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We are run by a committee of volunteers and a team of helpers who give their time free of charge in an effort to protect the environment that we all enjoy whilst living in this beautiful area
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If you can't see our logo above and at the end of the newsletter, make sure you have clicked the link to download pictures
Contents
BCP Council Update
Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy
3rd Christchurch Brownies
u3a Christchurch Programme Launch
New Bus Timetables
Links and Contacts
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Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
This right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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As a Resident's Association we would like to keep you informed by the councillors who are acting on behalf of their residents' ward. We don't wish this to be viewed as supporting any political party but merely to support those who support you. Our Newsletter will include information about individuals and their goals to support JSCH.
Sue Fotheringham (Chair)
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COUNCILLORS MARGARET PHIPPS AND VANESSA RICKETTS
BCP COUNCIL UPDATE
We thought you might like news regarding the new council administration. It is called the THREE TOWNS ALLIANCE to reflect the distinctive identity of each BCP town and also a desire to work together. The unofficial motto is “Residents First”.
The Christchurch Independents is one of the four groups in this alliance, along with the Liberal Democrats, Poole People and Independents in Bournemouth, giving a total of 44 seats out of the 76 seat council. This gives Christchurch Cllrs. significant influence in getting things done but also a share of the responsibility for the challenging decisions ahead given the state of the finances.
We believe the council must concentrate on the most essential aspects, get the fundamentals right and put an end to the ‘big city’ ambitions and expensive vanity projects of the past couple of years. It also has to earn the trust of residents and rebuild its own reputation. Some of the key issues in the new administration’s programme for action (into which we have had input) include:
- A fairer way of making planning decisions with two planning committees (East and West) instead of one and therefore much more influence for Christchurch in planning decisions.
- An immediate full review of the Future Places Urban Regeneration Company.
- Protection for woodland and open spaces.
- Better planning, co-ordination, scheduling and communication around roadworks and utilities.
- The new administration will be based on the principles of standards in public life, on the solid foundations of openness, transparency, accountability, honesty and integrity.
The aim is for the council to be welcoming to everyone, with decisions that are explained, questions answered, a place where challenge and scrutiny is embraced and encouraged. All of this, and more, is enshrined in a Three Towns Alliance partnership agreement. There will be more announcements and policy detail in due course.
OTHER LOCAL WARD MATTERS
Queensmead Care Home, Bronte Avenue
Our first big success was to immediately meet with Senior BCP Officers regarding the proposal for a Homeless Hostel on the Queensmead site at Bronte Avenue. The outcome is that BCP has withdrawn that planning application and nothing further will happen on the site without full engagement with residents and us as Ward Cllrs. We will ensure that happens and keep you informed.
Advertising Corner - The Grove/Barrack Road – 2 Applications
You may be aware of Application No. 8/23/0074/OUT which is for outline permission for access for 2 drive-through restaurants. Further supporting documents were submitted and additional consultation time was allocated. The updated information relates to flood risk assessment; lighting report; noise report; transport assessment; and town centre policy tests.
The applicant has now submitted a second Application 8/23/0294/OUT for one drive through restaurant. Comments had to be in by 13 th June, but if you do comment late your views will still be taken into account. The same issues and constraints will apply to this, as for the first application.
If either of these are recommended for grant by officers, we have ensured that the applications will be considered by the Planning Committee.
Corner of Hillside Drive and Hurn Road – Application 8/23/0286/ADV - Erection of a digital advertisement
An application has been submitted for an illuminated sign on land to the East of Hurn Road/Corner of Hillside Drive. The size is 7m in width, 5.5m in height and 0.3m in depth. The consultation is still open, so please do put your comments on the planning portal. We are both of the opinion that this is completely the wrong location for such a huge advertising sign, and it will be out of character with the wooded and green location. Again, we have ensured that if the planning officer recommends grant, then the application must come before the Planning Committee.
Unauthorised Encampment – Bernard’s Mead
You may be aware that on Sunday evening 21 st May there was an incursion through a locked gate into Bernard’s Mead. Both of us were contacted by many residents expressing their concerns. The Group caused disruption with quad bike riding, fly tipping, and bonfires, so much so that BCP issued an Eviction Notice which was followed up by the Police with a formal S61 Eviction Notice under the Criminal Justice and Public order Act 1994. They had until 11am on Wednesday 24 th May to leave the site. Unfortunately, some did not leave by then, and more damage was caused before the Police finally removed them on Wednesday afternoon. BCP did a very quick and thorough clean up and has secured the area with boulders on 2 of the gates.
We hope our updates are useful and we are both here to assist you, and will continue working hard for the Commons area, both in the ward and at the council.
Cllr. Margaret Phipps – margaret.phipps@bcpcouncil.gov.uk - Tel: 01202 478266
Cllr. Vanessa Ricketts – vanessa.ricketts@bcpcouncil.gov.uk – Tel: 07760 391467
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Have your say - Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy
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Have your say on draft Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy, which identifies leading options to manage coastal flood and erosion risk
BCP Council and New Forest District Council are encouraging people to have their say on the proposed leading options to manage coastal flood and erosion risk, from Hengistbury Head Long Groyne to Hurst Spit, encompassing Christchurch Harbour.
The Christchurch Bay and Harbour- Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy is being produced jointly by both councils, and in partnership with the Environment Agency and AECOM (technical consultants). Climate change is putting significantly more properties, infrastructure and open spaces at risk from coastal flooding and erosion. Baseline assessment calculations have revealed that if we ‘do nothing’ over the next 100 years, the coastal frontage will suffer around £1 billion in damages, which includes erosion risk to approximately 1,600 properties and coastal flood risk to over 2,200 properties, including both homes and non-residential buildings.
Following feedback from the fourth phase of engagement in December 2022, each of the short listed options were appraised to assess their economic, technical, environmental and social viability. The leading options were then identified for each of the 18 option development units and these proposals are the focus of this consultation.
It is anticipated the final strategy will be adopted in Spring 2024. It will enable BCP Council and New Forest District Council to bid for government funding for coast protection schemes. It will also help identify the level of partnership funding contributions that may be required to deliver schemes.
The consultation starts on 5 June 2023 and will be open for 12 weeks..
Residents and businesses are also invited to come and meet the strategy team at one of our face-to-face and online events.
- Mon 19 June 2023, Christchurch Library Octagon Space 10am-5.30pm
- Tues 27 June 2023, public on-line event, 7:00pm-8:15pm. Hosted by Dorset Coast Forum . Book your FREE ticket here… Christchurch Bay & Harbour Strategy Engagement Phase 5 – Public Event Tickets, Tue 27 Jun 2023 at 19:00 | Eventbrite
Complete our survey by visiting
https://haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/christchurchstrategyphase5.
Paper copies of the survey and consultation document are also available at Christchurch, Highcliffe, Lymington, New Milton and Tuckton Libraries.
Consultation closes 27 August 2023.
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3rd Christchurch Brownies Thursdays 6.00 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.
Firstly, thank you so much to all the residents who attended and supported our Coronation Afternoon tea party on Sunday 7th May at the hall on the hill. We had a wonderful time serving you with cakes and tea and thoroughly enjoyed our competition to find the best cake maker in the unit. It was a very close run decision between the crown and the chocolate creation but the chocolate creation with chocolate fingers and strawberries proved the winner. We have received a donation of just over £100 towards our unit activities .
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
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The coronation weekend was a very busy one for us because the Monday 8th May – saw the Brownies taking part in the “Big Help Out” Volunteer Day. We were in Christchurch Priory lending a hand by welcoming visitors to the Priory Church, helping in the café with jobs eg clearing wiping tables and sorting the trays, cleaning pews and polishing the Eagle lectern until the girls could see their reflections in the golden eagle. We were visited by the Town Crier who lingered a little too long at the lectern and found himself being dusted and polished too.!
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Brownies from Mudeford and Highcliffe joined us too and had a thoroughly good time showing how the brownies can uphold their motto to LEND A HAND especially in the Community.
We have also celebrated our 70th birthday with our Pack Holiday weekend at Dudsbury. It was a lovely weekend and the weather was sunny and hot. We presented 3 girls with their Gold awards and lots of other special awards were made by Lisa our County Commissioner. We practiced our fire lighting skills, making samores in the round house and toasting marshmallows at our Campfire in the evening. We made 3 more quilts for our service project with the Project Linus Group and even tried out older activities and re named our sixes Gnomes, Elves, Pixies, Imps and Kelpies for the time away. One such challenge was to try on and old brownie uniform. We discovered in our archive box old uniforms from when I was a brownie.!! It brought back lots of laughter and memories of all our knobbly knees !!
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We are now settled into our new home and looking to the future we would welcome the opportunity to offer Rainbows and even Guides in the hall on a Thursday. In order for us to contemplate this we do need to seek your help - Do you like, fun, adventure and a challenge
Do you think that you could become a leader for the Rainbows aged 4 – 7 years or would you prefer to help Guides, 10 – 13 years or even help us at brownies 7 - 10 years
ARE YOU ABLE TO OFFER US SOME OF YOUR TIME TO COME AND VOLUNTEER WITH US? Why not pop on up to the Hill on a Thursday and come and talk to us or contact Annette Bowden for more information and a chat.
We look forward to hearing from you and hope that you will be able to help us.
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An important time in Christchurch u3a calendar
THE LAUNCH - possibly the most important time in Christchurch u3a calendar, it's the launch of the new programme and the first chance everyone has to see what opportuniities ther are for the new year starting in September.
Since 24 April we have been having the regular Monday Christchurch Market promotion stall, which I'm sure many of you have discovered and had the chance to meet other members. Did you get the flyers? They'll give you the dates of the launch.
KEEP THIS DATE - 3 July will be the first opportunity - and you'll be able to join up from then. On Tuesday 4 and Tuesday 11 July 9.30am-11.30am there's a free tea/coffee/biscuits time at the Druitt Hall, just off High Street, Christchurch for signing up and again meeting committee members and other volunteers.
Many of you will be off on holidays during the next couple of months. Others will be taking on more grandparent duties and be busy gardening - maybe a bit or a lot of all those. Make sure you've joined your groups before then. Particularly important is the new Social and Holiday Group started last year where holidays are booked up early. There's also a new 'Out of Hours' Group starting.
There's still plenty of time to come forward with suggestions and ideas of groups you'd be able to lead. We'd particularly like someone to start a 'hobbies' group. (Making models, repairs, woodwork, engineering etc).
Don't forget there are lots online you can join in with that the National u3a organization has planned so you can continue with those throughout the summer.
Whatever your plans are, consider Christchurch u3a as your go-to place for your social life, fun, your learning place and your life enhancing sanctuary.
Enjoy your summer.
Paula
Christchurch u3a, The Epicentre, 27a High Street, Christchurch
website
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Updated 24 Bus Timetable from 31st May 2023
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The new timetables and routes for our local buses are now in operation. The X1 and X2 continue to stop at the top of The Grove and run every half hour in the mornings and hourly in the afternoons. The route into Bournemouth is unchanged but In the other direction it goes into Christchurch and then on to Sainsbury and Stewart’s, then on to Highcliffe and Lymington.
The route 24 now runs from Christchurch to Castlepoint via Marsh Lane, Fairmile, Hurn Road and River Way.and returns virtually the same way. It links in to Bournemouth Hospital so this could be very useful although the service is quite limited being confined to four trips per day. Do check the latest Morebus timetable for full details and note not just the times but also that some of the bus stops have changed.
If you want to go to Boscombe or Bournemouth but find the walk to get the X1 or X2 too far the you can get the 24 to Jumpers Corner on Barrack Rd and pick up the 1A which runs every 15 mins. Coming back, the last 24 at Jumpers Corner is at 14.41.
These local routes are very useful, the buses pretty well on time and the drivers helpful, give them a try!
JP.
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Links and Contact Details
Planning Applications
You can find the Planning Applications and Decisions for the Christchurch area of BCP on our website which will be updated weekly.
Appeals can be viewed on the Appeals Casework Portal
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Councillors | Christchurch Town Council (christchurch-tc.gov.uk)
BCP Council Commons ward -
FSCH - Friends of St. Catherine's Hill
Website and Programme of Events
HOTH - Hall on the Hill
Website and Upcoming Events
West Christchurch Neighbourhood Policing Team
PCSOs for Christchurch West
Meetings and Events
JSCHRA committee members
Membership Subscriptions
Our membership has fallen since Covid prevented us from our preferred face to face collection of subscriptions so we would like to remind everyone how to subscribe.
Our membership year runs from April to March, any payments made since January will be allocated to 23/24 .
The membership fee remains at one pound per household.
- To pay by inter-bank transfer send your contribution to account: Jumpers & St Catherine's Hill Residents Association, account number 92732106, sort code 40-13-07. Don't forget to use your address as a reference and select the business account option.
- To pay by post or hand deliver send your contribution together with a note of your address to Jumpers and St Catherine's Hill Residents Association at 83 Hillside Drive, Christchurch, BH23 2SZ. (Cash preferred as we are charged 40p for every cheque we pay in)
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GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATIONS: MAY 2018
You are receiving this e-mail because you have previously asked to be included as a newsletter subscriber and gave us your e-mail address for that purpose
The personal information we hold for you is your e-mail address plus your name and address which is held on a Mailchimp data base. The data base is password protected and is maintained by our Webmaster.
You can opt out of the e-newsletter system at any time by using the link provided at the foot of every newsletter.
We hold your information purely for keeping you in touch with local events and news and not for marketing or any other purpose whatsoever.
We will not pass your information on to any other person or organization.
We will retain your personal information until you either request us in writing to remove it or you use the opt-out link previously mentioned
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Community Matters is produced and edited by a team of local residents who try to present you with the facts that will both keep you informed and enable you to make up your own mind on local issues
Jumpers and St Catherine's Hill RA
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