At the county council meeting on April 18th, the Tory administration at County Hall forced through plans, which if accepted by the Boundary Committee (BC), will split up East & West Harnham for the new unitary elections in May 2009.

They have now pushed everything North of Netherhampton Rd, Harnham Rd, New Harnham Rd & Downton Rd into St Martin & Milford division.

An option for the City that would have kept West & East Harnham as two separate divisions was rejected last week, as the Tories voted for their own option for the City.

I tried in vain at the meeting to get Tory councillors to listen to the “community identity” of West Harnham, using St Georges Church, built 1115 and the Old Mill, built around 1135, as community links in West Harnham.  The pleas were disgracefully ignored and I was accused of being political!

There is going to be one heck of a fight through the BC to retain East & West Harnham identities.  Many residents are fiercely opposed to such plans.  Residents objected to plans to split Harnham in the last Boundary Review in 1998 and were listened too.  Hopefully, we will be listened to this time, as these proposals, supported by the Conservatives, are a disgrace to our community.

Affected areas in Harnham will be leafleted by myself in due course, with details on how to object to this proposal.  The Boundary Committee website is:  http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/boundary-reviews/all-reviews/south-west/wiltshire/wiltshire-electoral-review

The ‘flawed’ City proposals can be seen in the Tory administrations submission to the Boundary Committee: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wiltshire-boundary-review.pdf 

This proposal will be the “Draft Recommendation” from the BC.  It is important that local residents make their comments known to the BC.  I hope then that they’ll listen to us and change the details in their “Final Recommendations”, due later this year.

There will be a meeting to discuss the Local Development Framework (LDF) on

Tuesday 22nd April at 7.30pm

St Georges Hall, Lower St

A Planning Officer will be here to explain the consultation process.  All Harnham residents are welcome to attend. 

Potential new housing sites, in the consultation, have been identified in Netherhampton & Britford Parishes. 

Numerous complaints have come my way about the new “surface” of the Town Path.  Well, I have to say that I am very disappointed about the surface too, especially as we have waited two years, with numerous start dates that have been put off.  It is not what I expected.  I couldn’t print the many comments that I have received.  But I do agree with them.

If you are not hapy, please forward your complaint to Wiltshire County Council (WCC), (01225) 713000, or email the director of environmental services: georgebatten@wiltshire.gov.uk

WCC are the Highway Authority and are responsible for resurfacing the Town Path.  Salisbury District Council are responsible for the new Benches and the (soon to be) new Litter Bins.

The lighting is still not finished around the Old Mill.  Victorian type ‘heads’ will go on the columns here.  All the columns will then be painted black.

I have asked for an on site meeting to discuss the path.

Well, what a turn out!  At the unveiling of Susan Harris’s Memorial Bench & Plaque at the Old Mill this morning, 10th April, some 40-50 people attended in brilliant sunshine.

After Rev’ Scrace Blessed the Bench, the unveiling was performed by Susan’s closest friends from the Sarum St Michael College, along with family members.

Everyone then retired to the garden of The Old Mill for refreshments, kindly provided by the Old Mill.  Many ‘yesteryear conversations’ then took place among the many reunited friends.

Salisbury Journal video:  http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/videonews/index.var.25805.0.0.php

Journal report: http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/journalnewsindex/display.var.2197045.0.heroine_teacher_honoured.php

Vision News Video: http://www.vision-news.tv/