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A decade-long misalignment on Wellow Public Footpath #10 has been corrected by Romsey Ramblers, replacing a dangerous sleeper bridge with a new span and redirecting walkers back to the official route. The project, completed with Hampshire County Council approval, marks the first major restoration in the area since 2019.
Liberal Democrats claim Hampshire’s Conservative leader secured re-election only after a behind-the-scenes deal with Reform UK. The accusation comes as Reform gains key scrutiny roles on the council, despite losing the popular vote.
A growing number of parents in England are facing the risk of losing custody after routine hair strand drug tests misclassified first-time cannabis users as habitual consumers. Experts warn the tests may be unreliable for casual users and call for immediate scrutiny.
A vital Hampshire road will shut for nearly six days next week, forcing drivers on a 21-mile diversion. The closure begins Tuesday at 7pm and runs until Monday at 7am to apply a surface layer prolonging Corhampton Road’s lifespan.
Bin collections in Test Valley will shift by one day next week due to the May bank holiday. Residents with Friday pickups face an extra Saturday round on May 30, while black bin week begins. Hampshire County Council urges households to check revised schedules immediately.
Voters delivered a seismic shake-up to Hampshire County Council, pushing marginal gains into minority strongholds and swelling turnout to 51% in Romsey Rural. Fresh faces arrive as tensions rise over care costs, child services and a looming government overhaul.
A 72-hour closure of the A334 and A3051 starting Friday night will force drivers onto a 14.5-mile diversion as Hampshire County Council begins the next phase of the Botley Bypass project. Manual traffic lights and phased roadworks will follow, with businesses urged to plan ahead.
Reform UK now chairs seven Hampshire County Council committees after local elections boosted its presence. The party will oversee conduct, planning and audit functions as critics warn of oversight risks.
Hampshire’s Conservative leader narrowly survives leadership vote as Reform UK abstains en masse and Liberal Democrats vow to challenge. Tensions rise as local government reshuffle looms in 2025.
Seven local authorities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight entered no-overall-control after May’s elections, triggering behind-the-scenes deals to secure stable leadership. Reform UK holds unexpected leverage in multiple councils, while traditional parties scramble to form alliances amid budget battles and public service pressure.
Thousands converged on Wickham, Hampshire, for the 750-year-old horse fair Wednesday, forcing temporary closures on key roads including the A334 and Wickham Square until Thursday. Hampshire County Council urged outsiders to avoid the area as emergency access remained prioritized.
Wickham Square and major roads will close for 48 hours starting Tuesday midnight as Wickham Horse Fair revives its 756-year-old tradition. Over 10,000 visitors are expected for the horse trading event that dates back to a royal charter granted by Henry III.
Forty-seven newly elected councillors in Hampshire began their roles last Monday, stepping into a council without overall control and immediately tackling casework, induction sessions, and public meetings. Among them was Baddesley’s Cllr Sally Yalden, who described the transition from campaign trail to council chamber as both daunting and energising.
Liberal Democrat Sally Yalden has secured Hampshire County Council’s Baddesley division with 3,127 votes, defeating Reform UK and Conservative rivals in Friday’s poll. Her victory marks a shift as Hampshire ends 30 years of Conservative control.
Major motorway closures on the M3 and M27 begin Friday night, forcing drivers onto diversions until Monday. Resurfacing and electrical works will target key junctions, with partial roundabout closures in both directions. Here’s exactly where and when to avoid the chaos.
Alan Dowden, who has served Hampshire County Council since 1992, will not seek re-election in the Baddesley division. His successor, Sally Yalden, praised his decades of community-focused leadership. Dowden will continue in local roles as he transitions from county duties.
Parents in Kings Worthy are making a last-ditch appeal to Hampshire County Council to reverse plans to scrap school bus services to Henry Beaufort School. On Mother’s Day, over 100 campaigners walked the unsafe proposed route, highlighting risks to children as young as 11. A formal appeal is set for Friday, with MPs and councillors uniting against the £300,000 annual savings plan.
Silverlake Automotive Recycling’s £8m expansion in Shedfield, aiming to triple reusable parts recovery and add EV battery facilities, has been recommended for refusal by Hampshire planners. The council cites ‘unacceptable visual harm’ to the rural landscape despite the company’s 80-year operation.