Planning
Whilst the council has no powers to make planning decisions, as this is the responsibility of the District and County Councils, all planning issues relating to the parish do come before the council for consultation and comment. It then has a duty to ascertain the views of affected residents and respond accordingly to Winchester City Council and/or Hampshire County Council. This may be solely by a simple written response or it may entail one of your councillors appearing at a planning meeting or enquiry, to protect the interests of the parish as a whole,such as at The Barton Farm Enquiry.
Members of the public are able to attend the regular parish council meetings to express their views on a particular planning application when it is being discussed. Occasionally, with larger developments or controversial planning issues, it may be necessary to facilitate a public meeting where all parties may present their issues, prior to the Parish Council making a response to the appropriate authority.
Rights Of Way
These paths are generally maintained by the Hampshire County Council’s Countryside Service in partnership with parish councils and others.
Footpaths and bridle ways through the parish are monitored by the parish council and are regularly walked and inspected. Those routes which are more regularly used, off School Lane to St Swithun’s church and also through the watercress beds at Bedfield Lane, are regularly trimmed and maintained. When repairs are necessary, Hampshire County Council Countryside Services and/or respective landowners are contacted for them to carry out the work required.
There are eleven such paths within the parish and perhaps the most frequently used are as follows:
1. Through the watercress beds off Bedfield Lane.
2. From School Lane leading down to St. Swithun’s Church.
3. From Wellhouse Lane opposite Green Close alongside the railway line and under the bridge into Barton Farm and the Andover Road.
4. From Andover Road near the sewage works across the field to Down Farm Lane, under the A34 and on towards Worthy Down Camp.
5. The popular Nuns Walk which skirts our boundary from Abbotts Barton almost alongside the River Itchen, under the A34 to St. Mary’s Church at King’s Worthy.
These routes can be identified from the relevant ordnance survey map or by accessing the Hampshire County Council’s website www.hants.gov.uk/maps/paths
Seats and Shelters
This includes three roadside benches, one bus shelter and two notice boards.
Community Safety
Ensuring that all aspects of community safety are maintained at the highest appropriate level.
Litter
Sadly this is an ongoing problem throughout the parish and the Parish Council organise an annual ‘Litter Pick Up Day’ usually in the spring, when volunteer villagers come together and walk the village to clear it of litter and rubbish. Regular litter and refuse collection remains the responsibility of Winchester City Council. There are a number of litter bins around the village which are emptied on a weekly basis.
General
The Parish Council looks after the interests of the parish where empowered to do so, bringing any other needs of the parish, to the attention of the relevant authority. It also responds to consultation documents and requests from a diverse range of other bodies and authorities. The council receives the money it needs to carry out its responsibilities from Winchester City Council, this is called the precept (a mandatory demand) and the amount is shown as part of the Council Tax Bill levied on each household in the parish by Winchester City Council. Headbourne Worthy currently has one of the lowest precepts in the county. |
