HFOE and HCA annual report 2024-5
The group has met regularly throughout the year with normally two meetings a month. We have worked on a wide range of issues and shared information about even more.
We have tried to communicate to a wider group through monthly newsletters plus Facebook and our website.
Links with Havant Borough Council
We have held meetings to discuss and contribute to the local plan and also the climate change and biodiversity strategies, both of which are genuine progress for Havant.
We regularly attend HBC’s community meetings to receive updates and share information. This includes neighbourhood meetings as well as the Havant Climate Change Partnership.
Water Matters
We have been very involved with Havant Thicket Reservoir, both contributing suggestions for modifications via the planning process and the stakeholder sub-groups and also by working with the Water Matters campaigning against Southern Water’s proposals for recycling effluent into the reservoir. We have attended numerous meetings, responded to planning applications and surveys and challenged Southern Water claims.
We have supported other groups campaigning against sewage pollution in our Harbours and the Solent”.
Community energy.
We have been very pleased to support the new group which has been set up to promote community energy across the Borough by helping to publicise the ideas and to take part in meetings.
Planning applications
We have responded to numerous planning applications throughout the year and consistently argue for higher building standards, walking and cycle access, green spaces, preserving trees etc.
We are always concerned about flood risk, threats to biodiversity and applications infringing environmental protections.
A serious concern is the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which seems to weaken protections in these areas and we have responded to this.
Local Government reorganisation
We have been very concerned about the effects of this on climate campaigning. In March 2025 we organised a public meeting with Chris Holloway of HCAN who has been campaigning to get responsibility for climate and nature made a requirement by Mayors. We have responded to surveys, written to MPs and published the Hampshire website VOICE which explains what needs to be done.
SE Hants
We keep in touch with other campaigning groups in the area particularly helping to organise events around COP 29 and 30. We are working on better links with FOE groups in particular, especially in the light of local government reorganisation
Other campaigns.
We have supported a number of other campaigns at least by publicising them or writing to relevant ministers.
These include Planet over Profit, Zero Hour and the Climate & Nature bill and the Big Climate Plan
Webinars/ national meetings
FOE and other groups run useful meetings, including on using data, campaigning before elections. People over Profit, Warm Homes
Palestine
We have not campaigned on this specifically as a group but we have supported local protests.
Pesticides
We have been gathering information about the effects of pesticides. We are particularly concerned about the over-use of glysophate and the effects of flea powder on rivers and ponds.
Havant Borough Big Green Week.
This was again fairly successful although the two bigger events we organised at the Meridian Centre and at St George’s church in Waterlooville were disappointingly attended. We had about 12 organisations represented at the Meridian Centre and a very effective Swap event in Waterlooville.
We were very pleased with the response to our idea of shops turning their windows green. We were also used in national publicity with a film about Final Straw cleaning up the Ems. A rewilding scheme on Hayling was also very successful and there were various litter picks, the Repair cafe and opening of the Library of Things. We also had stalls run by Switched On Havant, Craft activities in the Plaza and children’s art displays
Havant and Emsworth Fairs
We put some effort into preparing stalls on green issues and community energy, including acquiring display boards for the Havant Fair but it was rained off. The Emsworth Fair was much more successful
Priorities for 2026
- · Getting ready for Local Government reorganisation
- · Making more people aware of the seriousness of the climate crisis including showing the film about the National Emergency Briefings. This links to campaigns for a Climate & Nature Bill and also local problems like flood risk
- · Encouraging as many people as possible to respond to the consultation about effluent recycling locally and to keep challenging Southern Water’s plans
- · Putting an exciting programme together for the Havant Borough Big Green Week in June
- · Getting more people involved with Community Energy plans
- · Encouraging schools to take more climate action and to get it effectively into the curriculum
- · Challenging local planning applications if they are not meeting environmental standards
- · Working with Havant Borough Council e.g. on promoting warmer homes and better facilities for active travel plus reducing pesticides
If you’d like to see this with illustrations on a PowerPoint you can find it here.
Havant Climate Alliance 