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Haslemere Food Festival

Haslemere celebrates its fifth Food Festival from 4th to 19th September promoting local food and businesses.� This annual event, organized by local people has built upon last year�s successes with lots of new and exciting events offering an even greater variety of feasts!

The Festival will be launched on Saturday 4th September at 12pm, at the Aga Shop in West Street, with Aga demonstrator Sarah Whitaker tempting the public with her delicious Haslemere Chocolate Cake. Sunday 5th sees the monthly Farmers' Market, followed by a traditional Farmers' Market Sunday Lunch at the Georgian House Hotel in the High Street.

Regulars at the Food Festival include the Haslemere Beer Festival, Supreme Sausage Competition, the Italian Market, and Pat Chapman's Curry Night and Thai Night. Other events to whet your appetite include the Mayor's Charity Gala Dinner, a youth barbeque hosted by Haslemere Air Cadets, a Fairtrade day, toddlers' workshops and much, much more. You will find something for all the family at the many different events, demonstrations and activities, with tastings to include fish, meats, cheeses, fresh local produce, wines, ciders, cakes and organic veg. Come along and join in the fun!

For the full programme of events during the Haslemere Food Festival fortnight or to find out more, please visit www.haslemere.com/foodfestival

Dates: 4th - 19th September, 2010

Location: Haslemere and Surrounding Villages

Contact Tel: 01428 644858

Contact Email:initiative@haslemere.com

Web:www.haslemere.com/foodfestival

Events: see programme of events on www.haslemere.com/foodfestival

Standing Room Only at 'Discover Hayling' Local History Presentation!

A report from Bruce Bennett of Community Website hayling.co.uk and Paul Fisher, Chairman of the Hayling Island Residents Association.

Over 150 Islanders crammed the URC hall on Thursday 22 July to experience the description of yet another little-known chapter in Hayling's rich history - that of the Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPP), the clandestine and secretive group of 200 men, which was based at Sandy Point Sailing Club, during the latter years of the war. Their job was to reconnoitre beaches in advance of military landings, throughout the theatre of war, but notably the Normandy beaches ready for the D-Day invasion. There is no doubt that their activities saved thousands of Allied lives, for they also helped the US and other forces.

There was an excellent presentation by Robin Walton of Discover Hayling (part of Hayling's Best Market Town Initiative organisation) and his back-up group, including media personality Wendy Evans and Laurie Noble of HIADS, which we hope will lead to a new DVD. There was also an exhibition in the Small Hall and a showing of film footage of a COPP survivor, amongst others and Hayling's contribution to Operation Fabius II, where 10,000 troops landed on Hayling's beach, in a manoeuvre leading up to the D-Day landings. It is reported that Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower watched this operation from the top of the Royal Hotel.

The main objective, however, is the creation of a memorial to the members of COPP, to be erected on Beachlands, near to the Coastguard Station. This will be the first permanent recognition of Hayling's contribution to the war effort. We hope that Hayling Islanders will get behind this proposal, should there be a need for planning permission and funding. It is hoped that Caen Stone can be used for the monument, the same material from which St Mary�s and St Peter�s churches are constructed and negotiations are currently in process with the City of Caen to supply this.

Report courtesy of the Hayling Island Community Website at www.hayling.co.uk

Future of market towns top of the agenda

The importance of market towns was highlighted at the latest market towns event in the South East. Hosted by West Sussex County Council at Lodge Hill in Pulborough. The event was designed for local authorities, community partnerships and other interested parties, to come together to discuss how they can support market towns in the future.

Frances Stokes, Chair of the South East Rural Towns Partnership spoke at the event and encouraged delegates to make sure that market towns and rural communities feature in strategies and action plans developed by the new Local Enterprise Partnerships, being set up to replace the RDA's. A market town�s main function is to act as a market place for the surrounding town and support an economy and community and West Sussex rural landscape is dotted with vibrant market towns including Pulborough, Storrington, Billingshurst, Midhurst and Hassocks. These towns face challenges from the economic downturn and the impact of changing shopping habits.

County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, Deborah Urquhart, said: "Market towns do not only serve the town itself but are a hub for wider communities. They are places for people, businesses and visitors to meet, trade and enjoy the variety of facilities, providing services such as doctors, libraries, and leisure centres."

Various projects were showcased which had been supported under� the SEEDA funded Small Rural Towns Programme. These included new river pontoons at Arundel, enhanced childcare facilities at Billingshurst, shop front improvements at Selsey and Midhurst, a one-stop advice centre at Storrington, and proposals for a cycle hire scheme in Hassocks, all of which had been developed by local people who want to help their towns.

Deborah added: "We want to keep these towns vibrant and expanding, and this event has enabled us to see where support is needed. As part of the government�s Big Society idea, we want to give communities a greater influence over what and how services are provided. This event proved successful in seeing how we can move forward with the county�s market towns."

Download the Storrington Presentation

Download the Community Directed Support Presentation

Download the Henfield Presentation

Download the Community Planning Presentation

Download the Arundel Presentation

Download the Billingshurst Presentation

Small Rural Towns hold the key to vibrant rural economies

The majority of delegates at the Towns Alive event in the South East, held at Faringdon and organised by Action for Market Towns (AMT), were confident that the future for small rural towns was bright, despite cuts in government funding for rural programmes.

Iain Nicholson, from Oxfordshire Town Chambers' Network, informed delegates that small independent shops made up the largest percentage of new businesses in the area, at 23%, covering everything from music to food.

People were prepared to work hard to set up a new business and he said local communities had responded well, sensing they were about to lose something valuable. Threats from internet shopping and out of town stores remained, but people were aware of the sustainability aspect of 'keeping it local'.

Iain stressed social media had a role to play as a low cost and easy way for small shops and towns to let people know what they offered, although this depended on user profile. Issues were raised around engaging young people as tomorrow�s shop users, business rates and the use of independent shops.

With the Government moving to a local delivery model instead of through regional organisations, Iain felt funding was of concern in the future, but on a positive note, regarded losing excess bureaucracy as a good thing.

AMT Chief Executive, Chris Wade, said: "It's about town helping other towns. Working together on developing clear policy and highlighting the important role of our market towns is vital as the political and financial environment changes nationally, regionally and locally."