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village survey - barbara (29th Jul 2009 - 16:43:09) the village survey has now been published, and can be viewed either on the Parish Council's website, or a copy is available to read if you go into the Parish Office. Thanks should go to Philip Jordan, Kate and Nick Everett who were the people who put the most time . into this project, and a few others, who like me spent some hours inputting the results and working towards getting this finished. www.bramshottandliphook-pc.gov.uk/...

Re: village survey - Dawn Hoskins (29th Jul 2009 - 20:17:50) Gosh, that is a very comprehensive report. I particularly liked reading the summarys of the peoples comments (about page 49?) There were quite a lot of negative comments aimed at the Parish Council Barbara (in the 'other' definition) do you think that having this brought to their attention will change anything - improve matters? Apart from being very interesting, what will this information be used for. Thanks

Re: village survey - Chris (29th Jul 2009 - 20:18:31) Superb document and well presented. Thanks to those who devoted their time to its development.

Re: village survey - Sue W (29th Jul 2009 - 23:04:10) Its good to have in print, what people have been saying in general, for a long time now. Particularly on this site! At any time you hear the most popular gripes/comments throught a working week. Its great to have this - but only if it results in the improvements/comments that those who made the effort to fill it in, get aired and actioned. Its in the hands of Parish & EHDC with of course help from the community. Well done to those who gave their time in processing it.

Re: village survey - Chris (30th Jul 2009 - 07:49:00) I hope that the PC will use it to convince EHDC of the need to scrutinise increased house building in the area and how public opinion is by far and away against further, large-scale expansion.

Re: village survey - barbara (30th Jul 2009 - 11:18:34) Thanks for the support The next step is the Parish Plan, and although not intended to be run/directed by Parish Council, the Parish Council decided to set up a working party towards getting the Parish Plan in motion. The Chairman and Vice Chairman are going to be moving things forward, and hopefully have a public meeting to ensure that a representative selection of people will become involved in the Parish Plan not just a few pressure groups. As regards the comments, it was heartening to read so much support for Liphook in Bloom, and although there are negative comments also hopefully there will be improvement in those areas also..

Re: village survey - Katy Clarke (30th Jul 2009 - 17:29:33) Barbara and all! Thanks for the comments re: Liphook in Bloom and indeed to all the people who commented whilst completing the survey. Please take a look at the Liphook in Bloom website via the link here then go to "The Team" header and look at the work that has been completed over the past 12 months. You will see that it is not all hard work! You may also see that some of the team are young at heart but not quite as able to get down on their knees and weed as they once were. As such if there are any younger members please, please volunteer NOW! Please don't let us loose something so good in the village. Please contact Miranda via the website and she will give you all the info you need. Also please help our campaign for Britain in Bloom being judged THIS WEDNESDAY 5th August by keeping your own houses/shop fronts clear of weeds and litter. Thanks again for your support. Katy Clarke Young Bloomer! (Well young-ish) www.liphookinbloom.co.uk

Re: village survey - Jane Jordan (30th Jul 2009 - 21:40:39) re: Liphook Herald report As one of the few volunteers who spent considerable amount of time helping to collate 'The Village Appraisal' data, I do not think that Mr Newman understands the nature of the task undertaken by a very few to collate some potential 12000+ written comments under "Love, Hate & Change". As reported in The Liphook Herald - "Mr Newman who had trawled through all the comments himself" - this must have taken many, many hours to do so. It is a great pity that he did not devote this time to help the working party and its few volunteers. Had he done so he would have been conversant with the validity of the 'The Village Appraisal' results, which after all is a summary of the many thousands of comments received. I find it incredible that Mr Newman and the other abstainning councillors, as reported in the paper, are so ready to doubt the hard work of those willing to volunteer their time for the community of Liphook. Indeed why do we bother!

Re: village survey - Dawn Hoskins (31st Jul 2009 - 16:37:36) Oh dear I haven't read the paper yet, but has the fighting already started at the Parish Office? I wish the Herald was available as an 'on-line' read!

Re: village survey - Paul Robinson (31st Jul 2009 - 18:00:42) It is. Its Liphook.co.uk wrapped in adverts! Paul Robinson

Re: village survey - Chris (1st Aug 2009 - 07:55:08) Who is Mr Newman and why is he doubting the results of the survey?

Re: village survey - barbara (3rd Aug 2009 - 11:04:12) Mr Nigel Newman is Chairman of the Parish Council. He took no part in preparation of the survey. The report in the Herald, regarding the meeting at which the Village Survey was presented, was very one sided. I myself worked on the survey and consider it a fair reflection of village opinion. I put my point of view across at the meeting, but this was not reported in the Herald. I have attended most full parish Council meetings, and am usually vocal, but a reader of the Herald Newspaper would not deduce from reading the report that I was even present. I think that the Herald has now been sent a copy, and that every one has had a chance to read the Survey on line.

Re: village survey - Chris (3rd Aug 2009 - 11:53:52) Strikes me that he should consider standing down as chairman (or perhaps he should be sacked) if he does not subscribe to the concept of seeking the opinions of the people that the PC represents. The survey is the only example I have ever seen of a Parish Council actively seeking public opinion of plans for and opinions of the place in which they live and to class such an exercise as ill-conceived is irresponsible not the action of someone that we should look upon as a local leader.

Re: village survey - Jane Jordan (3rd Aug 2009 - 14:04:09) There were also many very good postive remarks in 'Three things households love about Liphook' section of The Survey (page 47), these seem to have been mainly ignored. It is a great pity that Mr Newman and the other doubting Councillors do not seem to have taken the time to look at the many positive comments rather than just negative comments relating to The Parish Council, they might have been more willing to approve the publication of The Survey results.

Re: village survey - Paul Robinson (3rd Aug 2009 - 18:54:12) Councillors of all persuasions should take note of the fact that the response to the village survery was over 45% of households, a remarkable achievement which indicates a groundswell of feeling by the residents to current trends and conditions. Councillors should also not be surprised that the Parish Council is held in such low esteem by the greater proportion of those who completed the survey. The Council's stance over the Scouts and Guides debacle, behind locked doors secrecy and their constant public bickering with one another does them little credit. Any negativity in this report I feel is more than offset by credit given to organisations such as Liphook in Bloom who visibly make Liphook a better place to live in. Paul Robinson

Re: village survey - Dawn Hoskins (4th Aug 2009 - 13:06:44) I agree Paul If only they would use this feedback as a reason for change instead of squabbling! For example, I know that they read this site every day – yet they steadfastly refuse to use it as a tool to communicate with the general public. I spoke to the (out going) Chairman about this issue and he told me that all councillors are allowed to contribute to this site and answer questions from the public (as long as it is not confidential information), yet it would seem that Barbara is the only member of the council who is open enough to talk to us. When I went to the council meeting in which I thought pressure was being put on the Millennium Hall to ban (or make difficult) Transgendered members of the public from using the hall, comments were made to me by Mrs James about ‘unhelpful’ postings on the website – however the postings on the thread were specifically asking for information / explanation. If , instead of just reading it, the councillors concerned could have taken a minute or two to explain what was going on – there would have been no confusion and no bad feeling. This is the same thing again. I’m sure Mr Newman is monitoring this thread, he could tell us exactly his thoughts and opinions so we can make an informed decision – or he could let the public come to their own conclusion which may be wrong or just misguided. I know which I would prefer. All this talk about an ‘open and transparent’ parish council is just that – talk – until they break ranks and actually start to communicate with us. Come on Nigel – we are listening……………..

Re: village survey - Sue W (4th Aug 2009 - 22:12:10) Its funny isn't it - the survey shows little respect for the council due to in fighting and squabbling - and yes they never cease to let the community down by doing it over the survey.! There is a serious issue about Councillors interacting on this site - yes Barbara is one that will speak out - but also what she says is not always what a number of the council as a whole think! This can be very damaging and negative. Its quite heartening that the report strenghtens my belief that the general public want more small shops, like to support them and made comments the same as I have done here. Support of local shops and more of the same was high on the list of what the village require - to dismiss the concerns of those who are offering the village what they want - can only be bad for unity and it certainly does not give a 'feelgood' factor.

Re: village survey - Katy Clarke (5th Aug 2009 - 09:22:07) Hi, I have just read last week's Liphook Herald and was very disapointed to see that Mr Newman and Mr Jeremy Olsen (Sorry can't remember your full name) abstained from the vote in support of the parish survey - why? As a member of the community who took the time to complete the survey I find this very disappointing. A walk around the Millennium Green last night confirmed that dog fouling is still an issue - at least 5 separate piles by the paths. Mr Newman was elected on a campaign to support the youth facilities in Liphook. I know a group was set up in the Millennium Centre but I believe this is run by Dr Tough - come on Nigel what exactly have you done since election? You have been very quiet as far as I can see in supporting the youth facilities - let's see some more action/updates please. Jeremy has also vanished off the face of the earth since election - again what have you done to support the community Jeremy? The Liphook traders have set up a village initiative - have the PC attended their meetings and given support/advise on grants they could obtain? If not why not, if they have let's hear about it - people want to see the council support the village, if they are doing let's hear about it, if not step up a gear and show more action. I could waffle on but wont bore you any longer, just to re-iterate I am very, very disappointed the two councillors mentioned did not support the plan - it's time to listen to the people you represent, support them or leave it to others who will!

Re: village survey - Chris (5th Aug 2009 - 11:58:51) It would appear that some elected councillors take their remit very seriously and others use it as an opportunity for "retirement time filler". The Parish Council's primary reason for being is to listen to and serve the local people it represents...visibly and actively! It's a big responsibility! Messrs Newman/Olsen/et al, it is a Parish Council we are talking about here not the intrigue of Westminster so dispense with the "play-act politics" and "double-talk secrecy" and do what you have been elected to do. If you don't you run the risk of having to find something else to fill your leisure time with.

Re: village survey - terry (5th Aug 2009 - 17:52:27) It would appear to me as a casual observer of this site that, they are 7 people on here getting all hot and bothered about nothing, having read the report. This survey is already out of date; its data is floored as it wasn’t responded to by 100% of the population. The section on the type of home people live in gives it away with a reported near 50% living in detached homes? Maybe people trying to keep a roof over there head/feed their kids found the question ‘what do you love most about liphook’ not the most important thing in theirs lives in the present climate. Given what I’ve read, the named councillors maybe also have issues with a survey which probable cost council tax payers thousands of pounds with an outcome which is a long way away from being a true reflection of life in liphook.

Re: village survey - barbara (5th Aug 2009 - 19:47:01) thank you for your support over the survey, and also the fact I am apreciated on here! As regards the comments about not all agreeing, is that really always possible when there are 12 very different non salaried people on the council? where is the reasoning behind the thinking that I do not want to get things done for Liphook? I worked on the Survey and the abstainers did not. I would personally like to see less housebuilding, less traffic jams less litter, and if there is a vote on the agenda I will say that. I always vote not to exclude the public for exempt sessions, and I am usually the only one. I think perhaps my personal opinions Sue, rub you up the wrong way, itdoes not mean I do not care about where I live..

Re: village survey - neil (5th Aug 2009 - 20:41:34) Katy before you start having ago at people I think maybe some research or facts might be helpful. Jeremy Austin-Olsen has support Liphook for many years, he has always spent a lot of his personal time and money in charity projects within Liphook. His Classic Car day event alone raises over £3000 each year which all go to local charity, that is just one of many projects he is involved in. Also I think we should give people a chance to change things, I think with any job role you have to have all the facts before changes can be made or things will just end up in a mess. Just one question for you did you attend the meeting as I am sure he and Mr Newman would have explained why they abstained it is very easy just to post things from your home without all the facts.

Re: village survey - Sue Woods (5th Aug 2009 - 23:16:07) In reply to Katie's question - has anyone joined in the meetings from the PC. I feel it only fair to point out that the following councillors have attended at least one of the Liphook Business Initiative meetings. If this was of their own choice, or as a directive from the council I would not know - but suspect it is the first reason. Councillors P Jordan, Jackie Poole, together with Councillors J Tough and R Evans who also have businesses within Liphook have attended. R Evans is on the 'Core' panel. There has been interest from at least one other within the parish office - but to date for one reason or another has been unable to attend. This has to be good news and shows that some are prepared to have a look and have offered very positive help and information. Praise should be given where necessary. Sue

Re: village survey - Katy Clarke (6th Aug 2009 - 09:36:51) Dear Neil, Thank you for your comments to my posting. I am fully aware of Jeremy's involvement in the Classic Car Day as it is an event I have supported myself. I am more interested in what he has done to improve the village since being elected as a councillor. I am fully supportive of his charity work but that does not mean I am not disappointed in his council work so far. I am disappointed he did not support the survey (for whatever reason) and wondered why not. Dear Sue, I am so glad that some of the councillors attended your meetings and hope that they will support you going forward. Knowing some of the names you mentioned I am sure they will. Interesting to see it is the same old favourites who seem to be supporting you! great stuff! let's hope some of the others step up and support you too. Regards Katy

Re: village survey - Chris (6th Aug 2009 - 10:22:26) The survey was sent out long before the current crisis hit the economy. Perhaps it should also conclude that those who do not live in detatched houses don't like completing surveys.

Re: village survey - barbara (6th Aug 2009 - 15:30:03) In answer to Terry, the survey did not cost thousands of pounds, and it was Nigel and Jeremy who did not think the love/ hate/change section was done adequately. It took an enormous amount of time to complete, unpaid volunteer time, and hopefully some good will come out of it. In answer to Sue, there are reasons I did not go to the Liphook initiative meetings, one was I attended a transport meeting which was held on the same evening, regarding the withdrawal of the Rail link bus, and secondly as you so rightly point out, and you left Mr Jordan out when you mentioned names, that is at least five or six councillors to help with your Business Initiative. I do not understand your comment either about the way I vote on the council. I vote in favour of what will help Liphook, twice in favour of signage for local shops, Station road shops and the Passfield post office, and recently in favour of a grant towards the crew day which did not go ahead. Also I voted in favour of the grant applications for the proposed heritage centre which I fully support, also a grant towards the football pitch etc etc. Where you obtained info from about the way I vote I do not know.

Re: village survey - Sue W (6th Aug 2009 - 21:28:29) Eh! Have I been hit by one of those large army training vehicals and posted something I know nothing about???!! Can someone please explain the comments in Barbara's post. I did mention Mr Jordan in my post - and there were no words about votes or way of voting or queried their resolve in where they live or queried their presence at any Business meeting, I also knew she attended the rail bus link meeting, and with the best will in the world no one can be in two places at the same time? there are some serious concerns here?

Re: village survey - Steve Read (7th Aug 2009 - 08:57:36) Blimey! this time we got to over 25 posts before it started and I've not been near the keyboard.

Re: village survey - graeme (7th Aug 2009 - 15:41:32) not sure what all the fuss is about,sure it has taken time to put togather by some councillors whilst the others are getting on with other tasks to help liphook be a better place to live in. Having attended all pc meetings recently(planning,policy and finance,recreation,and full pc meetings) it is very easy to see the commitment it takes to be a councillor and I admire all of them for giving up large chunks of their time.It is also obvious that the ones with class have not replied to any of the rubbish that 7 regulars on this site winge on about. Neil good on you standing up for the chairman and vice chairman they have been present at all of the meetings I have attended and seem measured and focused and accomodating to most issues as long as they feel it benefits the people of liphook. As for you katy(sorry I cant remember you other name) suggest like Neil said you turn up to a pc meeting and then you might be able to answer your own questions and stop your unwarranted attacks.

Re: village survey - Katy Clarke (7th Aug 2009 - 17:15:44) Graeme I have not made any "unwarranted attacks" I have simply said that I am very disappointed that the two councillors abstained from the vote and wondered why. As neither they, or you (despite attending the last few meetings) have explained why, then I still remain disappointed. This is my opinion whether you like it or not. I would love to attend the meetings as I have attended a meeting in the past. Unfortunately my family committments have changed and at present I am unable to do so. When I can attend again I will certainly enjoy seeing you there :)

Re: village survey - barbara (9th Aug 2009 - 12:51:54) I think that we have now discussed the survey enough- hopefully now people will attend public meetings as to the way forward from the results. I apologise to Sue if she feels I am having a go at her - I was responding to her posting about me ""WHAT SHE SAYS IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT A NUMBER OF THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE THINK THIS CAN BE DAMAGING AND NEGATIVE. In essence, I presumed you seemed to be telling me I should always think in the same way as a few other councillors. I do not make any official announcements on this site, they are my personal opinions, and I think all personal opinions can be misconstrued, but sorry if I responded badly to critiscm.

Re: village survey - Sue W (9th Aug 2009 - 20:21:16) Barbara As I have offered to you before - I am more than willing to sit down and have a chat with you. There is tension in your comments that I just do not understand. The post, which you refer to, was not about how you act within the council meetings - it was purely a statement within the context of councillors POSTING. When councillors post on here - what they say can be very easily linked to the voice of fellow councillors too, which from experience it is not. A few councillors have felt the need in the past to seek both Trevor and myself out to apologise for comments made here and express that they are not the general opinion of the council. You are really reading far too much into what is actually said. Unfortunately some comments have hurt people that perhaps you never intended them too - I am not talking about me. Innocent people like my husband and our staff who is also my son, were very upset, angry, hurt and disappointed about some comments that you have placed in public - it just does more harm than good - that’s all. Hope to see you around - and I am sure you are a valuable asset to the council, and Liphook Sue

Re: village survey - graeme (10th Aug 2009 - 08:48:33) Hi Sue I agree with you Councillors should not blow their own trumpet about how much they do for Liphook or get their spouses to, or touch on issues that are raised at PC meetings or comment on other councillors stance on various matters,as I have said before all councillors give up a massive amount of time for the good of Liphook not to score points over a chat line when they have a spare minute or two.By the way I like you have no idea what Barbera is going on about. Good luck in the shop this week

Re: village survey - barbara (10th Aug 2009 - 12:22:48) Sorry again if my personal opinions upset people. I am not usually posting "officially" as that should not include personal opinion. It would not be right for anyone to assume that somehow my personal opinions are an official statement. In the past on here other people's postings have upset me, and some have been withdrawn for beeng so rude to me.It is a public website after all,for all to look at and post opinion on. I thought in previous postings I have made it clear I am posting personal opinions? "Official" Notices are on the Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council Website.

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