Reply to THIS thread
Start a NEW Talkback Thread
Talkback Home

Village being ruined - Dave (16th Dec 2021 - 09:31:25) Having lived here all of my life I cannot help but think that Liphook over the past 10 years has changed for the worse, It seems that the very things that attracted developers and buyers to the village have been eroded away since. It used to be such a courteous and kindly place to live yet now, the population has changed bringing new, less caring and more abrasive attitudes. A few examples; Driving and parking around the village is less considerate and more aggressive. There is more rudeness to staff in our shops. More vandalism Less neighbourly consideration, loud music emanating from gardens until the early hours Irresponsible pet owners, especially dog owners insisting on walking their dogs on long leads on crowded pavements. Just the tip of the iceberg, off course, I might just be getting old and grumpy.

Re: Village being ruined - C (16th Dec 2021 - 11:37:31) That's a shame you feel this way. Having moved here in 2021 I find Liphook to be a lovely place to live. Attractive, ideally located and certainly less busy and dirty than many other areas. As for rudeness/ bad manners - the only person you're in control of is you so if you endeavour to be kind, courteous and thoughtful then that's the main thing.

Re: Village being ruined - C (16th Dec 2021 - 11:39:57) I would just add also that not everyone moving to Liphook is rude and abrasive. In the short time I've lived here I've undertaken regular litter picking and volunteering and try to contribute to the local community.

Re: Village being ruined - D (16th Dec 2021 - 16:32:00) I think that's the same everywhere, Dave. Years ago we not only lived in Liphook but we went to school here, worked here, did everything here. We all knew each other as did our parents and neighbours. I used to walk to school with a couple of my teachers. It's a different world now and the standards and values we held dear are different now, parish council members would never have used such phrases as "get a life" in those days. In a world where it's not unusual to travel hundreds of miles to work every day and go to school miles from one's home, we are never going to have the security of the close knit community we had thirty years ago. I agree that values and standards have dropped over the years but at least we were around to enjoy those times.

Re: Village being ruined - Lyndon (16th Dec 2021 - 17:18:12) At least the Urbs have bought lots of twinkly lights to the village's residential streets and the pubs are now serving up plenty of vegan options!

Re: Village being ruined - passfield resident (16th Dec 2021 - 20:36:24) I grew up in Liphook and went to Bramshott School. The education offered to children in Liphook is vastly better now than it was then. Bohunt School is also a far better school than Mill Chase was at that time. In terms of educational standards Liphook is a far better place to grow up now. (I should say that I was very happy at Bramshott School but my education there was nothing special in terms of fulfilling my potential)

Re: Village being ruined - Paul Robinson (16th Dec 2021 - 20:38:33) If you want to see the best of Liphook now then come along to the carol singing outside the Anchor on Monday at 6.30. Sing along to our local choir and listen to the children from the local schools singing their hearts out. Sample the hot chestnuts provided locally and served piping hot by members of Liphook in Bloom. Sup mulled wine and scoff mince pies courtesy of Greene King and meet and greet the rest of, the best of Liphook. And while you are at it donate some spare change to Macmillan UK and the Liphook Day Centre. Merry Christmas Paul Robinson

Re: Village being ruined - er (16th Dec 2021 - 21:35:29) Village has been let down, newbies are no better or worse than oldies, just a total lack of town planning has let us down as we progress, sure we still have some village spirit, in much the same way that Hampstead is still a village, although without the house prices! You can go join this or that club or an event like Paul said and that's good, but as it gets bigger and more impersonal, the day to day life will change it will become less personal, that's the same in any town/city but we didn't get the usual facilities to compensate for what we lost, that's my only gripe, where do the teenagers go, we don't like them sitting around in the parks doing nothing of course and I know if they are motivated, they can go somewhere else to find decent facilities, but that sort of proves the original point!

Re: Village being ruined - C (17th Dec 2021 - 08:37:20) I shall certainly be at the carol service! And there's a lot of good to see in the world if only you choose to see it. Be thankful, be grateful, be kind.

Re: Village being ruined - Jennifer (17th Dec 2021 - 10:59:19) Paul, which local choir is it? I know we used to have Haslemere Town band, but never had a choir before, as far as I am aware.

Re: Village being ruined - Oldie (17th Dec 2021 - 10:59:29) Spot on er we have a wonderful community still feels like a village great place to live. Yes we are being let down badly by the council’s mainly EHDC. Their planning is a joke no forward planning they take no notice of the community but still keep on asking for our thoughts for the future . Example chicken farm thrown out completely not right. Few years later chicken farm top of list for development no benefit to Liphook whatsoever more traffic through the Square. So it goes on let Wimpys build at Lowsly park without implementing the relief road option 4 suggested by HCC Highways what’s the point of HCC doing surveys and EHDC not implementing when they can .It’s time EHDC got their planning in order our Neighbourhood Plan told them all they needed to no the community had their say where development should take place and we all no where that is.

Re: Village being ruined - C (17th Dec 2021 - 13:19:04) Which choir? Love to Sing is the only one I know about but I don't know if they have been booked.

Re: Village being ruined - Peter (17th Dec 2021 - 17:15:21) I have lived in many places throughout the south of England and now have lived in Liphook for six years, I do like it but I have never experienced the levels of anti new/outsider/not from around here sentiment in any other part of England. How is it that this sort of attitude is tolerated here in Liphook? this forum is rife over the years with some locals asserting some fictional right to discriminate against other based only on length of residency, its absurd and puts many people off contributing more to the community for fear of running into one of these discriminatory people.

Re: Village being ruined - Suez (17th Dec 2021 - 18:47:15) Dave (16th Dec 2021 - 09:31:25) was legitimately expressing his feelings. C (16th Dec 2021 - 11:37:31) responded and in other words saying: Liphook isn't so bad, we come from worse places and we WILL bring that culture with us into Liphook, deal with! Then C goes on to say 'not every one is' - as if we don't know how to deal with legitimate generalisations, thank you muchly. Peter (17th Dec 2021 - 17:15:21) has taken it a step further, suggesting that new-comers in Liphook are being discriminated against... It's a fact of life, new people come in and they bring bits with them for the good and for the bad. Liphook has become an urban town without the budget and facilities, but with the traffic, "development" and urban attitude.

Re: Village being ruined - Gigi Baron (17th Dec 2021 - 19:33:04) Loud music definitely seems to be a thing. Even that so-called Italian restaurant has its music blaring in the mornings. I walk past some days and feel for the people living nearby.

Re: Village being ruined - John (17th Dec 2021 - 20:59:41) You could consider moving to Bordon. Better housing, better facilities and better class of people who are very friendly. No one complains about me parking my white van and caravan on the front lawn here. Liphook is now exactly like Bordon used to be. Full of undesirables who probably used to live in Bordon before it got too expensive and gentrified :)

Re: Village being ruined - C (18th Dec 2021 - 15:36:28) Sadly an incorrect summary but good try. Seriously, what’s with all the negativity on this site? People need to realise how lucky they are! Quite incredible and depressing! If you don’t like Liphook-move! Just feels fortunate you weren’t born in Aleppo or some war torn country. Get over it and stop complaining!!!

Re: Village being ruined - D (19th Dec 2021 - 07:25:43) C, you're too young to remember the I.R.A. and all the other lesser known terrorist groups bombing the U.K. mainland in the seventies and eighties then? We've had our share of political unrest. (I just know some Noddy know-all is going to say the I.R.A. was around long before that. I may even have the privelage if being told to "get a life" by a member of the parish council).

Re: Village being ruined - C (19th Dec 2021 - 11:30:17) D- why would you assume how old I am?! Plus. Irrelevant!

Re: Village being ruined - Joe (19th Dec 2021 - 12:38:03) I do not think Liphook was in any danger from the IRA back then. London Manchester and Birmingham and the Guildford pub, but do not think Liphook was ever a target. I think that this debate started years ago and will go on and on. It is downright rude to tell people that people who have not lived here all their lives do not have any right to their opinions about the future of Liphook.

Re: Village being ruined - er (19th Dec 2021 - 12:55:56) C. I would try to put it like this: Complaining can be seen either as negative or positive, depending on your outlook and whether it is done positively, politely or rudely. I've not noticed any rudeness on this thread. If people didn't complain or were discouraged or even cajoled into keeping quiet about their concerns, then our happy imagined Utopia would stagnate, deteriorate perhaps one day even turn into some of those types of places as we stubbornly refused to grumble and the politicians would love it! If this place is better than any other place, maybe it's because of the people who want it to be better still? You mention some worse places in other countries. We've had our share of unimaginable troubles in this country in living memory and doubtless more to come. This is actually our longest, most stable, egalitarian period in history, no previous generation has had it as good as today's young, the older people still remember WW2 and it's aftermath and how they strove to make it better, it's in their blood. Think about that, I'm reminded of that perjorative phrase 'first world problems' so commonly heard nowadays to belittle mainly elderly Western people's 'petty' concerns. Like we have it so amazing, worrying is done and dusted, improvement is unnecessary, we can now just accept everything as laid out for us, that we don't deserve the freedom to hope to be better, we should be as bad as the worst places on Earth before we can mention our concerns! I wonder if in Aleppo they're going 'shut up, we're not as bad as Tigray!' The young have the luxury of going 'seems pretty good to me' they don't remember any different, a nation who disregards it's older heads is sleepwalking to the next troubles and they will never see it coming in their apathy. So we wish for a Happy, peaceful, Christmas and a dare I say, a better New Year!

Re: Village being ruined - C (19th Dec 2021 - 13:35:11) Wow. Okay. In the interests of my own sanity I think I’ll stop wasting energy on this and spend my time in more pleasant pursuits. I’m so thankful for all I have. Hoping that positivity and kindness prevails and wishing all Liphook residents a happy, peaceful and restful Christmas.

Re: Village being ruined - er (19th Dec 2021 - 13:58:27) OK, if those are your needs, you are best to do so, try not to worry about all this, village will be ok, you chill. Happy Christmas, hope you get all the presents you asked for.

Re: Village being ruined - C (19th Dec 2021 - 14:22:29) Thanks er. Just returned from a litter pick and didn’t ask for any presents. Take care.

Re: Village being ruined - D (19th Dec 2021 - 22:27:54) Joe, the threat was certainly taken seriously by all the military units round here at the time. There were actually two pubs bombed in Guildford but as no-one was killed in the second one it did not have the same attention as the Horse and Groom. This is all probably well before your time.

Re: Village being ruined - Joe (20th Dec 2021 - 11:18:19) I am older than you Darren and was working and living through bombs in London. My friend was injured in the Harrods bomb blast and my life was very disrupted, I think more so than in Liphook. The original poster made a valid point about war. My mother lived in Europe in the 2nd world war and endured far worse than anything the civilians did in Liphook.

Re: Village being ruined - D (20th Dec 2021 - 12:49:21) Joe, I was responding to the information you placed in your post. Mentioning the well known events you did implied to me you may have not been around at the time and were quoting the more well known events of that time in our countries' history. I apologize if I drew the wrong conclusion. It does not bother me one iota that you are able to find my personal details through this website.

Re: Village being ruined - Penny Williamson (20th Dec 2021 - 15:40:44) Joe The original poster Dave did not mention the war in his post on 16 December - he was saying that Liphook had changed and not for the better and posted a list of things supporting this. Nothing was said about any war.

Re: Village being ruined - Joe (20th Dec 2021 - 16:26:17) Hi Penny I am posting in defence of an earlier poster who said Liphook was a good place to live and we should consider ourselves lucky we did not live in somewhere such as war torn Alleppo. I agreed with this. There was a reply saying that Liphook experienced a bad, similar to wartime experience, when the IRA were more active. Another poster mentioned how tough the civilians had it in WW2 and D mentioned that I was probably too young to have been through the 70s and early 80s bombing, the reference was from him and if you read through the posts there are references to war. I hope Liphook has moved on now.

Re: Village being ruined - D (20th Dec 2021 - 16:50:37) It was C who mentioned the subject of war. My response was to point out we have had similar experiences in our own country in very recent times and that things haven't always been as hunky-dorey as they are now. I'm in no way saying the terrorist attacks of the seventies, eighties and nineties in the U.K. were any better or worse than anywhere else. Joe is correct, Liphook, Longmoor, Bordon and H.M.S. Mercury never were targeted, but we didn't know that at the time. At the time we were on the same alert state as all other military towns. At least it's now all history.

Re: Village being ruined - Penny Williamson (21st Dec 2021 - 10:42:31) Joe sorry to be pedantic but you said the original poster mentioned the war. He didn't and as D so rightly said C brought in the subject of war further down the Thread referring to Aleppo. I am labouring the point because C changed the whole tempo of this Thread from a discussion about the change in people's behaviour to a discussion about wars.

Re: Village being ruined - Joe (21st Dec 2021 - 10:54:18) Hi penny I am struggling to find where I said “ original poster” Please show me the posting as I keep scrolling through, this sort of thread always seems to go off the point.

Re: Village being ruined - Oldie (21st Dec 2021 - 10:55:35) Let’s look on the bright side what a lovely Carol singing event on Monday we still have a wonderful community.

Re: Village being ruined - Joe (21st Dec 2021 - 10:56:32) Ok penny found it now, it was a mistake to say “ original poster” meant I was replying to someone further up the thread and not randomly bringing it into a thread myself.

Re: Village being ruined - Dave (21st Dec 2021 - 11:27:42) "The original poster made a valid point about war." - No I didn't?

Re: Village being ruined - C (21st Dec 2021 - 11:31:30) I wouldn't' normally pursue this line of thought but I will when I feel my own post has been misinterpreted Penny. My point was about occasionally taking time to appreciate what you've got in the grand scheme of things whilst trying to be a positive influence in the world. Yes I want to improve things but not lose the sense of knowing I am probably among the luckiest people on the planet in terms of the country I was born into and therefore the relatively easy and comfortable existence I have had. I merely compared myself to those in Aleppo as an example. I'm also much more fortunate than many other Brits (I don't mean wealthy but I mean in terms of not having witnessed daily conflict and suffering and fear for my own life). I have a roof over my head, a flushing toilet and access to fresh, clean water. In recognition of my own fortune I try and give to charities wherever possible, donate my time to volunteer and try to be kind in all my dealings. I imagine even this post will attract criticism but to be honest - I'm only interested in spreading kindness. I shall cease here.

Re: Village being ruined - passfield residentg (21st Dec 2021 - 11:33:07) Going back to the original point of this thread- the village hasn't been ruined, it just isn't a village any more. When I first lived here we probably knew a big proportion of the families that lived here. Now that Liphook is so much bigger it just has a different feel, different amenities (in some ways worse, like not having a greengrocer or butcher) and in some ways better (the facilities at Bohunt School and the Millenium Hall, for example) and also different people. New people bring new ideas, but on the other hand there are probably a bigger proportion of people who don't see knowing their neighbours and taking part in village life as a priority in the way that we do.I feel grumpy sometimes about the way the area has changed, but there's no point in getting upset-it's better to get involved in something local and help make it a stronger community.

Re: Village being ruined - er (21st Dec 2021 - 13:29:38) Well I have heard that London is just a cluster of villages, so maybe by that definition... Having fitness or painting clubs, groups within groups, a place that collects our history, drama and singing, people who gather litter from time to time, volunteers doing great planters etc doesn't make it a village, unless of course you're an estate agent! But they do make it a nicer town to live in. The days of everyone knowing everyone, not being able to pop into the butcher's without half an hour spare to stand nattering with the ladies, the vicar and the Laird are pure history. I certainly don't blame the newcomers, some of them have been here over 20 years and are starting to settle in nicely! I'm thinking a bespoke cinema will be nice, a swimming pool was promised, maybe a multiplex by the A3 with Pizza Hut and nightclub to give our youth something too wouldn't go amiss, or is that a step too far for our dear little village? PS I lived in Shoreditch EC2 and apparently there we were a village too, they told me, and you could be whatever you wanted there, let's go with that, why not?

Re: Village being ruined - Joe (21st Dec 2021 - 14:29:20) E R, who promised you a swimming pool in Liphook? There are 2 anyway one in Forest Mere and one in Old Thorns.

Re: Village being ruined - Penny Williamson (21st Dec 2021 - 14:46:08) C as you mention my name in the same sentence as "interpreted" I assume that you feel I have misinterpreted your post. This was not my intention. I just pointed out that bringing wars and depredation into the post was a distraction away from the original poster’s statement. I know that we in the UK are much better off than people in many other countries but Dave’s point was that behaviour and respect in his opinion have declined in Liphook over the last few years.

Re: Village being ruined - Anon (21st Dec 2021 - 15:09:14) C - welcome to the village, completely agree with you and personally I think it’s still a lovely place to live. Please don’t be put off by any negative comments.

Re: Village being ruined - C (21st Dec 2021 - 15:29:27) Thanks Anon. Lovely to be here :-)

Reply to THIS thread
Talkback Home