Well last week was a scorcher…and of course it was perfect weather for people right across Eastleigh and the country to celebrate the success of our sports men and women. Whether it was our 6-1 England win over Panama in the World Cup, Lewis Hamilton’s win at the French Grand Prix, England’s win over Australia in the Cricket or our win over New Zealand in the Rugby Union, it was a spectacular weekend of sport and a great showcase of our sporting talent! Here’s hoping that by the time this column is published on Friday we’re still going strong!
From our sporting heroes to our future local business leaders, I was delighted last Friday to meet with Katie Woodford who recently launched her own business ‘Kat’s Bakery’ in Bishopstoke. During my time as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Women in Parliament, I worked closely with Lloyds Banking (not baking!) Group to establish a national mentoring scheme to support women starting out in business, and I am delighted to be working together with one of the prominent Group Directors from the Lloyds team, Saibh Young, to support Katie through this exciting journey!
Over the past year hundreds of you together with students from Berrywood Primary School in Hedge End – who I’m visiting this week - have written to me about plastic waste. Last Tuesday marked a key step forward in this vital work, as the ban on Microbeads came into effect in the UK. This ban – praised by campaigners as one of the toughest in the world – will now prevent billions of microbeads ending up in the ocean every year.
In stark contrast, I am disappointed that yet again, Eastleigh Borough Council have bulldozed over the concerns of local residents with the unelected Chief Executive – instead of our elected local Councillors - signing off the delayed Eastleigh Local Plan ahead of the public consultation which started on Tuesday. As expected, the draft includes plans for more than 5,000 new homes north of Bishopstoke.
Together with local residents and campaign groups I have long been saying that this proposed site is in the least sustainable location, set furthest away from infrastructure whilst causing the most damage to the areas attractive surroundings – including endangering our local ancient woodland and raising very real concerns over protections for the River Itchen.
Whilst the administration at Eastleigh Borough Council have tried to market their concept of a ‘Hampshire Green Belt’. I, like many of you, am all too aware of how it has been THIS very Council which has taken our green gaps away from us. Whether it’s the stream of development alongside Hamble Lane, or the infilling between Hedge End and Botley, we have seen plans put in place to concrete over our green gaps time and time again, and this draft Plan makes no attempt to put that right.
I sincerely hope that even at this late stage, the administration at Eastleigh Borough Council will listen carefully to any and all concerns raised during the consultation process.