It was a Winter Solstice to remember this afternoon as Eastleigh citizens who only a few weeks earlier had expressed their disappointment at the size of the ice rink supplied by the council for the annual ‘winter carnival’ were just as amazed to see the entire town centre transformed into a skating rink the size of which Top Rank would have been proud of.
Heavy sleet and freak snow showers, on top of the prevailing freezing conditions, brought the evening rush hour to a virtual standstill and closed the only runway at Eastleigh (Southampton) Airport.
Ice Cold in Allbrook
Allbrook Knowle, Eastleigh’s highest point, quickly became a cresta run for pedestrians and cyclists descending on the ungritted surface, into a snow laden Boyatt Wood which could have easily passed for a slightly downmarket St Moritz.
By the early evening the showers had subsisted and most of the snow had cleared although the freezing weather is expected to continue for several days.

Don't forget to recycle your champagne bottles lads...this is Eastleigh

A syndicate of 11 workers from BSS Drainage on Eastleigh’s Boyatt Wood Industrial Estate are celebrating after scooping a £954,934 Lotto jackpot on Saturday 26th June 2010.

The syndicate, who range in age from 37 to 67, are all in a state of shock since their win, scooping exactly £86,812.18p each. One syndicate member, who has served in Iraq before joining the drainage company, can’t believe his good fortune.

“We’ve been a syndicate for 16 years and use the same numbers every week without fail. We were only joking on Friday afternoon about how we never win more than a tenner. It’s unbelievable to win this amount of money.”

The syndicate, who are now known around the company as ‘The Winners Club’, have a few plans in the pipeline for their winnings The shopping list includes mortgage pay-offs, Range Rovers, holidays to Kenya, Scotland, and New York, a new kitchen and for one syndicate member who claims to be a “a bit of a mod at heart” – a new Lambretta scooter! Many members also plan to set up trusts for their children and grandchildren.

The eleven members of the group found out individually over the weekend that they had won the massive sum of money. A rather embarrassed member texted the group to let them all know that five numbers had come up in the draw. As each of the group double checked – and double checked again – they replied “You better check again mate! We’ve got all six!” Text messages then continued back and forth throughout the night, with a few members (and their wives) finding out about the win at 2am! All was forgiven as they read “How does a share of £954,934 sound to you?”

The group are planning a huge celebration to tie in with their monthly curry night.

In another twist, the leader of the syndicate had also won £10 in the Thunderball draw earlier on Saturday night. Little did he know that his £10 winnings was just the start of his winning streak that day.

Well done..YOU LUCKY PEOPLE!!

When shop owner Jon Dudley printed off a lottery ticket for a customer two weeks ago, little did he know that the pink slip was worth £954,934. Now, the lucky National Lottery terminal at Boyatt News in Eastleigh has become a magnet for players looking to become the next big jackpot winner.

This follows a win by an 11-strong syndicate from local company BSS Drainage for the staggering amount on Saturday 26^th June after they bought the Lotto ticket at this very store.

Jon Dudley said: “I am absolutely over the moon for the group from BSS. They have come in every week for 15 years to buy their ticket so we were genuinely thrilled when we found out they had won, but also shell-shocked that the jackpot ticket had come from our shop!”

Business has been booming since then as surges of superstitious lottery hopefuls have flocked to the Eastleigh newsagents on Shakespeare Road, hoping that some of this good luck will rub off on them.

Mr Dudley adds “The win has been the talk of Eastleigh. Some of the things our customers have been doing to try to bring themselves good fortune have been remarkable. They’ve been rubbing the Lotto machine for luck or insisting on standing on the ‘one million pound spot’ before buying their tickets. I play the lucky dip every week, and now I know that the terminal here is lucky, it might be my turn next!”

This Saturday there is an estimated Lotto rollover jackpot of £7 million while Friday’s EuroMillions jackpot is an estimated £23 million.

Year four children from Shakespeare Junior School, Shakespeare Road, have concluded this term’s study of life on the Home Front in World War 2 by visiting Eastleigh War Memorial for their own remembrance ceremony.

As part of their studies they were visited by a member of the British Legion who told them all about his memories of the Eastleigh during the war. They also made models of Anderson Shelters, cooked wartime cookies with carrots and created their own Museum of the Home Front.

The three Year four classes wrote poems on a war and peace theme to mark Remembrance Day. Six of the best were selected to go in a special laminated book which the whole year group walked down to the War memorial on the 12th November. The damp day did not deter the thought provoking reading of the poems and moment of contemplation in a circle of 76 children around the Angel of Victory on the memorial. The poetry book was then planted amongst the remembrance crosses for the people of Eastleigh to share.

“We are so proud of the children for being so thoughtful,” commented one of their teachers afterwards.

Photo: Shakespeare Junior School

Residents around the Lawn Road green in Boyatt Wood had an early Sunday morning awakening as the Hampshire Air Ambulance helicopter landed on the recreation ground situated between St Catherine’s Road at around 9.15 am.

It had been scrambled in response to what was clearly a serious incident at a private address in nearby Ruskin Road which was attended by two ambulances and four police vehicles.

Scene of emergency at Ruskin Road

Ruskin Road was impassable to traffic for over an hour and police on the scene would not divulge any details.

A crowd gathered on the green to see the air ambulance take off at about 10.30.

It is believed it did not have a casualty on board.

One onlooker said:

“I made a charity donation to Hampshire Air Ambulance only last week and it’s a good to see it in use in my own neighbourhood”

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Trust is one of the charities being supported by the Mayor, John Caldwell this year.

http://www.hiow-airambulance.org.uk/

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3PglRIGjz8

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Police are releasing two e-fit images of two men they would like to speak to in connection with a burglary at Boyatt Wood, Eastleigh in April.

The incident happened on Saturday, April 16 sometime between 6.30pm and 9.20pm.

A couple returned to their property in Crestwood View at around 9.20pm and disturbed two intruders in their home. They ran past the couple and out of the house.

A small Sony portable radio was removed from the property but it is believed that nothing else was stolen.

Police are keen to identify two men in connection with this incident. The first is described as:

• White
• between 18 and 20 years old
• between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 9ins tall
• of medium build
• a slim, long face with a pale complexion
• with dark hair which was below ear length and flicked out at the ends
• and wearing a black jacket and black clothing.

The second man is described as:

• White
• between 18 and 20 years old
• between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 10ins tall
• of average build
• with mousy brown hair which was brushed forward
• wearing black clothing

PC Katie Henning, of Eastleigh police station, said:

“Investigating officers would like to hear from anybody who witnessed any suspicious individuals or vehicles in the local vicinity around these times. If anyone has any information about this incident or recognises the two individuals and can help us with our enquiries then please contact us.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Katie Henning at Eastleigh police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be left anonymously.

Police have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with a burglary which happened in the Boyatt Wood area in April.

The CCTV images show a man in the One Stop convenience store on Coxford Road, Southampton shortly before 8am on April 24, where he is believed to have used a bank card which was stolen from the property.

The property in Sovereign Way was entered sometime between 11pm on Saturday, April 23 and 7.30am on Sunday, April 24.

A wallet containing cash and bank cards and a Nokia mobile phone were removed from the property.

PC Katie Henning, of Eastleigh police station, said:

“Police are keen to identify the man in the CCTV images and would urge anyone who recognises him to contact us. We would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the surrounding area at the time of the burglary and who has any information which could help police with their enquiries.”

She added:

“There were a number of dwelling burglaries in the residential area to the west of Woodside Avenue in Boyatt Wood towards the end of April through to mid May and we would appeal for anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the area to contact us. We would also urge residents to be vigilant and to take extra care in securing their properties overnight and before leaving them unattended.”

Recently police appealed for help in tracing two men who had entered a property on Crestwood Way on April 16.

Details here

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Katie Henning at Eastleigh police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be left anonymously.

The two men arrived at the woman’s home in Arrow Close, Boyatt Wood, sometime between 2.45 and 5pm on Tuesday, November 29 posing as Water Company officials.

The men were let in and while one of them distracted the woman in the kitchen, the other man was unsupervised and out of view. A short while after leaving her home, the woman found that her wardrobe had been opened, and £80 cash and jewellery including a 22ct gold wedding ring which had belonged to her late mother had been removed.  This ring was quite worn on the inside but had been built up with more gold.

The offenders are described as:

First Man:

• White
• Aged in his forties
• Spoke with a local Hampshire accent
• Large build
• Approx 5ft 8ins tall
• Short dark, close cut hair and clean shaven
• He was wearing a brownish colour leather type jacket with a zip up the front and possibly blue trousers but not grey or black.

This man spent several minutes with the woman.

Second Man

• White male
• Of similar build to his accomplice
• Not as tall as his accomplice
• Of similar age to his accomplice
• He had similar hair to his accomplice and was also clean shaven.
• He also wore a brown jacket.

Because of their resemblance, the woman thought the men may have been brothers.

The woman was clearly shaken by the ordeal and is now having trouble sleeping.

Eastleigh and Romsey District Chief Inspector Andy Houghton said:

“This is a despicable and disgraceful crime where heartless thieves have targeted an elderly and vulnerable woman in her own home. We are appealing for anyone who has information about those responsible or who is able to assist us in identifying them from their descriptions to contact us.  Have you had a similar visit recently which you were suspicious of?

“This area of Boyatt Wood is very busy with people visiting the shops, doctors surgery, pupils from Crestwood school passing by on their way home from school and other members of the public walking from the industrial estate on one side of Shakespeare Road to the residential area on the other side. Parents would also have been collecting their child from the adjacent infant school. Did you see two men matching the description in the area at the relevant time?  If so we want to hear from you.

Chief Inspector Houghton concluded:

“Please be assured that this type of incident is very rare.  Although we have received no other reports similar to this at this time, it is perhaps timely to encourage residents to ensure that any unsolicited or unexpected callers to your home should be treated with suspicion until they can prove their identity.  Don’t be afraid to contact the company they claim to represent.  If they are genuine, they won’t mind waiting while you do this.  If you have any doubts, keep them out.”

If you have any information which could assist Police in their enquiries please contact them by dialing101.

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Hampshire Fire and Rescue were called to a small fire which had started within premises on Ruskin Road, Eastleigh at approximately 5.30 pm tonight.

Neighbours spotted smoke in an upstairs bedroom and alerted the emergency services.

The house is believed to be a care home for people recovering from mental health problems.

The fire was quickly brought under control by one appliance although another arrived at approximately 5.55 pm as a backup.

Three ambulances and four police vehicles also attended the incident.

A police spokesperson confirmed the fire had been brought under control
swiftly and that nobody had been seriously injured.

HFRS and Police are currently still at the scene investigating the cause of the fire and there may be some traffic disruption in the area this evening.

Photos© Peter Williamson

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First Wessex and police in Eastleigh are committed to making our roads safer by tacking speeding and anti-social use of vehicles. Last year Hampshire Constabulary launched Community Speedwatch in Eastleigh.

Community Speedwatch cells are currently being set up across the area including; Fair Oak & Horton Heath, Chandlers Ford & Knightwood, Eastleigh Central and now First Wessex is working with Eastleigh’s Safer Neighbourhoods team to launch a joint initiative.

Debbie Vickers, Volunteering & Work Experience Coordinator at First Wessex, said “This is a locally driven initiative where active members of the community become Police Support Volunteers and work with the Police to monitor speeds of vehicles at specific locations using speed detection equipment. We are looking for community spirited volunteers who wish to support their neighbourhoods within Eastleigh”

First Wessex are funding the purchase of speed detection equipment and are encouraging their residents to do something positive and proactive to tackle speeding vehicles. SpeedWatch is a community scheme that can only take place in 20mph, 30mph and some 40 mph limits or zones. It allows residents to take action, helping us to educate drivers on the roads where they live.

The scheme is supported by the police in Eastleigh’s Safer Neighbourhoods team but run by volunteers. Volunteers will use equipment that can monitor the speed of passing traffic and record the details, later adding them to a database. Vehicle checks will be undertaken by the police and letters will then be sent to the registered keepers advising them of the speed and reminding them of why it is a community concern.

Chris Spellerberg, Safer Neighbourhoods Sergeant for the Central Eastleigh area said “I really welcome this joint work with First Wessex, many residents tell First Wessex and us that speeding cars are a big concern, affecting their quality of life. SpeedWatch Volunteers will help by educating motorists that excess speed is illegal, unsafe and anti social. I’m pleased that First Wessex are funding the equipment to make this happen and give their residents the opportunity to do something positive where they live”.

“This is very much about education, not enforcement, which is specifically a police role.  My team as well as speed enforcement have a number of other priorities including preventing and investigating crime and Anti-Social Behaviour. This scheme is in addition to and compliments the work of my officers who will continue their regular speed enforcement activity on roads where there have been complaints.”

To find out more, First Wessex residents are invited to attend a informal presentation 4 – 5pm, Wednesday 29 February at Charlotte Yonge House, Tollgate, Chandlers Ford, SO53 3YP. For further information please contact Debbie Vickers, Volunteering & Work Experience Coordinator on 023 9289 6744.

Click here to find out how you can contact the Eastleigh Safer Neighbourhoods team

Follow us on twitter @EastleighPolice

Click here for the Community Speedwatch leaflet

Not a First Wessex resident but want to find out more? More information on the Community SpeedWatch campaign

Firefighters with breathing equipment enter premises

Boyatt Wood shopping precinct is currently cordoned off while teams of firefighters  investigate the source of chemical fumes  - said by one witness to have been by caused by mouthwash- which lead to a dental surgery being evacuated.

Other shops are still open and trading but vehicles are being currently directed away or into the Arrow public house car park by police.

Five Fire appliances are currently at the incident alongside three ambulances, four police cars and two mobile incident trucks.

Several firefighters could be seen entering the affected premises wearing breathing equipment.

Police on scene could not say when the car park would be reopened.

It’s believed there are no casualties or any danger to general public.

UPDATE: Fumes now believed to have been caused drains see latest

Photos: ©Peter Williamson

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Flashback to Boyatt wood incident

Fumes which led to a Boyatt Wood dental surgery being evacuated and a shopping centre car park being cordoned off last week  most likely came from drains – possibly from another premises – a spokesperson for the practice has said.

Three members of staff were effected by the smell and Hampshire Fire and Rescue mobilised five fire appliances to the scene on Monday May 14.

Fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus investigated the surgery while ambulances stood by, but they could not determine the exact source of the fumes.

None of the staff have experienced any ill effects since and the surgery is continuing to operate normally.

See also:

Boyatt Wood car park closed

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Camberley Auto Factors depot in Parham drive & familiar fleet of vans. Photo: Camberley Auto Factors

A well-known family-owned wholesaler of motor parts with a branch in Chandlers Ford, Camberley Auto Factors, has been sold to a motor parts distributor based in the North of England.

Backed by a private equity company, Andrew Page Ltd is busy expanding into a national chain and have now acquired Camberley Auto Factors business across the South of England.

Following the acquisition of Camberley, the combined business will operate from 90 sites and employ approximately 2,000 staff, with depots across most of England.

Answering a question raised by Eastleigh News, a spokesperson for Andrew Page Ltd said that;

There is no plan to re-brand the business, and the Eastleigh depot will remain as it is.

Commenting on the acquisition, Mark Roberts, the Chief Executive Officer of Andrew Page Ltd, said:

“The senior management team at AP and our loyal staff look forward to working with the Camberley team to create one of the UK’s largest and most successful independent motor factors.” 

Speaking for Phoenix Equity Partners, a middle-market private equity firm which is now the majority shareholder in Andrew Page Ltd, was John Rastrick, who said:

“We see the potential for substantial future growth with Andrew Page, both organically and by acquisition and are committed to supporting the Company to achieve this. ”

Southern Hampshire is currently very well served by motor factors, an industry which holds spare parts for motor vehicles and distributes them to the point of repair as and when they are needed. This saves the workshops having to hold their own store of spare parts, an impossible overhead given the many different types of vehicle that are to be seen on the roads, and allows the motor factors to obtain the economies of scale through bulk-buying. In theory, a larger group will buy larger quantities and should be able to buy (and sell) at a lower price. Each motor factor runs a fleet of vans which transfer the parts from the warehouse to the place of repair. A larger group requires a larger fleet of vans, which incurs greater overheads, which to some extent offsets the greater buying power.

Besides the vans from Camberley Auto Factors, the vans from Advanced Factors, Eurocarparts, GSF, Kimber and others are a regular sight on the roads around Eastleigh, Southampton and the surrounding area. 

As has been seen in other UK industries, a common problem with a national chain is that they can become too corporate, too impersonal and inflexible. Another risk is that when backed by a private equity company, the equity company will eventually decide to cash-in on its investment and sell the business. The subsequent owners then tend to seek efficiency savings and start asset stripping. 

Although the new owners of Camberley Auto Factors are currently very excited at the acquisition and optimistic for the future, it remains to be seen whether this is really a good move for the local economy in the longer term.

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  The family of an Eastleigh man who died in a collision near Fishers Pond on Friday have released a tribute. Officers were called at 6.06am on Friday 16 November to Portsmouth Road, near the junction with Thompsons Lane which leads to Marwell Zoo. The collision involved an Orange Renault Megane and a black Alfa Romeo. Cory Martin, 27, from Boyatt Wood, was driving the Renault and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Alfa Romeo driver, a 23-year-old man from Curdridge, was taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment to what Police have described as “potentially life-changing injuries.” Cory’s family have released the following tribute: “R.I.P. Cory Martin. You will never be forgotten. Our love will be with you always and you will be sorely missed by your family, partner and children. We Love You.” Police request that anyone with information about the collision should contact them on 101, quoting 44180430234.

The post Family pay tribute to Boyatt Wood man. appeared first on Eastleigh News.

Security staff are now guarding a kids playground in Eastleigh after a wave of vandalism.

The post Security for kids playground after 12 months of vandalism appeared first on Eastleigh News.

Vandalism, the Coronavirus pandemic and the effects of Brexit are to blame for the delay and escalating cost of a new play area at Lawn Road two Freedom of Information requests have revealed.

The post Vandalism, Covid and Brexit led to delays and £240K cost of Lawn Road play area appeared first on Eastleigh News.