March 2024

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Parish Council to explore Post Office options

 

Bishopstoke Parish Council was dismayed to learn of the closure of the Post Office on Spring Lane. This much-valued service has been a lifeline to many, and it will be greatly missed. The Council has asked the Post Office to be kept informed of progress in finding a location so that the Post Office can return to this part of Bishopstoke.

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Meanwhile, the Council is looking into whether it would be possible to use the space previously occupied by Central Convenience for an office and Council meeting rooms. If this proves possible then the Council would hope to provide other community services within the location such as a food bank drop off, community library and possibly a space for someone to run a Post Office counter.
 

Bishopstoke / Fair Oak Road repairs

 

The state of the main road running from Eastleigh through Bishopstoke is terrible with plenty of deep, wide potholes that are often difficult to avoid. Bishopstoke Parish Council has already written once to Hampshire County Council about this, and a small section of road between Sayers Road and Underwood Road does appear to have been repaired recently.  However, the rest of the road is still in a poor state of repair. Here is a link where anyone can report potholes to the County Council and the Council is encouraging people to use it:

https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems/potholes

 

Bishopstoke Sports Day and Carnival

 

Old School Sports Day returns this year on Saturday June 8th and this year we are using it to commemorate D Day 80. Look out for more information on the Parish Council website and noticeboards.

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The Council hopes to hold Bishopstoke Carnival on Saturday September 7th. We are planning the usual River Floats, Duck Races, Stalls, Rides and Events on Glebe Meadow but we badly need more volunteers. Without more people to help plan the events, and more people to run things on the day, then Carnival will have to be shelved for another year. Please contact the Clerk if you can help in any way. 

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The next Carnival meeting will be at Bishopstoke Methodist Church in Sedgwick Road on Thursday 28th March starting at 7:00pm. Please do come along if you can help and look out for future meetings on our website.
 

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Bishopstoke Parish Assembly

 

The Parish Assembly is being held this year at Bishopstoke Methodist Church on Tuesday 23rd April starting at 7:00pm. In addition to the normal report from the Chair on the Parish Council’s activities this year and another on the last audit of Council finances we are hoping to hear from all the groups and charities who have received grants from the Council this year to talk briefly about what they do and how the money has helped.

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If you are interested in finding out what the Council does please do come along.
 

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And finally . . .

 

The relocation of the War Memorial has moved a step closer. Planning permission has been given by the Borough Council for the War Memorial to be placed on Old St Mary’s, subject to us completing a survey of bats, voles and stag beetles in the area to ensure they won’t be harmed. The next thing we are waiting for is permission from Winchester Diocese and once that is granted we can place the Memorial in its new, permanent location.

 

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Tuesday 30th April at 7.30pm and will take place in Bishopstoke Methodist Church. For further details or information about anything the Parish Council does please visit the Parish website.

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For further information, please contact the Parish Clerk:  David Wheal by email: clerk@bishopstokepc.org or visit the Parish website at:  www.bishopstokepc.org