NFDC Christmas and New Year recycling and rubbish collections

Most household recycling and rubbish collections in the New Forest district will go ahead as usual over the Christmas and New Year bank holidays.

There will be some changes to collections: 

Clear recycling sacks and black rubbish sacks

Collections due on Monday 26 December 2022 will be collected on Monday 2 January 2023. New Forest District Council (NFDC) will collect extra recycling and rubbish from affected households on Monday 2 January 2023.

Glass box 

Collections due on Monday 26 December 2022 will be collected on Saturday 31 December 2022. 

Garden waste 

There will be no garden waste collections between Monday 26 December 2022 and Friday 6 January 2023. Garden waste collections will resume as usual from Monday 9 January 2023. 

All other collection days will stay the same.

Reusing and recycling Christmas waste 

NFDC are reminding residents to add empty aerosols, plastic bottles, tins, cans, card and paper to their clear recycling sacks. If not reused, greeting cards and plain brown gift wrap can be added to clear recycling sacks, but any embellishments such as ribbons or sticky tape need to be removed first. The majority of gift wrap is not suitable for recycling in Hampshire as it contains a mixture of plastic and foil. 

Christmas tree recycling 

NFDC’s Christmas tree recycling drop-off points are returning from Saturday 31 December 2022 to Sunday 15 January 2023.  

Residents can drop their real Christmas trees off at selected sites across the district, and the council will recycle the trees by chipping them to create mulch. The mulch will be used locally.

Last year, over 6,000 Christmas trees were dropped off at the sites for recycling.  

Fordingbridge   

A338 Slip Road Car Park   

SP6 1AW  

Ringwood   

Furlong Long Stay Car Park – follow signs to designated area   

BH24 1AT  

Residents are asked to remove decorations from trees before taking it to a drop-off point. Trees must be left in designated fenced bays only and placed at the back to avoid blocking the entrance for others. Trees left in car parks and other locations not designated for Christmas tree recycling, will be counted as fly-tipping. 

Customers who subscribe to NFDC’s garden waste collection service can recycle real Christmas trees under 6ft, as long as trees are chopped up to fit in garden waste sacks, and to not exceed the 20kg weight limit for sacks.  

Residents can read more information online at newforest.gov.uk/christmasrecycling. 

Consultation on proposed Public Space Protection Orders starts

A public consultation about two proposed Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) for the New Forest has been launched by New Forest District Council.   

www.newforest.gov.uk/publicspaceprotectionorders   

From Today (Monday 5 December) until Friday 27 January at 5pm, the public can comment on two proposed PSPOs, which look to ban the lighting of fires and use of BBQs principally on the Crown Lands managed by Forestry England, and the feeding and petting of ponies, horses, mules, and donkeys in the New Forest. 

New Leader of NFDC

Cllr Jill Cleary has been elected as the Leader of New Forest District Council (NFDC) at the Council meeting of 14 November 2022, “My ultimate aspiration is to see NFDC thrive and be able to continue, in these challenging times, to offer excellent frontline services our residents want to see.

“Housing will always be a passion of mine and my commitment to making a difference when we are most needed is what motivates me as a councillor. I am excited to be able to take my drive for housing services and apply that to the bigger remit I now have as Leader.  My focus is rooted in local communities, solving problems and being forward thinking. I want my cabinet to have that approach across all council services.

“Keeping our district a vibrant and special place is not something we can or should do alone.  I will work with our towns and parishes, the county council, partners, businesses, voluntary sector organisations and local groups.  If everyone is at the table we can get the job done with far better results than working alone. 

“I will build on the work underway to ensure that NFDC is listening to what people want and need and I have already started asking councillors to take me around their wards so I can understand all the different areas. We are undertaking a residents survey and my commitment is that we will be open to what communities tell us. I will encourage the whole organisation to be a listening organisation, to hear what matters to people.

“The challenges we face are significant, including the cost of living and responding to the climate and nature emergency, but I will champion our work together to find those innovative approaches that will mean we are able to change people’s lives for the better whilst protecting and enhancing our amazing New Forest.” 

Cllr Cleary confirmed her Cabinet will remain as currently, with the exception that the housing portfolio will move to Cllr Edward Heron.

Cllr Diane Andrews is the new Deputy Leader. 

https://democracy.newforest.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=133

At the Council meeting Cllr Cleary said,

“I would like to thank the Council for their support in electing me the new Leader. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Edward Heron for his service and achievements as the previous leader. He has championed us being a more responsive council with a commitment to improving communications, and he has worked to ensure that as a council we have more influence on regional matters, always with the benefit of our local residents in mind.  He has worked tirelessly to bring the Solent Freeport this far and I have asked him to continue with this really important task until May 2023.

“I would like to thank the Cabinet for their dedication and the role that they have working as a team to lead this council in making significant progress with the corporate plan and maintaining the focus on delivery and moving forward. Therefore, I do not want to make huge changes to the Cabinet and I have huge pleasure in announcing Cllr Diane Andrews will be my deputy, Cllr Edward Heron will now be responsible for the housing services portfolio, cllrs Steve Davies, David Russell, Michael Harris, Jeremy Heron, Geoff Blunden will remain my cabinet.”

Message from Donna Jones – Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

I’ve launched a survey to gather your views on whether I should increase the level of council tax which you pay in support of policing, to ensure continued investment in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.

I know this is a very difficult time financially for the country, and potentially for you as an individual, and I am conscious that any rise in your council tax to support policing will come at the same time as other costs are also increasing.

However, it is also a difficult time for funding your police force; police are not immune to the cost of living crisis and therefore the 2023/24 budget is being set against the backdrop of a challenging economic environment with general inflation, pay costs, utilities and fuel costs all rising.

For example, the cost increase for police officer pay is over 5%, and general inflation is running at 10%; our forecast increase in government grant is only 1.1%, so this creates a funding shortfall for next year.

One option available to me to reduce the funding shortfall is to increase the police council tax.

The maximum I am allowed to increase the council tax by on a Band D property for 2023/24 is £10 per annum (a 4.2% increase, significantly below inflation), which is an increase of 83p per month. If I increase by the maximum, for residents in property Bands A-C the increase would equate to less than 83p a month, and for properties in Bands E-H it would be more than 83p per month.

If you are not sure which council tax band your property is in, you can check at www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands

If I don’t increase the council tax for 2023/24, I will need to work with the Constabulary to implement savings, with an inevitable impact on the overall service level which can be provided. I see first-hand day in day out the vital work which the Constabulary undertakes to keep the residents of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight safe, and I would not wish to see this compromised.

However, I know that any increase in the amount you pay must be considered carefully. I also hear very loudly that you want to see more officers in your communities. That’s why it’s so important that you complete this short survey and have your say on continued investment. 

With yours and the government’s support, I am on track to have recruited 600 more police officers in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight by March 2023, hitting a 25% increase in police officers responding to emergencies and patrolling the beat.

Through this, I am making your police force even more local, visible and accessible. More police means more deployments, more crimes solved, and safer streets.

By completing this survey, you will really help us set the budget and the council tax precepts for policing for the next financial year. I want to hear your feedback so I can represent your views on where you want your money to go.

I have opened this survey for five weeks to hear from as many people as possible. 

The survey will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 4 December 2022.

Click this link to take the survey.

Plea to drivers to pass animals wide and slow on New Forest roads this autumn

As the hours of darkness get longer, New Forest organisations who make up the Animal Accident Reduction Group are reminding drivers on Forest roads to take extra care and remember to ‘Pass Wide and Slow’ when encountering ponies and other animals.
The call follows the official inclusion of this requirement in the latest edition of the Highway Code.
The winter months have historically been the worst for livestock and wildlife fatalities. Following a record breaking 15 weeks in early 2022 without a fatal road traffic accident, group members would like to ask the public for their cooperation and support in keeping these numbers down.
To date this year there have been 60 call outs to accidents involving animals compared to 77 in the same period last year, with 24 ponies, one cow and two pigs losing their lives. Another 16 animals have been injured (numbers correct as at 1 November 2022).
One of the great successes is ‘Operation Mountie’, a joint initiative which has seen 17 operations over the past year. Police and partner organisations have stopped 155 speeding vehicles, one of which was driving at 70mph in a 40mph area. Some of those stopped are given tickets or other enforcements, and others are given education about driving to the conditions.
Hampshire Police, working with New Forest agencies, has been running Operation Mountie since November 2021 following evidence from the New Forest Roads Awareness and Community Speed Watch groups on high-risk routes

At last night’s Council meeting (10 October 2022), Leader of New Forest District Council Cllr Edward Heron announced his decision to step down as Leader.

Thanking fellow councillors and officers, he explained his decision, “This evening I want to share with you my decision to step down as Leader from this Council, and not to stand for re-election at the May 2023 district elections. After what is almost 16 years on the Council, most of which has been serving on the cabinet, the time is right for me to look forward to new challenges. 

It is also the correct timing to ensure a new Leader has the opportunity to set out their vision for the Council until 2027, and time to prepare the budget in February.  And therefore the Conservative group will be nominating Cllr Jill Cleary as Leader at the next Council meeting on 14 November.”

In an email to staff, Cllr Heron said, “It has been a great privilege to lead the Council over these past near couple of years, the highlight being the dedication of officers and all staff to the service of our community. This has been my inspiration for all that we have achieved and I am confident the Council is in a good place to continue to deliver for our residents.”

Cllr Heron will continue as Leader until a new Leader is elected at the November Council meeting, and as a councillor until the May 2023 elections. 

Leader of New Forest District Council steps down

At last night’s Council meeting (10 October 2022), Leader of New Forest District Council Cllr Edward Heron announced his decision to step down as Leader.

Thanking fellow councillors and officers, he explained his decision, “This evening I want to share with you my decision to step down as Leader from this Council, and not to stand for re-election at the May 2023 district elections. After what is almost 16 years on the Council, most of which has been serving on the cabinet, the time is right for me to look forward to new challenges. 

It is also the correct timing to ensure a new Leader has the opportunity to set out their vision for the Council until 2027, and time to prepare the budget in February.  And therefore the Conservative group will be nominating Cllr Jill Cleary as Leader at the next Council meeting on 14 November.”

In an email to staff, Cllr Heron said, “It has been a great privilege to lead the Council over these past near couple of years, the highlight being the dedication of officers and all staff to the service of our community. This has been my inspiration for all that we have achieved and I am confident the Council is in a good place to continue to deliver for our residents.”

Cllr Heron will continue as Leader until a new Leader is elected at the November Council meeting, and as a councillor until the May 2023 elections. 

New Forest District Council (NFDC) has set up a specific grant scheme where local groups and organisations can apply for one-off funding to offer a warm welcoming space this winter.

Ryan Stevens, service manager at NFDC, said, “These are being referred to nationally as ‘warm spaces’ or ‘warm banks’, and we know that there are already places in our community who run sessions and activities.  The idea of our funding is to support a safe place where people can go to get warm, access food, chat over a hot drink, or learn about support available to them. If local groups want to set up sessions or activities, or want to put on existing activities for longer, or more frequently, then we want to hear from them as this funding could help them do that.”

Grants of between £200 – £1,000 are available by completing an online form at www.newforest.gov.uk/warmspacesgrant .  Applications will be assessed taking into account the community reach and impact and will also consider the spaces already identified by our partner organisations to ensure we support a spread of warm spaces across the district.

Cllr Edward Heron, NFDC Leader said, “Services across the council are working with our many partners as part of a cost of living group to build on the range of support available. This includes promoting what we are doing, what help there is from other organisations we are working with, and providing advice and information on a variety of topics such as food, claiming benefits and energy.”

The council’s website has information on cost of living support at www.nfdc.gov.uk/costofliving

Pylon Refurbishment

National Grid requested a closed meeting with  Woodgreen and Hale PC’s on Thursday 8th September in order to appraise them of their intended works to refurbish the overhead cables running between Nursling and Three Legged Cross. This of course includes the pylons and cables running across Hale Purlieu and through Woodgreen. The works are to carry out essential maintenance along with upgrading the overhead cables in order to future proof capacity The works are to the overhead lines and pylons and do not necessitate any excavation works.

There is likely to be some clearance of vegetation around pylons between October 2022 and February 2023 in order to provide contractors with safe and complete access to each pylon.

If you require any further information regarding the work please do contact the Clerk at parish.clerk@woodgreen-pc.gov.uk or on 01725 511636 or 07553 728121.

Parish Council meeting cancelled

As a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 the scheduled Parish Council meeting on 13th September will not take place.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022

Woodgreen Parish Council wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the Royal Family on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Tributes to Her Majesty the Queen, with a number of pages for peoples thoughts and thanksgivings to be recorded, have been set up at St Boniface Church and St Mary’s Church. A Special Service of Commemoration to Her Majesty the Queen will be held on Sunday at 10 am in St Boniface Church.

Books of condolence are available at :-

Fordingbridge Town Hall on weekdays from 10 am to noon and 5pm to 7pm and at the weekends from 10 am to 2 pm.

Salisbury Cathedral from 9.30- 17.30. Candles are also available to light in remembrance.

St Mary’s Church, Lover; St Birinus Church. Woodfalls and St Laurence’s Church Downton.

Alternatively, you may wish to sign Buckingham Palace’s book of condolence by visiting https://www.royal.uk/

Flower tributes can be left at the Memorial Garden at the Recreation Ground in Fordingbridge; the beacon at Moot Lane Corner, Downton and the memorial at the top of Bowers Hill, Redlynch.