THE annual meeting of Amport Parish Council was held in April but unfortunately only two members of the public were in attendance.

The chairman gave his annual report and the accounts were presented by Cllr Alan Maddern. The Council has a balance of £16,232 having held this year’s precept to £11,500. The headmistress of Amport CofE Primary School had also been invited but was unable to come.

Neither a representative from the local police force nor the village neighbourhood watch officer was able to be at the meeting but it was reported that there had been one major burglary, including the theft of a car, some instances of unsocial behaviour and a theft from a car during the past year. There was also a report of a drone being used within the parish which would obviously be a hazard for birds from the Hawk Conservancy.

Solar panel funds: The firm involved has asked for more time to pay and the council discussed ways of insisting that this payment is made without further delay. A formal request was made by the PCC for a donation towards the proposed church heating system, when this money is received.

Website: The new website: www.amportvillage.co.uk has now gone live but is still being updated and has areas which need content to be added. Contributions are welcomed via the contact button.

Other reports: A piece of play equipment on The Green has been repaired and the footpaths will receive their first cut at about the end of May.

No further news has been received from Hampshire Highways regarding the repair of the numerous potholes and damaged passing places in the local roads.

Public participation: There was a request for the footpaths to receive a third cut later in the season to avoid the paths becoming single track and excessively muddy during the winter.

Millennium Path: A number of complaints had been received regarding the ploughing up of the Millennium Path which runs from the top of Hunts Lane down to Sarson Lane. This footpath was donated to the village as a millennium memorial and use to be a wide grassy track. It is much used by villagers and other walkers.

Bird-scarer: A complaint had also been received to do with the siting of a bird-scarer close to the houses in Sarson Close as this noise is very upsetting to dogs.

‘Hampshire Life’: A freelance reporter had been in touch regarding a possible article on the village of Amport to appear in the magazine later in the year.

Caroline Unwin