Dear Villagers,

Welcome to my latest update of my web page on Grayshott.com, posted week ended Friday 27th. February 2004. I'm getting more punctual in posting these updates, only a few days late this time! I'll post the next one during the week beginning 5th. April.

Big Ugly White Truck in Rockdale

The latest situation here is that the District Council are pursuing enforcement action against the owner under Planning legislation. This is because there is a de facto change of use of the grass verge that he owns from domestic to commercial, now that it is being used to park a commercial vehicle. As a result legal action by residents of Rockdale may not be necessary. Enforcement is effective but takes a while and I'll continue to post updates on my web page to keep you in the picture. I know many villagers are very upset about it.

The A3 Debate

Following the debate in the District Council's Full Council, in January, I felt that the issue of the Hazel Grove Junction position had not been adequately debated and I had not been as effective as I am usually in putting the point of view across. As a result, I took the unusual, (apparently unprecedented), step of trying to get the item back to Full Council to be re-debated.

To achieve this within the rules of the Council was not easy and I asked if I could seek the support of the North East Area Community Committee to get the issue back to the Full Council. This debate took place on 17th. February and there was a good turn out from the village to the meeting in Bordon. After substantial debate and comments from the audience, which was very well reported in the Bordon Herald last week, the committee voted 9-0 with one abstention to return the issue to Full Council for further debate.

This is great news. The debate will take place on 7th. April at Penns Place, Petersfield in a meeting that will start at 18.30. A large turn out from Grayshott is vital to demonstrate that villagers feel strongly about the issue, so do please make every effort to get along and take a friend or two as well!

TETRA Masts

As I disclosed in my previous web page update, I had to miss the EHDC Planning Committee meeting in January when these masts were discussed. Luckily, the committee decided to defer the decision to the Full Council and that meeting took place at Penns Place, Petersfield on the evening of 25th. February.

The debate lasted over two hours and there was a huge turnout from Headley and Whitehill in the audience. I was one of the first to speak and declared my opposition to the masts on health grounds. Knowing how much the officers of the Council wanted the applications to be agreed, I did my best to put a persuasive case forwards and, indeed, several Councillors admitted it changed their views. I was well supported by all local Councillors, including those who also spoke against the applications, Cllrs. Whittle and Williams from Headley and Cllrs. Watkinson and Carew from Whitehill.

For a while I thought the applications might be refused, but in the end it transpired that many Councillors who supported the applications did not speak and permission was granted 24-10 with about half a dozen abstentions. I'm afraid the Council's establishment came down heavily in favour of permission, specifically, the Leader, the Deputy Leader, the Chairman, The Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive, the Head of Legal Services and the Head of Planning. Against that kind of establishment block out it's very hard to get a motion through. Sadly I think all of them completely missed the point, as did the Legal Counsel engaged by the Council to offer advice and I fear the applications have been approved on a fundamental misunderstanding.

I would like to express my sadness at this outcome to all the residents of Headley, Lindford, Whitehill and Bordon who, I know, read this page. I don't think there's anything anyone can do now. All I can suggest is to ask M.P.s to raise the matter in the House of Commons and to contact the Government Office for the South East, (GOSE), to see if the decision can be called in for review for any reason. I have to say these would be long shots.

Meanwhile I shall continue to challenge the legality of the mast on top of Grayshott Hall.

Police Reorganisation

You may have read about this in the local newspapers. I have expressed my concerns about the manner in which Hampshire Constabulary consulted with community organisations over this change and I sympathise with the people of Petersfield in particular, who seem to have a fair complaint. However, I have discussed the implications for Grayshott at length with Inspector Thorne of Whitehill Police Station and I am satisfied that the village will actually be one of the beneficiaries of the change. More will be announced later in the year.

Personal Notes

I am an adopted Prospective Candidate for the European Parliament standing for the South East Region of England in the elections this 10th. June, representing the Conservative Party. The election system is proportional representation, so I will not canvass personally, nor can you vote for me, or any other candidate, personally. Also, I'm 9th. on the list of 10, so 90% of the population in South East England would need to vote Conservative for me to get in. So, chances are not good, you might say! As a result I expect to continue as your Councillor for the foreseeable future.

However, do please vote at these elections. The UK turnout is the worst for any election at about18% and yet more and more of our legislation emanates from Brussels, rather than Westminster. We are taxed and legislated by Brussels increasingly, but we take little interest in whom we elect to represent us there. I don't think that's smart do you?

Contact

Remember you can contact me via email on: Fcowper@aol.com or by 'phone on 01428-609858,

Ferris Cowper
EHDC Councillor for the ward of Grayshott