Hugh Sandeman
Conservative Councillor for Bell Hill ward, Petersfield

The recent complaints from the new residents of apartments around Petersfield's Market square are laughable. I have every sympathy with those people who can't sleep but find it hard to believe that they are so shocked & amazed that a buzzing pub-rich environment causes them sleepless nights.

The Kebab van has always been located at the edge of the square for as long as I can remember. The guys that run it are polite, professional and go out of their way to limit the impact that their operation makes on the surrounding environment.

Whilst on the Town Council, numerous planning applications for flat/apartment developments were put before the Planning Committee, many of them for Town Centre locations. The Planning system is increasingly out of the hands of Local Councils/Councillors and as a direct result rides roughshod over the important local knowledge that is used when looking at the merits of a new development.

The Town Council fought hard over the proposal to demolish Vertigo and to replace it with flats (with hardly any parking provision) built over a bar/club. We said that the noise would be intolerable for the new residents as well as those who currently live across the road. Naturally this made no difference and planning permission was awarded. The current case of complaints about noise by new Town-Centre residents isn't likely to be the last & it boils down to non-local planning decision making, and also people that move into an area without the foresight to research before doing so.

Long-live the Kebab van!

As a newly signed up member of the Friends of Petersfield Heath (FoPH) I thought I would do my bit to raise the profile of their informative website.

Covering their work and some history about Petersfield Heath the site is a good starting point for those who are keen to find out more about the important conservation project to restore natural heathland where the old golf course used to be.

The Friends of Petersfield Heath (FoPH) website can be found at this link: http://www.foph.net

The Conservative Party today strengthened control on EHDC, reflecting the Party's popularity in the Country and the meltdown experienced by the Lib Dems across the UK.

http://www.petersfieldtoday.co.uk/news?articleid=2851512

To all electors of Bell Hill and people of the Town, as my time as a Councillor draws to a close I thought I would write and say how much I have learnt from my experiences on the Town Council.

I am standing down as I now work in London and this means that I am less able to represent your views than I was when I was elected in March 2005.

The last couple of years have flown-by, the Council has had ups and downs, however I am convinced that the course has now been set for a much brighter future.

I hope that I have bought some fresh thinking to the Council whilst elected, this blog for instance was probably the first by a Councillor in Petersfield and it has allowed me to communicate with the electorate in a way other than telephone, email or letter, I hope it may have done something to make me more in touch with the people of the Ward.

I am hoping to use my spare time supporting such groups as the Kings Arms and the Friends of the Heath who do so much to enhance the Town that we all love, I will also be staying involved with the ongoing project to provide a first class concrete Skate Park for Petersfield.

Once again thank you for indulging me by visiting and reading my thoughts, Vote Blue, Go Green on May 3rd for a brighter future for Petersfield, the District and the Country.

This site will continue in a different format, following a brief redesign to reflect the fact that I am no longer a Councillor.

Thank you Hugh

Yesterday following a strategy meeting where CF Hampshire planned our next campaigning objectives for the coming weeks some of us went out to campaign with Ranil who is standing for a seat on the Borough Council. We spoke to numerous residents about their concerns and delivered leaflets talking about the positive ideas that Ranil wants to contribute if he is elected. The photo below shows us, almost in action!

Some of CF Hampshire encouraging residents to Vote Blue to Go Green in Basingstoke in support of Ranil's election campaign there.

Personal rant time now: ...perhaps a certain drinker in a certain local pub would like to familiarise themselves with the following question from the UK Government citizenship test:

Question 8
Life in the UK explains what to do if you spill someone's pint in the pub (we're not making this up). What, according to the book, usually happens next?

A: You would offer to buy the person another pint

B: You would offer to dry their wet shirt with your own

C: You may need to prepare for a fight in the car park

You too can see how British / Un-British you are by taking a copy of the test HERE at the BBC news website.

I do not see the need or point in the whole of the United Kingdom in 2007 saying sorry for the slave trade.

1) We cannot judge the actions of past generations with today's moral guidelines.

2) If we say sorry for this where will it end? - will every person ever killed in war by the British military be apologised to for example?

3) Although distasteful now, the (forced) work and global movement of people be they black or white in previous centuries has given us the diverse mix of cultures we find across the World today.

4) Britain was instrumental in abolishing the slave trade.

5) The Empires of Britain and other European states contributed more good than bad to the countries that they controlled and gave many a basis to be the powers that they are today.

In summary there is no doubt that slavery was horrific for those who were involved. However a general apology is a mere gesture with no weight or relevance, the Goverment should spend more time sorting out some of the huge issues facing the citizens of today's African pariah states and the children of the far east who work unjustifiably long hours supplying the west's desire for consumer goods. If these children were given the chance of an education alongside the work that is vital to their family's survival there would be scope to give them the chance of a brighter future. If anybody has any other views, or can rationally explain the worth of an apology I would love you to comment.

BBCi "Have your Say" comments HERE are worth a read, it seems that largely common sense prevails amongst the readership.

I have been shocked by the huge amount of dodgy dealings being uncovered surrounding TV competition phone-ins.

With even Blue Peter being revealed as having been less than straight in the past with the way a phone-in competition was run.

If it means that these dreadful competition channels and segments of so many shows are axed or modified it will be a huge plus for all viewers.

Saw a screening of An Inconvenient Truth the global warming warning film by ex-vice President of the US Al Gore tonight.

Hosted by Friends of the Earth the event was part of their Big Ask campaign, David Miliband MP turned up at the end to erm and ahh answer some questions from the audience.

The film was reasonably compelling, but as with the sources in my GCSE History exams I have been told to look at both sides of an argument and their evidence before making a decision. As you would expect from an 'issue' film the message was very strongly what the narrator wanted the viewer to hear. I am not doubting climate change, I am however open to watching 100 minutes of documentary with graphs and charts to explain why the Gore view just may not be the way climate change will go...

Miliband also trumpeted the fact that a copy of the DVD would be sent to each school in the country. It worries me to think that a politically motivated documentary with clear criticism of the Bush White House and previous Republican administrations is deemed acceptable as an educational tool, I don't think it could be seen as a purely unbiased piece of film making, and without wishing to criticise the school environment that the film would be shown in it seems likely that no counter-argument or wider discussion about other points of view are likely to occur.

This isn't a healthy way to inspire the minds of the generation that are going to have to supply the answers to the climate change phenomenon...if Mr Gore is right of course.

Interesting references to Gore's doubtful green lifestyle Here & Here

Conservative Future got some excellent coverage today on the BBC News Website. Click HERE for the article. With both the BBC interested and Channel 4 making a documentary about CF the media are certainly making themselves familiar with the next Party of Government.

A statue of Margaret Thatcher was unveiled earlier today at the Houses of Parliament. The significance of a living ex-prime minister's statue being erected in the HP is covered HERE by the BBC.

Bell Hill has only one working streetlight

Yesterday I noticed a series of Streetlights in the Bell Hill / Woodbury Avenue area were not working. I have reported the problem to Hampshire Highways and will continue to monitor the situation. If I hear anything more I will post about it here.

EDIT @ 26/02/2007
The lights are working again.

Damian Hinds & Michael Mates MP

On Saturday at Alton Community Centre, Damian Hinds was selected as the Conservative PPC for East Hampshire.

Damian fought off strong competition in each round of the selection process, congratulations to him - I look forward to working with him to reinvigorate CF in East Hampshire.

See what ConservativeHome think about the decision HERE.

With the Oyster card gaining ground across London with its promise of cheaper travel, ease of use and Nectar card style discounts with other retailers there is also the growing awareness that these cards could be used to track the movements of individuals.

This creeping use of technology and the chance that other types of ticket and pass will be phased out over time with the carrot being savings will mean that all commuters will be trackable and your movements can be called up on a computer by anybody in authority that may want to know what you have been up to.

If you shrug and say, 'so-what' after reading this, fair enough. You may not think that Big Brother is undesirable, however whilst travelling home on Friday night I spotted the imagery on this poster advertising security measures across London, I find it quite sinister and was pleased to see that somebody had etched "Big Brother" between the eyes.

Saturday the 28th saw some members of the Council's Skatepark working party visit, (along with users, parents and representatives from the Festival for Young People) two of the latest Skatepark facilities in London.

The well attended event showed us the latest advances in Park design which will be invaluable as we look to move things along for Petersfield.

Gordon Brown talks-up the strength and importance of the United Kingdom today, he speaks of the risk posed by an "opportunist group of nationalists".

Interesting that he is now so concerned about this after being a senior member of the Government in 1997 that allowed devolution to take place, thus forever fracturing the true Union, instigating double representation for the People of Scotland and Wales, and still allowing Welsh and Scottish MP's to vote on England-only legislation.

Mr Brown we aren't stupid, we all remember which Government set the wheels in motion for the break-up of the UK as we know it, and now pretending that you are concerned about the future of the Union either makes you exraordinarily stupid or just plain forgetful..I know which one of those i'd choose to describe you.

Last night's Channel 4 documenary Dispatches saw a reporter embedded with British, Afghan and Estonian troops and reporting upon their fight against the Taleban in Afghanistan.

The battle to take the town of Garmser in Helmand province from the Taleban, evolved from an action planned to take 24 hours, to a tiring battle lasting six days. Running out of ammunition, and medical supplies and with the 17 British troops having to tend to many wounded men from both sides the footage really showed how hard the fighting is for our troops.

Regardless of whether the conflict is 'right' or 'wrong' or if it will even succeed in banishing the Taleban from the Country, the simple lack of supplies, equipment and direction as shown in the film last night clearly leaves our men in unnecessary danger and also unable to complete the mission they have been sent to undertake efficiently.

The failure by the Labour Government to fund our forces adequately to meet the huge demands upon them is a National disgrace. This follows-on from the recent news surrounding Naval vessels being placed into mothballs to reduce costs. To see what Dr Lian Fox MP, the Shadow Defence secretary said about our currently overstretched forces click HERE to visit the Conservatives homepage.