ALL six councillors were present at the Kimpton Parish Council meeting at the end of September, with Hampshire County Cllr Pat West and Test Valley Borough Cllr Phil Lashbrook also in attendance.

The following topics were discussed: Street naming: The council clarified the anomaly with street names and confirmed that The Green would remain as at present with the addition of Rutland House, The Vines, Well Cottage and The Manor.

Kimpton Lane will start at The Old Bakery and Chimney Cottage and go north up to and including Coppers Cottage and Meadowside.

Deacon Road to start immediately after Coppers Cottage and Meadowside, continuing north to Perham Down Road, and including the village hall.

Cow Lane to start at The Triad (all three properties) and continue westwards as far as the Ox Drove.

Neighbourhood watch: A volunteer is being sought to take over from Richard Parry who will relinquish his neighbourhood watch role at the end of the year. Anyone interested in taking on this role should contact the council.

Rights of way: Cllr Richard Hart was liaising with the rights of way officer over arrangements for a working party to clear the Ox Drove. Volunteers wishing to join the working party should contact Richard Hart. Several footpaths were overgrown and the relevant landowners would be requested to cut back hedges.

Village plan: One of the Thruxton parish councillors had been invited to speak at the November meeting on their council’s experience in developing a village design statement.

Traffic calming: Cllr Dario Leslie had met representatives of Hampshire Highways and Test Valley Borough Council to discuss traffic calming. However, there was no statistical evidence indicating there was a problem in the village. The council agreed to accept the offer of a temporary speed control unit, hoping this would provide some useful data.

The state of the verge on the road between Fyfield and Kimpton school was discouraging anyone from walking to the school. Councillors will contact the school about the status of the school traffic plan and funding to improve matters.

Appointment of clerk: There were two candidates for the position and interviews have been arranged.

Borough councillor’s reports: Phil Lashbrook spoke on problems with speeding traffic in Perham Down Road and said that any incident must be reported so that the police could compile a complete statistical record.

Planning: The news that full permission had been granted for a car park to be constructed in the Thruxton recreation ground next to the school, was welcomed. It was not yet known when work would begin.

The Welcome Stranger: Cllr Steve Payne reported that the Smiths would retire from running the Welcome Stranger at the end of October. Andy and Tina Todd will be taking over.