Herald - Issue 420

Page 66 • The HERALD • 10th March 2022 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v For a free estimate call 07866 041192 or 0800 028 7878 or visit www.chipsaway.co.uk 023 8084 9370 Prospect Place, Hythe SO45 6AU • MOT’ s • MOT R epairs • A ir C on • A uto E lectrics • S ervicing •W elding • D iagnostics • S uspension • T yres • C lutches • C am B elts • B rakes FAWLEY GARAGE SERVICE - PARTS - M.O.T.’S ALL MAKES OF VEHICLE SERVICED AND REPAIRED • D iagnostic F ault F inding • T yres - F itting & B alancing • L aser T racking FAWLEY 8089 1057 THE VILLAGE, CALSHOT ROAD, FAWLEY Further Funding Agreed to Keep Community Transport Services on the Road for community transport operators at 100% from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023. At his decision day meeting back in January, Councillor Russell Oppenheimer, Executive Member for Highways Operations, agreed a recommendation to continue the policy, implemented during the early stage of the pandemic, of paying 100% contract payments to community transport operators. e move will assist those operators in the recovery and operation of their services, supporting them to maintain service levels whist they experience lower than usual passenger numbers, and user con dence rebuilds during the coming nancial year. Councillor Oppenheimer said: “By extending this support for a further year, I am confident that the longer-term resilience of the community transport sector will be strengthened. It is another way in which the County Council is demonstrating its commitment to assisting the recovery of Hampshire’s economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the national Bus Back Better strategy in mind, this move to provide vital support to the community transport sector will also reinforce the positive and productive partnership working between the county’s transport operators and Hampshire County Council. I completely agree that we should do what we can to keep these services running while passenger numbers gradually recover. Community transport serves some of the most vulnerable and isolated in our communities, acting as an important lifeline to enable them to travel for shopping, leisure and socialising or to get to health appointments.” Community transport operators have reported that around 35% fewer passengers are travelling than before the pandemic. e support agreed is consistent with the latest advice from the Department for Transport and has no adverse budgetary impact on the County Council. More details about the support for local community transport services can be found in the decision report, published online at: www.democracy.hants.gov.uk/ documents/s90059/Report.pdf ​With the COVID-19 pandemic still having an impact on levels of all public and community transport use across the county, Hampshire County Council has agreed to maintain contract payments Railway Correspondence and Travel Society (RCT) and Mid Hants Railway, Solent Branch meetings are held in association with Mid Hants Railway – Southampton and Waterside Group. Meetings are held at the Eastleigh Railway Institute, Romsey Road Eastleigh SO50 9FE and commence at 7.30pm. e room, on the rst oor (sorry no disabled access), is usually open from 7pm. A bar is available for refreshments. eir next meeting is on Wednesday 20th April for a subject that is to be con rmed. Please see the Railway Observer or the RCTS website for details nearer the time. Followed on Wednesday 18th May for a talk by David Brace titled ‘Colorado Adventure’. David Brace covers 3 trips made between 2010 & 2012 to the Rockies, New Mexico & Wyoming. A donation of £3 is usual to help with the costs of the speaker and room hire. Non-members are very welcome at their meetings. Further details can be obtained from John Godfrey on: 07850 220009 or email: solent@rcts.org.uk RAILWAY CLUB Volunteers Needed e Healthy Haven Garden at the Waterside Medical Practice is looking for new volunteers. If you are new to the area, recently retired or bereaved and you would like to join their garden group please contact Christine Bennett on Facebook. ey meet in the garden on a Monday, ursday and Saturday morning from 9am to 12noon. Or you can go along at those times and have a look at what they do. ey can plan your activities according to your needs. Go and join this cheerful group and they have a co ee break where you can have a chat and get to know one another. New Forest Aviation Group meet on the 2nd Friday of the month for a programme of interesting speakers, chosen to appeal to anyone with an interest in aviation. At the next meeting on Friday 8th April for a talk titled ‘Volcanoes - How they have a ected the World’ by Chris Marshall. Meetings start at 7pm for 7.30pm in Lyndhurst Community Centre. Non- members are very welcome at a charge of £4; light refreshments are included. For more information visit: www.nfag. info Volcanoes - How they have affected the World