Longparish Transport Update

Cango Service

• The Village Handbook Directory has omitted the service from Barton Stacey 13.04 to Andover 13.34. When booked this should arrive in Longparish at about 13.14
• Please note that the Plough is no longer a timed stop, all trips from and to Longparish must now be booked. This includes from Andover bus station to Longparish. There is no operational reason for this: it is a requirement of Government legislation and cannot be changed by HCC Community Transport.
• The Cango can be booked to Andover Tesco or to Andover War Memorial Hospital but will not do both on the same trip.
• I would like to know if anyone uses the roam zone option, to be picked up or dropped off at their own designated stopping point, rather than at one of the two bookable stops.

Test Valley Passenger Transport Area Review

• HCC are conducting reviews of all Hampshire areas.
• Their objective is to improve access to doctors, hospitals, colleges, shops etc whilst balancing increasing cost of bus operator tenders against the monies allocated by national government for subsidised rural transport.
• One idea they are investigating is the rationalisation of the five routes between Andover and Winchester combined with a taxi share scheme and the use of school buses by the public where space is available. Nothing is likely to change until the North West Area comes up for re-tender in 2008/9.
• I have submitted a letter to HCC Community transport, indicating that Longparish may be better served by subsidising the 26 service as before, linking us to Winchester again, than by the Cango service and probably at less cost to the HCC.
• Please see this letter on the Longparish web site or contact me if you are interested in the detail, I would welcome your input to this issue.
• I have also proposed re-instating evening services to Andover and Basingstoke by diverting some of the 76 buses through Longparish as per some 12 years ago. My letter to the Transport Area Review detailing the benefits of this service to the village and the proposed times of the 76s to be diverted can be viewed on the website or obtained from me. Both the manager of Stage Coach South and the HCC Community Transport Officer for this area were receptive to this proposal at the Annual Meeting of Parish Transport Representatives.

Use of Southside Road and Mill Lane by Buses

• The Cango regularly uses Southside Road and Mill Lane instead of the B3048. I don't think this is to access a personal stopping point.
• The Testbourne School bus also uses Southside Road even though the designated stopping point is at the Plough.
• Complaints have been made to the Parish Council relating to the buses using these narrow lanes.
• Southside Hill is not gritted in freezing weather.
• There are safety issues with the school bus turning from Southside Road onto the B3048 and dropping the students off in the middle of the B3048 prior to turning into Southside Road.
• I have informed HCC Community transport as they fund both the bus operators.
• Hopefully the buses will now use the B3048.

Andover Neighbourcare (01264) 339899/336020

• Provides transport for retired or disabled people for medical appointments.

Andover Dial a Ride

• Local co-ordinator John Collins (01264) 720300
• Provides a weekly journey to Andover shopping centre for those with mobility problems.

Phil Harris (Parish Bus Representative) 01264 720 437
1, Mayfield Villas, Longparish, SP11 6PF.

St Nicholas Christmas Fair

Thanks and congratulations to everyone who came, supported and worked so hard to make the St Nicholas Christmas Fair on 9th December in the new School/Community Hall such a great success. With all the generosity and kindness so evident - and the appearance of Santa himself - the total achieved for St Nicholas Church funds was a brilliant £1400. We are especially grateful to Christian Dryden and Andrea Hulme for co-ordinating it all with such gentle efficiency, and to all who worked with them, giving time and gifts to make it a memorable and very happy occasion.

Andrea and Christian themselves say, “We would like to thank everyone who helped towards making the fair such a huge success. In particular the ladies of the sewing bee for making lovely items for sale, everyone who donated jams and chutneys or baked a cake, and to those who helped on the day. We hope everyone who came had an enjoyable afternoon, and are very grateful that so much was raised for St Nicholas Church.”

There are still some unclaimed raffle prizes - pink tickets 404 and 492 and green 56. Please phone 01264 720347 to claim your prize by the 10th January. Martin Coppen

St Nicholas Church Wives Group

Our Christmas meeting was held on 6th December at the Beeches, Picket Twenty.

I gave a talk on Kibbutz Dalia in Israel; home for members of my family. It was a short potted history, accompanied by pictures and photographs, on how it was formed and what life is like living on a Kibbutz past and present. Sherry, mince pies, tea and coffee were served while we exchanged Christmas gifts and cards

All the members of the Wives group hope everyone will have had a Merry Christmas and wish you all a Happy New Year for 2007. Gwen Thomas

SCRAMBLERS

A service for under-fives in St. Nicholas Church at 2.15pm

Jan. 8th - Celebrating Jesus - God's Special Person