Petersfield Area Community Trust - Chair's Report 2005

• In April this year PACT was awarded a David Urwin Heritage Commendation Award for the "Best works in the public realm", for the Millennium Garden on Norfolk Street.
• The person behind this outstanding creation was Anna Lindsay, here this evening, who organised this year's Summer Event to celebrate the award. About 80 people attended and enjoyed a wonderful array of food and drink provided by local businesses and residents. It was a very good community event.
• PACT has published its 7th annual issue of ImPACT magazine which was circulated to about 3,000 homes. Its informative 16 pages of news and articles, balanced with advertising from local businesses, was the largest ImPACT ever.
• You may have seen the new noticeboard on St Matthew's Piece, an item campaigned for and secured by PACT's efforts.
• PACT has also held many management and sub-committee meetings to discuss a broad range of issues and work to improve your community.
• For older people, PACT's management committee has continued its work in a number of ways, by raising issues of concern.
• Cherry Trees Over-50s Friday Club continues to grow and develop independently of PACT, but still with close ties.
• Petersfield Active Ageing Group, an exercise class held on Tuesdays at Alex Wood Hall, has achieved a lottery grant of £4,500 in order to extend its usefulness.
• Perhaps the most active area of concern over the last year has been planning and the environment. This subject has seen a lot of work, and my special thanks go to Glenys, who has worked tirelessly and has been a pivotal influence within the community.
• Many of the brownfield developments - Varsity House, Philips, Foister & Jagg, LabGear, Ivy Villa and Powertron - have been completed or are nearing completion. This has resulted in a massive increase in the resident population.
• Further developments in the pipeline are the ex-CRC site in Young Street, Harvest Way and Simpers.
• The new licensing laws, effective from 24 November this year, have led to a surge of applications to extend hours for various premises. Residents who have experienced the licensing hearings have found them to be very legalistic and inaccessible to objectors.
• On open space issues, PACT has been consulted and has advised on improvements using Section 106 monies, such as the Phase II works on St Matthew's Piece - we are now awaiting the resurfacing of the footpaths to complete the job.
• Ainsworth Street play area improvements are underway and are expected to be completed soon.
• Flower Street play area is in much need of improvements and Section 106 monies are being sought for this.
• St Matthew's Piece

  There are many other things going on within your community where PACT has some interest and influence. But none has been so important to so many people as the fate of St Matthew's Piece, the reason why so many of you are here this evening.

  It seems that the County Council has decided to sanction the demolition of the Howard Mallett Centre and allow Citylife to build a new building, twice the height of the existing one, to be a centre for enterprise and innovation for young people.

  Glenys and I have seen their plans and we have spoken with Citylife, and while we have found much to admire in what they are trying to achieve, we believe that their choice of site is not in your best interests.

  With so many changes and developments within Petersfield, I believe it is time to open our eyes and hearts and hang on to what little green space we have left. To allow further development on the Piece is to betray those that follow us, to deny them a precious gift.