Please raise your concerns and be ready to make comments at this event - as that is what it is for.
The AGM is on Thursday, October 15, at the United Reformed Church Hall, Mengham.
HIRA does not have a committee meeting in August there are no
formal matters to report. The following are matters of general interest and comment.
Sinah Cottage - Norfolk Arms
As many will know, the cottage beside the road between Sinah and the Kench suffered a fire some time ago and suffered another early last month.
The old Norfolk Arms has a long history.
If Sinah Warren holiday park had been granted planning permission to build some accommodation to the west of the present location, we understand that this, now even more derelict building, would have been used as a staff residence.
The question has been asked as to whether any effort should be made to encourage preservation of this building or whether it should be demolished.
For some years there has been pressure to make this stretch of road safer and to provide an improved footpath.
What do people feel about the future of this site? Perhaps a letter to the Islander might be penned?
We also understand full planning permission has now been given for the improvement of 35 Norfolk Crescent - the most easterly property.
This re-development might presage a new beginning for this fine, listed building.
Parish/Town Council
The process of establishing a council for Hayling should be taken up again in the coming year.
The number of people who say to me, we must have such a council, is surprisingly large. The content of the borough council's Strategic Development Framework document merely accentuates this desire.
As I noted last month, under the present system, after national, regional and county directives have been attended to, there is little left for Havant to influence, let alone Hayling.
The only objections to a Hayling Council seem to come from people who resent a small extra precept on their council tax to pay for it.
However this precept would almost certainly be less than we already pay each year in inflation and to fund all the directives from central government..
So by bringing forward a payment of say, four per cent of present tax levels we could actually have our say at Hayling level on matters that are of importance and over which we would then have control.
Some say "we do not need yet another level of government." That may have some credence, but why not at least have the level over which we Islanders, have control and dilute some of the others.
CONTACTS
Chairman: Paul Fisher 9246 1412
Membership: Brenda Greenland 9246 6716
Noticeboard: Lois Neale 9246 9339
Reporter: Tony Higham 9246 4723
