Hart District Council Election 2019


The elections for Hampshire County Council will be held on 2nd May.

Independently minded and working for you

The Community Campaign Hart (CCH) have earned a reputation for putting the interests of residents before politics: tackling the issues that are facing Hart residents now and, in the foreseeable future.  We will only make promises that are within our remit to deliver on.  We think you would prefer us to be honest rather than make election promises we know we can’t keep because they’re not within the remit of local councillors to achieve.  District Councils have minimal influence on the overall economy, health services, trains, 5G and fibre broadband rollout but there are plenty of areas where we can (and have been) a positive force for change:

QUALITY OF LIFE: we are very close to having a Local Plan for Hart, after many years without one under the previous administration.  CCH have been absolutely instrumental in delivering this. The Local Plan affects so many areas of Hart life: transport, housing, primary and secondary schools.  It will: -
  • Protect Fleet and Church Crookham  from further housing which fails to deliver the necessary infrastructure to support it.
  • Supports the ground work to allocate further housing, from 2025, which central government policies require. Addresses sustainability and with key services, such as, secondary school, surgery, bus and transport links, to support it
  • Deliver homes for all, from starter homes through to affordable retirement homes, self-build plots and, will aim to, deliver 40% affordable homes.
  • Well-designed homes for future generations, technologically future-proof.  Building ‘smarter, better connected homes’ is a wonderful aspiration for the future but, it will rely on fibre broadband and 5G rollout timescales so, realistically, is not deliverable in the short term and in all likelihood, will only be delivered via a well-designed New Settlement. 

FLEET REGENERATION: we support the regeneration of Fleet ‘High Street’ with its centre on Fleet Road but, we won’t make promises outside our jurisdiction or capability.  We think this would be misleading and you, our constituents, deserve better.  We can’t force ‘well known retailers’ to move into Fleet and building a new retail and residential development can only happen if landlords are willing to sell . So far, none have expressed interest in doing so.

Further residential development of Fleet is highly unlikely to deliver the infrastructure it needs but, WILL LEAD TO more traffic and more pressure on, already struggling, key services. ‘Brownfield’ sites (that is a site that has previously been developed or used) are costlier to develop than a ‘greenfield’ site (one that has never been developed). The Developer’s require a certain profit margin, once the land cost and build cost are taken from the forecasted revenue, to make the scheme viable for them. If they had to pay contributions towards the local infrastructure (roads, schools, doctors surgeries and the like) on top of the build and land cost, the scheme would become less viable. Inevitably the scheme would deliver less infrastructure.  A re-development, such as this, will also, in all likelihood, require  underground car parking, adding further cost and, – does Fleet’s ‘High Street’ want/need that level of disruption? Therefore, regeneration has to be realistic and achievable, not, just wishful thinking.

​It’s important that we avoid turning Fleet into another Basingstoke or Farnborough.  The character of Fleet is very different.  We already have plenty of cinemas, bowling alleys and large shopping centres within 20 minutes’ drive of Fleet. We don’t want Fleet to be lumbered with large complexes that drive up rent for our retailers and leave us struggling to compete with larger neighbouring towns.
What we are supporting is: -
  • A sympathetic regeneration of the Harlington and surrounding area into a key leisure and entertainment destination for all ages.
  • New play equipment in Calthorpe Park. A multi-age park from a £200K budget from Developer Contributions (S106) for Leisure in Fleet.
  • A new entertainment and leisure hub for our younger residents.
  • Ensure that ALL Hart residents share in paying a fair contribution for the Harlington, as we believe it is an asset enjoyed by all.
  • Free parking up to an hour in every car park owned by Hart District Council – delivered sustainably and permanently, not as a temporary election gimmick.
 
TRANSPORT: Central government, the rail franchises and Network Rail ultimately drive improvements, such as ‘faster, longer’ trains.  However, we are:
  • supporting work to introduce a second parking deck to Fleet station’s north car park.  
  • ensuring money given to Hampshire County Council from developments in Hart gets spent on Hart roads and not on paper studies that don’t deliver on the ground.
  • Working with Hampshire Children’s Services to introduce safety measures for pupils walking to school.
 
CRIME: Hart has one of the lowest crime rates in the UK so we think it’s wrong to create a culture of fear that is unwarranted and unjustified.  At a recent presentation, at FTC’s AGM, by one of our PCSO’s, a slight increase, in overall crime, of 5% was highlighted but, the PCSO said part of this was due to changes in reporting. However, we are aware that recent increases in some crimes, nationally, such as knife crime, may be causing concern but this is not an issue we currently face in Hart.  Much of the national crime levels are as a result of the Central Government Police cuts. We will,  however, continue do our bit to ensure Hart remains a safe community, by: -
  • Continuing to work with Hampshire Police & Crime Commissioner to secure more police on Hart’s streets. The Community Campaign was the only Hart District Council group to attend consultation sessions with the Police & Crime Commissioner and to vote in support of his initiative to introduce over 200 new beat officers across Hampshire in the coming year.​​

Your local CCH District Candidate needs your support in the elections on 2nd May
 
The local solution is working
The Community Campaign (Hart) is an established and trusted independent local residents’ group that has represented people in Hart District for over 15 years.
 
Our independent and open minded approach, listening and working with the communities we represent, makes us effective. We now have 10 elected Hart councillors, representing Fleet, Church Crookham and local villages.
 
We can focus on the issues which matter to local people, without having to bow to the imperatives of a national party hierarchy. We represent our electorate; no one else.
 
Our core values
  • We have no political dogma. We simply represent local people, fairly and effectively.
  • We are free from party politics, so are free to exercise our best judgement.
  • We believe that best results are achieved by working with an open mind, being receptive to good ideas.
  • We are prepared to challenge when necessary.
  • Above all, we do this because we care about the local community and our environment.

Active engagement
The Community Campaign work together as a team, leveraging the skills of our individual contributors to best overall effect. We get involved in the issues that matter to the local community but do not seek to steal the glory.
 
We believe that it’s the results that matter, not the photo opportunity nor collecting ‘likes’ on Facebook.
 
This election is about where we live, it’s about the community, environment and quality of life in the area we all call home.

Published by: Julia Ambler, 39 Du Maurier Close, Church Crookham, Hampshire, GU52 0YA