Romsey Advertiser Review of the Year 2022 - July to December

July  

Calls for work to tackle danger road  

DANGEROUS bends on a major route were not going to be widened as part of resurfacing works by the council, despite calls from worried residents.  

Civic chiefs at Hampshire County Council cited budget restrictions as the reasoning behind their decision, although campaigners responded by insisting ‘you can’t put a price on safety’.  

The authority announced the pothole-stricken A3057 from King’s Somborne to Stockbridge was to be given a revamp as part of its Operation Resilience maintenance programme.  

This followed a campaign by councillors and residents who had been lobbying highways chiefs to action repair works after a host of complaints from motorists.  

King’s Somborne resident John Green, 78, said he feared someone could be ‘wiped out’ due to the numerous cracks in the road. 

Funding boost set for children’s home

A PLAN for £1.2m project on a former workhouse infirmary in Romsey was set to be approved by civic chiefs.  

The proposal was to convert Hayter House, in Hayter Gardens, into a home for three children aged between 12 and 17.  

On July 12, Hampshire County Council met to discuss the funding for the project, with the total being £1.2m. 

The building will provide three self-contained flats, day and night-time accommodation for support staff as well as shared space for the children including a family kitchen, dining and education room.  

Flood scheme will better protect town

A HUGE £9.5m scheme that will help prevent Romsey flooding was officially opened.  

Romsey Flood Alleviation Scheme was officially opened on July 8 by the town’s MP, Caroline Nokes.  

Ms Nokes said: “This has given us a solution that will better protect the town.”  

The scheme reduces flooding from the River Test and surface water. The £9.5m project was funded by the Environment Agency, Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council.  

GP surgery promises change after survey

A GP surgery that came bottom in a public opinion survey that looked at patient experiences changed the way it operated in order to improve.  

Abbeywell Surgery in Romsey came last in the area in the GP Patient Survey which asked patients about the quality of the services they had received.  

It gave people the opportunity to rate their local GP surgery in areas such as: overall experience, ease to get through on the phone, experience when making an appointment, usually seeing their preferred GP and percentage of remote appointments. 

The surgery to come out top in Romsey was Alma Road Surgery with 69 per cent, and North Baddesley ranked second with 68 per cent.  

Abbeywell Surgery had the lowest rating of 62 per cent, with a rating of just 12 per cent for ease to get through on the phone. However the surgery brought in changes - and said things had improved. 

Anger at bus cuts and ‘poor’ network

PEOPLE expressed their frustration at proposed changes to bus services.  

Bus companies such as Stagecoach and Xelabus said they have been hit hard by the pandemic, rising operating costs and a driver shortage, which has led them to re-evaluate the services they provide. 

Routes were cut or reduced and services had to be scrapped at the last moment, leaving people stranded.  

Hampshire County Council was set to discuss and re-evaluate the support it gives to bus companies and transport providers in a bid to save money. 

August 

Fears for fish over Southern Water plan  

ANGLERS clashed with Southern Water over its plans for abstraction of water from the River Test.  

The company wanted to lift a restriction on the amount of water it takes, even if levels fall below a previously agreed level, set to protect salmon and trout.  

Fishing groups said it would cause harm to the ecology on one of England’s finest and world-famous chalk streams, including the critically endangered Atlantic salmon.  

Southern Water’s proposal for a drought permit came in, and it also introduced a hosepipe ban across much of Hampshire to deal with the serious shortage of rain.  

Sports pavilion set for opening...at last  

A NEW sports facility in Romsey was preparing to open its doors to the public after it was officially handed over to Test Valley Borough Council.  

The Ganger Farm Pavilion Sports Park will offer a much-needed, high quality facility to local sports clubs and the wider community.  

The opening will mark the completion of the 275-home Kings Chase development by housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes on Jermyns Lane.  

The pavilion, which was initially expected to open in 2020, was delayed. 

Customers upset as dress agency closes

PEOPLE who were hoping to sell their clothes through a dress agency in Romsey spoke of their anger as the owner closed the town centre store and moved to an industrial estate, taking their items with him. 

Desperate customers said they had been calling, texting and emailing Simon Wills, director of Change Of A Dress, for months on end with little joy.  

They say that when they did get through they were met with a volley of excuses or simply cut off. 

However, Mr Wills said that he first notified customers he would be leaving his Bell Street premises and moving the company online in April, citing decreased footfall and rising overheads.  

Battle over town pub plan for longer hours  

A ROMSEY pub was facing a battle over its proposal to extend its opening hours.  

The Cocky Anchor on Market Place applied to change its hours from 11am-10pm to 10am-11.30pm, so 90 minutes longer in the evenings.  

A similar application was rejected last year and the bar was now proposing the extension would be a temporary one for six months to assess its impact.  

Romsey Town Council planning committee had objected as did two local residents.  

Chairman Cllr Sally Lamb, said that if the hours were extended it would mean noise would continue until around 1am.  

Cllr John Critchley said: “With the buildings and the abbey and the way it’s set out, the noise reverberates around it. Also, people who live nearby did not receive notices which is really bad. I don’t see why, in an area like that, we should have outside drinking in those hours.” 

September

Shock as raiders target village store

A VILLAGE shop was broken into in the middle of the night while the owners watched helplessly over Facetime.  

Lockerley Green Stores, in Romsey, was forced to close for most of Wednesday, August 31 following a break in on Tuesday night.  

The alarm was triggered at 12.33am after a group of raiders pulled up in a four by four outside the shop in Lockerley Green.  

Shop owners Eve and Phil Wootton should have been home but were delayed seven hours in returning to the UK after a holiday in Crete.  

The couple’s granddaughter, Meela, lives opposite the shop and was already anxious due to her family’s delay.  

Meela Facetimed her grandparents as soon as she heard the shop alarm go off. The shop owners instructed their granddaughter to stay put and not go over whilst they watched the break in over Facetime.  

Eve said: “I felt helpless because I could have shouted or seen somebody. Within seven minutes they had emptied the gantry of cigarettes, ripped both tills out and broke the lock on the kitchen door and then were gone again.”  

Praise as MP tackles taboo of menopause

WOMEN from Romsey were leading the way in pushing for greater rights, recognition and support for those going through the menopause.  

MP Caroline Nokes wanted to see greater protection for people affected by it – and she was calling for greater rights in the workplace such as leave, designated champions and legal rights when it comes to workplace discrimination.  

As well as highlighting the issues in parliament, Ms Nokes spoke at a new menopause festival, which took place in Romsey in November, organised by Romsey businesswoman Jo Ibbotson. 

Jo set up a support group in the town and is a vocal campaigner on the subject, running support sessions and Facebook groups. 

Jo said: “If we want to keep brilliant women in the workforce, retaining their talent and experience we need to create workplaces where menopause is taken seriously, understood and accounted for.” 

Queen’s death - The town gathered to remember the Queen  

A MOMENT of reflection took place as Romsey united to say a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II. 

Romsey Abbey was packed and other churches across the district were full for the service of commemoration.  

At the abbey the congregation included members of the armed forces, charities, public bodies, judiciary and local business owners.  

Supermarket slated over drain rats fears

COUNCILLORS and residents called on Waitrose to tidy up a grass verge at the back of its store after concerns have been raised around its safety and shabby appearance.  

The area at the back of the premises, which creates an alleyway for properties in Station Road, had become overgrown – leading people to fear it could attract fly-tipping or dog mess if left unattended. 

 A broken drain cover has also prompted concerns, as residents say its state of disrepair could encourage rats into the town centre.  

After being contacted by the Romsey Advertiser, a spokesman for Waitrose promised ‘immediate action’ to clear up the area.  

October 

More objections to town housing plan  

A NEW plan for eight houses in Romsey attracted multiple objections from neighbours and the town council.  

The proposal, which included three car ports and an access road, was refused by Test Valley Borough Council’s southern area planning committee on July 19. A new application had been submitted, which included alterations to the house roofs, as the previous plan was slammed for being overbearing. However, many residents were still unhappy with the application.  

Calls for councillor to resign after fine

CALLS were made for a law-breaking councillor to step down from his position. 

Ampfield and Braishfield councillor Martin Hatley was prosecuted by Test Valley Borough Council – the authority he sits on.  

He breached a notice ordering him to remove building materials, goods and 20ft storage containers –leading to a criminal conviction and £1,000 fine.  

Opposition Liberal Democrats were calling for Cllr Hatley–a former mayor and vice-chairman of the planning committee – to resign.  

Liberal Democrat chair David Hall said: “It beggars belief that he still believes it is appropriate for him to continue as a councillor.”  

Battle over plans to fell landmark tree

FRESH plans for land near a historic Romsey house sparked another planning battle.  

Both were for work within the garden of King John’s House house in Church Lane.  

The applicant, Tim Lincoln, proposed to fell an old sycamore tree outside the property, sparking objections from local groups.  

This came after a previous scheme for two houses was rejected and Mr Lincoln submitted a new plan for one house within yards of King John’s House which dates back to the 13th century.  

Sickening’ stalker is spared jail sentence

A STALKER who ‘sucks the life out of people’ and left his victim physically sick has walked free from court.  

Jordan Couper stalked his ex-girlfriend for more than a month, sneaking into her garden and home and turning up at her place of work.  

Southampton Crown Court heard how his victim found herself being “bumped into” by Couper multiple times afterhe moved out in June.  

Obsessed Couper, of Davids Court, North Baddesley, even turned up at her work - Romsey Golf Club.  

Couper appeared at Southampton Crown Court and pleaded guilty to assault by beating and stalking. 

 He was handed a two-year community order with a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement. 

He must also carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and abide by a restraining order banning him from contacting his ex-partner for the next five years. 

Martin Hatley (Image: -)

November

Work halted as house extension row rages 

ANGRY residents slammed plans to extend houses at the back of their gardens in Romsey. 

Residents of Treviglio Close were worried about proposals to extend two houses in a development in Cupernham Lane, Romsey.  

The application was to add two dormer windows to the houses and add a room in the roof. Despite planning permission not being granted, work had started on the extensions. 

However, work stopped after Test Valley Borough Council recommended that work ceases due to the risk of planning permission not being granted.  

Arsonists attack 

A ROMSEY business said it was like “living in a war zone” after its vans and containers were set alight and thousands of pounds worth of tools were stolen. 

Photos posted on Facebook by Romsey Tree Surgeons showed smoke pouring from containers and damaged vans during the night at its base.  

On-call firefighters from Romsey, Stockbridge and Hythe were called to the fire on Danes Road in Awbridge at 8.45pm on Monday, November 7.  

The tree surgeons believe it was a group of youngsters who stole the small tools before covering everything in fuel and burning the business.  

River relief: ‘harmful’ drought plan shelved  

SOUTHERN Water dropped its application for a drought permit that campaigners say would have harmed fish in the River Test.  

The proposal would have allowed it to continue taking water out of the river even if it fell below an agreed minimum level previously set for the protection of the Test’s salmon population.  

The application – which was described as a precautionary measure – was submitted to the Environment Agency on July 19 but was formally withdrawn on November 4 after river levels recovered, thanks to some ‘timely rainfall’.  

Fish Legal and the Testwood & Nursling fishery near Southampton challenged the drought permit application at a public inquiry in August, arguing that Southern Water had made inadequate efforts to minimise customer demand and to mitigate the potential impact on the river’s fish stocks and ecology, something they are required to do by law.  

Southern Water also announced on November 4 that it had removed its temporary hosepipe ban.  

Watchdog says care home must improve

A CARE home in Romsey was told it ‘required improvement’ for the second year in a row at an inspection.  

The Care Quality Commission visited Durban House in Woodley Lane on September 28 and October 5 and found that while some improvements had been made since last year, insufficient action had been taken to address several breaches of fundamental standards.  

In fact, its report, which was published on November 17, also identified two new breaches regarding the safety of recruitment and how people were being safeguarded from abuse.  

Despite this, inspectors also found relatives felt listened to and said their views were acted on. Furthermore, when incidents occurred, the leadership team apologised and gave people honest and transparent information about what had happened. 

December 

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Romsey 

People in Romsey were preparing for a packed festive season of community events to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  

The Christmas lights were bringing cheer to wintry streets and local organisations had arranged a number of events.  

On December 9 Santa was rescued from the town hall; on December 17 there was a Christmas party for children in Crosfield Hall; and on December 19 there were carols in Romsey Abbey.  

Council broke rules on Queen’s statues

TEST Valley Borough Council was forced to begin a fresh process to procure bids to erect two statues of late Queen Elizabeth II after it was found that the authority was in breach of procurement rules.  

This came after it was announced that Quarley-based sculptor Amy Goodman has been awarded the contract.  

Although the council put out a national advert, the value of the contracts meant it should have been advertised on two specific additional procurement portals. 

 As a result of the breach, the council put the contracts out to tender again. The contract was reported to be worth £200,000. The plan was to erect two statues of Queen Elizabeth II - one in Romsey and one in Andover - as part of the Platinum Jubilee.