Chandler’s Ford may not feel like a ‘village’ anymore, but … Chandler’s Ford has just won the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Village of the Year Award 2018.
At a presentation evening on 25 September, Chandler’s Ford Parish Council attended the Hampshire Association of Local Councils (HALC) / Fullers Hampshire Village of the Year Awards presentation and came away with the Village of the Year Award for 2018 and was also commended with Runner Up Awards for: –
- Best Open Spaces (the quality of Recreation Grounds, Play Areas, Tennis Courts and Wildflower Meadows were cited, just one year after bringing the grounds maintenance in-house.)
- Best Community Event (the Fryern Funtasia 2018)
- Excellence in Localism
The Chairman of CFPC, Cllr James Duguid and Cllr Margaret Atkinson jointly accepted the awards/certificates, commemorative plaque and a cheque for £500 as the winners of the Village of the Year.
Cllr Mike Hughes also received an award as an Inspirational Individual for his work/dedication to developing and sustaining community facilities/associations.
The runners-up is Four Marks, followed by Swanmore.
Chandler’s Ford Parish Council has put together a video to show the achievements of Chandler’s Ford:
How did Chandler’s Ford stand out?
“In just over eight years, Chandler’s Ford has transformed significantly. The parish council formed in 2010 has successfully taken on assets from the principal council. It redeveloped and extended Fryern Pavilion which now forms the heart of the village.
It took in-house the grounds maintenance service; made real and visible improvements in play area provision and equipment; is a key player in running and coordinating large and varied community events and is currently leading the £1.5-£1.8m Hiltingbury Pavilion extension and refurbishment project.
HALC therefore felt that Chandler’s Ford has done a lot in a very short space of time. The make-up of Chandler’s Ford, as a parish, is not straightforward in that it comprises three main areas (or villages within the parish) but the Council has ensured an inclusive feel, ensuring that no area is overlooked as it continues to move forward and as community identity is strengthened.”
And, the winner is …
It is announced that Chandler’s Ford has won the 2018 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Village of the Year Award.
Congratulations to the residents of ‘The Village’, all of whom have played a role, albeit maybe unknowingly, and in particular, to those who were instrumental in making the award attainable … so much time and hard work obviously was put in to it.
The ‘village’ has changed much from my day (30’s to 60’s), with population alone increasing from around 5,000 in the 40’s to 21,436 in 2011.
The days of Mr. Burt’s Dairy in Bournemouth Road and Mr. Vining of Hiltonbury Farm, delivering milk door to door serving it with ladles out of churns mounted on a ‘pony and trap’ are gone … ‘Health and Safety’ would have had a ball, but in spite of all of the modern day fears, and often ‘hype’, I am not aware of any health issues suffered by their customers.
The population growth has led to the need for land on which to build roads, houses, shops, schools, hospitals and industrial premises, which in turn has resulted in the loss of much woodland, fields and even farms … it is, however, great to see that, as the area has grown, so has the realisation that ‘parks and open spaces’ are as much a necessary part of communities, as transport is to get around … well I remember picking primroses and bluebells with my parents on a Sunday afternoon in the wood that ran from Bournemouth Road near the end of Chestnut Avenue, behind what had been Velmore Camp, right to the back of Fleming Park … the hours spent building ‘dens’ in the bracken … aghast you say … not allowed now because of snakes … although there were adders around at the time I do not recall ever seeing one over several years …
Having travelled as a ‘Rep’ in the 60’s for Birdseye Frozen Foods through all of Hampshire, and parts of Wiltshire, Dorset, West Sussex, Berkshire and South Devon, I always felt Chandler’s Ford was the best place to live …
The village received a hitherto unknown award many years ago … ‘The Doug Clews Award for Great Places’