Lucy Davies and Noni Needs present today’s update of local information for Petersfield and its villages.
New housing for the elderly, your chance to comment on care home plans and are your vegetables good enough for Buriton’s virtual village show?
You make it shine
Send your information updates, questions and thank you messages for people who’ve helped you locally to team@petersfieldradio.uk or phone 01730 555 500.
Information transcript
Good Morning.
A large number of new retirement homes could be built in Petersfield if developers McCarthy and Stone can find suitable land.
The company is searching for up to five acres of land for retirement homes – and says it has around five million pounds ready to buy a suitable site.
The firm wants to build what it calls a ‘multi-tenure’ retirement community here, ideally with level access and in a prominent location close to the high street or to local amenities.
They predict a strong increase in the demand for retirement living in Petersfield and claim their plans would reduce pressure on local hospitals and care services, as well as supporting the recovery of the town after the Coronavirus pandemic.
Company chief executive officer John Tonkiss said “housebuilding will be central to the UK’s recovery effort, and more and better housing for older people is a critical part of the mix.”
Any new development would be subject to planning approval.
You have one week left to respond to a consultation on a proposed new care home development just off Rams Hill.
Hampshire County Council wants to develop the former Bulmer House site into a new scheme of fifty-six one and two bedroom flats for the over-55s. They plan round-the-clock care and support services on-site and say the development could also include a bistro restaurant and coffee shop.
You can see the detailed plans and comment on them at bulmerhouse.consultationonline.co.uk and the consultation closes at midnight next Tuesday, the fourth of August.
If planning permission is agreed, the development could be open in the winter of 2022.
Petersfield Minor Injury Unit is now open again at the hospital on Swan Street.
The unit provides nurse-led consultation and treatment for you if you’ve suffered any kind of minor injury including minor burns, insect and animal bites, sprains, strains, cuts and grazes.
The unit here in Petersfield is not currently able to offer X-ray services though – so if you are worried that you may have a bone injury, you should telephone for help – the number is 02382 310 595. That’s 02382 310 595.
Petersfield Age Concern is continuing to deliver meals and prescriptions to those in need, as well as helping with shopping, gardening and DIY jobs.
The charity also has a scheme to take people to doctor’s appointments.
The Thursday evening fish and chips from Cloisters has been regularly providing over 60 portions for delivery by Age Concern volunteers, run by the ‘fairy codmother’.
The Age Concern team has also worked alongside the catering team of Churcher’s College to help ensure some of our most vulnerable and elderly local residents receive food and visits. That support will end soon but will continue for individuals who do not have other family members who can visit and help.
If you’re of the Buriton persuasion and green fingered, The Buriton ‘Virtual’ Village Show is now open for entries.
There are several categories open in this year’s competition and you can enter by taking photographs of your efforts so there’s no need to send in actual vegetables.
The categories are “Best of my Garden”, “My Veg Patch”, and “My Lockdown”. It’s free to enter, voting starts next weekend and the winning entries will be announced on Saturday the eighth of August.
If you’d like to enter, you can find all the details of the competition, the virtual village show and pictures of other people’s vegetables at buritonvillageshow.co.uk
And you’re up to date.
Thanks Lucy
Chat
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Reopening Petersfield
Gilbert Whites & Oates Collection in Selbourne is reopening later this week following the unveiling by Alan Titchmarsh last week of a statue of Gilbert White to mark the centenary of his birth.
I never knew Alan Titchmarsh was that old – he looks good on it.
Not Alan Titchmarsh, silly. Gilbert White. He would have been one hundred.
So if you’re looking for a fun day out with the family, every Thursday you can borrow a trug full of family activities and everything you need to become a nature explorer.
It’s market day in Petersfield today and it could be the biggest market since lockdown with more stalls and a wider choice of produce than we’ve seen for months. The market is open in The Square today from 8am until 3pm – and this Sunday the farmer’s market is back again for its August appearance.
In other uplifting, local news – the Tully family of Petersfield had a great idea of how to dispose of unwanted books, games, jigsaws and toys while the charity shops were closed during lockdown. They set up a stall outside their house and also asked for donations of items that they could sell to raise funds. The family has raised almost £400 for the Petersfield Food Bank, and are still going strong with their fund-raising campaign. Well done to the Tullys.
And speaking of the Food Bank, today’s the day you can drop off produce at the Methodist Church to help families less well off across our area. You can make a donation between 10 and midday this morning and the team would particularly welcome you if you can provide hot chocolate, toothbrushes and toothpaste, packet soups, tins/packs of custard, sweet treats, tinned tomatoes, shampoo and tinned soup.
Travel
SSEN continues its works around the Petersphere – currently on the Swan Street/Chapel Street junction, outside Nationwide, which are likely to cause some delays.
There are temporary traffic lights in place along Station Road, between Sandringham Road and King George Avenue as the pelican crossing is upgraded. This could cause some delays.
Hampshire County Council is conducting maintenance on Lavant Street, and SSEN is carrying out works on The Avenue, but neither of these is expected to cause delays.
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, team@petersfieldradio.uk.
Weather
Another indecisive day on the weather front today. Mostly overcast although it’s expected to remain dry. We may get a glimpse of the sun at the start of the morning and in the late afternoon/early evening with highs of 20 degrees.
Warming up even more as the week continues before a possible high of 30 on Friday.
And if you have any stories, shout outs and thank yous or if you have an idea for something you think we should feature or talk about, please let us know on Petersfield 5 55 500 or team@petersfieldradio.uk.
This week’s P pod rolls out later today featuring a chat with our own Michael Auger about his experiences in his vocal band Collabro, and tomorrow’s Morning Report will be brought to you by Suzie and Laura.
Until then, stay safe, wear your mask and have a wonderful Wednesday.
Have a great day.