Coastline - March 2023 edition
Celebrating the Coronation
Credit: Big Lunch, Flickr
We're encouraging residents to celebrate the Coronation by holding street parties and other events. The ceremony is on Saturday 6 May, and there's a special bank holiday on Monday 8 May.
Holding a small outside event with neighbours, on private land, doesn't need council permission. But you're planning a street party involving the closure of a public road, you need to apply for a closure order by 24 March, so we can check the road is suitable. There's no charge involved.
Watch this space...
We're continuing to create more natural flower zones, by sowing wild and cultivated seeds and re-wilding some grass areas. Most of the zones will be on open spaces and are aimed at providing habitat and a food source for insects, birds and other creatures. In some areas the work involves removing grass, which might leave them looking a bit bare to begin with. But flowers should start blooming before the end of June.
Brightening up our shops
A project to revamp historic buildings in Gosport town centre is bringing colour and creativity to the area. The Royal Arms, on Stoke Road, has had its decorative wrought iron and stained-glass canopy restored, along with other renovation work.
Meanwhile, shopkeepers are benefiting from grants to help restore their shopfronts. Five buildings have so far benefited, and work on another four is due to start in early spring.
The work is part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme - led by the council and Hampshire Cultural Trust with £1.86 million of government funding from Historic England.
Applications are now closed for these grants. But we're planning to use own funds to make another £200,000 of grants available soon.
We're also working to increase the take-up of traditional hand-painted signs. Four have been completed so far, with eight more to come. Interested businesses can contact the team at hshaz@gosport.gov.uk to see if they can help.
Cost of living support
Local people can find help with the cost of living in a new guide we've produced. It's online, or you can pick up a free booklet.
The information covers council services, local groups and other organisations that can provide support, advice and help, including with food and heating. Other topics include clothes and other essentials; debts; scams; benefits; health and wellbeing, and free and low-cost activities. There are also details of how to help others.
You can find the guide on our website. Printed copies are available from the Town Hall or the Discovery Centre in Gosport High Street, Citizens Advice Gosport in Pavilion Way, Elson Community Library and Hub in Chantry Road, Lee Hub in Lee-on-the-Solent High Street, Gosport Voluntary Action in Pavilion Way and FirstLight Trust in Gosport High Street.
Work starts on Criterion plan
As you may have seen, we've started to take down the old bingo signage from the Criterion cinema building and have put up new posters.
It's the start of our plan to bring it back into use as a multi-purpose arts and community centre.
The Criterion, in Forton Road, Gosport, opened in 1912 and was run as a cinema and theatre until 1968. It became a bingo hall, and closed in 2020.
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