Claire Vennis and Dave Bowers round-up the day’s local information and news stories for Petersfield and its villages.
Today, a Petersfield entertainment venue reopens, and there’s a legal battle brewing in the Meon Valley and the Taro Fair is on, but with new dates.
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Send your information updates, and questions to team@petersfieldradio.uk or phone 01730 555 500.
Information transcript
Hello Penny Brackley – this one’s for you…
A Petersfield performance space has reopened for the first time since lockdown.
The Studio at TPS held a test event on Friday night.
An audience of just sixteen members of the public watched a film screening of the movie Hamilton to test out new safety procedures.
Manager Sean Ridley told Shine Radio that his venue has made many changes:
IN: “We’ve been…”
DUR: 32”
OUT: “…challenge you”
And you can hear more from Sean Ridley, including why he chose Hamilton as the first show, at petersfieldradio.uk
Meon Valley villagers are taking legal action over the granting of planning permission for a new wetland habitat in the South Downs National Park.
People in the Warnford and West Meon area are angry about the proposal for Whitewool Farm, at East Meon.
The farm has conditional permission for major engineering work to create the habitat as a way of capturing nitrates. Developers elsewhere will be able buy credits in those nitrates to offset the impact of their scheme.
Permission is subject to a legal agreement and further ecological survey work which has yet to be received by the national park. Villagers insist they were unaware of the scheme – after only immediate neighbours were informed – and are concerned the new habitat could impact the River Meon.
The annual Taro Fair will now take place on the Heath a week later than originally planned, on the weekend of the tenth and eleventh of October.
That’s according to Petersfield Town Council which issued a statement yesterday morning.
Fair organiser John Searle is currently in Alton, ahead of a delayed funfair there and says everything should be set for Petersfield, pending a further meeting with Hampshire County Council this Thursday.
All local funfairs are going ahead with changes to comply with the new Covid-19 government guidelines.
In Alton, the Town Council has agreed to the Fair remaining there this week in the hope they may be able to recoup some losses.
And we should be speaking to John Searle in tomorrow’s programme.
The Watercress Line is to host a ‘world-first’ event to bring some much-needed festive cheer into the lives of East Hampshire residents just in time for Christmas.
Tickets have gone on sale for the ‘world’s first’ LED steam locomotive show, taking place on the popular heritage railway.
The one-of-a-kind show will see trains illuminated as passengers are taken on a special festive journey between Alton and Alresford.
The event will run on various dates between 14 November 14 and 3 January and is being billed as the “perfect Christmas experience for all the family”.
Created in partnership with specialist lighting firm, Purple Lighting, 13,174 controllable colour mixing LED lights and LED wristbands will create an illuminated experience on and inside the steam train. Starting at either Alresford or Alton the train ride takes in a round trip of the line.
For more information and to book visit watercressline.co.uk.
Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to an accident in Petersfield that left a local man dead.
Reginald Kemp from Lydnum Close in Petersfield lost his life when his Nissan Micra collided with a pick-up truck 12 days ago.
His family have been paying tribute to the eighty-six year old great-grandfather whom they describe as a loving husband and a caring father of two daughters.
He also had seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and was known as John.
The crash involving Mr Kemp’s car and a Ford Ranger happened on the old A3 London Road at Adhurst Farm, close to its junction with the A272.
If you witnessed the collision or may have any dashcam footage that could help the Police, then Hampshire Constabulary would be pleased to hear from you.
Just call 101 and quote this incident number 442 003 609 24.
Travel
Electrical installation work is currently paused on Station Road in Petersfield, meaning a break from the temporary lights and backed-up traffic.
However, South East Water plans some work there this week with its own set of traffic lights, and there’s water work on Rams Hill at its junction with Kings-ferns-den Lane which caused delays yesterday as Churcher’s College students were leaving.
Hampshire County Council is resurfacing Old Winchester Hill near West Meon this week so look out for restrictions and expect loose chippings there.
And in Petersfield, if you live on Noreuil Road or Queens Road then the council is doing some kerb work there.
The work on Winchester Road in Petersfield continues at its junction with Princes Road – that’s for the new junction and crossing.
..and of course social distancing remains across Petersfield, with traffic restrictions and suspended parking.
And if we’re not saying what you’re seeing on the roads do let us know – Petersfield 5 55 500 is our number or email team@petersfieldradio.uk
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