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Welcome to the Brockenhurst Parish Council website. Please see the notices below:

 

 The Parish Council Office is open to visitors from 2pm to 4pm on Tuesdays and 11am to 1pm on Wednesdays

Other times by appointment 

 


 

  Please note that the Clerk works part-time therefore replies may not be instant   

 

The Council

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May 2023 Elections - Photo ID Requirement now Law

New Forest residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote in May by checking they have an accepted form of photo ID.

Showing a photo ID before being allowed to cast a vote is a new requirement at polling stations, introduced by the UK Government’s Elections Act which was passed last year.
From 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in local elections, Police and Crime Commissioner elections, UK parliamentary by-elections, and Recall petitions. From October 2023 it will also apply to UK General elections.
The new legislation does not affect the postal vote process and those who choose to vote by post will not be required to provide voter ID.
Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK or EEA drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. 
New Forest District Council are advising residents of the new law, what photo ID is suitable, and what to do if a voter does not have a suitable form of ID.
Kate Ryan, Returning Officer at New Forest District Council, said, “It is estimated that more than 95% of people already have a suitable photo ID and we have started to advise people of this new requirement so they are able to vote In May. We have information on our website, in our residents emails, on social media, and posters. And we will also be sending a leaflet to every household in March.
“Our staff are being trained in the new requirements and we will have more staff at every polling station to help people with this change.”
Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can now apply for a free ‘Voter Authority Certificate’ at voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/ or by completing a paper form. 
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate to be able to vote in the May 2023 elections is 5pm Tuesday 25 April.
New Forest District Council information offices at Lymington, New Milton, Hythe and Lyndhurst have trained staff to offer help filling in the application, including taking a photograph.
The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for the free voter ID, at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.
Ailsa Irvine, Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance at the Electoral Commission, said, “Anyone voting at a polling station in England this May will need to show photo ID before they can be given their ballot paper. It’s important that everyone understands what types of ID they can use, and how to apply for free ID if they need it. You can find information about the new requirement and what to expect at the polling station on the Electoral Commission’s website.”
Anyone who wants to have their say in the elections this May must also be registered to vote. It only takes five minutes to register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Voters wishing to apply to their council for free ID should first make sure they are registered to vote.

Looking After Your Rights of Way



Parish Council Newsletter

The Parish Council publishes a monthly newsletter. If you would like to help save the planet and receive this conveniently to your inbox each month, please subscribe using the link below:

Subscribe

Alternatively, paper copies are available from our office in Brookley Road and various other locations in the village.

Read our newsletter here: 

January 2023 newsletter 

 

 

 

 

The Nalder Trust - Can You Help?

We are looking for volunteers to join our Nalder Trust Advisory Committee.  For further information on The Nalder Trust, please see the link to our Nalder Trust webpage. 

Brookley Road Scheme

The Parish Council, following many debates and much negotiation, finally approved the scheme which should be implemented by 31st March 2023.

 

Following discussions with Hampshire County Council as the Highway Authority in June 2020, a series of temporary measures was installed along Brookley Road to support the local economy and protect public health in the post Covid 19 recovery period. Adjustments were made and consultations began on the European funded Active Travel Scheme.

 

The latest consultation closed on 14th August: 46% positive about the village square concept and 15% negative with concerns on air quality and traffic congestion. Given the community response, whilst Parish Councillors, Brockenhurst Business Association and the Friends of Brockenhurst all have some concerns about the details there was general agreement to support the proposals.

 

Once implemented, the scheme will create a different space which will be available for community events so that consideration is now being made with regard to the location of the street furniture; seats, bins and cycle racks.

 

The Parish Council will continue to pursue investment to improve our village whilst Hampshire County Council, like all Local Authorities, are struggling to cover the ever-increasing costs of social care. Some road surfaces and pavements around the village have been renewed but Parish Councillors will continue to press specifically for further investment in Brookley Road given that statutory guidance on reallocating road space clearly states that the government "expects local authorities to make significant changes to their road layouts to give more space to cyclists and pedestrians".

 

Councillor Pete Wales

Brockenhurst Parish Council

New Forest Action Plan

A joint action plan has been created by forest organisations to respond to the significant increase in visitors expected in the New Forest this year as lockdown is gradually eased.  The plan has been developed jointly by Forestry England, the New Forest National Park Authority, New Forest District Council and tourism body Go New Forest with support from the Verderers, Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service and Hampshire Constabulary. 

It has been created to support the landscape and local community during this time and encourage greater care and respect for the area among all those spending time here.  Its focus is on all these organisations sharing resources in a concerted effort to be well prepared for and able to meet critical recreational pressure.  It aims to ensure that the area can play an active role in helping people to recover in the great outdoors whilst also caring for the Forest. 

For more information, please see the link to an overview of the New Forest Action Plan which includes key actions which will be undertaken during this time.  

Flood Alleviation

The Parish Council have been working with various bodies to achieve flood reduction by identifying watercourses and drains that are particularly prone to blockage so that their clearance can be prioritised.  In low lying areas such as Brockenhurst it is particularly important that watercourses and drains are actively managed, especially during periods of prolonged wet weather.  

Please see the Flooding section of our link to Emergency Services webpage for more information.  

To report a faulty or blocked watercourse please phone the Parish Clerk on 622829 or New Forest District Council on 023 8028 5000.

Verge Restoration Works

Forestry England, having a legal duty to protect the New Forest, are undertaking a programme of verge restoration works to stop further vehicle damage across the forest, including Brockenhurst.  These works with various partner organisations - Verderers, National England, New Forest National Park, Parish Councils, CDA, residents and local staff - are funded under the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship Scheme. 

A number of areas are included in the proposed programme of remedial works which will include re-profiling existing car-free banks and ditches which have eroded over the years, and creating new banks where erosion has been caused by vehicle movements.  Dragon's Teeth (small wooden posts made from FSC Chestnut) will also be installed. 

link to Maps of the area.   Further information is available via this link to hlsnewforest.org.uk.

 

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Use of this website is subject to the terms and conditions outlined in our website policy.  This includes the use of cookies.  

Full details of our policy can be viewed by following this link to our Financial & Governance Information page.  

 

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