News: Open Gardens 2026 under threat

Whether or not Chilbolton Open Gardens will take place this year was thrown into doubt last night. Cllr Sue Larcombe announced at the Parish Council meeting that she and Mrs Tessa Youell would not be able to organise the 2026 edition, planned for 21 June.

Cllr Larcombe said that Mrs Youell wanted a break this year. For her own part, Cllr Larcombe said “Given the way money has been spent this year, I don’t feel particularly happy about raising money for the Parish Council.”

She didn’t specify which expenditure she was unhappy with. However, in the last six months, CPC has unexpectedly had to cover the costs of a by-election, the hiring of a locum clerk, and has commissioned a traffic survey in response to James Painter’s proposal for 75 new homes near Drove Road.

As the meeting took in this unexpected announcement, five members of Cherish Chilbolton, who happened to be in the audience, exchanged glances and some whispered words.

Julie Connor then spoke up, “Couldn’t Cherish Chilbolton do it?”

After a few words of discussion amongst Councillors, it was agreed that Cherish Chilbolton would investigate organising Chilbolton Open Gardens 2026. Further, it was agreed that the proceeds would be split equally between Parish Council funds and the Countess of Brecknock Hospice.

Later, Cherish Chilbolton said “Open Gardens is an extremely popular event. We are investigating taking on the organisation of it. It helps provide vital funds for the Parish Council and for a chosen charity every year, and would be missed.”

Elsewhere in the meeting:

Community Development Committee

Cllr Neil Connor reported that CDC had completed an assessment of the four sites deemed large enough to support the development of some 20 houses. They were recommending two: Gravel Hill and Drove Road. Both these had scored “pretty much the same” in the site analysis matrix.

He added that CDC needed to understand concerns raised by the Observatory, and whether they would object to any development at the Drove Road site.

In completing the matrix, CDC had “struggled to get commercial information”, and as a result, there was “no point including it.”

On the Gravel Hill site, he warned that “we need to make sure that the Church Commissioners aren’t using a sprat to catch a mackerel. A small proposal that leads to a development that fills Martins Lane.”

Cllr Tony Ewer asked to see the site analysis matrix. Cllr Martin Watson proposed that it be shared with the public. This was agreed unanimously.

Cllr David Hall said that there were four recommendations:

  1. Continue discussions with the Church Commissioners and English Rural
  2. Work with Botley Community Land Trust to understand their operating model
  3. Use Gravel Hill to test the operating model
  4. Wait until the TVBC Planners have made their determination to resume discussions with James Painter

Councillors approved these recommendations unanimously.

Chilbolton Neighbourhood Development Plan

Cllr Martin Watson reported on the redraft of the CNDP. A copy had been sent to Sarah Hughes, Neighbourhood Planning Officer at TVBC, who had suggested some amendments.

This Phase 1 draft was intended to include only “material” amendments, which would keep the Neighbourhood Development Plan current. It would cost £5,000 plus VAT as an examination fee. If CPC paid this fee, then TVBC would cover the cost of a later Phase 2 draft.

However if the examiner concluded that the Phase 1 draft contained “substantial” amendments, the fee would be considerably more, and CPC would not have the right to withdraw. TVBC, on the other hand, would have the right to withdraw.

He proposed that he confirm that TVBC would be willing to withdraw the Phase 1 draft if it were deemed to be substantial. The meeting agreed unanimously with the proposal.

TVBC Local Plan

Cllr Sue Larcombe observed that TVBC Planners were “way behind” in drafting their Local Plan.

TVBC Cllr David Drew said that this was a result of central Government requiring it to be rewritten to include more development sites. In effect planners were having to conduct a “mini Regulation 18” exercise, repeating much of the work they did after last year’s public consultation.

This work wouldn’t be completed until the Summer, which would mean the Regulation 19 consultation would be completed “towards the end of the year.”

Highways Safety

Cllr Martin Watson said that he wanted to present priorities for road safety to the Village at a Parish Meeting, soliciting feedback, and “not to dictate to people.” He listed safety issues in priority order:

  1. The Mayfly Bridge: this would entail road markings and safety notices
  2. Gravel Hill/Martins Lane: his report had identified “some potential to put a permissive footpath to the south of Paddock Field”. He proposed “to tie this to any discussions with the Church Commissioners regarding the potential Gravel Hill development, as this will provide leverage”
  3. Virtual path markings: These needed to be repainted. Cllr David Drew said that he was happy to support this but that Hampshire County Council were “busy filling portholes”
  4. Branksome Close parking: Aster had returned a “dismissive” response to Cllr Watson’s enquiry. Cllr Ewer said that there was a piece of land that could be used for parking. Cllr Watson agreed to investigate
  5. Village gateways: announcing “Welcome to Chilbolton”
  6. Extending 20mph limits: 75m further up Martins Lane and 50m further along Coley Lane. Cllr Drew warned that the process for doing this was as onerous as implementing a new 20mph limit

Locum Clerk

Cllr Hall said that all items provided to Todeka Ltd had now been returned.

CPC would not be taking any action over financial breaches, however a letter would be written to Hampshire Association of Local Councils.

Litter pick

During his report on the Open Spaces Committee (COSC), Cllr David Griffiths said that as part of the Great British Spring Clean, organised by Keep Britain Tidy, there would be a litter pick in Chilbolton on 29 Mar 2026.

Volunteers would be warmly welcomed - Cherish Chilbolton have already expressed an interest. Cllr Griffiths said that Test Valley Borough Council might be able to provide plastic bags and high visibility jackets.

Wessex River Trust

Cllr Tony Ewer said that he had attended a presentation by Wessex River Trust at which they announced their intentions to clean up the River Test from the Longparish Road through to the Mayfly.

Wessex River Trust is “an environmental charity dedicated to the conservation of chalk streams and rivers in Wessex, working towards healthy rivers for wildlife and people”

Cllr Ewer said that the Trust have access to funding, and that local landowners would not have to contribute to the costs.

Cllr Hall said that they should come and talk to COSC. Cllr Ewer added that landowners who have fishing rights on the river could also be invited to the meeting.

Councillor clinics

Councillors discussed the value of the clinics that are being trialled, once a month on a Saturday morning at the Abbots Mitre. They agreed that villagers attending them found them useful.

Cllr Debbie Collis said that issues raised at the last clinic included

  • A large pile of soil and rubbish dumped near a footpath in the Village
  • The potential Gravel Hill development
  • Open Gardens
  • The allotments
  • Odours arising from Tunnel Tech

The fourth clinic in the trial will be at the Abbots Mitre on 11 Apr 2026 between 11am and 12pm.

Bubble Church signage

Included in Correspondence was an email from a resident noting that the “Bubble Church” banner had returned to the Church wall. This was the subject of a complaint from a resident in May 2025. Following an intervention form the acting Parish Clerk, it had been removed.

Cllrs noted it was visible from some residents’ homes and agreed that another note should be sent to the Church asking for it to be removed again.

Questions from the public

In a change to the published agenda, Cllr David Hall said that he would take questions from the public at the end of the meeting, rather than before the substance of the meeting.

Councillors unanimously agreed that, in future, CPC would return to this long-standing tradition which allows members of the public to pose questions on issues within the meeting agenda after they have been discussed by Councillors.

Only one question was asked at this meeting: a resident asked whether an objection had been raised by CPC over the placement of the site office at Test Valley Farm. She said that the site office would bring noise and pollution to gardens in Station Road.

She also feared that once the office had been removed there was a risk that the developers would lodge a planning application for a car park, to take advantage of what would then be a convenient flattened space. This would alleviate what she said was a shortage of parking spaces in the development plan.

Cllr Collis confirmed that an objection had been raised.

Thanks from Cllr David Hall

At the opening of the meeting, Cllr Hall said “Thank you everyone for your kind wishes, especially Tony’s remarks at the beginning of the last meeting. It has been a rough time but better for the love and support in the Village.”

Cllr Hall’s wife, Denise, passed away at the Countess of Brecknock Hospice on 18 Feb 2026.