Showing posts with label Havant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Havant. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 21

Havant Green Family Fair

This years green fair is at Havant park on Saturday 14th September.

Features include:
Northney Farm (Ice Cream)
Angel Radio
Thrift Cottage Preserves
Havant Fairtrade Group
Riverford Organic Farms
Cycle Hayling
O'Hagans Sausages
Wayside Organics
Caterpollar Crafts
Field Farm Project
Juggling Jake
and many more.
For more information check the web site www.havantgoesgreener.org.uk

Latest leaflet and event details:
http://www.havantgoesgreener.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Havant-Goes-Greener-2013-A5-Leaflet.pdf 

Thursday, May 17

Postcode Publications a Conservative publicity vehicle

I recently picked up a copy of PO9 a new local publication for the PO9 postcode area. On the surface it appears to be a non-politcal news source aimed at local communities. The company behind the newspaper is aiming to produce similar versions for other postcodes in Havant Borough, including Waterlooville. The publication has advertising from local businesses and has some articles that look interesting but un-critical.

So great, another free rag full of advertising.

But there is more to it that we should all be aware of. A quick search of Google reveals that Postcode Publications is based at  Station House, North Street, Havant. Nothing wrong so far. Looks innocent to me.

The director is David William Guest.

"Who" ? you ask. 
David Guest. 
"Isn't he something to do with Havant Borough Council" ?
Well yes. 


He is a member of Havant Borough Councils cabinet!
Yep, he is involved in the political decisions made in the borough. The same person who is publishing this free newspaper which can influence peoples opinions, is also making decisions in the cabinet for the whole area. No conflict of interest there then!??!

If we scaled this up, I guess you could compare it to David Cameron starting his own newspaper to promote Conservative policies.

Lets have a look at some articles in issue two:



Page 3: Article about (Conservative) Science Minister, David Willets
Page 4: article about manager at Morris Crocker. Who just happens to be in the same building as Postcode Publications.
Page 4 and 5: Various articles that look suspiciously as if they are promoting Conservative/Havant Borough Council community issues and projects.
Page 6 Article about Havant Borough Council Plaza.

Page 7 Article about Havant bus station and asking for reader responses.
Page 9 Article about the mayor.



And so on.

Is this politically neutral??

Well consider this... Given that the owner of the paper is an elderly high profile member of the Conservatives, what would happen if another political party became the dominant force in Havant Borough Council? Do you think the content would change?? To me it seems unlikely and even if it did, the content is political, promoting a specific community model. The publication is misleading in the way it is presented and it isn't clear about the connections to Conservative Havant Borough councillors.


I think for anyone who is fed up with this old fashioned political game, it is just another example of how thoughtless many politicians are. It is extremely manipulative and makes a farce of the community meetings Havant Borough Council allegedly want to promote.


Saturday, July 24

Havant Transition Network

Things are moving on in Havant Borough with a new environmental group. Havant Transition Network is based on the model of similar groups around the UK and started by Kinsale in Ireland.

The focus is on the transition from a dependency on oil and other fossil foils, localising food production, reduced energy consumption, local renewable energy and support for local business. Looks good to me.

They have organised a 'Trash Carnival' at Havant Park, Saturday, 14 August from 12 noon to 4pm.
The idea is to make sculptures from trash. But there will also be local producers, music, art workshops and other stuff.


Friday, October 9

Wormhole found in Havant


Whilst looking around for 'anomalies' in the region, I found this phenom... fenonimem... phenomenon along Wilverley Avenue in Havant (note when Google update the satelite images in the future, this 'live' view of the wormhole might disappear):




Sunday, January 18

Havant Tesco - the story continues


It is good news to see Tescos have delayed the expansion and rebuild of their Havant store. The delay is due to pressure from green groups such as Friends of the Earth in Havant and others. It would be better if the store wasn't enlarged, however Tesco do intend to build a bigger store with new green technology at a later date.

The green technology may include wind turbines and rain water harvesting. Unfortunately even a low carbon Havant Tesco will still attract shoppers in their cars from a wide area, encouraging them to increase their personal/family carbon footprints. Also more often than not, cheap produce results in a higher carbon footprint.

Previous posts about Havant Tescos:

Havant Tesco's
Havant Tesco battle not over yet

Monday, February 4

Havant Rubbish

Had to take the bus to Havant last week and was shocked yet again at the amount of rubbish that can be found in ditches, hedgerows etc. at the road side. It is really appalling and because car drivers don't see it (and councillors), nothing gets done. The Bus stop near the Havant Civic Offices and Health Centre has a nice pile of fast food rubbish and supermarket packaging in a ditch.

I didn't have my camera with me this time so can't post any photos, but will do if i get a chance. On the embankment that leads to the railway bridge crossing into Havant Town centre there is another huge pile of rubbish, again because it isn't visible by the majority of people that pass that point (in cars), it isn't seen as a major problem.

If the majority walked past the point, then there would be a big public outcry about how appalling it is and that Havant should be cleaned up. But because most people drive past it and it is not visible to them, there is no will to do anything about it.

Saturday, December 1

Havant Tesco battle not over yet

It seems that despite our councillors voting to allow Tesco to redevelop the Havant store into a larger 'Extra' store, Friends of the Earth believe there is still a chance that the Tesco can be stopped via the Government Office for the South East.

Lets hope they succeed because unless these large scale developments are halted we will end up with commercial uncompetitive monopolies dominating our towns and encouraging people to travel long distances by car to get to them, killing off sustainable local developments.