The Alton Society

18/06/2026

Sharing this post from our colleagues at Say NO to 1100 Houses on Chawton Park Farm, Alton.
This reminds us of the severe risk of water shortages that not only could current residents be faced with but also new housing estates. East Hampshire District Council mentioned this issue as part of their reasoning to abandon the Local Plan Regulation 18.

Basingstoke council leader has accused South East Water of "killing" a protected Hampshire fen through years of over-abstraction, and warned that tens of thousands of local residents now face the risk of their taps running dry as a direct consequence.

Councillor Paul Harvey says the water company has created a crisis of its own making by failing to invest in alternative infrastructure while continuing to pump water from Greywell Fen, one of the largest remaining alkaline fens in southern England and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Environment Agency (EA) has now refused to renew South East Water's abstraction licence at Greywell, and the company has lodged a formal appeal with the Planning Inspectorate. South East Water's own communication has warned that if that appeal fails, there will be a "severe and immediate water shortage for thousands of local residents and businesses". The council puts the number of customers at risk at 70,000.

'The people of Basingstoke did not create this crisis'

18/06/2026

We wanted to show the Wey Walk talk slides that formed the basis Louise Parker and Charles Kaye's presentation at The Northern Wey Community Trust on Tuesday evening. We were struck by the huge amount of work and the great achievement by Louise and Charles in bringing their vision of the Wey Walk to fruition over the last 11 years. It involved the work of many partners as well and much coordination and liaising. It's not quite finished yet - Cala need to do various works on the brewery site which need EHDC approval. The next stage will be the Brewery Heritage Trail through the site with sculptures and signboards. Here are the photos of the slides and a reel will follow.

If you haven't walked the Wey Walk yet why not do so!

Love Alton Alton's Walking Festival Alton Town Council Wey Valley Radio Walk Alton

11/06/2026

Update on the free distribution of Swift Nest Boxes to anyone who asked after the Hampshire Swifts talk we organised in the Alton Assembly Rooms on 23rd April.

A sample of photos of nest box recipients attached. We received requests from 32 applicants, which is a real tribute to the interest in Swifts and their well-being in Alton.

All the nest box budget has been used up now but anyone can still buy boxes for themselves direct from Hampshire Swifts. Prices include fitting, see their website - https://www.hampshireswifts.co.uk.

Thanks are due to Cllrs Ginny Boxall and Suzie Burns for donating funds from their Community Grant budgets to kickstart the initiative.

Hopefully this might become an annual event with Alton a beacon as a safe haven for some of Hampshire's wonderful and charismatic swifts.

And thanks to Colin Varndell of the facebook group at Tice's Meadow Nature Reserve for permission to use his wonderful compilation photo of swifts!

Alton Town Council Love Alton Wey Valley Radio Alton Herald Alton Hampshire Alton Climate Action Network

27/05/2026

From our colleagues in the Say NO to 1100 Houses on Chawton Park Farm, Alton campaign. This is Northfield Lane looking towards the A31 by the railway bridge..... and Harrow Estates want to build 1100 houses exiting an entering within 100m of this bridge and road! 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️ They plan to change the linear route of Northfield Lane and make it curve round the back of Chalkdell Cottages - how disruptive and noisy for the occupants...

If you haven't already signed their petition here's the link if you'd like to: https://www.change.org/CPFpetition

Love Alton Wey Valley Radio Alton Town Council East Hampshire District Council Hampshire County Council CPRE Hampshire