Country Market to reopen

After an absence of 4.5 months, Titchfield Country Market will be opening it’s doors again at 10:00 on Friday July 31st.

Our ‘new look’ market will be complying with government guidelines for COVID 19 and there will be measures in place to ensure the safety of all our customers and members.

We ask that all customers wear a face mask please and use the hand sanitiser provided. There will be a one way system in operation and social distancing must be observed at all times please.

We now have a card reader for contactless payments but will accept cash if customers prefer. The ‘new’ market will be open from 10:00 until 11:30 every Friday in the Parish Room.

The shorter opening hours are to allow us extra time for setting up and cleaning the market while we adjust to the new regime.

Produce for sale will include a selection of sweet and savoury items, preserves, cards, plants and we hope some vegetables. Regrettably we will not be able to offer refreshments or other craft items currently.

We have very much missed all our customers and look forward to seeing you again soon. In the meantime please keep safe!

Village pubs set to reopen

Both the Queens Head and the Wheatsheaf will open on Saturday 4th of July.

Following the government’s announcement earlier this week pubs can reopen, but only if they follow strict rules to keep customers safe.

At both venues it will be table service only. And the two-metre distancing rule will also be relaxed to one.

Mark, landlord at the Wheatsheaf in East Street, has been working hard to prepare the pub for the reopening, erecting screens and ensuring tables are not too close.

The pub will be open for drinks from 12 noon till 10pm but sadly there will be no food service.
The new landlord at The Queen’s Head, Alanna Ferriday, will also open the doors on Saturday but with a later time of 2pm, closing at 10pm. Other times are:-

Sunday - 12 midday - 9pm
Monday - Thursday 2pm - 9pm
Friday - 2pm -10pm
Saturday 12 midday - 10pm

Alanna ask prospective patrons to ring ahead to book a table as there will be some limited numbers due to seating space.” Call 07487679330

Swift action required

Do you live in Titchfield Village and take a regular evening walk?

I am looking for volunteers to help with the Hampshire Swift Survey, recording swifts probably over 4 (ideally 6) evenings spread between now and the end of July.

Simple note taking, guidance provided, I am happy to handle the computer inputting.

Please let me know if you are interested in helping. If you can’t help, but are aware of swift nesting sites, do please let me know.

Many thanks

Suzy
Suzy Jackson
suzyajackson@gmail.com
07532 168454

EoS Trust looking for Trustee

The Earl of Southampton Trust is looking for a new Trustee

Do you live in the parish of Titchfield, Stubbington, Sarisbury Green, Locks Heath, Hook with Warsash, Stubbington, Lee-on-the-Solent or Whiteley?

Our ancient charity was formed in 1597 to help residents of these areas (then known as the Ancient Parish of Titchfield).

Knowledge of finance and investment, legal, medical and care and/or property management are all relevant to the post.

Please send your CV to Tracey Kenney at info@eost.org.uk

Scheme to restore wetland nature reserve on land at Titchfield

A company, called Meonmarsh Ltd is in the advanced stages of developing a scheme to restore wetland on land that they own in Titchfield.

The site is located to the south east of Titchfield village with Bridge Street to the north and the B3334 (Titchfield Road) to the east.
The River Meon forms the western and part of the southern boundary of the site.
The site is currently comprised entirely of poor quality ‘grazing marsh’.

The proposal includes the retention and enhancement of the richest part of this habitat type, plus the addition of a range of new habitat types to include open water areas, channels, reed beds and, most importantly, a huge increase in ‘wet edge’, the richest habitat type that offers opportunities for a myriad of flora and fauna.

Meonmarsh will be submitting a planning application for the scheme to the local authority before the end of June, 2020.

For comments to be taken into consideration, they must be received before the 19th of June, 2020. 

To find out more and leave your comments on the proposal go to…
 https://www.meonmarsh.com/ there you will find an overview of the scheme along with some detail.

Fareham Market to re-start from Monday with social distancing measures in place

Fareham’s town centre market is to re-start from Monday (June 1) with social distancing measures in place to protect both shoppers and market traders.

The popular Monday market stopped trading at the start of the lockdown in March but stalls will be out again from Monday ahead of a more general opening up of other non-essential shops and businesses in the town centre on June 15.

There have been extensive talks with the market traders and the Council has been reassured by the traders that they have social distancing measures in place and will be enforcing those measures to keep everyone safe.

The measures include:

·         Hand sanitiser on all stalls for customers and traders to use

·         All traders to wear masks and gloves

·         All stalls to serve from the main aisle with back of stalls to be covered

·         Signs advising of social distance requirements

·         Marking to indicate a social distance between traders and public

·         Disinfectant spray to be available on all stalls

·         Contactless paying machines to be used where possible

Town centre car parks will all be open on Monday 1st June, except the shoppers car park in Civic Way, which will re open June 15th, and car parking charges will be back in force after being relaxed during the lockdown period There will be a new procedure for using the Osborne Road multi-storey car park, with clear signs to ensure people using the car park lifts and stairs can remain safe and socially distanced.

Executive Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Seán Woodward, said: “I am delighted that after talks with the traders they have been able to reassure us that we are able to safely re-start the popular Fareham market from Monday.

“I know that the market is extremely popular for many people in Fareham and beyond but it is important that everyone who visits the market keeps to the social distancing guidelines and follows the instructions of the traders in trying to keep everyone safe.

“I am very grateful for the way the traders have worked to responsibly find a safe way for the market to be able to operate again in the town centre.

“These are some of the first small steps in getting the rest of the town centre open and trading again from the middle of June.”

Titchfield mask maker

Vivian Stewart from Common Lane has been busy making face masks and giving them away to anyone that wants one.

The masks are reversible and made from 100% washed cotton with a piece of quilt liner sewn between the pattered material.

Vivian has been displaying her handiwork on her fence and so far, in the three weeks she’s been sewing, over 120 masks have been snapped up by passer-bys.

The masks can be easily put together using spare scraps of material and elastic. and Vivian says there must be many ‘quilters’, like her, who could use their skills during the current crisis.

Well done Vivian!

Take a look at our Covid-19 Gallery

Fareham VE Day Home Schooling and Stay at Home Street Party Pack Launched

Home schooling resources and a “Stay At Home Street Party” pack have today been launched by Fareham Borough Council to help residents across the Borough mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day on May 8th.

The Coronavirus pandemic and lockdown has meant events planned to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of hostilities in Europe in 1945 have had to be shelved. The early May Bank Holiday has been moved to Friday 8th to allow for a weekend of national commemorations, street parties and other events; these may now be held later in the year.

However, VE Day was May 8th in 1945 and Fareham Borough Council wants its residents to be able to mark the occasion on the actual 75th anniversary.

The Council has teamed up with a teacher to produce home schooling lesson plans and supporting resources for parents to help young people in the Borough learn about VE Day. The home-schooling pack is designed to be used each day in the week leading up to May 8th.

• The Council has also produced a “Stay At Home Street Party” pack for residents. It includes:

• A competition for residents to design their own bunting to hang or stick in their front windows, with a chance to win a home-delivered afternoon tea.

• A VE Day themed quiz that they can use with family and friends virtually on video conferencing services, or among the family at home.

• A VE Day themed Word Search.

• Some war-time recipes based on the rations available in 1945 for residents to try at home themselves.

• The words to We’ll Meet Again, the Dame Vera Lynn song made famous during the war and recently referenced by The Queen in her address to the national during the pandemic.

• A Spotify playlist of war-time songs compiled especially by the Council for the VE Day Stay At Home Street Parties

Fareham Borough Council Executive Leader Councillor Sean Woodward said: “VE Day is an important anniversary in our country’s history and we want to be sure that, despite the pandemic lockdown, residents have the chance to mark it in their own way.

“We know parents have been superbly tackling the difficult challenge of home-schooling their children - our lesson plans and resources will support their teaching and learning throughout VE Day week, and help children to understand the importance of VE Day to the nation.

“In 1945 the country celebrated the end of hostilities in Europe like never before, with street parties and other events. We had hoped to recreate that for the 75th anniversary this year until the Coronavirus pandemic put an end to those plans. Our Stay At Home Street Party pack will help all those who do still want to mark this very significant milestone.

“It would be fantastic if everyone across Fareham would join in a Borough-wide singalong of We’ll Meet Again at mid-day on Friday May 8th as we pay our own tribute to all those who fought in the Second World War for our freedom today, and at the same time to think about those nearest and dearest to us that we are missing seeing right now.

“I know how frustrating and difficult it continues to be for residents who are staying at home because of this lockdown. We want our VE Day packs to be something families and individuals can make use of to help mark this important anniversary.”

The downloadable home schooling and Stay At Home Street Party packs, and the Spotify playlist link, can be found at www.fareham.gov.uk/leisure/veday75.aspx.

Coronavirus: Sainsburys shopping arrangements

A statement to Sainsburys customers about opening hours.

I wanted to write to you again to update you on the steps we are taking to make sure everyone has access to food and essential items. I'm also sharing more information about how we are supporting our colleagues in these challenging times and how you can help.

An increasing number of you have told me that you're not always able to get the items that you need when you need them. We are working with our suppliers to get even more stock of essential items and we are adding warehouse capacity on a daily basis. You will have seen that we put restrictions in place this week to ensure that more products are on shelf for longer.

From Monday 23rd March, we are consolidating our opening hours and all our supermarkets will be open from 8am to 8pm, Monday-Saturday, including those with an Argos store. Sunday opening, Sainsbury’s Local and petrol station opening times will stay the same.

This means we can focus our store colleagues’ time on keeping shelves stocked and serving our customers well during the times that most of you are already shopping.

Last Thursday, we set aside an hour for elderly and vulnerable shoppers in our supermarkets. Many of you have told me how much you appreciated this and that you would like this to become a regular event. Some of you also said we should extend this to members of our hardworking NHS and Social Care workers. And we will be doing just that.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, all our supermarkets will dedicate 8am - 9am to serving elderly, disabled and vulnerable customers, as well as NHS and Social Care workers. They will just need to show us their pass or ID when they visit. Some of you fed back that you couldn’t find what you wanted during that hour, so we will try our best to have essential items on shelf for these customers. We will be working to keep our shelves well stocked and would encourage customers to arrive throughout the hour to prevent queues forming and to help everyone keep a safe distance.

Hundreds of you have written to me to thank our amazing colleagues who are working around the clock to serve our customers. A number of you have also shared your concerns for the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues. I want you to know that we are doing all we can to support everyone who works in our business. We have committed to paying all colleagues who are unwell or need to self-isolate for the full period of fourteen days. We have also committed to paying vulnerable and elderly colleagues in full if the government decides they should isolate for 12 weeks.

We hope this will go some way to helping our teams through this uncertain time and we are looking at other ways to thank our colleagues for their extraordinary efforts.

To keep our colleagues safe, I need to ask again for your help. Please do your best to stand one metre away from colleagues in our stores where you can. And we would prefer you to pay with card rather than cash at our tills. Please also treat our colleagues and other customers with kindness and respect.

These are unprecedented circumstances and our colleagues are being asked to come to work every day while so many others are being asked to stay at home. We all need them to keep coming to work to feed the nation – a small thank you goes a really long way.

I hope you will join us in looking out for each other and the communities that we serve.

Do you need help - Can you help

Village support group being set up to support the vulnerable during the Coronavirus crisis.

“To update you as to where we have got to with setting up our Titchfield Village group, to offer support to those isolated and without family support and in need.

We have agreed that we can manage to cover Titchfield centre and out to Prosbrook Lane to the end of Bellfield.

We are now setting out a leaflet which will give a telephone number for people to contact.

These leaflets will be delivered from Tuesday onwards.

Please bear with us and remember that we are all volunteers.

The Titchfield website www.titchfieldnews.com has set up a page which will give links to other support groups as well.

Thank you all who have come back to me re. volunteering, I will be in touch with you further this weekend.

I will also be asking for volunteers to cover certain streets, yet to be covered so please watch this space.”

Thank you all Pat Shirley

FBC suspend garden waste services

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak Fareham Borough Council is suspending its garden
waste collection service with immediate effect.

This is so that the Council can focus resources on the most important collections.
Residents should not put out any garden waste at this time.

Executive Member for Streetscene at Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Simon Martin,
said: “In these unprecedented times, we need to take steps to prioritise our most
important services. This measure will ensure that we can continue to empty waste
bins.

We would like thank residents for their understanding, and please be assured
that we will return the service to normal as soon as possible.”

Titchfield writer’s first novel

Jacqueline Cottrell’s novel, Vixstory, will transport you back in time to Nelson’s Portsmouth.

A chance encounter takes a young woman into dangerous places, layers of deceit are peeled back, lives and events collide and resonate over time.

Escaping from her former life and the indignity of her marriage to a suspected terrorist, Victoria moves to the city to start a new life.

A chance encounter involves her in even further deception, including the discovery of the secret world of her closet friend.

Her quest for truth threatens lives, including her own.

She has to find her path through the smoke and mirrors of the undercover police, the intelligence services and the criminal underworld, encountering murder, violence and exploitation in the process.

As events unfold, she becomes a woman haunted by the past as she is taken back to the Portsmouth of 1805 and discovers how worlds, lives and events collide and resonate over time.

Vix’s world becomes a dangerous place as the layers of deceit are peeled away as she searches for the answers she needs.

Vixstory by Jacqueline Cottrell is published by Austin Macauley and is available online.

LINK

Publishers Austin Macauley

Posbrook development back on the cards

Foreman Homes have submitted an application to build homes on the same site they were previously turned down earlier this year.

The new plan is for 57 houses on part of the field closest to Bellfield but leaving an area of open land between the proposed estate and Great Posbrook House.

The original plan was for 150 houses and a Scout Hut but in April the planning inspector turned down Forman Homes appeal against Fareham’s decision to reject the application.

At the time the appeals inspector had concluded that the green (Meon) gap that is protected under FBC planning guidelines is important enough to prevent Foreman Homes going ahead with their development.

The inspector gave the overall reasons for rejecting the scheme, saying, ‘I conclude that the proposed development would result in material harm to the character and appearance of the area.This would result in harm to a valued landscape’.

A number of objections have already been lodged against the development including one from The Titchfield Village Trust who have objected to this application in the ‘strongest of terms’ saying that this is ‘a somewhat cynical attempt by a developer to undermine both the Inspectors report regarding the already refused application.’

The new application can be found on Fareham Council’s planning website by clicking HERE.

The Reference No. Is P/19/1193/O

The Decision Date is the 4th February 2020

Part time Clerk to the Trustees required

The Earl of Southampton Trust is a charity which covers the areas of Titchfield, Sarisbury Green, Locks Heath, Hook, Warsash, Stubbington, Lee on Solent and Whitley.

The Trust owns 19 almshouses in Titchfield, runs a Day Centre and provides relief in need grants for qualifying residents in the area.

The Trustees are looking for a Clerk to assist with the daily running of the charity.

This role could be for you if you possess:

The Earl of Southampton’s Day Rooms in The Square

• good organisational and communication skills

• some financial know how

• strong IT skills

• a high standard of numeracy and literacy

• some knowledge of almshouses/property management

• a willingness to learn (training will be provided)

Hours: 12 hours per week – working pattern to be agreed

Salary: £27,000-30,000 per annum pro rata depending on experience

Location: Earl of Southampton Trust, 24 The Square, Titchfield, PO14 4RU

Apply to the Chairman, Frances Knight, for further details and CV to earlstrust@yahoo.co.uk

Before 31 December 2019

Take a tour of St Peter's Church

Tours of St Peter’s church are conducted every third Tuesday of the month except December.  The tours start at 2 o’clock and last about an hour, there is no charge but a donation could be made toward the church maintenance fund.

Tour dates for 2020 are: Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 17, Apr 21, May 19, Jun 16,

Jul 21, Aug 18, Sep 15, Oct 20 and Nov 17.

Tours outside these dates can be arranged through the Church Office on 01329 847003.

Order your outside Christmas Tree NOW

October 25th will be the last day you can order an outside tree.

The village of Titchfield shines and sparkles at Christmas time with a blaze of light as local residents display a Christmas tree in a bracket fixed to the outside of their houses.

Each year a group of village volunteers get together to co-ordinate the tree display by ordering a bulk delivery of trees which are then delivered to a central collection point in the village The volunteers then prepare the trees to fit the brackets.

The group also organise trees for village community buildings like the Parish Rooms and a tree for the ‘Green'.

The company who supply the trees have an early deadline this year so the order-by date is earlier this year.

The Christmas Tree team are concerned that they have around half the normal orders and they will not be carrying spares this year, only paid orders will be supplied.

Trees are available for Titchfield Village residents only.  

Make sure you get your order in and tell your neighbours!

Order forms are available at Daisy B’s and at Hadlows.

Members of the team preparing the trees last year.

Stubbington Bypass - a step closer

Hampshire County Council have confirmed that work is expected to start in November this year on the Stubbington bypass.

The long awaited road will enable drivers to bypass Subbington centre, hopefully reducing travel time and congestion in the village.

Bridge Street, Titchfield

The scheme, which is expected to cost £34m, will involve building a single carriageway from the Gosport Road, near to Crofton Secondary School to Titchfield Road, (B3334) near Hollam.”

Councillor Rob Humby, Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council, said: “We made a commitment to the people of Gosport and Stubbington to improve traffic and travel in South Hampshire.”

However, Titchfield residents have voiced concerns that the new road will result in more traffic using the village as a short cut.

The plans include changes to Titchfield Gyratory, but fears have been expressed that any queues backing up along the Titchfield Bypass will result in motorists using Bridge Street, Coach Hill and St Margaret’s Lane to rejoin the A27 to the west of the village.

PPG Open Meeting

The Patient Participation Group for Jubilee Surgery invite you to their open meeting on 25th September at 3:45pm.

You will be able to hear what has been achieved since the Patient Survey in May.

Dr Tom Bertram and his management team will also be present to provide you with updates.

If you have suggestions for the Agenda, please contact the PPG Group so they can be included on the agenda.

You are asked to let them know if you are likely to be able to attend so that they can set out the room with sufficient chairs.

If you can’t come but want something raised, do please email or phone me.

LINKS

• The Jubilee Surgery Jubilee Surgery

• The PPG Facebook Page PPG.Jubilee

• Email: ppgchair.jubilee@gmail.com

• Or phone Suzy Jackson 07532 168454

It’s Referendum Day

Please vote - Your vote is important

Titchfield residents go to the polls today to vote in a referendum about the Titchfield Neighbourhood Plan.

Residents will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question: ‘Do you want Fareham Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Titchfield to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’

If more than 50 per cent vote ‘yes’, then Fareham Borough Council will ‘make’ the TNP. Once made, the planning aspects from the TNP will be used to help determine planning applications in Titchfield. If more people vote ‘no’ than ‘yes’ then the Neighbourhood Plan will not be made part of the statutory Local Plan for the Fareham Borough.

You can vote at the polling station in Titchfield Community Centre for the referendum today.

Residents are entitled to vote in the Referendum if they are eligible to vote in a local government election and if they live in the referendum area – which is identical to the area which has been designated as the Titchfield Neighbourhood Area.

Cllr Keith Evans, Executive Member for Planning and Development, said: “This is the first time we have had a Referendum in the Fareham Borough and it is essential we hear the views of the people of Titchfield.”

The results, which are expected to be announced tomorrow (Friday) around noon, will be published here as soon as we are informed by Fareham.

READ MORE HERE

It's the time of the signs

Have you spotted the new signs on the approaches to the village?

It was suggested by a few locals in 2017 that they wanted new entry signs to replace the old ones that existed at certain road entrances in the village.

One local suggested a coat of arms could summarise all the history of Titchfield on the signs, but a coat of arms would have incurred a large registration fee, so it was decided an emblem was the way ahead.

This would symbolise the key historic places in Titchfield. What you now see is the finished product on the crest of the entry signs in Saint Margaret’s Lane, East Street and Posbrook Lane.

New signs for old St Margaret’s Lane

Many thanks must go to those locals who helped to organise the purchase and fitting of the new entry signs: Mark Rowe, Kevin Fraser, Phil Burner and Joe Folland (from the Traffic Department in Hampshire Highways).

Flags and bunting are also being produced for anyone living in Titchfield and the surrounding areas especially now Village in Bloom starts on 13th July. It would be lovely to see the village emblem flying over houses and businesses for this and many other events. You can still purchase flags and bunting by contacting titchemblem@hotmail.com if you want some colours flying!

The emblem was designed and crafted by three Titchfield enthusiastic locals who got together in the autumn of 2017 and convened the first of many informal meetings in the Queen’s Head pub! The mission, other than enjoying a good drink, was to try and develop more of a “symbolic identity reflecting the ancient history of Titchfield”.

Sketches developed from beer mats and scraps of paper and an emblem was finally established as the best way to symbolise the rich history of Titchfield.

Later, a fourth local and well-respected historian (President of the Titchfield History Society) sagely advised on more subtle detail regarding the historic past of the village and surrounding area.

The Titchfield History Society is the custodian of the emblem and they own the copyright. All profits relating to sales of the emblem will go towards preserving the history of Titchfield village.

Read more about the Emblem by clicking HERE