James Birdseye and Harrison RB brighten up your Friday morning with chat about Christmas. Which are this year’s top-selling toys for children… and which of them would James like to keep for himself?!
Also, all today’s essential local information for Petersfield and its villages, local news, weather with Kate and the latest on the roads across our area.
Plus your regular service of essential local news and information for Petersfield and its villages.
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You can help to update the information we share via email to team@petersfieldradio.uk or by calling Petersfield 01730 555 500.
Information transcript
Local news
Petersfield’s MP has welcomed funding for disadvantaged families.
East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds has reacted positively to the extension of the Holiday Activities Programme for easter, summer and christmas next year. The extension comes as part of a package of £2.8 million to support vulnerable Hampshire families this winter.
The programme was launched in 2008 and provides nutritious meals and education for disadvantaged children and runs whole family activities. Speaking in the House of Commons, Hinds praised the good work done locally by Connect4Summer who provide funding for Holiday Childcare Providers in Petersfield and around the county.
However, his praise has come just weeks after Hinds voted against the extension of Free School Meals in October.
A Petersfield business owner has helped to launch a national campaign.
Independent shops across the country have got behind a petition asking the government for “fairness in defining essential/non-essential items and who can sell in lockdown”.
The owner of Petersfield boutique Velvet & Rose, Shirley Leader, helped create the petition. Many shop owners believe it is unfair that large shops such as M&S are able to carry on selling clothes while independents are forced to close their doors.
Shirley Leader told fashion publication Drapers that “there should be a level playing field, and better definition of essential and non-essential items, across all of the different retail sectors”.
The chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association, Andrew Goodacre said that clothing has been the worst affected sector. He believes it’s unfair for so-called essential retailers to be allowed to sell non-essential clothes alongside their food.
For any independent business owners looking for support during lockdown, information is available from the British Independent Retailers Association at bira.co.uk
A Southampton resident has been banned from driving for a year having been caught behind the wheel under the influence in Petersfield in March.
The incident took place on Winchester Road when driver Abdal Karim Akhtar, aged 24, was caught by the police driving a motorbike through Petersfield with an illegal level of cannabis in his system.
Akhtar will pay a £300 fine, a £32 victim surcharge and £40 in costs, as heard at Basingstoke Magistrates Court this week.
A night out at Christmas or New Year could cost you more.
Councillors are meeting next Thursday to decide whether taxi fares on both evenings should go up by 50%.
Stephen Martin has more:
No-one wants to be stuck outside at Christmas waiting for a cab, and some taxi firms in East Hampshire argue that an increase in fares on those two nights would encourage more taxi drivers to work those shifts.
But other operators have told East Hampshire District Council that the prospect of higher fares could put revellers off going out altogether.
An increase of 50 per cent on the two evenings would bring East Hampshire’s taxi prices in line with those in Havant but it would mean that getting out to any festivities would cost us more.
Fares after midnight for the journey home are already set at a higher rate.
Council reminds Petersfield the skate park is closed
Petersfield Town Council is reminding local residents that the skatepark on Love Lane is closed because of the lockdown.
The sports representative body, Skateboard GB, has made a case to the government for an exemption from the closure of sports facilities but still urge the skating community to follow the Government guidance.
Outdoor skateboarding should only take place on your own, with household members, or with one other person.
In all circumstances, social distancing and hygiene protocols must be adhered to at all times whilst skateboarding.
Travel news
South Western is running a revised train service until December 12th, so if you’re travelling by train this weekend check times before you travel.
The High Street is still closed as the sewer repair work is finished up there. It looks just about done though – and the good news is having the High Street closed gave engineers space to put up some of Petersfield’s brand new Christmas lights…. They’ll be switched on in about a week’s time.
And Ramshill has been Ramshell this week with the temporary traffic lights causing delays approaching the roundabout from all directions. Try to find a way around that junction if you can.
And there’s a warning out for heavy rain this coming weekend so be careful if you have to drive – it could affect driving conditions.
And if we’re not saying what you’re seeing out there – you can call Petersfield 555 500 to help update this information. Just another way that you make it shine.
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