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Bishop’s Waltham Rail Trail
For many years there has been a project to open up a bridleway from Bishop’s Waltham to Botley using the trackway of the old railway as far as possible. It is now feasible to plan in detail the 2km as far as the Parish Boundary with Curdridge at Park Lug.
A volunteer is required to join a working group on this section with the prospect of taking on the project management reporting to the Parish Council. The main tasks for the working group are concluding negotiations with landowners, securing the dedication agreements, obtaining cost estimates, and preparing invitations to tender. Other volunteers with relevant knowledge and expertise in the project will support the working group and all legal and financial issues will be covered by the Parish Council or other local authorities.
Please contact the Parish Council Executive Officer, Lindsay Edge (892323) if you are interested in joining this project so that further information can be given.
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Local Plan Consultation
The Local Plan will address local housing need, the economy, environmental considerations including the climate emergency, community infrastructure as well as strategic infrastructure needs.
Winchester City Council want to encourage as many people as possible from across the district to take part in this consultation.
Virtual information events that are taking place over the next few weeks. The first session will be taking place next week. Details of all the dates, and how to book a place, are listed here:
9 March – 7pm click here to book
12 March – 10am click here to book
20 March – 10.30am click here to book
Further information about the Local Plan can be found here: -
https://www.localplan.winchester.gov.uk/ 
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Solar Together Hampshire
Solar Together Hampshire is a new scheme offering high-quality solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery storage. The scheme brings Hampshire homeowner, and small-to-medium sized enterprises, together to get solar panels at a competitive price. Hampshire County Council is working with independent and trusted experts, iChoosr, to help make the switch to clean energy as cost effective and easy as possible, helping you through the process and keeping you informed at every stage.
Click here for further information
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MESSAGE FROM XELABUS
As you will appreciate following the Governments National Lockdown announcement the number of people travelling by bus will reduce but we do recognise that there is a need for shopping and medical appointments.
So from WEDNESDAY 6th JANUARY 2021 we at Xelabus will operate a reduced service and details are listed below:
Service X4 (Hedge End area)
This service will operate a Saturday service Monday to Saturday.
The Sunday service will NOT OPERATE
Service X6/X7 (Chandlers Ford and Hiltingbury area)
A reduced timetable will continue to operate from Hiltingbury
And Chandlers Ford to and from Esatleigh on Mondays to Fridays.
On a Saturday the service to and from Fryern Hill will continue to operate
The Sunday service to and from Velmore will NOT OPERATE
Service X8 (Boyatt Wood area)
This SUNDAY SERVICE will not operate
Service X9 (Colden Common, Fair Oak, Horton Heath, Hedge End, Botley,
Curdridge, Waltham Chase, Swanmore and Bishops Waltham areas)
This service will operate a Saturday service Monday to Saturday
Service X10 (Bishops Waltham, Durley, West End areas)
This service will operate a Saturday service Monday to Saturday
Service X15 (Fair Oak, Horton Heath, Botley, Hedge End, Netley, Hamble areas)
This service will continue to operate a Monday to Friday service
Service X17 (Fair Oak, Upham, Bishops Waltham, Swanmore, Droxford areas)
This service will continue to operate EVERY WEDNESDAY
Please call 02380 644715 for any enquiries.
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PLANNING APPLICATIONS
Click here for the latest Planning Applications
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BISHOP'S WALTHAM MATTERS NEWSLETTERS
TO VIEW ALL COPIES OF OUR BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS PLEASE CLICK HERE
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WHAT NEXT FOR THE MEON VALLEY FOOD BANK?
Granted charitable status but now in need of a new home
When the Meon Valley Food Bank was first set up in early 2015 no one could have foreseen the growth in demand for the service provided by food banks. Certainly, the arrival of coronavirus was not in anyone’s mind.
Over the years we have continued to operate to the highest professional standards but have felt for some time that it would be reassuring to all our referral agencies and donors if we could formalise our position by obtaining charitable status. We are delighted that on the 15th July the Charity Commission granted this.
We are in a strong position to continue to support individuals and families in need. Throughout these unprecedented times our local communities have provided us with donations of food and gifts of money that have more than kept pace with the significant increase in demand for our service.
We have come a long way since 2015 and have been fortunate to have the support of Bishops Waltham Youth Club whose premises we use. But we are now faced with the biggest challenge yet. The Youth Hall along with the adjacent buildings are to be redeveloped once planning consent has been granted and we will urgently need a new home.
A stand-alone property in Bishops Waltham seems unlikely but maybe there is a business who would consider subletting part of their building to us? Please contact us through our website or by using this email address: info@meonvalleyfoodbank.co.uk
For some the idea of a food bank in the Meon Valley just doesn’t seem right but as a measure of the reality of food poverty in our area, in June and July we provided food to 79 families and individuals. So long as the need is there, we will continue to offer this much needed support.
Registered Charity in England and Wales 1190417
www.meonvalleyfoodbank.co.uk