemed to be evaporating in spite of no work being done.
Various proposals were being made.
Similarly the Seafront Masterplan seemed to have made no progress.
However progress had been made on the Mengham Park Village Green status.
Paul made the points about flooding work delays, also mentioned by David Willetts.
On planning there had been a slowdown on applications and HIRA made vigorous representations were necessary.
Last year the Tesco extension had been hard fought. The basis of decisions had been made on comments such as that from a Leigh Park councillor that "'my constituents are so poor they needed a Tesco to shop at," completely ignoring shops such as Asda, Lidl, Netto and Aldi!
Similarly, HIRA had been greatly opposed to the flats on the old Rainbow site by the funfair due to the strategic importance of that site in any beach redevelopment.
Equally he hoped that the refurbishment of 35 Norfolk Crescent might lead to improvements in that area.
Paul was pleased about the opening of a new pharmacy, interested in the Alan Priddy breakwater suggestion, concerned over continuing speeding problems and hopeful that the Rose in June site development could by moved forward with a more civic content.
Other topics mentioned were water fluoridation (from our January meeting) library reopening, a possible library in The Hayling College, Bridge Centre extension etc.
He also wished to commend the work being done to provide better youth facilities, now likely to be at the college.
He mentioned the interesting development that the borough council's chief executive Sandy Hopkins would be sharing the same role at East Hampshire District Council, at Petersfield.
This led on to the final point that HIRA would look further into the idea of a Hayling Island Council.
There are many views on this but they do need to be exposed and explored.
After the chairman's review it was agreed to re-elect the present committee but with the post of treasurer currently remaining vacant.
Finally, Paul thanked David Willetts for coming and invited him to attend our AGM next year.
Council could protect ALL of islandIN last month's Islander, Ted Gale commented that the people of Northney felt no need for a Hayling Island council.
This is not surprising as Northney is protected from almost any serious development because it has virtually every environmental protection status it is possible to have.
Unfortunately much of the rest of the Island does not have that protection.
A third-tier council for Hayling might help to give the rest of the Island some similar degree of protection from unsuitable development.
CONTACTS:
Chairman: Paul Fisher 92461412
Membership: Brenda Greenland 92466716
Noticeboard: Lois Neale 92469339
Reporter: Tony Higham 92464723
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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