Michael Auger and Noni Needs with you your daily round-up of local news, information and stories from across the Petersphere.

Also, hear from Churcher’s College Director of Music, Helen Purchase, regarding the school’s talented musicians’ virtual performance.

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You can send information updates, questions and thank-you messages for people who’ve helped you to team@petersfieldradio.uk or phone 01730 555 500.

Information transcript

Petersfield’s popular outdoor swimming pool will NOT open in 2020. The decision was taken at a trustees’ meeting this week.

Figures released by the children’s charity the NSPCC show counselling sessions for under-12s with mental health concerns have risen by a third over the lockdown.

Childline held 21,827 counselling sessions about mental health concerns from March 23 to June 28, of which almost 2,000 were for 11-year-olds and under, the NSPCC said.

This constitutes a 37 per cent rise in the average number of weekly counselling sessions about mental health and the charity is asking members of the public to donate £10 so it can continue to run services like Childline.

Locally, we’re lucky to have the King’s Arms youth project looking out for the health of our youngsters – and have had for 20 years now. If you’d like to learn how it has continued its work during lockdown – or you’d like to volunteer with the project – you can learn more from an interview with co-founder John Callaghan in this week’s P pod.

UK workers on company payrolls have fallen 649,000 during lockdown as the coronavirus crisis claimed another 74,000 jobs last month, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics said early estimates showed the number of paid employees fell by 1.9 per cent year on year in June to 28.4 million, and by 0.3 per cent compared with the previous month.

The Universal Credit claimant count has more than doubled since March – soaring 112.2% or by 1.4 million – in a sign of the mounting jobs crisis.

Another reminder that face coverings MUST be worn in shops from 24th July (a week today).

Locally, the catering team at Churcher’s College has been continuing to support our community throughout the pandemic by producing hot meals for local charities and has almost reached the landmark figure of 4,000 meals for Age Concern, Home-Start Butser and the Kings Arms.

Watch the virtual performance by Churcher’s College students here.

A reminder for car owners: if your MOT was due between 30 March and 31 July, your MOT certificate will be extended by 6 months. However, if your MOT is due on 1 August or later, there will be no such extension. You can get your MOT up to a month before the due date, and keep the same renewal date.

If you’re registered with the Grange Surgery, here’s a note for your diary – if such a thing still exists in these days of smartphone reminders. The surgery will be closed on Tuesday afternoon, that’s July 21. So if you’re planning on being ill that afternoon call the out-of-hours service on 111 during this time.  

The Petersfield Shakespeare Festival’s 2020 online offering, Monologues and More, is now on until 25 July.The programme of exciting performances showcasing the diverse and exciting new work created by the festival’s friends old and new is available each day at petersfieldshakespearefestival.co.uk.

It’s not been possible for the company to stage the planned open-air production this year but at the heart of the Online Festival are entries to the monologue writing competition, which have provided a rich seam of talent, and some fascinating insights into the lesser known characters of Romeo and Juliet.

TRAVEL

Swan Street remains closed between the junction at Borough Hill and the junction with Chapel Street while new underground electrical circuits are installed. This work is set to continue until the first week of August.

Work continues in Frenchman’s Road from the junction with Bedford Road to the junction with Borough Hill, but should be completed any day now. 

Traffic lights will be in use today on the Causeway courtesy of South-East Water and road resurfacing continues on the A272 Winchester Road, at Langrish, with a diversion in place.

And, in Liss, multi-way traffic signals are in place in Andlers Ash Road.

As always, if we’re not saying what you’re seeing, please let us know – you can reach us on Petersfield 5 55 500 or via email at team@petersfieldradio.uk.

WEATHER

Today will be fine and dry, with bright or sunny spells for many. It will feel warm – or even ‘very warm’ – in the sunshine, with light winds. The maximum temperature is a whopping 28 degrees.

The outlook for the weekend is mixed. It should be dry with warm sunny spells on Saturday, before cloud and rain arrive overnight. Early cloud and rain should clear to bring us sunny spells on Sunday, while Monday will also see sunny spells – but it’ll feel cooler.