News

Dog walkers are being warned that Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council  is clamping down on irresponsible dog owners who risk people’s health as well as letting their pets cause an unsightly nuisance on the borough streets and green spaces. 

Acting on residents saying clean streets are important to them, the council’s community safety patrol officers will now issue on-the-spot fines of £50 to anyone seen not clearing up after their dog whilst they are patrolling the borough. Refusal to pay the fine could land the culprit in court and even more out of pocket. 

Dog mess should be bagged and then disposed of in any general litter bin, many dog owners responsibly throw away a large proportion of this mess, but there are still owners out there who are prepared to leave their dog’s mess littered on borough streets, parks and around the countryside.

The team is also keen to promote good dog responsibility and will be patrolling the borough parks to remind dog owners that they are expected to keep their pets under proper control, are legally required to ensure they wear a collar and ID and from April 2016 all dogs over eight weeks old must be micro chipped and registered or owners risk prosecution and a £500 fine.

As part of the crackdown residents are being asked to contact the council if they know of someone who regularly commits this offence. This can be done by calling 01256 844844 or emailing with as much information as possible including the times of day it happens, a description of the dog and the owner. This can be done anonymously if preferred.

Since taking over the management of the community safety patrol officers, the council has established a programme of campaigns targeted at problem issues. This started with a crackdown on litter in Basingstoke town centre and then at the Leisure Park followed by a cigarette butt campaign and now action on other issues including dog fouling and littering in parks. 

Cabinet Member for Communities, Service Improvement and Delivery Cllr Robert Tate said: “Dog fouling is the most offensive type of litter on our streets and is constantly rated as one of the most important issues blighting their local area by the public.

“Being a responsible dog owner means cleaning up after your pet. We need to get the message across that it is every dog owners’ responsibility to pick up after their pet and put the bagged mess in a bin.”

For more information call 01256 844844 or visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/animalresponsibilities

http://www.rooksdown.org.uk/joomla/index.php/downloads/send/7-notices/187-dog-fouling-campaign-oct-2015

A plan for the additional bins, benches & seats & Parish Council Noticeboards for Rooksdown is now on display in the foyer of the Community Centre for your comments.

Comment Forms can be obtained from the Community Centre office.

Closing date for your comments is 16 October 2015

Or you can click on the following link (http://www.rooksdown.org.uk/joomla/index.php/downloads/send/4-documents/183-street-furniture-october-2015) and have a look on the map. Please leave your comments online by 16 October 2015.

 The proposed locations for the additional street furniture include –  

• Park Prewett Road
• Canadian Way
• Watertower Way
• Greenlands Road
• Gillies Drive
• Peggs Way
• Easter Square Park
• Elder Road
• Downside Close
• Sheepwash Court
• Parcel Drive
• Cutting Drive
• Pumphouse Way

Have a look and give us your thoughts …

Many thanks

Responses by 11th October please. For details please see the notice on the council web site.   http://www.rooksdown.org.uk/joomla/index.php/downloads/send/7-notices/182-co-option-notice-october-2015.

It is with great sadness to report that Rooksdown is unable to hold a fireworks event this year.

Councillor Paul Mahoney, Chairman of Rooksdown Parish Council announced that the Parish Council has made the difficult decision not to hold the fireworks event this year.

Cllr Mahoney said ‘Over the last few years the Rooksdown Firework event has gone from strength to strength and is now one of Rooksdown’s most popular events, but this brings with it some organisational difficulties’.

He went on to point out that one of the difficulties has been how to get residents and visitors in and out of Rooksdown safely.

This year sees the Rooksdown Park (the venue for the Fireworks) being re-developed to create a new play area for local children, along with significant house construction in the area directly opposite Rooksdown Park.

Cllr Mahoney explained ‘Although this decision was made prior to the cancellation of the Mayor’s fireworks, that announcement only further convinced us that the Parish Council decision was the right one. Rooksdown Firework event is designed for the benefit the Rooksdown community and its’ residents. How we successfully run a local community event that is both enjoyable and safe will be our focus for the firework event in 2016’

Planning for a Rooksdown Fireworks event in 2016 has already started.

The Parish Council realises this will be a huge disappointment to residents but would like to thank residents for their continued support.

Please be aware of the following planned closures: 

A signed diversion route via the A3010 Churchill Way and A30 Ringway South will be in place.

Please allow additional time for any journey across the Black Dam roundabout while these works take place.

Details of this project are available on the Highways England website:

·         www.highways.gov.uk/m3blackdam 

Please subscribe to the scheme to receive email alerts when the information is updated.

For further information on other planned improvements taking place in Basingstoke, visit:

·         www.basingstoke.gov.uk/go/highwayimprovements and 

·         http://www3.hants.gov.uk/transport.

As there are no agenda items, the Parish Council meeting that was scheduled for Monday 20 July has been cancelled. The next meeting will be on Monday 21st September 2015.

All traffic will be prohibited from travelling along B3400 Andover Road for 1 month from 13 July 2015 as directed by traffic signs. The closure is due to rail bridge works.

For details see: road-closure-13-july-2015

 Rooksdown Parish Council are looking to employ the services of a Handyman to work on parish upkeep duties for at least 10 hours per week (hours to suit) on an initial 12 month contract basis. See the notice on the council web site for full details.

handyman-advert

 A reminder that Highways England will be closing the M3 Spur northbound, from junction 6 to the Black Dam roundabout, and reducing the Black Dam roundabout to a single lane this week.  This will allow the construction of a new splitter island at the northern point of the M3 Spur. 

The work will take place from:

 ·         10pm on Friday 26 June until 5.30am on Monday 29 June

 At this time, road users will be advised to use Junctions 7 or 5 as an alternative route into Basingstoke. 

Work is progressing well on-site, with construction of the northbound carriageway through the existing roundabout underway.  However, we currently expect the work to be completed in the autumn, due to delays in the relocation of a gas main and other utilities within the extents of the work site.

Construction of the northbound carriageway through the roundabout has now begun. 

Please allow additional time for any journey across the Black Dam roundabout while these works take place.

Details of this project are available on the Highways England website:

·         www.highways.gov.uk/m3blackdam 

There is a vacancy for a Councillor on Rooksdown Parish Council, which is being filled by Co-Option.

The procedure for co-opting a Parish Councillor is that any person interested should confirm in writing to the clerk at by 17 June 2015, with a brief summary about your personal history, interests and why you would like to become a councillor.

You will need to attend the parish meeting on 22 June for the Co-Option process and meet the eligibility criteria.  You will need to be available to attend Parish meetings every fourth Monday (10 meeting’s a year) and have access to a PC with email facility.

Any person(s) who would like to know more about what is involved in being a Parish Councillor is invited to contact Lorraine Jeffs on 07741472622 or 01256 869612