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As mentioned in the Autumn Newsletter, the developers of the City Gateway Building are required to provide explanatory signage for Ethelburt Avenue at their own expense. The HCERA Committee decided that they needed to be proactive and submit proposals. We made it clear that this would be subject to consultation in this newsletter. The signage the Committee proposes is shown below and would be placed beneath all four of the street nameplates. We would like to hear from residents on whether they support this proposal or have alternative proposals for signage.

The campaign by Dan Hopgood and Ethelburt Avenue residents secured the best possible deal to stop students living in the City Gateway Building having cars. Under a required clause in the Section 106 Agreement, students could be evicted after a warning, if found to have a car in the area. Eviction would at the discretion of the University of Southampton and/or other designated operator and/or the landowner.

However this is not acceptable to the University of Southampton and a planning application 12/00033/FUL has been submitted to remove the car ownership restriction clause. A letter from the University enters into some vague and weak commitments. Students will get a letter “which will reinforce the fact that students are discouraged by the University to bring a car to this hall of residence in line with its policy. A restriction on car parking will be contained within the Contract for University Accommodation. Students who accept a place in the halls of residence will be expected to comply with these restrictions.” We are sure residents will wish to make strenuous objections by 3rd February to any change in the very reasonable conditions contained in the planning consent already granted.

To see the details of this application go to publicaccess.southampton.gov.uk/PublicAccess/
Click on planning, then application search, and insert the reference number given above.

The City Council’s Article 4 Direction requiring planning consent if a house is going to be occupied by three or more unrelated people, comes into force on 23rd March 2012.

To go with the Article 4 Direction, there will be a Supplementary Planning Document which will guide how planning officers decide a planning application. The draft of this document is now out for consultation which ends on 1st February. Whether a planning application will be granted for an HMO depends on the density of HMOs already in the area. The proposed threshold for refusal is 10% in the wards of Swaythling, Bassett and Portswood and 20% elsewhere. The other factor is the “area of impact” within which this density will be measured. The proposal is that this should be within a radius of 40m from the house for which the HMO application is being made, or an area covering 10 houses whichever is the greater.

Please consider submitting your comments, because the people who hoover up houses to turn them into HMOs are likely to make vigorous attempts to get the threshold increased.

If you are thinking of taking two† lodgers, but not more, don’t panic, your house will not become a house in multiple occupation.

† SI 2006 No. 373 Regulation 6 (2).

Arising from the tree survey last year, the following tree work is proposed. On the top green the large, mature Robinia is infected with the Ganoderma bracket fungus, so there is a risk of the loss of further branches in the future. Therefore, this and the small sickly hawthorn will be felled, the stumps ground out, and replaced with new robinias nearby to maintain the original planting scheme. On the bottom green, the dead limbs of the birch in the south west corner will be removed, together with the small Cupressus. Two of the small diseased cherries on the southern verge will be removed and replaced, and the dead wood removed from some of the older cherries. The small dead cherry at the top of Ethelburt Avenue will also be replaced and the dead ivy from the Lawson cypress on the bend removed.

During the First World War, the land now occupied by this Conservation Area was part of the Swaythling Remount Depot. Nearly 400,000 horses and mules passed through the depot and were sent to the war. A very interesting project by the Willis Fleming Historical Trust is underway to produce a history of the depot in time for its 100th anniversary in 2014. See www.swaythling.org.uk/

We are proposing to the hold the open gardens day on Sunday 15th April. This is a month earlier than last year and will give us an opportunity to enjoy tulips and spring flowering shrubs.

Now is the time to start planning some community event on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Holidays of 4th and 5th June. Let us hear your proposals.

Tucked away behind the Burgess Road shops (through the passage beside McColl’s), there is a hidden jewel - the Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre. It is run entirely by volunteers and received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The centre is open to all.

Activities include:

The Youth Club which recently re-located from Parkville Road and has made a successful start every Thursday. Junior clubs enjoy Arts & Crafts.

Computer Club runs on Monday evenings, with a six week course. A Computer Surgery to sort out your problems is held on Monday afternoons.

Lunch and Laughs every Tuesday is open to all. Pre-booking is preferred for this delicious home- cooked meal. Work it off with Tai Chi in the afternoon!

The Over 50’s Club is currently fully subscribed, but please do put you name on the waiting list.

Activities of the Social Club include a recent visit to the pantomime and the club has just returned from a trip to Torquay.

Every Friday sees a Bingo Session with super prizes. This evening activity is very popular.

Volunteers to join this happy band are always welcome. Room and hall hire is available for your parties, functions and corporate requirements.

All are welcome; do come along and give us a try!

Tel: 023 8067 2230.