NEWS

9 July
Juliet's Success: Fleet born actress Juliet Aubrey has been acclaimed for her performance in the recent BBC production "Criminal Justice"

4 July
Free Bays Are Back: 18 free car parking red bays have been marked out in Fleet. 6 are in Victoria Rd car park and 12 in Church Rd car park. 30 minutes free parking is allowed.
Bays Still Wrong: Parking campaigner Peter Ashford still thinks the newly laid out parking bays along Fleet Rd are incorrectly marked. A national adjudicator ruled the original marking of the bays unenforceable some weeks ago.
New President: Chrys Goodburn has been made the new president of the Fleet Rotary club.
Powerlifting Success: Andrew Shipman set a new European record for the 82.5 Kg class in the European Championships weight lifting event. Dean Drury set a new world record in the 90Kg class. Both men are from Fleet and won Gold medals.
Roads OK: A report by the Highways Agency who studied the PRUPIM and Astrals plans for the mega depot at Pyestock have come out with the surprising conclusion that the roads around the proposed depot will be able to support the increased traffic.
Pyestock Cash: Hart District Council has set aside £300,000 to fight the Pyestock Warehouse development appeal.
Fleet Pond Birds: Hart District Council and Fleet Pond Society are encouraging the breeding of new birds at Fleet Pond by providing two artificial islands at the reserve.
Twinning Celebration: Crookham Village and Levignen in Picardy have celebrated 25 years of twinning. More than 40 people from Church Crookham travelled to France to celebrate with a dinner and dance and renewal of the twinning charter which was originally signed in 1983.

June 26
Drug Den: A crack house at 65 New Barn Close has been closed down by police. Nobody can enter the property for 3 months without police permission.
Gambian Garden: A garden at All Saints Junior School has been opened by former Headteacher Janet Roberts who started the garden 5 years ago. The garden is designed to mark the schools links with Soma Lower Basic School in Gambia.
Remarked Bays: Fleet Rd parking bays have been remarked and Hart Council is now satisfied that they comply with national guidelines.

June 20
No Power: First Choice travel agency in Fleet Rd are facing the possibility of having their electricity cut off by energy company Eon because they have not paid their electricity bills.
Man Accused: Shane Seddon of Larmer Close has appeared in court charged with possession of a knife.
MP's Award: Local MP James Arbuthnot has narrowly missed out on a prestigious Charity Champions Award but finished in the final short list of three. James was nominated for the award by the Fleet Pond Society for his support in their heavy silting campaign.

June 14
Fine Again: Over the next few weeks parking regulations in Fleet Rd will be enforced again. The regulations have been suspended for more than 7 weeks following a legal challenge.

8 June
Ruined Football Pitches: Travellers who set up camp in Calthorpe Park for a week have been ruining the Fleet Town Colts football pitches. The club spent thousands of pounds improving the playing surface last year.
Nursing Home Problem: A new 60 bed nursing home at the site of the former Shotts nightclub near the Peter Driver Centre is under threat due to its proximity to a Farnborough Public Safety Zone.
Centenary: The Church of our Lady in Kings Rd is celebrating 100 years with a flower festival.
No More Bread: DR Wright and Sons bakers in Fleet Rd and Linkway for nearly 50 years are calling it a day. The shops have been sold to a Polish father and son.
Another Centenary: Avondale Lawn Tennis Club is celebrating 100 years this year with a display of photographs and memorabilia at Fleet Library. It started as a cycle club. There are currently 400 members and 200 juniors.
Playing With John Prescott: Local actress Raquel Cassidy who has appeared in Lead Balloon and Moving Wallpaper is to star in The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist alongside former deputy prime minister John Prescott. The play will be in three parts and be broadcast on Radio 4.

3 June
New Chairman: Independent councillor Denis Gotel is the new chairman of Hart District Council.

28 May
Roman Remains: Prehistoric and Roman remains have been found on the Hitchens Lane development site were 300 new homes are to be built. Building has stopped whilst the remains are being assessed.
Big Cat Spotted: Delia Irving has reported seeing a big cat running in front of her car in Gally Hill Rd. She described it as about 3 feet up to its back and a sort of beige colour with black edging round its ears and a lighter colour on its tummy. It had a huge tail and big teeth and was three to four feet long without the tail.
Abortion Limit: Local MP James Arbuthnot has voted with the government to keep the abortion limit to 24 weeks.
Local Time Capsule: A time capsule has been buried at Cadogan Court in Branksomewood Rd. Amongst many objects placed in the capsule was an insight into the Rotary Club of Fleet with a pennant and information about the County Federation of Woman Institutes and a history of Denham Cottage.

19 May
Carnival Winner: This years Fleet carnival programme winner is Caitlin Griffith from Dogmersfield Primary School. With over 230 entries competition was very keen. Caitlin's picture will be seen on the front of thousands of Carnival programme's to be distributed throughout the area.
more
Pyestock Donations: To date more than £10,000 has been donated towards the Pyestock redevelopment opposition fund. more

11 May
Fleet Win Cup: Fleet Town FC have retained the Russell Cotes cup they won last year after a 3-0 win over New Milton.
Forward With Fleet: A new group called Fleet Forward has been set up by Fleet Town Centre manager Paul Doughty. It is made up of councillors, businesses and various local organisations. Mr. Doughty believes the steering group will succeed as it focuses on getting everyone in Fleet working together for the common good. The old Fleet Town Centre group broke up in July 2006.
Attack: The police are looking for witnesses to an attack in Ancells Park when a man was left with facial injuries. Anyone with information should contact 0800555111

5 May
Election Results: The Conservatives made two gains in the local council elections. In both Fleet Pondtail and Fleet Courtmoor the LibDems fell to the Conservatives with over 50% turnouts. The Pyestock campaigner David Healey took Fleet Pondtail with a majority of 493 in a straight fight with Sue Fisher. The Hart council remains with no overhaul control. more
Fleet Miss Out: Fleet Town lost their play off game 2-1 to fourth placed Uxbridge to deny themselves the opportunity to gain promotion from the BGB Southern 1 South and West league. Fleet finished second to Farnborough in the league, their highest ever position.
Shots Club Site Offices: Plans to build offices on the old Shots nightclub site which was burnt to the ground some years ago have been lodged with Hart Council. The site near the Peter Driver sports ground was once going to be turned into a medical centre but insufficient funds were found.

Mr D.Healey

David In Town: Opposition leader David Cameron has visited Fleet. He popped into W C Baker's who are celebrating their 100th year, then toured The Point youth centre. Asked about the Pyestock development the Conservative leader explained that this was a local matter best dealt with by the local council. more

Mr Cameron with local conservative councilors
Picture courtesy of Louise Lamb

30 April
Chimes Back: The clock above the Emporium Pub in Fleet Rd is now fully working thanks to Fleet Trader Geoff Baker and resident Derek Bardon and also £1,500 raised from The News readers and £1,000 donated by Betty Barney in memory of her husband Ken Barney who was manager of the Midland bank in Fleet and president of the local chamber of trade. He was also a local councilor and involved in the Rotary Club and the CAB. The clock now chimes on the hour and keeps the correct time.
Bangers Back: A new Stock Car racing track has been built near Rushmoor Arena by Spedeworth Racing. The track has been built at the same place used by Fleet Motor Club for many years before they moved to Paices Hill Tadley. The new arena has lots of parking spaces, toilets and burger bars. Spedeworth Racing owned the old racing track at Tongham before it was demolished to make way for the Blackwater Bypass. Racing is every Sunday starting at 1pm.
Record Success: Breathe, a song by Victoria Beebee from Church Crookham, is to be released worldwide by Active Universal distribution on June 9th.

24 April
Fleet Centenary Celebration: The Fleet Business Partnership and W C Bakers in Fleet Rd are planning to celebrate Bakers 100 years trading in Fleet and 100years of the Catholic Church and 100 years of the Horticultural Society. Also 50 years of Wrights the Bakers and a few 25 and 20 years celebrations. The date is Saturday 9th August and there will be entertainment, stalls Kids stuff etc etc along Fleet Rd. Also this years Fleet Festivities will be held on 26th November. To take part and for more information email chairman@fleetbusinesspartnership.com
Sports Event: Hart Leisure are to stage an outdoor sports open day at Calthorpe Park on Saturday June 7th.
Fleet In Playoffs: Fleet Town FC have qualified for the promotion playoffs in the BGB Southern 1 South and West league
School To Be Extended: Elvetham Heath Primary School is to be given a £ million extension which will enable it to cater for all the children on the Elvetham Heath estate. The current capacity of 420 will increased to 630. Work will begin in July 2008 and finish in April 2009.

17 April
Cemetery Refurbishment: Fleet Cemetery is being refurbished by unpaid probationers. hey are attending to unkept graves, footpaths, boundaries and repainting benches.

12 April
100 Years Of Service: W C Baker and Son hardware are celebrating their 100th birthday. The family run business has been operating in Fleet for the past 100years and has won many accolades including business of the year in 1987, 1988 and 1989 and the Fleet in Bloom shop frontage award for six successive years. more
Oak Trees Protected: Bollards are to be installed along the entrance to Calthorpe Park from Reading Rd North to stop cars parking near the Oak trees and compacting the earth causing the trees to be stressed.
Golden Year: Peter and Mavis Smith are celebrating 50 years of marriage. Family members from around the world came to Brookly Gns in Fleet and then on to a 16th century hotel in Holford in Somerset to help them enjoy their golden anniversary.
Potted History: Avondale Lawn Tennis club is celebrating its centenary by looking for memorabilia and old photos to compile a history of the club to be displayed at the clubhouse and in a presentation case at Fleet Library. If you can help contact Doreen Healy at the Avondale Lawn Tennis Club, Ewshot Lane, Ewshot. GU10 5BT.
Charity Climb: Andy Auge-de-Rancourt is to take part in the Ford Ranger Great Lakeland Challenge in the Lakeside to raise money for charity. If you wish to support Andy visit www.woodenspoon.com

Early April snowfall in the area signalled the arrival of Spring with up to an inch of snow and a cold Northerly wind.

Parish Councils: Hart council have voted to set up three parish councils in Fleet, Church Crookham and Elvetham Heath. A second ballot will be held in Fleet Courtmoor offering the electors the choice of going in with either Fleet or Church Crookham.
No Topless Dancing: The Albert Street Sports Bar has been refused permission to introduce Semi-naked pole dancing to its entertainment plans.

30 March
Not Giving Up: Joint developers of the Pyestock site, Prupim and Astral, have decided to continue to press for the building of the proposed warehouse scheme at Pyestock. The next step is a public inquiry at which all parties will have their say before an independent planning inspector.
SPLAT Tory: Leading Pyestock Development campaigner David Healy has joined the conservative team in Pondtail. He wants to better defend the area's quality of life by becoming aware of problems at an early stage.

24 March
Fleet Get Their Revenge: Fleet Town, who lost to Farnborough 5-1 at Christmas, scored a 3rd minute goal from a shot by MOM Ben Wright which trickled in of the post to set up a three nil score line to secure their revenge at the town ground. Nathian Smart headed in a second after 22 minutes to give Fleet a 2-0 half time lead. After the break Mark Anderson got Fleet's third after 75 minutes when the Farnborough goalkeeper, who was having a nightmare match, let the ball tumble out of his hands from a low shot. Fleet are third in the league with Farnborough at the top.
Theatre Group Raise Cash: Church Crookham Players have donated £725 to the CHASE hospice raised from staging three shows at Christ Church, Zebon Copse community cenre and the hall of the Church of Our Lady in Fleet.

21 March
Carnival Princesses: This years Fleet Carnival is due to be held over the weekend of the 12 and 13 of July. The carnival disco to chose the Princess was held at the Harlington centre. The winner was Hannah Kirby from Elvetham Heath School. Holly Strowger was chosen as this years Flower Girl. more
Pyestock Rejection: At a packed Princes Hall public meeting all seventeen councilors on the Hart planning committee voted to reject the Pyestock mega depot plans. more
Half Marathon Results: This years Fleet half Marathon was run in atrocious conditions but almost 2,000 runners were not deterred and completed the 13.1 mile course. The men's race winner was Neil Chisholm in 1hr10m14s followed by Tim Crossland and Nigel Leighton. Helen Decker won the ladies race in 1hr20m43s followed by Tamsin Clark and Debbie Cosslett. The Royal navy won the men's team event and the Army ladies the woman's event. Fastest from Fleet and Crookham AC were James Allen 1hr18m59s and Lisa Hale 1hr36m50s.
Table Dancing: The Sports Bar in Albert Street has applied for a license to stage Table Dancing. Eight district councilors have objected to the idea.

14 March
Parking Fines Illegal: The National Parking Adjudication Service has ruled that 6,000 plus motorists who were fined for illegal parking in Fleet Rd were not illegally parked.
No Free Parking: A proposal to reinstate free red parking bays in Fleet has been thrown out as too expensive. The free bays were originally offered as an alternative to the lost free parking in Fleet Rd due to the recent refurbishment of the High Street. The reinstatement would have cost £30,000

7 March
Berkley Homes Plan Given Go Ahead: Plans to build 300 new homes on land adjoining Hitches Lane have finally been given the green light by Hart Council. 40% will be affordable housing. There will be a country park, sports pitches, an allotment site, a green amphitheatre, mountain biking mound, a pavilion and a Health Centre.
Sporting Award: Andrew Kern from Church Crookham has won a Sporting Champion award from Sainsbury's for going above and beyond the call of duty in engaging local people in sport.
Lorry Alight: A Biffa lorry travelling along Crookham Rd caught fire after an aerosol went off with a loud bang.
Schoolgirl Singer: Brooke Collins from Court Moor School is the youngest under-18 finalist in Live and Unsigned, a competition to discover the UK's unsigned musical talent.

28 Feb
No To Pond Homes: The plan to build 206 homes at the Waterfront Business park location near Fleet Pond have been thrown out by Hart Councilors.
KFC Robbery: Three armed robbers got away with £3,000 when they attacked a delivery man as he left the KFC shop in Fleet Rd. The victim was not hurt. Anyone with information should ring Det Sgt Watson on 0845 045 45 45.
New Care Home: Plans to build a new 64 bed care home on Redfields Industrial Estate have been approved.
Fire Fighters Needed: If you live within four minutes of the fire station in Connaght Rd you qualify to become a retained firefighter. If you are interested go to one of the Monday drill nights or log onto www.hantsfire.gov.uk
Hart Council Taxes: Council tax is due to go up by 4.8% in April. Fleet and Church Crookham Band "D" households will have to pay £1,385.50 and Crookham Village £1,356.07.

15 Feb
Vantastic!: A golf day organised by the CRAFT Golf Society helped raise £8,000 towards the cost of two new vans for the Lions Community Store. The event encouraged support from Waitrose, Hart Windows and Glazing Ltd and Sunrise Senior Living in Fleet. Support from Hampshire County Council, Rushmore Borough Council, Hart District Council, First Atlantic and Sentinel Housing Association also contributed. Aldershot's RocketUK.com offered to pay all leasing costs of a second van with ownership going to the Lions after three years. To contribute donations of household items call 01252 616998. Fleet Lions have just donated £500 to the Fleet Pond Society.
Clockwise: Fleet's clock has been removed and sent to Good Directions Ltd for repair so that it will keep the right time and chime on the hour. The work is being paid by donations from readers of The News which amounted to £1,500.
Larger School: Elvetham Heath School is to be given a much needed extension. Work should be completed ready for the Sep 2009 intake.
Plans Dropped: Plans to build two 60 bed roomed nursing homes in Victoria Rd have been dropped after more than 500 people objected.
Missing Cat: Have you seen an 18 month old Balinese cat which may have run away from home to the Fleet Area. Owner Angela Wells believes the cat from Dartmouth may have hitched a ride in a hired van from Refearn Industrial Estate in Church Crookham which was in Dartmouth at the time and she had been seen in the back of the van. If you can help call 01803 722507 or email apewells@waitrose.com

7 Feb
Vote For Parishes: Only 34% voted in the recent poll taken to find out if local people wanted Parish Councils . In Church Crookham 78% of those voting wanted a parish, with most wanting a Parish just for Church Crookham. In Courtmoor 69% voted for a Parish but most preferred one for the whole of the unparished area. Fleet voted 67% in favour and most preferred a Parish for the whole area. Elvetham Heath had a 92% vote with the majority voting for a local Parish and at Ancells Park 72% voted for a Parish with a majority wanting a single Parish for the area.
Recyclers Website: Elly and Chris Russell from Crookham Rd have set up an online recycling website where people can give away unwanted products free of charge. visit the site at www.rehomeyourstuff.co.uk
Social Networking Site For Gardeners: Peter Richards from Farriers Close, Church Crookham is celebrating the first year of running a website were gardeners can get together and socialises. find out more at www.growsonyou.com

1 Feb
Crime Down: Violent crime in Fleet has fallen from 30 reports in 2006 to 14 reports in 2007.
Hatchback Loaders: A National Parking Appeals Service adjudicator has ruled that hatch back cars parking in Fleet Rd can be classed as goods vehicles under parking restrictions enforced by Hart District Council. It is possible that 1000's of parking fines might be reclaimed.
Builder Hurt: A builder working on a house in Hitchens Lane heard glass breaking and went to check his van only to find a man had broken in and was stealing his wallet. He chased the thief and tried to follow him into the back of a car but was pushed off and ended up in Frimley Hospital.
New Waste Laws: From Feb 14th Hampshire County Council are introducing new rules banning commercial vans and lorries from using Household Recycling Centres
Alldays Burgled: Alldays in Fleet has been burgled twice in one night. The first time £70 cash was stolen and later a fruitless search was made. Police have released CCTV images of three men. If you can help phone 0800 555 111.
Arsenal's Mascot: 10 year old gunners fan Thomas Smith from Fleet led out the team at the Emirates Stadium in front of 60,000 supporters. He also got players autographs and a free Arsenal kit.

25 Jan
New Parish Concerns: Peter Green from Isitfair campaign for tax reform has warned that voting for a parish council in Fleet and Church Crookham could be costly because parish councils are not subject to government capping. Local residents are currently being asked to vote to keep things as they are or create one parish council for the whole of Fleet and Church Crookham or have two separate parish councils. The results will be discussed by the full district council on March 27.
Lost Wheelchair: All Saints church are appealing to joyriders to return a wheel chair taken from All Saints Church. If you find it call 01252 812114
Charity Currie: The Golden Triangle is to host a charity curry meal to help raise funds for victims in Bangladesh. If you are interested call 01252 616352.
Tweseldown Boost: Tweseldown Race course has been chosen to host elite equestrian events as part of the build up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

18 Jan
Pyestock Plans: Plans for a massive warehouse complex have been lodged with Hart District Council. It proposes ten new buildings ranging from 27,000 to 330,000 square feet. more
Talented Singer: Singer Brooke Collins, 13, has won a place in the national talent competition Live and Unsigned. She attends Court Moor School.
Post Office Is To Go: Pondtail PO has been named as one of 61 post offices to be closed in the latest round of cuts. The move has shocked local residents.
Allotments: A group of local residents have formed an allotments association and will be contacting Hart Council to secure land for use as future allotments. For more information contact bobchughes@googlemail.com
Car In Shop: A car has smashed into the recently redecorated "Ready2Print" shop in Fleet Rd. Nobody was hurt but a customer and shop assistant are recovering from shock.

10 Jan
Fleet's Big Brother: Race driver Jeremy Metcalfe,19, has been invited to join the latest version of Big Brother the reality TV show. To find out more visit Jeremy's website www.jeremymetcalfe.com
Charity Theft: A "swearbottle" containing approximately £600 has been stolen from the bar at the Albert Social Club. If you have seen anything or can help call 0845 045 4545
Loos Shut: The public toilets in Victoria Rd car park have been closed because of fears of vandalism. Nearest public toilets are in the Harlington Centre.

4 Jan
Doris Celebrates: Doris Cowpe who lives at Thurston House has celebrated her 103rd birthday. Her sister Alice is 93.
Indecent Photos: Clive O'Neill of King John St has appeared in court on charges related to children under 16 years of age. He was bailed to reappear on Feb 13 for a committal hearing.
Careless Anglers: Fleet resident Margaret Birch has asked anglers at Fleet Pond to be more careful when discarding line after a black headed gull was found hanging from a tree with line around its wing. She said another big problem was discarded drink cans.
Recycling Up: Hart District's recycling rate is up to a record 41.7% for the month of Nov thanks to the Alternate Bin Collection system. The average recycling before ABC was 25.8%.
Peake Of Success: Gordon Peake has been made an honoree 365 card holder of Hart Leisure Centre for his work associated with the success of the Fleet Matinee club.
Cat Shot: Two-and-a-half-year-old cat Stanley had to be put down after arriving home in Kenilworth Rd with pellet wounds from being shot by a marksman. Owner Angela Caruana is warning other cat owners to be vigilant.
All That Glitters: More than 200 goldfish have been removed from a small pond at Elvetham Heath and taken to another site. They had grown from a few pet goldfish which had been dumped there some time ago.
Pupil Joins Orchestra: Year 6 flautist pupil Madeleine Jewell from St Nicholas School has won a place in The National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain.

26 Dec
Fleet Town FC Lose Local Derby: Fleet lost 5-1 to rivals Farnborough. They took the lead after 23 minutes when Mike Douglas hit the target. Fleet were on top at this stage but a great shot by Ian Oliver in the 38th minute made it 1-1 at half time. Fleet were playing the better football but it was Farnborough who took over the game in the second half when Rob Saunders scored a second for Farnborough after 5 minutes with a great header and seven minutes later a similar goal from Marcus Richardson put the score at 3-1 to Farnborough. After this Farnborough started to dominate the game and scored two breakaway goals on 73 minutes by Rob Saunders and a gave away 5th goal again by Rob Saunders after 86 minutes. Crowd trouble behind the Fleet goal was quickly controlled by the stewards. The attendance was a record 951. Man of the match was Rob Saunders. Fleet can get their revenge when they play Farnborough at home on Monday 24th March. (It was nice to see Cllr Denis Gotel at the game supporting Fleet Town - Webmaster)
Dance Success: June White Academy teacher Abigail Williams will soon be appearing in the West End tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Abigail started dancing at the age of four. She has appeared in Spirit of the dance, and on TV.

19 Dec
Not Pointless: The seven man Crookham Street Darts Team scored 359,981 points in a 24 hour darts marathon in aid of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. They are waiting to see if they have broken the record.
Relieved Councillor: Cllr Denis Gotel said he was very relieved after having been cleared of any breach of the councils Code of Conduct following a complaint by Tory Cllr Sharon Wheale regarding confidentiality at the time of the resignation of the former Fleet Town Centre Manager Sue Collen.
Back From Thailand: Jack Sylvester has just returned to Fleet after being one of 60 BUPA volunteers who marked the companies 60th anniversary by helping to redevelop Sarnelli House orphanage to improve the lives of children affected by HIV and AIDS. Jacky said she would never forget the amazing experience.

14 Dec
Pizza Problems: Local residents are protesting against plans to open a new takeaway pizza parlour on the corner of Reading Rd South and Compton Road. They say that the area is already congested and the increased traffic and parking will bring it to a standstill.
More Fleet Homes: Berkeley Homes have lodged plans on how it will develop 300 homes on a site by Hitchins Rd. The new homes were approved by a government inspector two years ago. 40% of homes would be affordable housing.
Local Derby: Fleet Town are scheduled to play Farnborough Town away on Boxing day. Fleet are currently fourth in the Southern League Division South & West with Farnborough at the top. Should be a great game.

8 Dec
Mast Gets Go-ahead: The building of a mobile phone mast on the corner of Courtmoor Ave and Reading Rd South has been given the go-ahead by a government planning inspector after an appeal by Hutchinson 3G. Hart Council's planning committee originally threw out the plan.
Homes Plan Objections: Local residents are expected to come out in force to object to the building of 206 homes plan at the Fleet Pond Waterfront Business Park.
Legion Funds: Staff at CHL mortgages have raised £600 towards the Royal British Legion.

5 Dec
Buy A Light: Hart Lions Club are lighting up Christmas with the "Light up a Life" campaign to raise money for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. For £5 a light on the Christmas Tree at Hart Shopping Centre can be dedicated to the memory of a loved one.
Cycle Trek: NHS worker Steph Thorns from Velmead Rd is to take part in a sponsored ride from Guatemala to Honduras to support Mayan families in Central America.
Cleaner Sweep: A change from using mechanical sweeping to the old fashioned brush and barrow has resulted in a noticeable difference in the cleanliness of the streets in Fleet and a number of positive comments.

30 Nov
Footballers Tribute: A tea bar has been refurbished and dedicated to the life of teenager Daniel Ayre who died on his birthday, September 16, in a crash in Ewshot. The bar, named "Danny's Place" is located in Calthorpe Park.
New Allotment: Hart District Council has agreed to seek government approval to convert a site in Azalea Gardens in Church Crookham into a 60 plot allotment. Currently 74 people are on the waiting list on Fleet.
Grave Issue: A bid has been made to extend Fleet Cemetery in order to provide an extra 15 years of grave space.
MP Lion: Local MP James Arbuthnot has accepted an invitation to become an honorary of the Fleet Lions.

25 Nov:
Not Rained Off: Over 14,000 people braved the rain to enjoy this years Fleet Festivities along Fleet Rd. more
Lost Car Park: Developers Taylor Wimpey want to cut the Bourly Rd car park to five spaces as part of its plans to build 1,000 homes at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks site in Church Crookham. Local residents are organising objections to the plan.
Medal Winners: Children at the "Beginners on Stage" group in Fleet have won a number of medals in the annual British Arts Festival for Speech and drama Tuder Rose event in Guildford.
Free Lessons: From next January youngsters between 11 and 19 in Hart will be able to get free music lessons from SMART music. Tuition will be provided at the Point Youth Centre in Fleet. Contact Charlotte Tickner at charlotte.tickner@hants.gov.uk for further information.
Hair Award: KIM Salons in the Hart Centre are overall runners up at the Schwarzkopt Professional Creative Team Competitions 2007.

20 Nov:
GCSE Results: Court Moor School achieved 77% of 5+ grades A* - C, 73% of 5+ A* - C including English and Maths and 98% of 5+ A* - G including English and Maths. Calthorpe Park School achieved 62% of 5+ grades A* - C, 53% of 5+ A* - C including English and Maths and 54% of 5+ A* - G including English and Maths.
Safer Fleet: A team of volunteers are to offer support and advice to revellers suffering from the effects of alcohol and emotional distress in Fleet and Church Crookham. Further information can be obtained on 0845 0454545 extension 605129.
Colourful Fleet Again: Winter hanging baskets are to return to the town centre after their removal for the Fleet Rd refurbishments.

15 Nov
Parish Vote: Fleet and Church Crookham residents are to be balloted regarding being represented by a parish council. The postal vote will cost about £14,000
World Champion: 72 year old race walker Maureen Spelman competing in the Masters Athletics Championship has collecting four gold medals. She took up the sport in 1999.
Bike Charity Ride: Steph Thorns, a nurse from Velmead Rd, is training for a charity bike ride from Guatemala to Honduras. Al Fresco restaurant is hosting a charity event on Mon Nov 26 to help her on her way. Visit www.thorns.info/guatemala for more information.

11 Nov
Remembrance Day: More than 300 people turned up at the Gurka Square memorial to remember those who have fallen since the first world war. Later in the day a service of remembrance took place at a packed All Saints Church. The new Fleet Methodist minister the Rev. Stephen Robinson addressed the congregation and introduced his little friend Will Wesley - a ventriloquist dummy - which he used to great effect to enhance his sermon.
Delayed Fireworks: Fleet Lions Firework display held in The Views was delayed by 15 minutes due to the largest turnout for many years. A spokesman said it was the best display ever.
Flower Power: Robyn Lapper was placed third in the first heat of the Interflora Florist of the year competition. Charlotte Murrey came second in the Florist of the Future section. Both girls work at Oasis Flowers in Fleet.
Science Buff: Fleet's Elaine Baxter has been selected as one of six finalists in the Woman of the Future Awards sponsored by Shell.

5 Nov
Poppies: The poppy collection by volunteers along Fleet Rd was enhanced by a number of Gurkhas who travelled to fleet to support the British Legion Remembrance fund.

3 Nov:
Photo Competition: The winner of the Fleet Business Partnership's 2007 photo competition was Leo Janson with an image entitled "Grab Air" More than 150 people entered the competition which had prizes of more than £800 donated by Starbucks and Ready 2 Print. more
Fraudulent: Robert Marchant of Dudley Court has pleaded guilty to making a false declaration to obtain benefits of £8,682. He was ordered to repay £500 still owing plus Hart's costs of £100
No Allotments: A council report has concluded that the council is not in a position to provide allotment gardens. Campaigner Bob Hughes said the report was disappointing and not very forward thinking.
Flood Action: Fact finding tours of Fleet Pondtail, Fleet Courtmoor and Fleet West wards have taking place with an all-party group to ascertain what can be done to with flood hotspots in Fleet.

28 Oct
Garage Fire: Fleet Garage Services in Sankey Rd Co-owned by Clive Watson and Aubrey Hayns-Wood has been destroyed by fire. It is thought an electrical fault may have been to blame.
Car Crash: A teenager had to be cut free after a crash in Aldershot Rd. Two female passengers were treated for minor injuries. They were taken to Frimley Park Hospital.
Support For Gurkhas: Fleet and Crookham residents have raised over £3,500 from a flag day towards the Gurkha Welfare Trust which helps veterans and their families.
Chinese Talk: St Nicholas School in Flee is to introduce Mandarin Chinese for its year 6, 7 and 8 pupils.

25 Oct
Lollipop Shortage: There is a shortage of lollipop men and woman in the Fleet area. Pay is £5.94 per hour for two hours per day. For more information phone 01962 870500
Danger To Deer: A young deer had to be killed after being attacked by a dog in a field in Crookham Village. A notice requesting people to keep their dogs on a lead has been displayed round the area.
Closure Order: A Crack House Closure Order has been granted by magistrates on 51 Woodlands a week before a similar order had been placed on 81 Woodlands.
What Do You Think?: Children from schools across Fleet have been asked to put their views forward regarding transportation and road safety.

19 Oct
Kings Rd PO To Go: Pondtail Post Office is to be axed under government plans to close 2,500 local branches by the end of 2008. Harbhajan Ahluwalia who runs the PO and the shop fears he will not be able to carry on if the PO is closed. It has been there since 1910. To comment on the closure email consultation@postoffice.co.uk
Tree Vandalised: A tree planted outside Crookham Village Stores has been mindlessly destroyed by vandals and will not be replaced.
Female Attack: Roderick Byrne from Church Crookham has appeared in court and charged with assaulting a women and causing grievous bodily harm. He was remanded in custody.
Scouting Birthday: The 22nd Odiham Fleet Scouts have celebrated their 80th birthday at their Fleet headquarters.
Collection: Fleet Hospital and Community Friends have collected over £1000, more than £700 more than in previous years.
Lions Van Vandalised: Thieves have stripped a van belonging to Fleet Lions taking of the bonnet, radiator Grill and front bumper. They cut open a chain link fence to get at the vehicle.
Two Years Jail: Dwayne Lee Ayres who lives in Church Crookham has been has been jailed for two years. He was accused of sustained, aggressive and continual bad driving and pleaded guilty to charges of causing the death of two teenagers in Hitchens lane. by dangerous driving.

10 Oct
Appealing Clock: £3,000 has been raised by residents and retailers towards a fund to get the clock on the top of the Emporium pub to strike again. The appeal was launched by Derek Barden and Geoff Baker. Donations can be sent to the Fleet News and mail office at 349 Fleet Rd and cheques should be made out to The Fleet and Crookham Civic Society.

Retail Use Refused: An appeal by Hamseys Ltd to change the use of a former car showroom adjacent to the Oatsheaf pub to retail use has been refused by Hart District Council.
Cetre Revamps: Refurbishment work has started at the Hart Leisure Centre in Fleet. It is expected to be complete by the New Year.
Quality of Life: Hart came fifth in a recent national survey to find the areas having the best quality of life in the country.

5 Oct
Reading Rd North Accident: A yellow Honda Jazz has been involved in an accident at the Reading Rd North junction with Tavistock Rd. A 12 year old boy suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital. Local residents are calling for improved traffic calming measures and a 30 mph limit right along the road.
Top Team: Fleet Town FC have climbed to the top of the South & West Division after beating Andover 4 - 0

28 Sep
Leak Folly: Neighbours in Folly Close are fed up of waiting for a water leak to be fixed by residents living in Durnsfield Ave. The leak was detected by the SE Water Board in Durnsfield Ave which is private property and therefore they could not fix it. Water has flooded in Folly Close because it is on lower ground.
No Extra Opening: Julian's Off Licence in Fleet Rd has failed in its bid to sell alcohol into the early hours of the morning. A three member group of Hart Councils licensing committee has ruled that they could only sell alcohol until midnight every day of the week, that is one hour longer than at present.
School Website Awards: Calthorpe Park School has won the "most accessible" award in the Hantsweb Awards 2007. Court Moor School came second in the best school or college website category.
Car Park Going?: The new owner of the car park at the rear of Ridgeway Parade in Church Crookham has applied to the Council to get permission to build an MOT station on the land.

21 Sep
Trees To Be Felled: Angry residents are complaining to Hart Council because it plans to cut down six trees in Calthorpe Park to make way for a new parking area.
Teenager Killed: A 16 year old boy has been killed in a car accident along Beacon Hill Road in Church Crookham. Other passengers in the car, a blue Vauxhall Corsa, suffered injuries and were taken to Frimley park Hospital. Anyone with information should ring Crimestoppers on 0800555111 quoting operation Ivor.
Child Abuse: Three paedophiles who subjected children to six hours of sexual abuse in a house in Fleet have been jailed.

14 Sep
New Head: Stuart Adlam has been appointed as the new headmaster of Elvetham Heath primary school.
Over 200 Medals: Stephanie McAllister set up Team Colours UK, a disabled athletics team, last March and so far members have won more than 200 medals. Stephanie first competed in disabled swimming before taking a break to have her son Matthew. She first tried wheelchair athletics two years ago. Visit www.teamcoloursuk.org.uk for more.
Surprise About Turn: Plans to redevelop a complex for elderly people in Campbell Close which looked set to be approved have now been thrown out. The Sentinel Housing Association wanted to replace 25 bungalows with a series of three and four-storey flats. The scheme divided the residents with some warning that the development would set a precedent for future developments in Fleet whilst others wanted to move out of their crumbling sheltered housing into the new flats.

7 Sep
Fleet CC Promoted: Fleet CC consolidated their first place spot in Thames Valley League 2 by completing a comprehensive victory over second placed side Kidmore End to guarantee their promotion to the Thames Valley League 1 more
Third Oldest: The Hart area came third in a recent national survey to find out who lives longest in the UK. The average life expectancy in the area is just over 83.
Nightclub Assault: Three Fleet men were taken to Frimley Park Hospital following a dispute at the Jaxx nightclub. Anyone with information should contact 0845 045 4545.
85 Years; The Albert Social Club in Albert Street is celebrating its 85th birthday.

30 Aug
Coining It: Visitors to a new Fleet retirement development at Cadogan Court in Branksomewood Rd who are over 60 years old will be given a £5 coin which celebrates the diamond anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip. Call 0800 586 8844 to book a viewing.
Diamond Celebration: Edwin and Vera Milhench of Argyll Court, Clarence Rd have celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary with a special meal laid on at their retirement complex. They also received a message from the Queen.
Podium Place: Jeremy Metcalf is in sixth place in the 2007 Formula Renault UK Championship after securing third place at the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit.
Fleet Services Death: Shaun Ian Lucas, 26, of Knight Close in Church Crookham has been found dead in a room at the Days Inn Hotel at Fleet Services. Toxicology tests are to be carried out to determine the cause of death after injury and illness had been ruled out.

27 Aug
Pyestock Objections: More than 5000 people have now objected to the planned warehouse development at Pyestock.
No Smoking: A group of customers at the Black Horse in Crookham Village have managed to stop smoking for two months with the help of the Local NHS Stop Smoking Service. The pub has recently been refurbished.
Get The Picture: The Fleet Business Partnership has launched a photography competition with more than £800 worth of prizes. More details and entry forms can be obtained from www.fleetbusinesspartnership.com

23 Aug
Moving Fear: Marion Wilson aged 78 who lives in Campbell Close which is set to be demolished to make way for a block of sheltered homes is worried because no one will tell her were she will be moved to. Marion wants to live in Fleet were her daughter and grandchildren live and fears being moved away from the area. Plans to build the new homes have been in the pipe line for three years.
Not Very Charitable: A charity box has been stolen from the counter of McDonalds in Fleet Rd.It was thought to contain about £30 for a children's charity. If you saw anything call 0800 555111.
Stock Car Race: The popular Stock car racing which took place on land at the rear of Rushmore Arena and was run by Fleet Motor Club has ended and the club is hoping to move to a new venue near Basingstoke. Meanwhile Deane Wood the man in charge of the company that used to run the popular Tongham racing track has won a tender from the army to build a new stock car racing venue on the same land.

15 Aug
Iraq Medal: James Cannings, a corporal in the Territorial army, has received the Operational Service Medal after a six month tour of duty in Iraq. He serves 10 Company The 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment.Cpl Canning has lived all his life in Fleet and went to Court Moor School
Tea At The Ritz: Sunrise Living Centre raised £600 to support the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice at their "Tea at the Ritz" event. Guests had a glass of Buck's Fizz and tea with cucumber sandwiches, scones, cakes and chocolates. The event was organised by Judy Keep, Sue Collen and Sheilagh Bell. Musical ntertainment was provided by Jill Morris, who is blind.
Victory: Mark II Motor Sport won the "Fat Albert" stages of its latest rally at the RAF base at Keevil in Wiltshire. Drivers Mark Welch and James Sutherland romped home in first place against a quality competition

10 Aug
Approval For New Homes: Plans to redevelop a complex for elderly people in Campbell Close look set to be approved. 25 bungalows are to be replaced by three and four storey blocks comprising 63 flats.
Appeal: Hutchison 3G are to appeal against Hart District Councills decision to throw out proposals to install a phone mast and base station on the corner of Courtmoor Ave and Reading Rd South.
New President: The Rotary Club of Fleet have a new president, John Forsyth, who takes over from John Burton. Mr. Forsyth has lived in Fleet for 23 years.
New Offices: Work has started on a new office complex at the Blue Prior site between Redfields Gdn Centre and Redfields Industrial Est. Completion is expected in Feb 2008.

3 Aug
Foot and Mouth Back: Fleet and Church Crookham are placed within the six-mile surveillance zone which the Government has ordered following the foot and mouth outbreak on a farm near the village of Normandy. Police and environment officials will monitoring the movement of animals.
Buzz Off: Countrywide travel bus service have changed to Fleet Buzz. bus services

Road Death: A 58 year old woman died of her injuries when her car collided with a van in Aldershot Road, Church Crookham last Tuesday. Two men in the van were taken to Frimley Park hospital for treatment. Police have appealed for witnesses to contact 0845 0454545.
Pub Reopened: The Black Horse pub in Crookham Village has reopened after a major refurbishment.

27 July
New Offices: Developer TA Fisher is building 10,000 sq ft of offices at the Blue Prior site between Redfields Garden Centre and Redfields Industrial Estate. The work should be complete by March 2008.
Raving Looney: Alan Hope who is a member of the Monster Raving Looney party in Fleet has finished second from bottom in the by-election at former Prime Minister Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency.

18 July
Game Sett and Match: Would-be sports stars of the future are set to benefit from a new £345,000 all-weather pitch at a Court Moor School. The school will contribute £140,000 to the cost of the scheme. Unusually, a badger sett is located near to the pitch. The County Council has employed a specialist ecologist to ensure that the sett is not disturbed during the construction works and that all necessary measures are taken to protect the badgers' habitat and home.
Summit Meeting: Kate Fellows-Tully is to attend the Future Leaders of the World Summit in Washington DC. Kate, 17, wants to be a lawyer and hopes to study at Bristol. She is at present studying her A levels at Farnborough 6th Form College.
Axed Bus Service: The 71 bus between Fleet and Farnham is to be withdrawn from July 28. bus services
Carnival To Pay?: The council is to charge Fleet Carnival for repairs to damage caused by Wall's Funfair vehicles when they pulled out their funfair from this years carnival. Senior citizens living locally complained about damaged lawns and footpaths. Wall's claim that they could not use their usual route up the hill on the views due to heavy rain and that the route they took was one agreed many years ago.
Music Festival: All Saints School choir was one of only 10 year 3 and under choirs to attend the 2007 National Festival of Youth at Birmingham Symphony hall.

12 July
Garden Back: A Nepalese garden originally built in 2000 in memory of the Nepalese children who attended Crookham Junior school has now been reinstated after it had been demolished to build an extension.
Smaller car Park: Taylor Woodrow wants to cut the Bourley Rd car park to five spaces as part of its plans to build homes on the QEB site. It requires the space to avoid impact on the nearby Thames Basin Heathes Special Protection Area.

6 July
Not Deterred: Pyestock developers Astral, are pushing ahead with the development of the former industrial site in spite of the objections of thousands of local people. The Project Director of the property investment arm of the Prudential said he had consulted with residents and addressed their concerns. more
Gang Attack: A man was reported to have been attacked by a gang in Calthorpe Park between 7pm and 8pm last Monday. He was described as black and aged about 30. Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
School Award: Courtmoor School has achieved Artsmark Silver status which is presented to schools demonstrating a committment to developing their provision from drama to music, design to literature and dance to sculpture.
Carnival Washout: Only 500 music lovers turned out to the "Party in the Park", Fleet Carnivals first event of the week. The views was turned into a mini Glastonbury by the rain but the spirit of those who went was not dampened and it is anticipated that the event will be run again next year. more
New President: Mike Collen is the new president of Fleet Lions. He has lived in Fleet for more that 20 years.
Line Dance Success: This years Fleet carnival Line Dance, held at the Harlington Centre, raised over £500 for carnival charities. Organiser Allan Gibson expressed his thanks to his wife Chris, daughter Claire, friend Ann Baker, all those who attended and helped sell tickets and disc jockey Allen Timmons "The Celtic Cowboy"

29 June
Attack Near Fleet: Robert Bridges slashed his 38 year old victims throat before cutting her clothes off, sexually assaulting her and leaving her for dead, naked in woods near Fleet. The married woman survived by flagging down a passing car and was taken to Frimley Park Hospital.

21 June
Man Attacked: A man sitting in his car at the Harlington Centre Gurkha car park was hit in the face by a thug who hurled racist abuse at him. He was later treated for facial injuries. Any witnesses to this attack should ring Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111.
Grazing Cattle Under Fire: The cattle grazing on Velmead (see article on 12 June) have come under attack by vandals who have thrown sticks and rocks at them. It is hoped that this will stop once these thugs get used to the idea of the cattle being there.
Lost Appeal: Developers have lost an appeal to build a block of flats at 220 and 232 Fleet Rd.

15 June
MP's Object: Fleet MP James Arbuthnot and Aldershot MP Gerald Howarth have sent a letter a joint letter to the PRUPIM/Astral scheme for the former Pyestock site more
Call For 20mph Limit: Christine Clayton headteacher of Fleet Infant School is recommending that every school in Hampshire takes up the option of having 20MPH signs out side their schools. Fleet Infants has already got a sign saying "20s Plenty!" in Velmead Rd
Help: The Blue Cross pet charity shop in Fleet Rd requires volunteers to help with a variety of tasks. If you want to know more ring 01252 627133.

12 June
Carnival Winner: Chloe Marchant is this years Carnival Programme Artwork Winner. Her picture will appear on the front cover of thousands of carnival programmes which will be going on sale soon. Chloe is from Elvetham Heath Primary School. more
New Home Plans: Plans to build a new 60-bedroomed nursing home at Blue Prior near Redfields Industrial Estate have come under fire from a number of local groups.
Fleet Winners: Fleet Town FC Girls under11s have won the NEHYL league cup. They also won their League Championship this year.
Grazing Project: A bull, two calves and four cows are happily munching through the grass on Velmead Common as part of the Hampshire Wildlife Trust's Grazing for Biodiversity Project. The idea is to rejuvenate neglected heathland. more

8 June
MEP Objects: Green MEP Caroline Lucas was given a tour of the area around the Pyestock site by members of the Stop Pyestock bLot Act Today group. She commented "I was against this development beforehand and I am still against it. more
Tory Roles: Richard Appleton (Fleet West) has become deputy Conservative Group leader, Stephen Parker (Fleet North) is responsible for environment, Sharyne Wheale (Fleet Pondtail) is looking after Fleet Town Centre management.
Meet Your Local Policeman: A local monthly police surgery will be held at Morrisons car park when residents will be invited to talk about policing and safety concerns.
Hijacked: Millions of pounds worth of mobile phones were stolen from a transit van which was forced to the side of the road by the driver of a dark coloured Subaru whilst the driver was driving along the a link road to the M3 - 4a junction.

1 June
102 Pints: Mike Williams from Church Crookham has given his 102nd blood donation saving the lives of over 300 hundred people. Next month he will be 70 and will no longer allowed to give blood.

25 May
Cash Boost: Fleet and Crookham Local History group have received a grant of £3,880 from the National Lottery Awards Scheme and will be using the money to set up a museum and history resource centre. Anyone with historical questions about Fleet or Church Crookham should call Mrs. Ralton on 01252 623806.
Call For Governors: Schools in Fleet are appealing for volunteers to become governors. If you can help call the School Governors One Stop Shop on 0870 241 3883 or email info@sgoss.org.uk
Fleet Centre Review: Over the next few weeks a review of the Fleet Town Centre improvements will be taking place to determine the impact on the town since the works were completed a year ago. A street questionnaire will be carried out next month. If you wish to supply information contact the town centre manager, Paul Doughty at ftc.manager@hart.gov.uk

23 May
Molly Leaves Us: We are sad to announce the death of former Carnival Committee Chairman Molly Ebdon MBE. Molly died peacefully at home on Tuesday 22nd
May following a long illness. She served on the Carnival Committee for many years and was also a long standing member of the Women's Royal Voluntary
Service, honoured with an MBE from Her Majesty The Queen a few years ago in recognition of her services to the community. She will be sadly missed by
all who knew her.

17 May
QEB: The public inquiry into the Queen Elizabeth Barracks development in Church Crookham has been adjourned until June 19th.
Step Nearer: Support for the provision of allotments for Fleet and Church Crookham residents was unanimous at a full meeting of the Hart District Council.
Fleet Rd Fines: More than 4,200 fines have paid by motorists convicted of parking illegally in Fleet Rd during the last year. There are now no free parking bays in Fleet following the conversion of the red bays. The promised 10p for half an hour parking promised as part of the Fleet Rd improvements package has vanished in the wind.
More Protests: New plans for the Pyestock warehouse development have met with more than 800 protests. more
Fleet FC Move: Fleet Town Football will be played in the Southern League South & West Division after finishing fifth in the Ryman Division One South this season. They were the only Hampshire team in that league.
Gurkha Garden: With the help of £3,500 from local company SC Johnson, pupils at Church Crookham Junior School can enjoy a new Nepalese garden. The garden was first built seven years ago with the help of Gurkha soldiers but was destroyed to make way for an extension. The school lies close to the old QEB barracks.

12 May
Man Killed: John Barber of Larmer Close was tragically killed when his Honda was in collision with another car on the A325 at Bordon. His family said "John is irreplaceable and we are all devastated by his loss.
Mobile Mast: Local residents living near the junction of Courtmoor Ave and Reading Rd South are devastated that the local council is expected to approve the installation of a mobile base station at the junction by Hutchison 3G.
More Lollypops: Tweseldown infants and Church Crookham junior schools are appealing for lollipop people to man crossings for an hour in the morning and afternoon on schooldays at £5.94 per hour. Any one interested should phone 01962 846275
Fleet Lose: Fleet Town FC have lost 2-1 to Aldershot Town in the final of the Hampshire Senior cup.

7 May
No Promotion For Fleet FC: Injury time goals from Tooting and Mitcham ruined Fleet Towns biggest night in their history when they were knocked out of the promotion play off. Fleet took the lead in the 74th minute and had dominated most of the play before the final crunch broke their hearts.
25 years Old: June Messenger is celebrating 25 years running the June White academy of Dance. She started in 1982 with 26 pupils at Basingbourne pavilion and now runs schools at Ancells Farm community Centre and the Memorial Hall in Church Crookham.
No Restrictions: Hart Council have scrapped plans to introduce pay and display parking in Old Cove Rd to the delight of local residents action group "Leave Our Road Alone"
Extremists Arrested: Two people residing at an address in Aldershot Rd have been arrested as part of an international operation to crack down on animal rights extremism.
Late Opening: People living above Fast Food restaurant Subway are objecting to an application for late opening until 2am.

2 May
Dispersal Zone: An order to give police powers to disperse groups of people has been secured by Hart Council. It covers Fleet Rd from the Oatsheaf traffic lights to the Kings Rd junction and 50 metres either side of the road. It has been brought in to combat youths who have been causing problems for shoppers and local residents.

27 April
Surgery To Move?: Managers at Richmond Surgery in Richmond Close want to move the surgery to Stiller's Farm in Ewshot.
Flower Girls and Princesses: This years Fleet Carnival Princesses and Flower Girls have been chosen at Discos in the Harlington Centre. Reanne Phillips is the new Carnival Flower Girl and her two attendants are Katie Willoughby and Emily Watson. The new Princess is Jade Roberts and her two attendants are Amie Okuma and Nicole Sheehan. more
Fleet FC Success: Fleet Town FC have qualified for a play off place in the Ryman Div One South after striker Tony Reid score twice in their 3 - 0 win against Corydon Athletic
Restaurant Closed: The Maa Indian takeaway in Fleet rd has been closed down by environmental health officers following an investigation which led to the discovery of unhygienic Fridges, worktops and overalls.
More Parking At Fleet Station: SW Trains are looking into the possibility of providing 200 extra spaces at the Fleet Station car park by building a new double-decker car park.
Powering Success: Fleet Powerlifters Andy Shipmen and Dean Drury both won British titles in the British Powerlifting Championships. Andy won the Master 82.5Kg class with personal bests and Dean won the Master 90Kg class. Dean also won the overall Master Classes Champion of Champions.

The "Nokia Statue" is back in place after being sent away to its sculptor in Scotland for repair after being hit by a car.
The statue was erected in 2000 after a national competition to find a sculpture that would represent the Nokia corporate message of Connecting People. The winning statue was created by sculptor David Annand. The statue is made of bronze with two stainless steel arcs.

Photos Courtesy of Matthew Gibson

17 April
Fire Alarm: Two teenagers and a 20year old youth have been arrested in connection with a fire which occurred in Quetta park. A 41 year old woman and her nine year old daughter both escaped the blaze. Anyone who can supply information please ring 0845 0454545 or crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Fleet Pond Tractor: A Kubota 1410 tractor has been obtained by Fleet Pond conservationists and is ideal to transport equipment around the pons areas. Money came from Rushmoor Borough Council and the TAG Farnborough Airport Environmental Fund plus £1000 from the Cayo Foundation, £250 from Fleet Lions and £540 from the Fleet Pond Society.

Swans at Fleet Pond
Photo courtesy of Matthew Gibson

Horrendous Act: Police are hunting for the thugs who beheaded a swan whose remains were found floating on Fleet Pond by a passer-by. A business man has offered a £1,000 reward for anyone giving information leading to a conviction.. Local residents acted with horror upon heae ranger said "This was a cruel barbaric act". Anyone with information should call police on 0845 0454545 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.

One of Fleet Pond's Beautiful Swans
Photo courtesy of Matthew Gibson

Help The Environment: Hampshire Wildlife Trust is running volunteer sessions at the wildlife reserve at Ancells Farm on the third Sunday of every month. For more information log onto www.hwt.org.uk

31 March
Theme For 2007: This years carnival theme was chosen by holding a competition between all the local junior/primary schools in Fleet. The winning school was Church Crookham Junior. Two children Alex Harvey (yr3) and Aimee Crilley (yr4) put forward the winning theme which is "Different Cultures from around the World" more
Call For A Memorial: Hart District Councillor Tim Davies, a family friend of Lucy Bryant whose son John was recently killed in a car crash in Hitchins Lane, has backed calls for a memorial as a lasting tribute to John by erecting a bench with an appropriate plaque.
New Pyestock Plans: New plans have been unveiled for a massive warehouse complex in Pyestock. Campaigning group SPLAT are not happy. They state that the needs of thousands of people who have already formally objected in writing have been ignored. more
Watchful: Fleetsafe, the Pubwatch scheme currently running in Fleet has been proclaimed a success by the Police, licensees and Hart District Council. Fleetsafe is committed to making Fleet a safer and more enjoyable place to be in. Since the scheme started antisocial behavour has been reduced.
Lost Dogs: Ronald Lee is offering a reward of £5,000 for the safe return of his two Jack Russell terriers who ran off whilst exercising between Fleet and Farnborough more than 6 weeks ago.
Facelift: The Prince of Wales pub, which is set alongside the Basingstoke canal in Reading Rd South, has reopened its doors after undergoing a major facelift which was a result of a survey aimed at locals

25 March
Fatal Accident: Callum Forbes, 15, and John Bryant, 18, have both died in a tragic car accident just outside Calthorpe Park School in Hitchens Lane. Three other teenagers were taken to hospital, one with serious chest injuries. Calthorpe Park head teacher stated that at about 2.45pm a loud screech of brakes and a loud bang was heard outside the school gates. Students were gathered at the rear of the school to keep them well away from the scene of the accident. Councilor Denis Gotel has urged action to make Hitchens Lane at least a 30mph zone. Another proposal is for a flashing 20mph sign near the school. At the moment the lane speed limit is 40mph.

Is Raquel Engaged?: Has popular Fleet actress Raquel Cassidy got engaged to be married. In this picture taken at the House of Commons last week, and sent to fleethants.com by Sally Rainbird, Raquel, top right, is clearly sporting an engagement ring...

16 March
More Pay & Display Parking: Local Residents living in Old Cove Rd have formed a local action group, LORA (Leave Our Rd Alone) to object to proposals from Hart District Council to introduce pay and display parking along their Road.
Four Half Marathons: Recovered leukemia patient John Applebee from Aldershot ran the Fleet Half marathon course four times starting at 3.30am to do a 39 mile warm up before completing the actual 13 mile race. Mark Miles won the race with a time of 1:06:03. First woman home was Jo Kelsey in a time of 1:17:53.

9 March
Jaxx Application Refused: An application by Jaxx nightclub to continue a temporary one year permission to open until 2am on Sundays before a bank Holiday Monday has been turned down by Hart District Council.
Sweet Smell Of Success: The links pub has installed an aroma machine in preparation for the smoking ban due to start on July 1st this year.

2 March
Mountainous Effort: Dean Townsend faces an uphill challenge in climbing part of Mount Everest to raise money for Cancer Research, He will be climbing up to an altitude of 18,000 feet. To sponsor Dean email toensend@meridianiq.com
Lost Ring: Jo Chamber has lost her valuable grandmothers ring which has been stolen from her home in Kings Rd. It is a 1930's classic Art Deco style ring with three large diamonds on a platinum band. If you can help please phone the Fleet News on 01252 622448.

28 Feb
Marines Commando: Former Calthorpe Park pupil Neil Mehrtens has completed a 32 week course to become a Royal Marines Commander.
Badminton Successes: The Fleet Falcons Badminton Club reaped success at the annual Hampshire Tournament held in Winchester. Steven Cappleman won the u15 boys singles, the boys doubles and mixed doubles. Lisa Turner and Katie Walters won the u17's doubles. Mark Cappleman won the u17's singles. Hayley Duckett won the u13's singles and doubles.
Travellers Cause Outrage: Local residents are outraged at local travellers who set up camp in the Park and Ride at Elvetham Heath. They have now gone but have left behind a trail of rubbish.
End of Free Parking Confirmed: Hart Council has given the go ahead to increases of 30% for car parking charges in Fleet from the beginning of April. Free red bay parking is to be scrapped and moves are under way to install parking bays in Harlington Way. Local Tories claim that the charges will make Fleet a "no-go" area for shoppers.
Tree Loss M3 Problem: Local residents in Elvetham Heath are concerned that developers removing trees from woodland on the Brickyard Plantation site where the M3 crosses the A323 to build office blocks will increase motorway traffic noise.

22 Feb
Glass Case: Disabled pensioner Judith Johns signed up to Harts glass recycling scheme in October and is still awaiting the first collection of the glass she has put dutifully outside her door as she was asked to do. She has contacted the council on a number of occasions to explain the problem but to no avail.

15 Feb
Romantic Couple: Fleet couple Mike and Ally Ward, who have been married for 15 years, have won BBC's Southern Counties Radio's most romantic couple competition. Ally entered the competition to thank her husband for all his romantic gestures.
Brave Lad: Liam Kemp of Crookham Rd has received a special award for his bravery in battling a rare cancer.
Viking Sailors: Pupils at Crookham Infant School have bought a Viking longboat and a sea creatures climbing wall thanks to a £5,000 grant from the Woolworth's Kids First Charity's Playground Partnerships Scheme.

9 Feb:
Long Service Celebrated: Sharyn Wheale, who represents the Fleet Pondtail ward, has celebrated 50 years of public service in Fleet. She stated "I have always loved Fleet and over the years have fought many battles for my constituents, especially on planning.
No More Free Parking: According to John Pearson, Hart District Councilor for Fleet Central, Hart Council's coalition group is proposing to increase short -term parking charges in Fleet by up to 50% and also abolish free parking bays which were put in following the loss of free parking until after 3pm in Fleet Rd.

2 Feb:
ACAS On Strike: Local workers at the SE Regional office of ACAS in Fleet went on strike over plans to cut more than 100,000 jobs in the Civil Service.
Get Your Bin: Hart Council has extended its offer of free large blue recycling bins until Feb 9th. The offer also includes a free upgrade to a larger black bin.
Well Done: Residents in Gally Hill Rd have been praised by the police for their efforts in quickly removing a tree which had fallen and blocked the road.
Don't Stop Money: Canal enthusiast David Millet , vice president of the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society, has pleaded with the Hart Council not to stop its financial backing to the Basingstoke canal. The council is trying to find cuts of £1,5 million. Currently the canal gets £66,000 annual funding.

26 Jan
Manhole Covers: Hampshire County Council have been able to agree with the SE water company to use steel covers suitably textured and coloured in keeping with the footway pavers to replace the existing Fleet Rd pavement manhole covers. It is currently programmed that covers to all water meter chambers will be replaced in February/March 2007. This operation will involve no excavation and will not disrupt the traffic or pedestrian flow along Fleet Road. There have been problems associated with lifting the current covers.
First AGM: The first AGM of the newly formed Fleet Business Partnership and Community Interest Group has taken place at the Harlington Centre. Kevin Wibley was elected Chairman, Rick Bolger Secretary and Grahame Chebery Treasurer. more

19 Jan
Recycling Success: Hart Council has announced a massive increase in the amount of bottles and jars collected since the collection service was introduced late last year.
Harvesting Money: Fleet Harvester have raised more than £3,000 for McMillan Cancer research by hosting one of its world biggest coffee mornings.
Rat Run Problems: People living in Crondall Rd are hoping that the forthcoming review of speed limits on roads will be applied to their road because of increasing high speed traffic using it as a rat run. The local residents say that recent and future developments are increasing the problems.
Ban May End Soon: SE Water is to review the current hosepipe ban which is still in force in the Fleet area despite the continuing rainfall.
Artist Dies: Gerald Wooley a well known and respected local artist died at his home in Ryelaw Rd, Church Crookham on Jan 8th. He was 77. Mr. Wooley leaves a wife and two daughters.

12 Jan
Missing Man Found Dead: A body found on land near Beacon Hill Rd in Ewshot is believed to be that of former Fleet man Andrew Scanlan who has been missing since Nov 06. Three men have been charged with Mr. Scanlan's murder.
Parking Fines Should Be Refunded: Thousands of people given parking tickets for parking in loading bays in Fleet Rd should be refunded because of a wrongly worded traffic regulation order issued by Hampshire Council says campaigner Peter Ashford. Hart Council who enforce the regulations claim it was only a "minor error".
Mobile Phone Evidence: Photos and videos on Daniel Fearnleys mobile phone provided police with evidence of his rampage through Fleet town centre damaging 20 cars in one night. Mr. Fearnley from Church Crookham was given a six week curfew order and ordered to pay car owners a total of £1,120.73.
Memory Loss: A 19 year old boy suffered loss of memory after being attacked by a youth who took a cd from him. in the early hours of New Years Day in Glen Rd. Anyone with information should call Pc Nick Sexton on 0845 0454545 or ring anonymously on 0800 555111.
Surprise Surprise: A resident of Aldershot Rd has claimed that yobs have taken bottles out of recycling crates along his road and used them as target practice at his house. He has asked Hart Council if they carried out a risk assessment before bringing in the recycling scheme. The council claim that the glass collection scheme has been a great success. Councellor Denis Gotel said "we trialed the service for six months and the issue of bottle throwing did not come up"
Parking Area Could Go: A plan to turn Gurkha Sq into a pedestrianised square has been proposed as part of plans for the next 20 years.

4 Jan
Long Delays Expected: Three months of traffic chaos is forecast due to work on one of the two bridges forming the gyratory system on the A323 at Pyestock. The Norris Pyestock Bridge. which is the one closer to Aldershot. will be closed and traffic diverted over the Norris Bridge.
OBE For Headteacher: Congratulations to Mrs. Janet Roberts head of Fleet All Saints School for the past 16 years has been awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours list.
First Baby: Chloe Rose Wallace was born at 10.27am on Jan 1st weighing 6ib 11oz making her one of the first New Year babies. Proud parents Darren And Nicole live in Church Crookham.

2006

29 Dec
Mega Shed Changes: Hart District Council have received amended plans for the Pyestock development which the developers state will address campaigners concerns. Campaigners against the development SPLAT have not yet had an opportunity to study the changes. more
Long Inquiry: The public inquiry into the minitown proposed for the Queen Elizabeth Barracks is likely to take up much of next summer. It starts at Aldershots Princes Hall on May 15th.

22 Dec
New FTCM Speaks Out: New Fleet Town Centre Manager Paul Doughty wants to see a town with a sustainable future that faces challenges boldly and effectively, an inclusive, welcoming, exciting and safe place to visit and work both day and night. more
Rally Charity: Demand Technology in Fleet has sponsored Team Starkey and Clutch in its bid to drive 3,700 miles from Plymouth to Gambia in aid of charities in Gambia and Senegal. The two drivers are Neven Kirkpatrick and Andy Sanders who are driving an American Ford Escort. To follow the team visit www.startkeyandclutch.co.uk
Royal Marine: Former Fleet Schoolboy Neil Mehrtens, who went to Fleet Infants, Velmead Juniors and then Calthorpe Park, has qualified to become a Royal Marine.
Missed Out: Star actress Raquel Cassidy has been named best actress in a leading roll in the 2006 Manchester Evening News drama awards. She could not pick up her award as she was busy filming a new TV series and could not be released.

14 Dec
Buses Threat: Countrywide buses are under threat in the Fleet area due to subsidy cuts which are due to the fact that the services are not well used by the public. The 74 service between Elvetham Heath and Fleet will be axed on Jan 2 next year and the 72 Aldershot to Reading hourly service will be diverted through Elvetham Heath Estate. The 71 service between Fleet and Farnham railway station will be reinstated.

11 Dec
FTCG Dissolved: The final meeting of the Fleet Town Centre Group has taken place. A vote to dissolve the group was passed without opposition. It is expected that members of the group will be able to apply to be committee members of the Fleet Business Partnership Group which has recently been formed.

8 Dec
No Inquiry: An inquiry into the Hitchens Lane 300 homes development has been thrown out by the Liberal Democrat Hart coalition following advice that it would have lost a High Court appeal.
Flying High: The Flying Goose pub on the Ancills Farm estate has raised more than £1,000 for the Phyllis Tuckwell hospice. The pub has recently been refurbished.
Best Male: Fleet's world number one quad tennis player has been named joint winner of the Best Male Achievement Award at the 11th annual British Wheelchair Sports Awards in Reading.
Poppy Appeal: The local Poppy collection raised £25,310 which was £1,532 or 6.4% better than last year.
Fighting Fit: The Hart area has been placed equal third with Kensington and Chelsea in a UK survey of exercise levels. The winners were Richmond upon Thanes with Macclesfield gaining second place.

1 Dec
Poets Corner: United press are holding a poetry competition for the best poem about life in Fleet. visit www.unitedpress.co.uk for further information
Extended Hours: Despite local residents opposition the Emporium Pub in Fleet Rd has been granted an extra hours opening time until 2am from Thursday to Saturday.
Still Flooding: Despite drainage ditches and culverts the recent heavy rain has caused flooding near the junction of Redfields Lane and (aptly named) Watery Lane on the Zebon Copse estate. 10 homes suffered flood damage in Du Maurier Close.
Sun Raising: Sunrise Senior Living in Church Rd have raised more than £400 at a coffee morning. Manager Sue Collen said "It was a great event. Everybody got involved and we able to raise money for a great cause."
Teenagers Honour: James Maull, 18, has been chosen by Mary Fagan to act as a representative of the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire at official functions and ceremonies. The former Court Moor School pupil is a member of the 2407 Yateley and Eversley Air Training Corps.
Poetry Winner: Sue Lattey, who lives in Fleet, has won the international "Help the Hospice" poetry competition. Her poem "Fred is Dead" was written in 2000 while she was studying palliative care.
Bottled: Bottle collections are to begin in Fleet for the first time this week. Green recycling crates have been issued to every resident. £168,000 has been spent on two trucks to collect the glass.
New Church Opens: Fleet's £2million "The Church on the Heath" has opened at Elvetham Heath. For further information visit the churches website at www.churchontheheath.org.uk

24 Nov
No Barn Conversion: Plans to turn barns at Cross Farm, Church Crookham into rural workshops have been turned down by Hart councilors.
Four Star Toilets: The Welcome Break sites at the M3 have won four stars in the Loo of the Year Awards 2006.
Cove Road Again: Cove Rd which links Fleet with Farnborough is to close from 27 November to remedy work previously undertaken a few months ago because the work did not meet the required specification. more
Better Safe Than Sorry: Free Bike postcode marking by the police will be held at Calthorpe Park school on December 14th 2006 between 6 and 9pm and on the 1st February 2007 at the same times.
Well Done: A well provided by Fleet Rotary Club at the Hart Centre has raised £10,128 for charity. Since it was put there in 2004 290,000 coins have been put in it.
Long Life: Boys born in Fleet should look forward to live until they are 80 according to recent information from the National Office of Statistics.

18 Nov
Star To Switch On Lights: Fleet actress and star of BBC's "Lead Balloon" Raquel Cassidy is to switch on this years Fleet Rd Christmas lights at 6.00pm on Wednesday 22 Nov to open this years Fleet Festivities.
Pub Backs Down: Canal-side pub The Fox and Hounds who had applied for permission to stay open with live music until 1am from Mon to Sat have reached a compromise after Hart Council received over 40 complaints from worried residents. The pub agreed to only have music up to 12 midnight on one night a week.
Up In Smoke: Fleet Lions have raised £8,000 from their annual fireworks display. 4,000 people watched the £3,000 display which lasted for 30minutes.

Ashes Remembered: Journalist Rob Wighton who lives in Church Crookham has co-written "Match of my Life" which relives 12 classic matches from past Ashes series through the eyes of the players. Priced at £16.99 it is available from all major bookshops and at www.amazon.co.uk Rob's blog address is ashes200607.blogspot.com

Light Up The Hart Centre: Fleet Lions are inviting people to remember loved ones by buying a Christmas tree light to put on the Centre's Christmas tree. For each donation the Lions will send a personal dedication card. For more details write to : Light Up A Life, Hart Lions Club, c/o 27 New Road, Blackwater GU17 9AY.
Star Turn: Former Southampton striker Adam Walker has signed for Fleet Town to help their bid to win promotion this season. Fleet are currently second by one point to Dulwich but with a game in hand.
Sation Improvemants: Fleet Station is to benifit from government funding to give passengers an obstacle free accessible route from station entrances to and between platforms.

14 Nov
Humbug?: Richard Noble of Kenilworth Gds has not slept properly for months because he hears a low frequency hum that never stops. Environmental health offices have cannot hear the noise. Mr. Noble has been advised that if he can find other people who can hear the hum the council would have a statutory duty to do something about it.

10 Nov
Greek Collection: £222 has been raised in Fleet by Greek Animal Rescue a charity that helps care for the sick and injured animals in Greece.
Bin Bugs: Councillor Denis Gotel has not ruled out the possibility of fitting bugs to wheelie bins if residents fail to hit tough government recycling targets.

1 Nov
Fleet 10K: Phillip Berntsen was first home in a time of 33mins21sec in this years Fleet Peter Driver memorial 10K race. The first woman was Issy Menzies in 38.18. Just under 600 runners took part.
Gurkha Barracks Exhibition: Taylor Woodrow Developments are holding a public exhibition on Friday 10th Nov from 4-8pm and Saturday 11th Nov from 10am - 4pm for residents to consider amendments to their plans to develop Queen Elizabeth Barracks.
Christmas Scam: Trading Standards have issued a warning to people to be aware of a scam were rouge Parcel Delivery Services post cards through peoples letter boxes to claim that they have attempted to deliver a parcel. When the printed number on the card is phoned the caller can be charged a minimum of £15.

27 Oct
Its Bin 5 Weeks: Steve Coward, a former police chief living in Elvetham Heath, is angry that his blue bin has not been emptied for five weeks.
Marshals Wanted: This years Fleet Christmas Festivities will be on Wed Nov 22 starting with the lights being switched on along Fleet Rd at 6pm. The organisers, Fleet Town Centre Group, desperately need marshals to help control the road junctions. If you can help please contact Maria Jones at maria.jones@fleetbusinesspartnership.com
Lead Balloon: Fleet actress Raquel Cassidy is breaking all records in the BBC comedy Lead Balloon starring Jack Dee. It has the highest ever viewing figures for a comedy on BBC4 and has now been switched to BBC2.
Fleet Lions Competition; Fleet lions are looking for young unsung community heroes between the ages of 15-18 in Hart. It is running an Ambassadors for Youth competition. If you know of a likely candidate call 0845 833 7358 or email YA@fleetlions.org
Gurkha Flag Day: A Flag day in Fleet and Church Crookham has raised £2.829 for the Gurkha Welfare Trust. The Gurkha Band will be performing in the Harlington Centre on Dec 2 at 7.30pm. For tickets call Mr. Shoesmith on 01252 621268.

20 Oct
Big Blue Bins: The council is concerned that not enough residents are switching to the larger blue bins in preparation for the fortnightly collection service being introduced from 30th Oct. To order a bin call 01252 622122.
Costly Case: The cost of legally challenging the Hitchins Lane development has been put well at over £50,000 by Councilor James Radley. He stated the chances of winning are "dreadfully weak"

12 Oct
Denim Collection: Staff from Software Solutions at Ancells Farm have collected more than £400 for National charities by donating £2 each for the privilege of wearing Jeans to work on Genes Day.
Guides Raising The Roof; Fleet Girl Guides are applying for lottery money to rebuild their old headquarters at Basingbourne Rd. If successful the new building will be ready in early 2009.
Silting Support: Local MP James Arbuthnot has been invited to address Fleet Pond Society so that they can thank him for raising the problem of silting in Fleet Pond. Mr. Arbuthnot raised the issue in the House of Commons to help persuade The Ministry of Defence to authorize works to install measures to reduce the escape of eroded soils which cause the pond's silt.
Dirty Pavements: Local Traders in Fleet Rd are protesting at the lack of cleaning taking place down the High St. They complain of cigarette buts, chewing gum and vomit not being effectively cleared.

5 Oct
Petrol Station Robbery: Two teenagers were forced to hand over money and a mobile phone when they were approached by a youth who asked them to exchange a £20 voucher for cash. The boys aged 14 and 15 were walking along Kings Rd near the Murco petrol station at around 8.30pm on Sep 25.
Hart Gives Up Fight: Controversial plans to build 300 homes along Hitchens Lane look likely to go ahead after Hart Council decided not to fight a High Court Appeal following legal advice they would lose the case.
Real Pub: The Prince Arthur pub has gained an entry in the Campaign for Real Ales Good Bear Guide for 2007. It is the only pub in the town to have been selected for CAMRA entry.
Late Pub: Residents are objecting to a bid by their local pub The Flying Goose to stay open until 12.30 Sunday to Thursday and host live music every night from 8pm to midnight.
Expensive Pub: Customers are angry that they are being fined £100 for not buying a parking ticket to park in the Emporium's car park. They are supposed to claim the money back when they buy their first drink. The system has been introduced to stop people parking there for free whilst shopping.
Top Team: Fleet Town FC are currently top of the Ryman league having collected 18 points from the 7 games played so far.
Tots Library: The Busy Bees Day Nursery in Ively Rd has opened a library to allow parents to borrow children's books for free as often as they like. Contact by phoning 01252 533430

29 Sep
Late Licence Bid: Local traders and residents are fighting a bid from Jaxx club in upper street to open until 2am on Sundays before a bank Holiday Monday.
Fleet Eggheads: A team of pensioners calling themselves "Russell's Raiders" are to appear on the BBC2 show "Eggheads" on Thursday Oct 12th. They are members of the U3A which meets at the Harlington Centre.

23 Sep
Traders Parking Fury: Fleet Rd traders are fed up of seeing their customers being hit with parking tickets on a daily basis. They have written a protest letter asking for parking restrictions to be suspended until the current confusing signage is replaced by a system which people can understand.
Dog Problems: Solicitor Nicolette Pike is incensed by the lack of services provided by Hart Council since Hart's Dog Warden Lynn Byfield has been out of post. She says if you ring the police or the RSPCA they say it is the councils responsibility and the council will tell you it is a police matter. Lynn used to deal with dog fouling and dangerous and stray dogs etc. She has been out of post for 14 months.
Jump For Charity: Brain injury survivor Iain Pryer from Fleet has helped raise £2,000 for Headway the brain injury association after a daredevil tandem skydive.
Hospital Update: A £250,000 six-month project has updated Fleet community hospital. A new ward with 18 beds has been created. Work is still going on to improve the therapy area and assessment unit.

20 Sep
Man-hole Covers To Be Changed: The SE Water board have advised Hampshire County Council that due to operational difficulties in lifting the manhole covers down Fleet Rd pavements they are going to replace the matching paved covers with conventional steel ones.

15 Sep
FTCG May Be Replaced: A meeting at the Harlington Centre has sown the seeds for a new Fleet Based Partnership between local community groups and retailers which will replace the existing Fleet Town Centre Group which has never been popular with Fleet Rd retailers. It is possible that the Group could apply for the vacant post of Fleet Town Centre Manager freeing the £16,000 in wages to spend on projects.
Best Frontage: W C Baker and Sons have won the Best Frontage award at this years Fleet and Church Crookham in Bloom awards. Full Results.
Puzzling Fifth Birthday: Elvetham Heath Primary School pupils celebrated the schools fifth birthday by solving three dimensional puzzles. The school began with less than 50 pupils and now has 430 pupils in 15 classes.
High Five: Fleet CC under 11's star Ollie East took five wickets in five balls to win the North Hampshire Youth Cricket League match against Eversley. Eversley were 80 - 5 chasing 127 to win when Ollie struck taking the last five wickets

7 Sep
Make Your Mind Up: Six children have been allowed to attend Elvetham Heath Primary School after the county council, which had won a court case after a judge ruled that it was right to refuse the children, changed its mind and let them in.
Bins Uncollected: More than 3000 bins have not been emptied throughout the Hart area because six of the district councils dustcarts broke down in one day.
Flasher Round Fleet Pond: Police are investigating a flasher who has been exposing himself to dog walkers round Fleet Pond. The first report was six weeks ago and there have been a number of reports since. Phone 0845 0454545 if you can help the police.
Happy Birthday Your Royal Highness: A 9 year old schoolgirl from Church Crookham has made a birthday card for the Queen's 80th birthday. To her surprise she received a thank you reply from the Queen's Lady-in-Waiting.
Rowing Champ: Fleet's Vicki Hansford and her three team-mates have won gold and broke the world record by six seconds at the world Rowing Championships.

30 Aug
May Is The Best: Pyestock bowler Leo May has won the Champion of Champions Bowls competition at Worthing. He beat England International pre-tournament favorite Simon Skelton 2-0 in the semi-final and Graham White in an exciting three end tie-breaker in the final.
No Parish Council: Councillors have voted by 20 to 4 to throw out the idea of a Parish council in favour of a full parish review. A recent petition covering the wards of Church Crookham East and West and Fleet Courtmoor and collected by the Community Campaign Hart was signed by more than 2000 people. Councillor Sharyn Wheale stated that the whole of Fleet and Church Crookham should be consulted.
Hair Cut Sir?: A car driven by an 85 year old gentleman from Kings Rd crashed into the shop window of the Linkway barbers in Linkway Parade. The car missed a little girl by less than a metre. No one was seriously hurt.

24 Aug
Views Mugging: Three thugs robbed and punched a teenager walking through the Views Park last Friday at about 1am. The victim was able to give police descriptions of two of the attackers who were both white aged 16-17. One was 5ft 10" tall, average build with a shaven head. He had a round face with a bulbous nose. The other was 5ft 11" tall, slim build with spiky blond or slightly ginger hair. If you can help call 0845045 4545 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Silting Held Up: Silting in Fleet Pond has been arrested by the Defence Estates Agency who have installed dams, drains and filters. The army maneuvers i