Hamble Airfield Gravel Extraction

The LibDem candidate Mike Thornton, has said that the Conservatives want to extract gravel from the Hamble Airfield site, but that the LibDems are fighting to preserve greenfield sites.  However, Maria Hutchings has campaigned against the County Council's plans for the gravel extraction.

This is the official response from Hampshire County Councillor Colin Davidovitz:

The Hampshire Mineral and Waste Plan which identifies part of the Hamble Airfield site for gravel extraction was drawn up by officers of the three Major Hampshire Authorities and were endorsed by the Liberal Democrat Run Portsmouth City Council, the Labour Run Southampton City Council and the Conservative run Hampshire  Council in conformity with the requirement that minerals should be extracted as close as possible to the building developments they are intended to supply. Eastleigh Borough Council is preparing plans for the development of 9600 houses, half of them on  significant large developments on what is left of our  green field sites in the Borough.

Is this protecting our greenfield sites?  

I wrote this on 29th May 2012 about Stoneham Park:

Following on from my last blog, it appears that people just don't realise that it is LibDem run Eastleigh Borough Council that wants to concrete over this local beauty spot.  And they actually voted for this to be concreted over just a few weeks ago!!!!

The consequences will be enormous:

• It will remove the strategic gap between Eastleigh and Southampton.
• If this happens, Southampton will develop from the other direction. 
• It will place an enormous strain on local services which are already struggling to cope with the Pirelli development; and the Prysmium development will also be competing for these services.
• It will cause a massive increase in traffic in Chestnut Avenue.
• There already insufficient open spaces in Eastleigh.
• It will remove local heritage for our posterity.

On Saturday, I took part in a walk - above - around North Stoneham Park and we aim to make a lot more noise in the future about this as trhe development must not be allowed to happen.

Maria Hutchings has campaigned tirelessly to protect Stoneham Park and all inappropriate development in our Borough, and has been commended by Pat Ford, the leader of Save Stoneham Park.

The Truth About Hampshire County Council

Designer Furniture

Despite Lib Dem Claims the County Council has not equipped its refurbished offices with luxurious furnishings. It has purchased more efficient open plan office systems to equip its staff with more cost effective computerised hot-desking facilities. This has enabled twice as many of its staff to be relocated and accommodated in the new and  more efficient working environment, while at the same time, enabling many of them to work from home using networked computing facilities.

Maria Hutchings - Putting Eastleigh First

"Maria is a dedicated campaigner who has fought hard to support disabled children and their famillies.  she truly has a selfless nature and genuinely cares for those around her.  She will be a great local MP."                  

Chris Yates, former policeman and Hedge End resident.

Maria Hutchings: always on your side.  She says:

1. I'm here to stay. Unlike other candidates I haven't just arrived for this by-election.  I'll carry on living in Eastleigh with my family.
2. I'll open a shop front office so local people can pop in and talk to me and my constituency staff direct.
3. I'll put local people ahead of political ambition.  No letter left unanswered, no e-mail left unopened.  Local people need an MP who'll work for them 24/7, not climb the greasy pole at Westminster.

Maria Campaigns against Inappropriate Development

D-Day for controversial 1,600 new homes scheme

7:00am Tuesday 12th February 2013 in News

D-Day for controversial 1,600 new homes scheme

COUNCILLORS are due to consider today the first of two housing proposals for the Eastleigh borough by a consortium of developers.

The developers want to build 250 homes at Pylands Lane, in Bursledon, and a further 1,400 homes on a golf course near Boorley Green in the Botley parish.

The Bursledon proposal will be discussed at a special meeting of the Bursledon, Hamble-le-Rice and Hound Local Area Committee tonight at the Hamble Community Sports College, at 5.30pm.

The outline application includes building a Sunday’s Hill Bypass and new junctions with Heath House Lane and Dodwell Lane and a new children’s play area.

Proposals for Boorley Green will be decided on at a meeting next Monday. Developers say the project could create up to 950 jobs.

Protesters against the planned development at Boorley Green, along with members of the Hedge End and Bursledon Action Group who are opposed to the Bursledon plans, took to the streets of Botley a fortnight ago in an attempt to persuade councillors to refuse approval.

Protesters against the planned development at Boorley Green, along with members of the Hedge End and Bursledon Action Group who are opposed to the Bursledon plans, took to the streets of Botley a fortnight ago in an attempt to persuade councillors to refuse approval.

Maria at Eastleigh Station

Maria Hutchings was meeting people at Eastleigh Station this morning:

and will be in Hamble at noon today.

MARIA HUTCHINGS CALLS ON COUNCIL TO RE-THINK DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Sensible plans needed in order to protect our local communities

Local champion Maria Hutchings has led calls for the local Council to re-think it’s plans for large scale housing developments across Eastleigh and our villages.

Responding to plans to build almost 10,000 new houses across Eastleigh and surrounding villages, Maria said:

“I’ve worked alongside concerned local residents to put forward sensible alternatives to the plans drawn up by the Council. Everyone wants to see new family homes, but bulldozing over our green spaces is not way to do it.”

Hundreds of local people have contacted Maria to express their concern. Maria has been quick to challenge the Council’s “consultation”.

“We must fight these plans. I want to ensure that good quality family homes are built, especially for front-line public sector workers, the armed forces and those who have strong family links in

Eastleigh, protecting our green spaces and excellent public services.”

Across Eastleigh there are thousands of empty dwellings and unused ‘brown field’ sites ready for new development.

Maria Hutchings has asked the Council to re-think these plans and listen to local people.

Conservative run Hampshire council Reduces tax despite reduction of funding from Government.

I have had a comment about how Maria should get the Conservatives in Central Government to sort out a fairer deal for Hampshire, including the residents of Eastleigh who Maria hopes will vote for her.

This is the response:

Conservative local authorities - and Hampshire County Council in particular - are  looking to the Government to release even more from the money they get from their taxpayers to pay for the statutory services local Government provides, and  for which Whitehall claims  responsibility.   These are hugely subsidised out of the funds  received from the Council taxpayer. 

In next year’s budgets the Council Tax payer will be contributing many millions of pounds to fill the gap made in the shortfall of funding which is needed by Local Authorities to deliver demand led services such as care for the vulnerable young and elderly, highways and public transport etc. Hampshire County Council would  like to have a greater share of the business rates, which the local businesses in Hampshire, that the council supports, pay directly to the chancellor, in addition to the other  taxes they pay to the exchequer, and from which local authorities only receive a small portion.

Happily, because of the efficiencies the Conservative Council has made in Hampshire, although the shortfall in funding  suffered was over £100 million, local people have  benefited by an actual reduction of 11% in their Council tax as the council has been able to manage to continue to deliver the services people need without increasing the amount that they have to contribute in Council Tax despite a rise in the RPI over that period.    

Maria does work closely with the Hampshire County Council and will ensure the best deal possible.