Sainsburys update

Sainburys large store (above) is due to open this winter. My mother who once didn't really mind or understand it's impact is now of the same view as me. It will have a negative impact on Waterlooville. What Havant Borough Council and others choose to ignore is that it effectively disrupts the flow of activity that was once present along Hambledon road into Waterlooville and effectively adds another 'block' to the traditional access of Waterlooville. The view is that Waterlooville will be cut off because many now won't bother going into the centre, especially in from the Hambledon road route.

The history of development and the cut off of Waterlooville started when the bipass was built and Hambledon road was cut off just below St Georges church. Following that event, Havant Borough Council sold the part of Hambledon road servicing Wadham Stringers to private investors. This eventually led to the retail park being developed and the road being turned into a feeder to the retail car park (above)

And so Havant Borough Council continues it's anti-local business agenda that supports mass car use and the monopolies of big business. In the photo above is Sainsburys attempt - that is fully supported by the council- to provide access to cyclists and pedestrians. The fact is it highlights the pro-car agenda the council has. The car park is a nightmare to get through for pedestrians and cyclists even now years after it was created and the ramp is just another meandering attempt to bodge another solution.

Pedestrians and cyclists are the leaders of sustainability and healthy life styles that reduce costs for the council, yet Havant Borough Council continue to push the car onto us with ideological intensity.

Fire damaged Cooperative store - Milton Road

Fortunately no one was hurt when a fire gutted the Cooperative store at Milton Rd this weekend. Media reports say that it was caused by an electrical fault on a freezer.

Fishing tackle

For fans of fishing. Coopers Fishing Tackle shop has opened up in Mill Road, Waterlooville.

A Visit to Havant

I was in Havant recently and noticed a small shop in the Meridian Centre which appeared to be closing down, 'Jon's Bits and Bobs'. Inside he seemed to be selling wool (for knitting) and other similar stuff.
But what was more interesting was the big photocopied letter from Havant Borough Council listing the months of council tax 'Jon' owed, placed prominently on the shop window!

What most people are unaware of is that commercial Council Tax rates are huge. Jon was apparently expected to pay £980 a month, yes that is per month, for an averagely sized small shop. Plus he probably had to pay a similar amount for rent per month as well. I'm estimating some £11,000 per year for Council Tax and a similar amount for rent. So even before thinking about making a profit, a small shop owner needs to have enough people coming in, combined with products with a suitable margin, that will firstly clear some £20,000 per year, plus generate a significant amount above this to pay other bills and provide an income (oh and then there are the other taxes as well!).

So it isn't at all surprising that most shops sell mass produced junk with a guaranteed margin, to produce a significant income to pay the bills. The old shops that could in the past get away with a small number of customers per week, just can not survive and if you add the fact that they have to compete with bigger stores with more political clout, it isn't surprising that that many small shops struggle.

Local shop helps locals to increase landfill

The Martin Mccoll shop at Hambledon Parade have normally stocked milk in plastic recyclable containers for around a decade or so, then i ventured into the shop recently and was confronted with 1 litre tetrapak milk cartons on the shelves.

These cartons will not currently be accepted by the local recycling scheme and as such it is a step backwards, when everyone else is trying to make steps forward to reduce their environmental impact. My advice is don't buy milk in these tetrapaks until they can easily be recycled locally.

There are schemes for recycling tetrapaks, but in this area that would probably require the cartons to be sent off somewhere. Some council areas have places where tetrapaks can be taken for recycling, that doesn't currently include Havant and Waterlooville.

For more information about Tetrapak recycling visit the
Tetrapak site and map:

Where can i recycle Tetrapaks?