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Hants Web

Last Updated:
Wednesday August 20, 2008

Visitor No.

 


Welcome to Emsworth Online

Great Food.......    
  Great People......  
    Great Place...........

Tucked away in the south east corner of Hampshire on the shore of Chichester Harbour, Emsworth is a quiet and attractive yet vibrant and dynamic town where residents wouldn't live anywhere else and visitors can be sure of  a friendly welcome.

 

 

 

 



 

Emsworth News

 

12th August

Village's busy food festival has run its course

THE Emsworth Food Festival has been scrapped.

Community leaders have decided to ditch the controversial three-day festival and will be putting on four smaller events spread throughout the year.
The events will be called 'festival markets' and will have up to 40 stalls selling goods in
South Street car park.
The food festival was cancelled this year after complaints that it had become a victim of its own success with more than 50,000 visitors descending on Emsworth and effectively closing the village centre for three days.
But it still remained uncertain whether the festival would make a return next year.
However, following a crunch meeting between Emsworth Business Association and the Food Festival Committee, it has been decided to scrap the idea of having a large food festival once a year.
Brendan Gibb-Gray, chairman of Emsworth Business Association, said: 'I think it is a very exciting idea.
'We have looked at
Winchester and Chichester and Petersfield and we feel this is an opportunity to take the best of the Emsworth Food Festival and get as many local businesses involved as possible.
'We are trying to make it a more contained event and hopefully minimise disruption to the rest of the town.'
The markets will incorporate businesses in Emsworth after complaints that the festival was not benefiting local traders. All businesses in Emsworth will now be given the opportunity to set up a stall.
The main theme will still be food, but other goods will be on sale, including gifts, books and crafts.
Organisers say the event will still have a 'festival theme' as there will still be street entertainment and cookery demonstrations.
The first festival market will take place on Sunday December 14 and will have a Christmas theme.
Mr Gibb-Gray said: 'There are lots of economic reasons that say the food festival would be a difficult financial proposition at the moment.
'It would be difficult at the moment to make it financially viable.'
But he added: 'It's not goodbye to the food festival. It's hello it's back, but it is in a different format.
'Nevertheless it will be the best of the Emsworth Food Festival.'

The News 12-August-08


 

 

8th August

Food market plan for Emsworth

EMSWORTH could host a Sunday food market three or four times a year under plans from the town's business association.

The idea will be tested by a Christmas-themed market in December. The market would take place in part of the South Street car park.

Stallholders would be given guidelines to ensure the food adds to the variety already sold in the town.

The business association has been discussing the plans with directors of the Emsworth Food Festival and with Havant Borough Council Business Development team.

Chichester Observer 06 August 2008


29th July

Meeting to cook up food festival's future

TALKS will take place tomorrow about the future of the Emsworth Food Festival.

Businesses, retailers and the public are invited to discuss a way forward for the popular event, which has sparked controversy.

It was cancelled this year after complaints that it had got too big.

Last year 55,000 people descended on the vill

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age, sparking concerns about disruption as the village centre was effectively closed to traffic.

The festival committee is considering holding a smaller version twice a year.

Festival spokeswoman Amanda Fallbrown said: 'The plan is that something goes ahead. Some of the ideas are to hold it twice a year, along the lines of a farmer's market with local businesses getting involved.'

Trader Chris Gorton, owner of Sue Foster Fabrics in Queen Street, said: 'I can understand they had to take a breather as it had got so big and everyone needed to take stock. It was a bit like a business running out of contol.

'I think the festival puts Emsworth on the map. Okay, I don't take orders when it is on, but it makes people want to come back to Emsworth.'

The meeting is at
6pm at the Community Association Centre in Church Path.

 

The News 29-July-08


 

 

27th July

Street revamp could be way to bring in tourists

Part of a picturesque street is to be redeveloped to breathe new life into the area.

The 100-space car park in South Street, Emsworth, is to be redesigned to make way for about six new shops and flats.

The run-down toilet block at the entrance to the car park will be knocked down and rebuilt elsewhere, and the Emsworth Centre is set for major refurbishment. Both are owned by Havant Borough Council.

The plans have been welcomed by local people who hope it will regenerate the conservation area close to Emsworth Quay. Emsworth ward councillor Brendan Gibb-Gray said: 'I'm unusually enthusiastic about this, it's a very good idea.

'The Emsworth Centre is a wonderful community asset which is under-used but treasured by the people who do use it.

'If it is redeveloped it has got to be fit for the next 40 to 50 years, and the redevelopment of the frontage in South Street will go some way in paying for it.

'At the moment that area is a bit of an eyesore and the gap there looks like a bomb site.'

The Emsworth Centre will be the centrepiece of the redevelopment. It is currently leased by Havant Council of Community Services which runs meals and wheels. Officers believe the run-down building is in the perfect position to be a tourism and education centre and a place community groups can meet in. The run-down toilets were once a magnet for drug takers until police launched a crackdown. Designs for the new buildings will have to adhere to extremely strict guidelines because of the area's conservation status.

Chris Close, of Bath Road, Emsworth, has welcomed the plans. He said: 'As far as I'm aware it is just the car park frontage with the Emsworth Centre and the toilets that are going to be developed.

'I'm quite sure it will be sensitively done and the toilet block there at the moment is not the most attractive part of South Street – which is a very attractive street.'
 

The News16 July 2008


27th July

Emsworth Village Design Statement

At the Executive meeting of Havant Borough Council on July 16th it was recommended that the Council approve the Emsworth Village Design Statement and the Design Considerations it contains as a material consideration in Development Control.

www.emsworthdesignstatement.org.uk


23rd July

SPECIAL EXHIBITION “MORE ABOUT P.G.WODEHOUSE”
EMSWORTH MUSEUM 2ND TO 31ST AUGUST


Jeeves and Lord Emsworth are back in town! Well not quite, but this exhibition gives a close-up picture of Emsworth as PG Wodehouse would have seen it during his ten years in the town and speculates on some of the people he might have met.

Local place names and a few locals feature heavily in his books and even Emsworth itself is described lovingly in them. The display includes photos, letters, books music and memorabilia
 

Opening Times; 10.30 to 4.30pm Saturdays and Bank Holidays, 2.30 to 4.30pm Fridays in August and all Sundays


23rd July

Important meeting for all Emsworth businesses re. Emsworth Food Festival

Wed  30th July 6pm at  North St Community Centre

 If the Emsworth Food Festival affects your business in any way, you are invited to this meeting, to hear about proposals for the 2009 Festival to promote and celebrate Emsworth.

 We have taken account of the ideas and concerns of local businesses, and need your support to make 2009 a great success.

I hope to see you then

 Lulu Bowerman
EFF Chair

Retail rep-Mary Coburn
Classy Cooks
T. 01243 377518


20th July

Mast proposal for Emsworth

A planning application has been submitted by Hampshire County Council for a 50-metre anemometry mast in north Emsworth.

The mast would be temporary, positioned in Southleigh forest's landfill site for a year to record wind data.

There would be four sets of guy cables anchored 25 metres from the base holding it in place.

 

Chichester Observer 20-July-08


10th July

Footbridge repairs set walkers on detour

A well-used footbridge has been closed to the public while maintenance work takes place.
The Highways Agency is carrying out improvements on the Pook Lane pedestrian bridge over the A27 near Havant.

The footbridge will be closed until the end of the month. It is expected to re-open in the first week of August after parapets have been replaced.

A diversion will send pedestrians under the Warblington interchange via Emsworth Road on the north side of the A27 and Church Lane on the south.

Martin Wright, route performance manager for West Sussex, said: 'The Highways Agency has a strong commitment to safety and the work we are doing on the Pook Lane footbridge will bring it up to date with the latest safety standards.

'We are encouraging pedestrians to allow some extra time for their journey while the footpath diversion is in place, and I'd like to thank them in advance for their patience.


The News 10-July-08

 


5th July

Royalty beckons for Emsworth gardeners

Emsworth's horticultural society will be showing off their gardening talents at next month's Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

The EHS has been selected to put together a garden in the small garden category of the esteemed show, which takes place from July 8 until July 13.

The garden's design will focus on encouraging children to become more involved in gardening and art.


It is the first time garden designer Annette Wood has had a garden at the show. She said: "The primary purpose of the 'Spot the Art' garden is to foster children's interest and enthusiasm not only in the fields of gardening and plants but also art and artists.

"Semi-hidden in the garden are details from works of art for example Rousseau's tiger or Monet's water lilies which children will be encouraged to search for and spot after referring to interactive art posts along the front boundary of the garden.

"The garden is intended to be fun, exciting and stimulating, as well as visually beautiful."

On the inspiration of her garden, she said: "Last summer I was walking in our garden when I became aware of our Burmese cat Lucy hiding in a flower bed, stalking me and ready to pounce.

"I was reminded of the tiger in Rousseau's painting Surprise and thought how much children would enjoy spotting a tiger in the garden – and also how this could be used as a tool for learning."

The garden contains two small walkways at the end of which there is a sculpture in the style of a particular artist on a plinth.

The garden also has a circular pond as seen in one of the Van Gogh paintings. It has white water lilies, which link to the famous Monet paintings of water lilies. In the centre of the garden will be a courtyard. The garden will feature grasses, sunflower, lilies and other flowers in four different sections.

Chichester Observer 02-July-08

More at: www.emsworthhoriculturalsociety.org.uk


 

30th June

MARINE LIFE EXHIBITION

An exciting new exhibition is opening on Saturday at Emsworth Museum. The exhibition dives beneath the surface of our local waters to give a glimpse of the amazing wildlife that lives beneath the waves.

The exhibition called ‘What Lies Beneath’ features underwater photography from within Chichester Harbour. All the photographs were taken as part of a recent subtidal survey which discovered 220 different species of plants and animals
and 34 different types of habitats. The divers were amazed at both the wealth of life and the healthy condition of the habitats.

In addition to the photographs, the exhibition features information on some of the key species. Video footage also taken by the divers will be on show on the museum’s new 32” flat screen television. Chichester Sub-Aqua Club have donated dive equipment and artefacts they have recovered during local dives.

Ali Beckett who has organised the exhibition said, ‘The divers found that under the
water it is crowded with life. Pontoon pilings and mooring chains are covered with a wealth of colourful seaweeds. Reefs of native oysters provide homes for bright red sea squirts, hydroids and sponges. The exhibition goes some way towards providing a glimpse of this fascinating world which is right on our doorstep.’

The exhibition is on at Emsworth Museum from the 5th to the 27th July. The museum is open Saturdays 10:30
– 4:30 and Sundays 2:30 – 4:30. Viewings can be arranged at other times for groups, call Dorothy Bone 01243 373780.
 

16th June

Woman injured in road accident.

A woman has been left with serious injuries after being hit by a car while cycling.
She was in collision with a car at the junction of Record Road and Havant Road, Emsworth.  The cyclist was rushed to Queen Alexandra Hospital suffering from leg and facial injuries.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. The incident happened at 11.05am on Saturday and anyone with information on the accident should call Cosham Roads Policing Unit
on 0845 045 45 45.



 

22nd May

Scheme aims to boost recycling

A new door-step green recycling scheme is being launched across Havant.

The dedicated green waste collection service will be started by Havant Borough Council next year – but residents will have to pay to take part.

The fortnightly service will collect green waste, such as hedge trimmings and grass cuttings, and take  them to recycling centres for composting.

The council is spending £82,000 on buying a new collection truck to provide the service.

Under the new scheme, residents will pay an annual licence fee of £25 for one reusable bag or £45 for two bags. A collection truck will come to their door every two weeks.

People who apply early for the scheme will get a discount and will be charged £22. Those on state benefits will receive a 33 per cent discount and pay £18.75.

Council leaders are hoping the scheme, to be introduced next April, will boost local recycling rates.

Around 32 per cent of household waste is recycled in the Havant Borough compared with just five per cent back in 1993. But the council has to improve far more to reach the government target of 40 per cent by 2010.

Council leader Tony Briggs said: 'We're up there with the upper quartile of local authorities for recycling rates in the country and this is going to help even more.

'We're already meeting government targets, but we want to do even better.'

The scheme will be in addition to the alternate fortnightly collection for refuse and recyclables.

Green waste is currently collected by the council, but under a much smaller and more limited scheme.

Green plastic sacks are sold to residents for £1.50 each, reduced to £1 for people on benefits.

Residents then have to ring up the council offices to get a truck to come and collect the bag, which is not reusable.

The council is hoping that around 10 per cent of households – 4,700 homes – take up the new service.

Cllr Briggs added: 'It's also going to reduce people's carbon footprint. At the moment people drive to the household waste recycling centre to get rid of green waste.

'But now we will have just one vehicle making that journey.'

 

The News www.thenews.co.uk  21 May 2008

20th May

Car park changes in Emsworth given go ahead

 
PLANS to slash the maximum stay time at a car park in Emsworth have been given the go ahead by Havant Borough Council.
The car park in South Street, currently has a maximum stay time of 24 hours, but under the change from the council users will be restricted to a maximum time of just four hours.

Many of the towns traders rely on the car park for easy access in and out of work, but will now have to find somewhere else to park once their four hours are up.

The change will be in force from Monday to Saturdays, between 8am and 6pm. Parking for up to four hours will cost £1.50.

Changes were also made to parking on Sundays and bank holidays, up to four hours is 50p and over four hours will cost £1.

Permit holders will not be affected by the change.

The plan will come into force within the next couple of months, once the necessary paperwork has been done at the council.

18th  May

Down load the Oyster Trail  HERE
 


 

1st May

TERROR SAILING TRIPS DEPARTURES FROM EMSWORTH IN 2008

TERROR - is a 28' traditional gaff-rigged, open decked sailing boat. She was built in 1890 as a working boat to support the Emsworth oyster fleet. Terror was fully restored between 2004-06 and an engine has now been fitted.

COSTS AND BOOKING - £10 adults and £5 for children

up to 16 years old. All scheduled trips are about 2 hours, but please allow 3 hours for your visit. All places must be

booked in advance, please call the booking line on 01243 513275 or call into the Harbour Office, Itchenor.    

PASSENGER NUMBERS - Terror is certified to carry 6 fare-paying passengers and 3 crew. All crew are experienced            sailors who have been trained to operate Terror. Please     note they are all volunteers.       

CHILDREN - must be 6 years and over. Each child must be accompanied by an adult (max 3 children on each trip).

DOGS - no dogs other than guide dogs.                                                            

REFUNDS - if we have to cancel a trip we will offer an alternative date or refund your money. Otherwise refund will only be given if a minimum of 10 days notice of cancellation has been given to the Harbour Office. 

CANCELLATION DUE TO WEATHER - trips will be cancelled if the wind is 16 knots or over (Force 4 & above) or if it is forecast to do so in the next 4 hours, or if there is less than 100m visibility. The decision of the master of the vessel is final. You will be offered a refund or alternative date.

WHAT TO WEAR - warm clothing and a set of waterproofs are essential. Deck shoes or trainers are ideal. No leather soled shoes or heels are allowed. Lifejackets will be provided and must be worn at all times.     

TOILET - there is no toilet on board. The nearest is the public toilet in South Street car park.           

ABILITY - no previous sailing experience is needed.         

ACCESSIBILITY - you must be sufficiently mobile to board the vessel. As a rule, if you can descend stairs unassisted you should be fine.

 

GROUP BOOKINGS - Terror may be booked for groups of up to 6 people. Up to 4 hours - £100, up to 8 hours £200.

All bookings are subject to the availability of volunteer certified crew. Contact the booking line 01243 513275.

WHERE TO MEET - Emsworth jetty, wait by the Terror sign on the Mill Pond wall adjacent to the jetty. Please be there promptly at the departure time.

Sailing schedule in 2008

 Terror Booking Line: 01243 513275  


19th April

Town steps back in time

 
 
Emsworth rolled back the clock and became a hub for all things 1940s.
The nostalgic event saw wartime military vehicles parade through the town and old photographs and memorabilia adorn shop windows.

A soup kitchen, run by Corporal Herbert Goredema from the Royal Logistical Corps, Thorney Island, kept people smiling as he served queues with ration books at the ready.

Havant mayor Victor Pierce-Jones joined in the nostalgia of wartime rationing and young visitors such as four-year-old Jack Bream had the opportunity of dressing up, assisted by June Chambers from Solent Overlord Executive.

The event on Saturday was organised by the Friends of Emsworth Memorial Garden and raised money towards the memorial and garden.

Chairwoman Virginia Wilson-Smith said: 'We haven't yet got the figure but we did raise a tidy sum towards the memorial and garden. In spite of the awful weather, a great number of people turned out and the day was a great success with only the Emsworth Concert Band having to be cancelled as they could not sit outside and play in the heavy rain.'

She added: 'I think one of the highlights was the convoy of Jeeps transporting the mayor and his consort back from the Memorial Garden to the Square.

'They were certainly noticed as they drove through central Emsworth with horns blaring and flags flying from their aerials.'

A competition for the best dressed window was judged on by David Harris from Havant Borough Council who found it extremely difficult to decide the winner as the quality of all the displays was very high.

Mayor Pierce-Jones presented the winners prize to the Emsworth Delicatessen, and the two runners-up prizes to Citrus Flowers and Soles of Emsworth.



14th April

Residents seek to save village


 By trying to save Emsworth from turning into a 'housing estate'. They are fighting plans to build hundreds of new homes on green spaces in the town.

The strength of feeling was demonstrated last week when more than 160 people crammed into a public meeting to oppose the plans – which campaigners say will change the face of Emsworth forever.

Havant Borough Council has been told by the government it must build 6,000 new homes over the next 20 years to meet housing demands.

Residents fears hundreds of homes to be built on green spaces in Havant borough could be in Emsworth.

Among the possible sites for development are 280 homes in the Emsworth Gap, 227 homes to the west and east of Horndean Road and 123 dwellings earmarked for Horse Field, south of the A259 in Emsworth.

Now a protest group, called Emsworth Fights Back, has been  set up.

A public consultation on the proposals finishes in less than two weeks – and campaigners are urging residents to write to the council to oppose the plans.

Penny Salter, of
Birch Tree Drive, Emsworth, said: 'This will destroy Emsworth completely if it goes through.

'There is not the infrastructure and the roads won't be able to cope with it.

'It will just turn Emsworth into a housing estate.'

The main concern for residents is the Emsworth Gap –17 acres of fields that separate Westbourne and the town – where 250 homes could be built. The green space is home to tawny owls, buzzards, and foxes.

Residents say it would mean the death of Westbourne as a village in its own right.

Emsworth councillor Brendan Gibb-Gray said: 'To have the rate of housing building we are talking about, with no guarantees for the majority of those people, is a recipe for disaster.'

 

The News 14 April 2008

More at: Emsworth Fights Back


 

11th April

Council gives go-ahead to move to tackle binge drinking

A booze ban aimed at cracking down on drink-fuelled crime has been given the green light.

The licensing committee at Havant Borough Council yesterday gave the go-ahead to introduce fixed penalties for people who refuse to hand over alcohol to police if they are drinking in public.

The move comes more than a year after 11 areas were designated booze-free zones, including Havant town centre and the Greywell and Park Parade precincts. There are hopes that the latest idea will dramatically reduce the amount of drink-fuelled crime which puts Havant at the top of the table in the area for this sort of problem.

But police have promised they will use the new powers only to stop nuisance behaviour.

Inspector Darren Murphy said: 'If you look at
Havant Park, where there are very often sporting events, we would not expect to go and seize alcohol if people are acting quite normally. If they are just watching a cricket match then that is fine.

'The main thing is that we can

confiscate alcohol from people who are causing a problem.'

A ban on booze in public has proved a big success in Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport and it is hoped it will bring down the rate of crime in Havant.

The borough is the 14th worst for alcohol-related sexual offences out of 354 local authorities and it is ranked 45th worst for the number of violent crimes linked to booze.

At yesterday's meeting councillors voted unanimously to bring in the ban.

Purbrook councillor David Farrow said: 'It does seem a little bit Draconian but I think the time has come because our residents all suffer from it.

'We have drunkenness, especially from the younger population, and they start out drinking in one area and go on a drinking march.

'Our residents have to fork out thousands each year when fencing and rubbish bins are taken away and burnt and our play areas desecrated.'

The News 11 April 2008


 

April 6th

Floods in March and Snow in April

Emsworth woke up to an inch or so of snow.


The Foreshore at Warblington Road (10.00am)

MORE PHOTOS

By 2:00pm it had all gone and the sun was shining.


April 3rd
 

CHICHESTER HARBOUR PHOTO COMPETITION

All photographers are invited to get snapping this summer. The theme for this year’s competition is ‘People and Places in Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).’

The theme will encourage photographers to go out and explore the villages within the AONB. These include the much photographed waterside village of Bosham as well as smaller ‘off-the-road’ places such as Dell Quay and Prinsted. Chichester Harbour is of course well known for sailing and watersports but in addition many hundreds of people enjoy the area each year as walkers, birdwatchers and artists. All these activities can be captured on camera showing how important the area is for rest, relaxation and sport.

The competition opens on 3 April and photographers have all summer to get their ‘perfect shot’. The closing date for entries is 16 September. Four cash prizes of £100, £80 and two lots of £50 are on offer. In addition Whitby’s Imaging Centre are offering a 40 page Photo Book for each winner.

Mike Repp of Whitby’s who will be one of the judges said ‘Last year there was an excellent range of entries and we look forward to working with Chichester Harbour Conservancy to make this year’s competition a success.’ Mike added the following advice for competitors, ‘for competition entries the photo should be printed on good quality paper to show it off to its best. Also, the photo should be recognisable as having been taken within Chichester Harbour AONB.’

Louise Adams, photographer for Chichester Observer will also be judging the competition. An exhibition of the entries will be held at the Old Court Room, North Street, Chichester on 19-20 September. The competition has been generously sponsored by the Friends of Chichester Harbour.

 Full details and an entry form are available from the Harbour Office 01243 512301 or online at www.conservancy.co.uk .

 


April 1st

Co-op bags plastic change

A shop is leading the way in the drive to consign the plastic bag to history.

Shoppers at the Southern Co-op store in Emsworth will no longer be able to pick up a free plastic bag at the checkout to stuff full of shopping. Instead they will have to pay five pence for a corn starch bag, which can afterwards be put in the compost heap to decompose.

Emsworth Business Association launched a bid for the town to go plastic-bag-free last year, and the Co-op has taken up the challenge.Ted Merdler, marketing manager at Southern Co-operatives, said: 'We are delighted to be able to encourage a reduction in the amount of plastic bags used.'

The Co-op held a competition for youngsters to launch the first day of scrapping its carrier bags yesterday. Local children were asked to create a collage showing how they thought Emsworth would look in the future if people continued to use as many carrier bags as they do at the moment.

 

The News 01 April 2008


March 31st

Community Street Audit

There is a clearly established case for encouraging people to walk or cycle around town instead of using their cars. The case for cycling was documented in A Strategy for Cycle Route Development in Emsworth published by Emsworth Community
Board in March 2007. This should be read in conjunction with this report.
The cycling strategy report was presented to local government transport officers who recommended that the needs of pedestrians should also be considered. They proposed that a Community Street Audit should be carried out to provide a comprehensive list of improvements that would encourage more people to walk and cycle around Emsworth. Such a list could form the basis for a formal Town Access Plan for Emsworth which would be consulted when funding for highways projects became available. Emsworth Community Board undertook to carry out the Street Audit with the help of other Emsworth residents. All those who took part were volunteers. Planning for the Street Audit took place during the summer of 2007 and the street surveys took place in October/November 2007. Conclusions from the audit were consolidated and published in March 2008.

Download the report


 

March 28th

First Local Nature Reserve in Emsworth

Brook Meadow Conservation Group have done it!!

Brook Meadow is the first nature conservation area in Emsworth to have Local Nature Reserve (LNR) status. LNR status is declared by the local authority, in this case Havant Borough Council (HBC) with advice from Natural England. The LNR designation will give additional protection to Brook Meadow and ensure that this wildlife haven in the centre of Emsworth is conserved and managed as a valuable resourcfor the benefit of the community and future generations.


www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk


March 27th

Emsworth Town Centre Tree Trail

There are many fine trees throughout Emsworth in recreation grounds, parks, nature conservation areas and other public spaces in addition to several tree-lined avenues such as Havant Road, Horndean Road and Warblington Road.

In the town centre, most of the trees of any size are in private gardens, in Church grounds, along the eastern side of the Town Mill Pond, or in the area adjoining the River Ems and Brook Meadow. The Trail takes you around the central area and identifies some fine trees which can be viewed from public paths, some of which can get very muddy in spring and winter.

Many of the trees in the town centre have been pruned, crown reduced, or pollarded mainly for masons of space constraints or the proximity of roads. Tree Preservation Orders (TP0s) have been put on a number of trees throughout Emsworth because of their amenity value. The town centre area south of the A259 is designated as a Conservation Area. Any tree felling or maintenance work within this area requires Local Authority permission.

This Trail has 26 different types of trees, with 3 conifers and 23 broadleaved trees. Seventeen of these trees are native to Great Britain, and in addition a mixed hedgerow of at least 8 additional native trees, including 1 evergreen.

The Tree Trail is intended to be of interest to both residents and visitors to create awareness of the value of trees in our street scene. Children particularly are encouraged to use this Tree Trail booklet. The Trail takes about one hour to one-and-half hours to complete.

The map on the centre pages shows the route of the Trail starting from Palmers Road car park, although it can be joined at any point.

Copies of the Booklet (£1.00) \re available from: Emsworth Museum, Emsworth Bookshop, Bookends, Borland & Bound Estate agents and The Brookfield Hotel.


March23rd

Chimney fire at flood-hit Emsworth pub


PICTURE: Julian Roland
The Lord Raglan hit by floods ten days ago suffered a chimney fire late morning today (Saturday, March 22).
Police closed Queen Street to traffic as two fire appliamces tackled the blaze.

On March 10, open fires in the popular waterside pub were put out by rising seawater as the mill pond overflowed due to a combination of PICTURE: MARK JONESstrong winds and spring tides and the ground floor was flooded.

 

 

 


 

March21st

More Southern Co-ops go plastic bag free

Three more Southern Co-operative stores are to go plastic bag free from 31 March 2008.
The stores, at Alresford,
Emsworth and Odiham in Hampshire, will completely replace traditional plastic bags with a GM-free corn starch version at a cost of 5p to the customer.
This latest initiative follows a successful trial at the society's store at Overton in Hampshire, where
the town went plastic bag free in November 2007.
Also from the end of March, the corn starch bags will become available in the rest of Southern Co-op's stores in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, the Isle of Wight, West Sussex and Berkshire.
Customers here will then have the choice of purchasing a corn starch carrier or a Co-op Fairtrade cotton 'bag for life' at 99p, instead of using traditional plastic bags.
The corn starch bags can be filled with household food waste and added to domestic compost bins.

 


March 10th

Emsworth Floods
Spring tides, an intense low pressure and strong winds resulted in storm damage an floods in Emsworth.  Floods were reported in  Bridge Road, Bridge Foot Path and Bath Road, Queen Street, the Quay and the Slipper Mill Pond.


The Quay


Bridge Foot Path


Bridge Road

 

More photos: HERE


February 22nd

Emsworth Museum
established, managed and run  by:
The Emsworth Maritime & Historical Trust



 

After structural and refurbishment work during the past year Emsworth Museum will re-open on Easter Saturday 22 March.

Exhibitions planned for the David Rudkin Room are:-

22 March - 27 April   "Emsworth's Oyster Heritage"

3 - 25 May                "Many Hands make Light (Patch) Work"

                                by the Bourne Quilters  

31 May - 29 June      "Emsworth Trees"

                                 by the Emsworth Tree Wardensr.

..............................................................................................

The 2008 Treasure Hunt will be held on 19 June starting from the museum at 7.00p.m. Entry Fee £1.00 per person payable as you start out on the Treasure Hunt. Tea / coffee and biscuits will be available when you arrive back at the museum to check your answers.

If you would like more information please contact Dorothy Bone - telephone 01243 373780 email dorothybone@btinternet.com

 www.emsworthmuseum.co.uk


February 13th

Coming to Stansted Park in September


 

www.athoughtforfood.co.uk
 


February 7th

Emsworth Eastern Gateway Improvement project.


U
sing an old clinker built boat formerly abandoned on the foreshore. The EBA and Ward Landscapes are sponsored the project to improve the eastern approach to Emsworth.

New Project
After the success of this project the EBA hope to carry out a similar project along the A259 on the other side of the town. the pictures below show the fine vessel they have been given.

 

 


February 5th


How festival left bitter aftertaste


Visitors throng the stalls - but are shops missing out?

It was supposed to be an event that brought the community together. But when the Emsworth Food Festival ended up causing bitter division, chairman Lulu Bowerman knew something had to be done.
Committee members had been abused in the street, shopkeepers were threatened that customers would take their business elsewhere if they supported the festival and a petition was circulated.
So she and fellow festival organisers acted and axed the popular event for this year, while suggesting that when it returns in 2009, the festival may well be scaled down.
Lulu, 49, says: 'It was started with the best of intentions, but it became so difficult to keep the status quo last year that we have had to take a step back.
'You want to please the community and not have everybody fighting. But there have been people going in shops and saying "if you support the food festival, then we won't shop here any more''. It is best to let the dust settle.'
She adds: 'Cancelling it was a very bitter pill to swallow. It was a very difficult decision to make but common sense had to prevail. The brain had to rule the emotions.
'I remember one of the protesters asked what gave us the right as an unelected body to impose our will on the community. That stuck in my mind.'
The problem has been the sheer size of the festival. From just a handful of stalls at the first festival back in 2001, it quickly grew to attract more than 130 stalls and 55,000 visitors over three days each year.

Festival chairman Lulu Bowerman

It seemed that the town had discovered the recipe for success. But it got so big that the centre had to be effectively closed for four days, with large numbers squeezing into narrow streets and traffic restrictions imposed by police and Havant Borough Council meaning some residents couldn't use their cars.
By 2007 the festival was bigger than ever and the goodwill and co-operation of some people living and working in Emsworth was beginning to wear thin.
The news that there is no festival in 2008 has pleased traders who had grown fed up with the disruption. In their eyes, an event that was originally set up to help support local businesses was putting people off shopping there.
Evelyn Pearce, of Emsworth Delicatessen in West Street, says: 'I'm very pleased there isn't going to be a festival this year. We do less business over the festival weekend than any other weekend in the year. If there had been a festival this year, I was going to close the shop on the Saturday because it would just not be cost-effective to stay open.'
She adds: 'It was fantastic when it started, but it has just got out of hand. Now people come here for the freebies, not to see what shops Emsworth has got.'

Evelyn Pearce of Emsworth Delicatessen

Carli Strugnell, 20, of Citrus Flowers in The Square, explains: 'It has got too big and affects local businesses. All the visitors are coming for the festival and are not interested in anything else. We lose quite a lot of money compared to a normal weekend and a lot of other shops are saying the same thing.
'The food festival used to be small and each shop would have a stall. But now it is absolutely massive and stalls are coming in from other areas and blocking off the shops behind. So many people have complained about things that something had to be done.'
Michael Starr

Michael Starr, 63, of Starr Butchers in High Street, says: 'It was definitely better when it was a smaller event. The first three or four years were brilliant, but it has lost that personal feeling. It's just become too big and got out of hand.
'Local people who get their meat from me don't come in when the festival's on. If I didn't have my barbecue going outside, I might as well shut up shop. Other shopkeepers are the same. Visitors come here to walk around, go in the wine tent and get free tasters from the stalls; they don't come in the local shops. The only ones earning a crust from it are the pubs.'
Some residents are also pleased to see the festival taking a breather. Emsworth Residents' Association chairman Chris Curry adds: 'There are quite a few people who were very inconvenienced by the festival, particularly those who live in roads that were shut off from 9am-5pm for three days.
'They got really uptight about it and created a bit of a furore. I know it also affected shops and businesses.'
But others who wanted to keep the festival angrily claim it has fallen victim to a small but vociferous minority of whingers. Comments posted on the Emsworth Food Festival website are powerful and emotive – using words such as 'devastated', 'dismayed' and 'outraged' to describe their feelings about the event being cancelled.
Lulu, who was voted Business Personality of the Year at The News Business Excellence Awards last month for her work organising the food festival, explains: 'The festival was started to help local businesses survive and flourish, but it had become a juggling act to keep everybody happy.
'When a growing minority of people say they are not sure they want the festival any more, then you have to take that on board.'
But she says the festival will come back in 2009 – although its exact form has yet to be decided.
'If people want it back, then it will come back. I'm not a dictator. Getting smaller is an option. The feedback so far has been that people want it to be a very local event and relevant to Emsworth.
'They want it to celebrate shops in Emsworth and businesses in a 10-20 mile radius. People love it as a street market with atmosphere, entertainment and fireworks.'
Another option is to make it a cultural festival, not just about food. Lulu says: 'We have other culture in Emsworth. For instance there are very good artists here.'

Lulu says organisers will talk to people on both sides of the debate and take on board their opinions so nobody
feels alienated.
Festival directors met last week and now intend to visit other food festivals to see how they are run.
Meanwhile festival projects will continue in schools and colleges and several young chefs competitions will still take place. Local charities and initiatives will also benefit from money raised by the 2007 festival.
Lulu thinks it likely the Emsworth festival will continue in a smaller form in the future, perhaps without elements such as the competitions, demonstrations, wine tastings, marquees, classes and celebrity chefs.
Residents' association chairman Chris Curry believes that would win a lot of support. He says: 'We would like to see a smaller, good quality event kept in the town.'
As for Michael Starr, he also thinks that smaller would definitely be better.
'Emsworth's a lovely little place and ideal for a food festival, but it has to be smaller in future.'

To comment on this news click HERE

The News 5th February 2008
 


February 4th

Slow going in the cone zone

Traffic is reduced to a crawl in the cone zone on the A27 watched over by the "Yellow Vultures" to enforce the 40 mph speed restriction.

 

 

 

 


February 3rd

Work starts on oyster bed study

Emsworth Museum's first special exhibition for the 2008 season will focus on initial results of this unique project the first exhibition to be held in the Rudkin Room for the museum's 2008 summer season will feature the initial results of the research and field work undertaken for this special project. The official opening will be Saturday 22nd March during Easter weekend.

The Trust in partnership with the Chichester and District Archaeological Society has started work on a unique study into the history of Emsworth oyster beds.

“This is an exciting opportunity to find out more about the oyster industry based in Emsworth over hundred  years ago" said John Tweddell, the project co-coordinator "We hope to gain a better understanding of how it changed from a successful business in the 19th century to its collapse in the early 20th century.”

After winning funding from the Chichester Harbour Sustainable Development Fund, the project will cover both research into the records held by the museum and field work on the site itself. Training for the volunteers who are undertaking the field work element of the project took place in early December 2007.

In January and February this year the team are undertaking the work involved in mapping the beds and looking at evidence to help us understand their construction.

www.emsworthheritageproject.org.uk

 


 2nd February

The Mothers' Union are holding a Table Top Sale on Saturday 9 February from 10am to 12 noon at the St. James’ Church Parish Hall, Emsworth and will be advertising for Table holders @ £5 per table. What they raise is for their own use. The Mothers' Union hope to raise funds by renting Tables, sale of coffee, etc., organising a Raffle and charging a 50p entrance fee for the public.


January 25th
 

Food festival chief had recipe for success

A woman who helped organise the most successful food festival in the area has been honoured in The News Business Excellence Awards.
The efforts of Lulu Bowerman in organising the Emsworth Food Festival and galvanising a group of volunteers to create an event that celebrates local produce have won her the title of Business Personality of the Year.
She was cheered as she walked up to the stage to accept her award from Robin Dickens, of award sponsor Lambert Smith Hampton.
A clearly stunned Mrs Bowerman said: 'I didn't think I would get this.
'It's great getting this award, but the festival wouldn't have happened without my team of volunteers.
'It's for all the volunteers that I'm accepting this award - I'm accepting this on behalf of the committee.
'We were up against a few obstacles this year but we came through it.'
These obstacles mean the festival will be smaller in future years.
Ms Bowerman was one of many happy trophy winners whose successful companies and enterprises we celebrated within the area's business community.
The event, which was held at Portsmouth Guildhall, is the highlight of the year for the business community.
It involved nearly 550 guests - made up of mayors, company leaders and representatives of leading business organisations who were there to network and more importantly to find out who had won awards in one of the eight categories.
They heard from guest speaker and England Football legend Sir Geoff Hurst - still the only person to have scored a hat trick in a World Cup final - while BBC presenter Sally Taylor compered the evening.
The event, which is sponsored by Business Link, is now into its sixth year.
Chairman of the board of Business Link in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Phil Wilding, said: 'I think these awards are very important - good people in business strive to be the best and I believe we should recognise that.'


The News 25 January 2008

 


January 24th


2008 CHICHESTER HARBOUR NEWS & GUIDE


T
he 2008 edition of the Chichester Harbour News and Guide is now available. This 84-page full colour booklet is packed with news features, information and local tide tables. It is an interesting and informative read for local residents and visitors alike. The Harbour News has the latest information on what is happening in Chichester Harbour and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) with reports from the Harbour Master and his staff and a number of feature articles.

This year there is a break with tradition. Rather than having a boat on the front cover, there is a beautiful picture of the sand dunes at East Head. The photograph was taken by Emma Millen, it won second prize in the harbour photography competition held in 2007.

The feature articles in this issue include ‘Lending a Helping Hand’. Local journalist Janet McMeekin has interviewed five people who help out around the harbour. The diversity of their work is interesting; it ranges from conservation tasks to archaeological digs and helping with school trips.

Janet has also taken her family out to explore great days out in the AONB. They report back on their favourite activities which include cycling on the Salterns Way and taking a trip on Terror, the restored oyster boat.

Regular contributor Ian McIntyre poses the question ‘What do Fishbourne Roman Palace, Warblington Castle and Tournerbury Fort have in common?’ He then delves back into the history of these scheduled ancient monuments and what they tell us about how people have used this area over the last 2,000 years.

The specifics of how climate change will affect those who live near or use Chichester Harbour is explored by AONB Officer Nicky Horter. Using a wealth of facts and figures, she looks at the changes we can already see, such as the appearance of seahorses, and also discusses what can be done in our area to address climate change.
MORE OVER

Racing Tips this year has been written by Olympic sailing coach Mark Rushall. Mark explains the techniques required for sailing in waves. He claims that by following his advice, all dinghy racers will be ‘looking for the biggest wave’ rather than avoiding it!

As well as the regular articles giving updates on projects throughout the Harbour, there is an informative guide section and twelve months of tide tables. This is particularly useful for visitors and those new to Chichester Harbour.

The Chichester Harbour News and Guide is produced by Chichester Harbour Conservancy and has a circulation of 32,000 copies. Copies are available free of charge from the Harbour Office and local tourist information centres and libraries.

 


January 21st

Food Festival in 2009 will be scaled down

THE Emsworth Food Festival has received another blow with the news the event could be scaled down in 2009.

Residents and traders have been torn over the impact it has on the town when 50,000 people visit over three days in September.

An intense debate led to this year's festival being cancelled last month, but chairman of the festival committee Lulu Bowerman has said next year's event could be cut back to the stalls and fireworks.

She said: "If that is what they want, that is easy to deliver. People want their fiesta, which is how they describe it."

Ms Bowerman said a lack of interest had been shown in the demonstrations, wine tasting marquees, and celebrity chefs.

"I was stunned," she said. "It is really strange not to have people talking about the other bits we worked so hard to run, but that does not seem to be what they want.

"We cannot just steamroller people into having it. It was becoming really divisive in the community.

"It was a very difficult decision to do it. It was a very emotional moment for me. You give your heart and soul to it, but sometimes you just have to be grown-up and responsible."

Manager of the newsagents in St Peter's Square Kharran Piper fears the event could be over-run by disappointed people if it is downscaled. She said:
"I hope they do not come a bit of a cropper with millions of people turning up and it is not what they expect it to be - it would be a disaster.”People coming from far and wide are going to expect it to be what it always has been.”
"I think people have got over the fact there is not going to be a festival. Most people have accepted it."
"It is all a bit of a shame, really. Obviously they are all volunteers and it is a huge amount of work."

It's so good for traders

MANAGER of Emsworth Hardware Dave Wagg is in support of the festival and does not understand how it cannot be good for trade.
He said: "I think it will struggle to come back smaller because there will always be that number of people attending."
"It is pretty crowded anyway, If you decrease the number of stalls it will be bedlam.”
Ros Oakley of the Pantry Weigh said:
"The risk is you have a lot of people turning up and there is not a lot to see and it falls flat on its face.
"From a stall holder's point of view, on Friday and Saturday people seem to be happier, more relaxed. By Sunday people have been jostling for space everywhere and they are not so happy”

Ems Valley Gazette January 17th 2009

To comment on this news click HERE


18th January

 Campaigners admit defeat in battle to stop superstore