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Articles we didn't have space for in September 2024 Link:

Know your rights: Appealing a parking ticket

Citizens Advice Basingstoke is a charity providing free and confidential advice on a wide range of issues including benefit eligibility, homelessness, employment and energy enquiries. Here, we are looking at rights around appealing a parking ticket. You can appeal a ticket if you think you were parked correctly. For example, if a parking attendant thinks you stayed too long when you were in fact within the time limit.

By law, a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) or Excess Charge Notice (ECN) from the council – issued on public land, such as a high street – must be cancelled if you didn’t break the parking rules. You can check these rules on GOV.UK or on signs near where you parked.

When you park on private land, such as a supermarket car park, the parking rules (the terms and conditions of using the car park) should be made clear on nearby signs. If you’re given a Parking Charge Notice and can prove you stuck to these rules, your ticket should be cancelled. This is because the parking company can’t argue that you didn’t stick to their terms and conditions.

For more information on appealing a parking ticket, please go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/parking-tickets/appealing-a-parking-ticket/

If you would like to speak to an adviser, please call the Citizens Advice Basingstoke Adviceline free on 0808 278 7829, Monday to Friday, 9-5pm. We are here to help.

Hampshire County Councillor Update Candovers Oakley and Overton Division

Cllr Juliet Henderson

Hampshire Childrens Services rated ‘Outstanding’

 As chairman of the select committee for Children and Young People I am absolutely delighted to see that our Children’s services continue to be rated as outstanding by Ofsted

Supporting children and young people to get the best possible start in life and protecting those who are most vulnerable is one of our top priorities, so we’re pleased to share that our Children’s Services have once again been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted – the second time in a row.
Hampshire children and families who need extra help and protection continue to be supported by one of the few authorities in the country with outstanding rated Children’s Services. Our dedicated staff continue to make a positive difference, despite the backdrop of growing demand and complexity in the needs of children.

Learn more at https://www.hants.gov.uk/.../20240723outstandingofstedresult 

Highways Information

Road Repair Update

Hampshire County Council has been hard at work fixing potholes and road defects!

From April 2023 to April 2024, they delivered a whopping 180,909 repairs – a 37% increase from the previous year.

Potholes impact daily journeys for residents, whether commuting to work, heading to school, running a business, or exploring our beautiful county.

Thanks to an additional £22.5 million investment over two years, our highways service and main contractor, Milestone, have been able to deploy more resources to tackle these road issues promptly.

And Hampshire isn’t alone – colder, wetter winters take a toll on roads everywhere. Plus, inflation means it now costs taxpayers around 44% more to repair a pothole.

But fear not! Summer’s here, bringing drier, warmer days. Our highways teams are on it, fixing potholes, smoothing surfaces, and maintaining roads across the county.

Reporting Highway Problems

Links to report road issues are here:

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

Tree/hedge problems:

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

Flooding/drainage issues:

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

Pavement problems:

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

Problems with rights of way:

https://www.hants.gov.uk/landplanningandenvironment/rightsofway/reportaproblem

When reporting an issue, you’ll be sent an email confirming a reference number for the report.  If you would like me to follow this up for you then do please forward that message to me and I will chase for you

Hampshire Country Parks this Summer

With the school holidays upon us there is loads to do at Hampshire County Council country parks and farms.

From bug hunts at Staunton and Queen Elizabeth Country Parks, to a Film Festival at Royal Victoria Country Park and a Seashore Safari at Lepe there are dozens of things to do, most particularly to keep your little ones occupied.

The general link to the country park and farm site is here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryparks/

Hampshire Archives Talks

There's another fantastic event coming up from Archives - Hampshire County Council and Archives in a few weeks time.

Entitled 'The Women's Institute at War' this online talk is given by local historian Phoebe Merrick who will talk about how the WI contributed to the war effort in the villages of southern Test Valley.

The talk is on Monday 2nd September, from 6-7pm. It costs £6 per person and you can register for it here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/.../womens-institute-at-war-090924

 

 

 

Articles we didn't have space for in August 2024 Link:

Watership Down PPG Newsletter August 2024

Back, neck, muscle or joint pain?

The Circle MSK service now has an App available, to support you with MSK (musculoskeletal) problems. It:

•           Introduces and explains the MSK service, including contact information

•           Contains useful information about MSK conditions

•           Includes exercises to support you to manage your condition

•           Offers advice on “Waiting Well” – if you’re waiting for an appointment

•           Allows you to refer yourself to the MSK service for physiotherapy using Phio

You can see a web version of the app here: circleintegratedcare.physiapp.com OR

You can download the app to your mobile via the Apple and Android/Google App stores.

Travel and travel vaccinations

Please organise your travel vaccinations in plenty of time before your holiday (at least six weeks before you travel). When you call the practice for a travel appointment, a pre-travel risk assessment form will be sent to you – please complete this form (for each member of your family who are travelling) before your travel appointment with the appropriate nurse.

At the travel appointment the nurse will advise you of your travel requirements and what vaccinations may be necessary e.g. precautions to take to avoid malaria, etc. Please be aware that some travel vaccinations are free of charge, others are chargeable. Watership Down Health is not a yellow fever accredited centre.

We also recommend that patients make sure that they always have appropriate travel insurance including repatriation to the UK if there is an issue and a General Health Insurance (GHIC) card.

Please be aware that we cannot consult or prescribe medications to patients overseas. Please make sure that you take any prescription medications and carry enough for the whole duration of the time you are on holiday, particularly if overseas. If you are in the UK and you run out or misplace your medication, you can now ask for an Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) Anywhere prescription which gets sent to the NHS Spine and you can visit a community pharmacy where you are staying.

Medication Shortages statement issued by Integrated Care Board Hampshire & IOW

Why do shortages happen?

Supply issues can occur for a number of reasons, and sometimes a combination of factors, including:

• Manufacturing issues or disruption

• Capacity issues e.g. staff shortages

• Commercial withdrawal e.g. a drug company closes down

• Sudden changes in the prices of medicines or ingredients

• Drug recalls and quality issues

• Availability of raw ingredients

• Increased demand

• Distribution problems e.g. fuel shortages

• Unbalanced movement of stock due to currency fluctuations

• Unexpected national demand

• Stockpiling and panic buying

• Supply quotas e.g. a limit to how much product is available for purchase

What are my healthcare team able to do?

Supply issues sometimes result in pharmacies unable to get stock of certain medicines. Supply can be intermittent, unpredictable, or unavailable. Pharmacy and healthcare teams are spending an increasing amount of time trying to get appropriate medicines for their patients. Government bodies are working to address disruptions in the supply of medicines and to put measures in place to manage these issues. We expect changes to be made in 2024.

How does this affect me?

It is understandably stressful when informed one or more of your medicines is unavailable. In most cases, there will be alternative medicines or options to help manage your condition. Occasionally there are limited options available. In these circumstances, national advice is issued by the DHSC and NHS England to inform healthcare professionals how to manage patients affected by the shortage. This ensures all patients are treated fairly and avoids knock on effects to other medicines to allow the supply chain time to fix the problem

Mental Health Staff at Watership Down Health & Rural West PCN

We have recently put on the Watership Down Health website a full list of staff that are focussed on the metal health and well-being of our patients both specifically for Watership Down Health and also across the Rural West Primary Care Network. A full list of staff and their roles will appear in September’s newsletter.

Brian Elkins

Citizens Advice Basingstoke

Know your rights: travel insurance

Citizens Advice Basingstoke is a charity helping people to find a way forward. Advisers provide free advice on issues such as Universal Credit, accessing food, helping with homelessness, managing debt and resolving employment, whatever the problem involves.

This article is focusing on travel insurance, which gives extra protection if your holiday doesn't go as planned. It protects you if:

You have a medical emergency abroad

Your personal items such as money and passports are lost or stolen,

Your trip is cut short for reasons beyond your control

If you don't have travel insurance you will have to pay out of your own pocket to deal with a problem while you're away. Or you may lose money if you have to cancel a trip and can't get your money back. Travel insurance is widely available from organisations such as insurance companies, banks, travel agents, online comparison websites and retailers. Choose a policy that suits your circumstances: age, destination, frequency of travel, whether you are travelling alone, if it’s a package holiday and any sporting activities you are engaging in such as skiing or scuba diving.

You can check the different policies on offer and how much they cost by using an online comparison website. However, these usually only offer general cover. If you have particular needs, it may be better to find an insurer that offers specialist cover. If an insurer or broker can’t offer you insurance because of your age, most of them will refer you to an alternative insurer or give details of a signposting service such as the British Insurance Brokers’ Association’s (BIBA’s) ‘Find a Broker’ service. You can use this service to find specialist insurers who offer cover based on factors such as age and medical condition – contact them on 0870 950 1790 or www.biba.org.uk.

For more advice on travel insurance, go to: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/insurance/types-of-insurance/travel-insurance1/travel-insurance/

To speak to an adviser, please call Citizens Advice Basingstoke Adviceline free on 0808 278 7829 (Mon - Fri, 9 - 5pm) www.cabasingstoke.org.uk   

Charity reg no 900116.

Articles we didn't have space for in July 2024 Link:

 

Do you need help with budgeting?

Citizens Advice Basingstoke is a local independent charity providing free advice to everybody, no matter what the enquiry involves.

Feeling in control of your finances is really important and can help you understand where you might be able to cut costs. To get started try the free budget planner on the MoneyHelper website: www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/budgeting/budget-planner
You’ll need your most recent bank statements, payslips, debit and credit card statements or bills and receipts for things you usually pay for in cash. Make sure you include all your expenses, for example money you spend on your partner or family.

You should contact Citizens Advice Basingstoke if you’ve received court papers, are facing eviction or are expecting bailiffs.

If you would like to speak to an adviser, please call the Citizens Advice Basingstoke Adviceline free on 0808 278 7829 (Mon-Fri, 9-5pm). We are here to help.

Lucy Sweet www.cabasingstoke.org.uk   Charity reg no 900116

 

Articles we didn't have space for in June 2024 Link:

 

North Hampshire Prostate Cancer Support Group: The Making of a Civic Mayor 

As a former mayor of Basingstoke & Deane, Paul Miller, on his third visit to us, this time as our main speaker, selected the above title for his talk. 

He got underway with a whole host of ‘chatty little facts’: 

• There are three types of mayor, Civic covering a Borough, Metropolitan area such as London or Birmingham with a lot of political power and large budget, and Town mayors 
• Basingstoke and Deane is a Borough with a mayor, because it has a royal charter signed by Charles I in 1641. The original document is on show in the council chambers 
• The mayoral role is offered to councillors on a seniority basis, usually by a phone call to about five potential candidates, many of whom for various reasons are unable to take on the role 
• The prime role is to chair the seven council meetings in a totally a-political way 
• The mayor gets to nominate two charities for support during his tenure 
• The name of our borough came from the combination of the biggest urban (Basingstoke) and smallest rural (Deane) areas in what is now the Borough  
• The name of Basingstoke, comes from the old English of ’Belonging to Basing’, when Basing with Basing House was a very important residence and village 
• The wife of a male mayor is called a mayoress, however the husband of a female mayor is called her consort! 
• The mayor executes the sovereign’s authority in the borough; thus a royal visitor is first received by the Lord Lieutenant of the County, who promptly defers to the mayor 
• In terms of dress, whilst in the Borough the mayor wears the regalia of office (chain) with a red ribbon, but just his medal and blue ribbon when at functions outside of their Borough, demonstrating their deferment to a higher authority, and at Remembrance Day, a male mayor wears a bi-corn hat whilst a female mayoress would wear a tricorn version 
• Attendance at church services always entailed the wearing of full robes 

In the second part of his talk, Paul emphasised that the role is very much a full-time job, with himself and his wife Sandra attending over 400 functions in the year. These included, for example, visits to schools, charities, youth groups, major celebrations including those celebrating the King’s coronation – with much cake eaten!  Also, he highlighted his role in the proclamation of succession event, and the choreography and timing involved.  

An important event for Paul was being present at the 800th celebration of the Southampton mayor (with so many mayors present they were dubbed the Chain Gang), who the next day was upgraded to that of Lord Mayor, following Southampton’s new city status. The change of regalia cost the city about £100,000! 

However, for Paul one event stood out, when during the Mayoral show at the Anvil, a group of Ukrainian refugee women sang in their choir and receiving a standing ovation. 

Paul concluded by highlighting that, with the many demands on them, they could not have fulfilled the role without the brilliant coordination provide by their ‘Mayoral Coordinator’ – (secretary to us folk).    

Keith Bunker

Social Occasions for Probus Club

The Probus Club of Basingstoke had two social events within a couple of weeks in May. Their annual Spring Ladies’ Spring lunch was held on Tuesday 14 May at the Test Valley Golf club where, as well as their wives and lady friends, the Guest of Honour was Val McKenzie who is the current President of the Ladies’ Probus Club of Basingstoke.

Several wives/lady friends of the men’s club are members of the Ladies’ Probus club which itself is now in its 31st year of continuous operation. Their meetings are held at the BCOT restaurant where they enjoy visiting speakers.

A couple of weeks earlier the men’s club had visited Winchester College, the alma mater of Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. Founded in 1392 by the Bishop of Winchester, William of Wykeham, as a feeder school to New College, Oxford, it set vigorous academic standards which are being upheld today. Previous pupils are known as “Old Wykehamists’ and only in 2022 were girls admitted but then only in the sixth form.

In the decade up to the academic year 2022/23 they had impressive results in ‘A’ levels with 33% gaining a place at Oxford or Cambridge. There are over 300 staff with only 740 pupils.

Within extensive grounds of over 250 acres there are 94 listed buildings with the first, the Chamber Court, being completed in 1384. There are eleven boarding houses each with a housemaster who sometimes set their own entrance examinations. The guided tour included visiting the 14th century Gothic chapel, the College Hall refectory, the Cloisters and the 17th century red brick Schoolroom.

This proved to be another excellent trip by members of the Probus Club of Basingstoke, the social organisation for retired professional and business managers that is soon to have its 44th Annual General meeting. See www.probusbasingstoke.club for more information.

Paul Flint