NEWS
River Meon

Water flows in the river (as measured at the Hall Place Gauging Station) were very low this year.  They were similar to those observed in 1997 but don't appear to have been as severe as in the droughts of the early 1990s and 1976.  Flows in 1997 didn't recover until November – that may turn out also to be like this year.  Considered opinion is that the low flows were a consequence of the frequent but light rainfall we had over the spring and summer with no late spring recharge to the Chalk aquifer which we normally experience. It was checked that the major water abstractors in the area were complying with their licence conditions and they reported that they were taking less water this year than they did last year.

You may be interested to know that the Environment Agency is working with other organisations as part of the Meon Valley Partnership with the aim of supporting and enhancing the ecology of the River Meon and by promoting sensitive catchment management.  You can find out more about that at www.hwt.org.uk/pages/river-meon-project.html.

Recreation Ground
Children’s Play Equipment
To ensure that the children’s wooden playground equipment is safe to use, the safety surface for the equipment is being replaced and some other repairs are being made.  This work is in progress at the time of writing but completion has been delayed due to weather conditions.

Tree Inspection
The Parish Council commissioned a tree hazard survey of the 80+ trees on the recreation ground.  The survey was undertaken by a professional arboriculturalist.  The recommendations are that 7 should be felled and a significant majority of the remainder need attention, although not necessarily immediately.  Although there are likely to be costs associated with undertaking this work, the need to ensure safety of users of the grounds is paramount and so funds will need to be found for the works.

Parish Lengthsman
Our County Councillor, Felicity Hindson, is behind plans to introduce a Parish Lengthsman scheme.  Under the scheme, a Lengthsman will be shared between 10 parishes in the Meon Valley, and will be available to us on 9 days work a year.  His/her responsibilities could include minor works on drainage, signs, village clean up, Right Of Way repairs/notifications, strimming, footpath clearance etc.. A scheme of work will be drawn up, but may include ad-hoc work if needed. The scheme will be administered by Swanmore PC and last initially one year at no cost to West Meon.

Highways
Highway MaintenanceVarious factors have resulted in the County Council having an underspend on their 08/09 budget of £5.5 million, of which £2 million is earmarked for pothole repair and preventative maintenance, particularly on C roads and unclassified roads which will help the rural network.  Keep reporting problems to Councillors Rosemary Morrish and David Butcher.

A32 and The Cross Traffic Calming
A brief update on the work on the A32 to repair the road surface and to introduce traffic calming:-

• Vehicle speed readings have been taken at several points in the village and show an encouraging reduction in vehicle speeds since the works have finished.  More news and facts when we have them.
• After consultation with the residents, the Parish Council has decided to support plans to narrow the entrance to The Cross to reduce traffic speeds and improve the safety of pedestrians crossing the A32.

Street Lighting, Potholes, Blocked Drains/Gulleys
Please continue to phone either Rosemary Morrish or David Butcher for any issues that you wish to report concerning the roads or street lighting.  They are in frequent contact with the City Council regarding issues and will happily report anything that you need.  In particular, additional funds have been made available for pothole repairs following the bad weather of last winter, so do report these.

Grit Bins
Do you know where the Grit Bins are located?  There are a number of these around the parish and they are there for you to use whenever road conditions require.  Gritting lorries are used on the main routes, but the minor roads don’t get gritted and can be treacherous.  So please do use the grit so that you and your neighbours can be safe in snowy conditions.

Street Lighting
The parish, along with most other Parish Councils in Hampshire and along the South Coast is joining the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Street Lighting Scheme, under which our 17 street lights will be maintained (and/or replaced) for the next 25 years.