Dear villagers,

This is my final newsletter of the current Council Term. The new four year term begins on 4th. May when the results are announced. If I am elected, I will post my next newsletter during week beginning 25th. June.

District Council Elections May 3rd. 2007

Whatever you do, whoever you support, PLEASE VOTE ON MAY 3RD. Grayshott regularly polls a turnout of 39% in local elections. It would be great to get into the "big league" of local government election turnout and achieve 40% or more!

PLEASE NOTE the result will not be announced until Friday lunchtime, approximately. All of the wards in EHDC are being counted on Friday morning, starting at 08.00 and proceeding in alphabetical order of the ward, so Grayshott will be counted before Headley.

The reasons for not counting overnight on polling day are;

1. The polls are open an hour later this time, until 22.00. This causes a 1 hour delay in the count. As it normally finishes around 03.00 the next morning, this would delay it to 04.00 and I don't think we should ask officers to perform such a vital task when they will be so tired.

2. We have many more postal votes and, of course, a new postal voting system. So far EHDC is coping better than the media might suggest, but we have to allow for problems with new procedures and a brand new computer system. Officers will be better placed to deal with any difficulties with postal votes after a good night's sleep, the next morning.

3. It seems dangerous to have the count conducted when everyone is tired, especially when some wards can change control with just 7 votes.

Annual Parish Assembly 30th. March

Over 150 people attended. Our Annual Assembly is always the best attended in East Hampshire.

This was undoubtedly the main event for me since the last newsletter. I knew I had to deal with concerns about proposed developments for Philips House and 8, Beechanger End, but there were other important matters for me to manage as well. Here is a short report on what I have done about the matters put to me at the meeting.

1. Philips House and 8, Beechanger End

As you might imagine, I had done a lot of homework on this. I spoke to all the main objectors in the two weeks beforehand. I then met with Council officers as well as both Housing Associations and both sets of architects. I established that there was more than enough flexibility available to make very substantial design alterations that would go a long way towards meeting the wishes of the objectors.

I announced at the meeting that I would set up a mini consultation for each project and I have completed this task already. The membership of each mini consultation is one representative of the objectors, one from the Grayshott Society, one from the Parish Council, one EHDC officer and the architects. I am not involved unless a problem arises.

One meeting has now taken place on each of the two projects. Progress has been very satisfactory and the participants who were objectors have told me that they are pleased with the extent to which their ideas have been taken on board and the greatly improved role they have had in the design process.

Clearly more has to be done and one of the projects needs at least one more meeting, but I don't think we could have done better than we have.

2. The Police House and Sunnyhill.

Two more planning matters. These applications have already been decided. For various reasons I did not take part in the discussions in either case. I was asked by some residents who objected to the Council's decisions if the decisions could be explained and then challenged in some way. The answer is "yes" and I have organised the relevant meeting with the main protagonists present, for the beginning of May.

3. Dog Fouling.

I was shocked to hear of some of the careless fouling that is taking place. It seems that dogs are being taken into the children's play area on Lyndon Green and are fouling the play area with excrement. I can hardly believe any dog owner in Grayshott would permit such dreadful behaviour with the serious health risk to young children.

I have arranged for improved dog warden patrols in Grayshott by the EHDC Dog Warden. The warden is empowered to issue on the spot fixed penalty notices. I have also asked my officers at EHDC to develop improved signage for the play area which I will propose to the Parish Council in due course for their consideration. Further discussions are under way about Police presence and observation and other methods to catch offenders.

4. PCSO Powers.

One resident told me they thought that our PCSO, Jim Leggatt, could be given more power if the relevant authority would permit it. It turns out that the "relevant authority" is the Chief Constable of Hampshire and I have met with East Hampshire's "top cop" Chief Inspector Phil Kedge, at Alton Police Station, to see what can be done.

5. Tree Outside Tesco.

I was asked what was happening and why the notice was still on the tree. By the time you get this the notice should have been removed. What is happening is that the tree owners, who are the Management Company who own the flats called "Wayside", have been reminded that the tree is a hazard and needs to be removed. As I understand it, the action to remove it seems to have dropped off their corporate "things to do list".

Whilst following up on this I did recheck that the tree is diseased and really does have to be removed. It does.

Police Priorities

There was a nasty incident in Grayshott at the end of April. A fence was kicked in with noise and violent behaviour. The Police are on the case and police officers and our PCSO will also offer reassurance to the victim.

EHDC has a new relationship with the Police which I mentioned in my previous newsletter. Uniformed officers are based at Penns Place and their role is to work with every single District Councillor to;

a) Develop three priorities for each ward in the District.
b) Prepare resourced implementation plans to implement these priorities.
c) Set up monitoring and reporting procedures to keep councillors and residents updated on how the priorities are being worked on.

This is the brainchild of Chief Insp. Kedge and he has my full support as Leader of the Council. Naturally, we need three priorities for Grayshott and equally naturally, I am asking for suggestions.

I have already asked Grayshott Parish Council to give me their views. However you are welcome to email me directly if you would like to. I have to choose three and so not everyone will get their choice implemented but at least the top three will be chosen.

I quoted the story at the beginning of this section because I think it typifies the crime problem in Grayshott. It is rare, but not non existent, I agree, for us to have serious crime in the village. My own view is that most people are upset by petty crime such as vandalism, graffiti, alcohol fuelled disturbances and careless parking. However, tell me what you think and I'll do my best to get your views implemented.


and finally...

Between Monday 9th. April and Thursday 3rd. May, three very important things have been taking place in my personal life.

On Monday 9th. April I took part in one of only two permitted races each year at the Goodwood Motor Circuit. The members' sprint attracted 100 race cars including a 1978 F1 Brabham, several World Rally Championship cars, a Porsche Cup car and some top drivers including touring car ace Anthony Reid in a ProDrive Aston Martin V8. I was really pleased to come in third overall in my Global GT Light race car and even more pleased to have broken 2006's lap record by 1.3 seconds.

On Tuesday April 24th., my rock 'n roll band, Undercover, played at the Grayshott Social Club. We performed our latest set of ten numbers including Bad Moon Rising, Route 66, Brown Eyed Girl and Get Back. The club was really busy and thanks to everyone for a fantastic turnout, (around 60?), on a normally quiet night for the club. The dance floor was packed, everyone was clapping and singing and we all had a terrific night. My personal thanks to Peter Hatch and Vic Cracknell for making it all happen and for their excellent advice.

Lastly, the election on May 3rd. I don't know how that will go, but you do! Which brings me back to where I started.

As usual, if you have comments, agree or disagree with me, please contact me on 01428-609858 or on Fcowper@aol.com (but you'll have to be quick - polling day is Thursday 3rd., after that it could be somebody else!).

Best wishes,

Cllr. Ferris Cowper
EHDC Councillor for the ward of Grayshott and Leader of the Council