NEWS

18 Dec
Can You Help: Members of the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society are asking for helpers to carry out maintenance work along the towpath of the Basingstoke canal in Fleet. If you want to help phone Mr. Hornsey on 01252 623591.
Charity Lights: Graig Colclough has spent a whole weekend putting up a dazzling display of Christmas lights outside his home in Frere Ave. Craig hopes to raise money for Fleet Lions
Tag Exhibitions: Tag Farnborough Airport are to hold exhibitions and consultations for the public in Fleet and Crookham at the Harlington Centre at 9.30 to 1pm on the 31st Jan and 4.30 to 8pm on 4th Feb. Also in the Crookham Memorial Hall at 9.30 to 1pm on 7 Feb.
Fleet Carnival at Serious Risk: Fleet Carnival are appealing for more committee members to help organise next years carnival. At the moment there are only 6 members left. There is also a critical need for a secretary. If more people do not come forward then the carnival will be axed for the first time in 54 years. Call Allan Gibson on 01252 629420 if you can help save carnival.

11 Dec
Allotment Wait: Land set aside for allotments in Fleet and Crookham has not been developed as quickly as had been envisaged and the campaign by the recently set up Fleet and Church Crookham Allotment association for new allotments will have to wait another year.
Free Christmas Song: Local singer Victoria Beebee is giving away her Christmas single "Apple Eyes" as a gift to all her supporters. All you need to do is visit her website at www.victoriabeebee.com
Return of Free Parking?: Plans have been made for either the return of free parking or a complete ban of parking along Fleet Rd. A full public consultation is to be held before any final decision is made.

4 Dec
Festivities Fun: Fleet Rd was amass of visitors all enjoying this years festivities. Amongst the attractions were Father Christmas, farm animals, carousal, market traders and traders. A firework display followed the switch on of the towns lights.
Dance Success: Eight pupils of the June White Academy of Dance in fleet are to appear in the show Annie at the Princes Hall in Aldershot.
Bakers Closed Down: D R Wrights bakers in Fleet Rd was closed down by health inspectors following the discovery of evidence of poor cleaning and unchecked mice infestation. The shop has now been reopened after the owner Lucas Borek arranged for a deep clean of the shop and pest control contractors stopped the mice from getting in.
Parking Bays Still Wrong: Campaigner Peter Ashford has claimed that the repainting of parking bays in Fleet have still not been done correctly after three attempts. The county council state that the work has been completed correctly.
Samantha's Fund: The St Nicholas PTA has raised £3,150 for the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust. The cheque was presented to Samantha's parents Neil and Angela who set up the trust following the death of their teenage daughter. Samantha had been a pupil at the school from 1991 to 1996.

28 Nov
Good Place To Live: Hart has been placed 5th in a survey listing the best places to live in the country
Theatre Group Need Help: Starburst Theatre group need a small piece of land to site its 40ft metal storage container. If you can help please phone Mr. Phillips on 01252 642066.
Fleet Town FC Under Threat: Calthorpe Park landlords Hart Council are becoming "hostile" to Fleet Town Football Club according to the club. Hart Council have reported bright lights and noise problems from local residence. The club is asking for the support of residents to secure its future at the ground.
Battle Begins: The fight to prevent the mega warehouse development being built at Pyestock has begun with 400 people filling Hart Leisure centre on the first day of the inquiry. latest

21 Nov
Lots Of Medals: Acting group "Beginners on Stage" have received 8 gold, 8 silver and 16 bronze medals at the annual British Arts Festival for Speech and Drama held in Guildford.
More Medals: Fleet Matinee Club have won 3 gold medals, 1 silver and 5 bronze in the 2008 REACT Games a competition held for over 50's in the South East. The 65 plus age group were second overall and won the runners-up trophy.
Music Grant: Fleet Lions have secured a grant of £4,250 to help fund the SMART music project for 11 to 19 year olds in the Hart district.
Gurkha Tributes: Tributes have been paid to Colour Sergeant Krishnabahadur Dura who has been killed in Afghanistan. He was based in Church Crookham for 18 months and was married with two children.

14 Nov
Pyestock Public Inquiry Dates: The inquiry opens at Hart Leisure Centre at 10am on Nov 25th then continues each weekday until 16 Dec. There will be a morning and afternoon session on each day. The public evening session is at 7pm on Dec 4th also at Hart Leisure Centre. The Stop Pyestock bLot Act Today (SPLAT) group urge everyone to demonstrate their feelings to the Inspector by attending sessions and signing in. more
£1 million For Development: Developers Helical Bar have been asked to provide a million pounds contribution towards the building of over 200 new homes on the Waterfront Business Park by Fleet Pond. A previous application had been thrown out by Hart Council but the developers have appealed. An inquiry starts on Jan 6th.
Road Works Diversion: Local Residents are complaining at the diversion due to the closure of Reading Rd North for drainage and resurfacing work. It has been described as "barking, raving and mad."
Waiting For Loss: After a two year selection process Fleet resident Leigh Hagger has been granted a government funded weight loss gastric bypass operation.
Light Up A Life: The Sue Ryder Care charity shop in Church Crookham invites everyone to make a donation in return for a Lights of Love Christmas star on which they can write a message to a loved one and hang it on their tree at home. more
Best Loos: Fleet's motorway services station toilets has won the highest award in this years Loo of the Year awards.
Green Tokens Raise £1000: Waitrose have given the Gurkha Welfare Trust £375, the Naomi House children's trust £425 and the Starburst Theatre Co £200 as a result of their green token scheme were customers are handed a green token to place in one of three labelled boxes in the front of their store.

8 Nov
Carnival Pizza: The new Pizza Express opening at the old Electricity Showroom shop in Fleet on Friday 14 Nov is using old Fleet Carnival Programme covers for the wall decor. The posters are A1 size. Pizza Express are to sponsored next years Carnival Programme Artwork Competition.
Fight To Stop New Nursing Home: Powell Jessavala, son of the long serving councilor Keki Jessavala, is joining the campaign to stop the building of a 60 bedroomed nursing home on the former Shotts nightclub site by the Peter Driver centre in Bourley Rd. Plans have been put forward to move the centre to a new location within the Hitches Lane development.
Parking Risk: Local resident Stephen parker has claimed that car parking along Tavistock Rd near to the junction with Reading Rd North is a risk and feel that someone could get seriously injured if it is allowed to continue.
Poignant Visit To Ypres: Year 10 and 11 pupils from St Nicholas School have spent a day visiting Ypres, an area of historic interest from the 1st World War. They visited the Menin Gate, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Flanders Field museum and Sanctuary Wood were they could walk through the muddy trenches left as a memorial to the battle of Passchendale where tens of thousands of soldiers died in just 100 days.

30 Oct
Rushmoor Help: Rushmoor Borough Council are to provide expert consultancy advise at the forthcoming inquiry into the proposed mega warehouse development in Pyestock.
Fleet Rd Shopkeeper Honoured: Fleet Lions have made Geoff Baker from WC Bakers a Melvin Jones Fellow. Geoff has sponsored many activities in Fleet including Fleet Carnival and Festivities. His family shop is now in its 100th year.
Slow Upgrades: Fleet station upgrade projects have been under fire for progressing too slowly. A Double Decker car park and lifts for the footbridge are among many improvements to be made.
Photo Competition: This years winners of the Fleet Business Partnership photography competition are: Up to Year 2 Archie Hamerton, Up to Year 11 Robin Davies, Up to Age 25 Leo Janson, Up to age 50 George Willoughby, Over 50's Roger Cansdale, Spring - Ian Larkin, Summer - Danny Lewis, Autumn - Marilyn Larkin and Winter Kay Newby-Driscol.

24 Oct
40 Brownie Years: Fleet Brownie pack have celebrated their 40th birthday with a special event held at St Philip and St James church Hall. The pack registered in 1968 with 18 girls led by Brown Owl and Tawny Owl Mildred Ormisher and Susan Collings.
Cats Whiskers: A picture of Sarah O'Garros cat Jonny-Blaze was runner-up in the national PDSA's pets gallery photograph competition.
More Help For Pyestock Campaign: Yateley Town councillors are to do "everything in their power" to stop the mega warehouse development in Pyestock.

17 Oct
Yellow Lines To Go: Double yellow lines and hatching along Velmead Rd and deemed as illegal by campaigner Peter Ashford are to be removed after an inspection by John Foggo Hart District Councils Highways Team Manager.
How's That: Tim Thornton, long time head of a very successful junior section at Fleet cricket Club has decided to retire.
Quality Selection: Fleet Pond has been selected by the University College London as the site in the South East which is to be monitored for the next five years in a study to determine the quality of water in the countries lakes
Just Reward: Colin Gray, chairman of both the Fleet Pond Society and the Fleet and Crookham Society, has been presented with a special award in recognition of his work in the community. Colin said he was surprised to receive the award of a special trophy and £50 worth of garden vouchers.
Photo Competition: Hart District Council Chairman Dennis Gotel has launched a photographic competition for digital pictures that reflect the "spirit of the district". There are two age groups, 16 and under and over 16. Entry forms can be collected from the Harlington Centre. Closing date November 30th.

9 Oct
Illegal Chutney: Five officers from the UK Border Agency have surrounded Chutneys Indian Restaurant in Fleet and arrested a Nepalese man who has been sent back to Nepal as an illegal worker.
Liable to Flood: A list of all local sites susceptible to flooding in being drawn up by Hart District Council.
£600 To Go To The Loo: Restaurants in Fleet have rejected a council plan to pay them £600 a year to allow the public to use their toilets thus saving money in providing public conveniences.
Free Swim: Hart leisure centre is to provide free swimming for the over 60's from next April as part of a government move to promote sport before the 2012 Olympics.
Seeing Double: Double yellow lines and white hatching on the Velmead Rd near two schools has been condemned as illegal and dangerous by illegal road markings campaigner Peter Ashford. He has called for their removal.

2 Oct
Splat Money: Yateley Town Council have donated £500 to SPLAT the group campaigning against the Pyestock Development. They are concerned about rising traffic levels in the Yateley area.

25 Sep
£20,000 Pledged: The Pystock fighting fund has now reached more than £20,000 towards the fight against the development of a mega depot plan.
Meter Confusion: People are staying away from Fleet restaurants and other areas of the town because of confusion over car parking meter charges. New rules concerning daytime and evening parking are to blame. People are running out of restaurants in the middle of their meals to top up the meter at 8pm when the evening charge comes into force and do not realize that they can pay for the evening parking at the time they arrive even if it is before 8pm.
Eye Catching Offer: Fleet Specsavers are sponsoring Crookham Rovers u 16's and have provided them with a brand new kit.

23 Sep
Carnival Charity Donations: This years Fleet Carnival has given out £2,500 to local charities. Mayor Denis Gotel handed out cheques to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Parity for Disability, Friend of Fairways (Seeability) and Calthorpe Park School Association at the AGM held at the Civic Centre. more
New Branch: Thomas Yau, star of Halifax Bank commercials, has opened up a new branch in Fleet Rd.
Saddled With Cash: Fleet man Mark Ryder was part of a five man team of cyclists who have raised money for charity by completing a 500 mile ride from Belfast to London.
Annual Rally: The Basingstoke Canal Boat Club's annual rally has been held at the Fox and Hounds pub in Crookham Rd.

11 Sep
Antiques Road Show: Eric Knowles who is one of TV's top Antiques Roadshow experts staged a one man show at the Harlington Centre called "Antiques Antics"
Stars Christie Roll: Local actress Raquel Cassidy is to star in the first of a new series of Poirot called Mrs. McGinty's Dead on TV at 9pm on Sun Sep 14th.
Quality Centre: Hart Leisure centre have received a commended and the Harlington Centre an accredited mark by Quest a national quality scheme for sport and leisure.

5 Sep
Eat Safely: A new website lists the worst and best places to eat in Hart. Outlets are listed as excellent, satisfactory or unsatisfactory. In Fleet, New Support Options in Farnham Rd, Cafe Giardino in the Hart Centre and Seeability in Elvetham Rd were all classified as excellent. Visit the site at www.safe2eat.com
Pyestock Latest: Residents are being invited by planning inspector Christina Downes to attend public meetings to discuss the Pyestock warehouse development plans inquiry. The inquiry will be at the Civic Offices starting at 10am on Nov 25th.
Harlington Centre Losses: Fleet's Harlington Centre is losing £350,000 a year and will be reducing staff levels and cutting opening hours to try to save money which would then pave the way for the three new parish councils in Fleet and Crookham to take over the running of the Fleet Rd centre.
Men Wanted: Fleet Choral Society is looking for more male singers. if you are interested call Pat Hundley on 0118 973 2847.
Charity Trek: Jackie Skinner is taking part in the Dales Way Challenge, which is a trek along a footpath running from Ilkley in Yorkshire to Bowness in the Lake District. She is undertaking the 90 mile walk in memory of her nephew who died from leukemia aged just 22. If you wish to help you can her raise more than ",500 for the Teenage Cancer Trust visit www.teenagecancertrust.org/sponsor/jackieskinner

29 Aug
Cows Dying: Scottish Luing cattle have been removed from an area of heathland between Aldershot and Fleet after some animals had been found dead. It is thought that the cows had died from lead poisoning caused by a discarded putty, batteries, metal, oil and paint.
Illegal Workers: Illegal workers at KFC in Fleet have been arrested during coordinated raids accross NE Hants.
Another Place To Drink: A new wine bar is to open opposite the Prince Arthur in Fleet Rd. The unit has been empty for at least five years having been previously marketed as a shop.

21 Aug
Park Development Appeal: The Waterfront Business Park developers Helical (Fleet) Ltd have lodged an appeal to fight the decision by Hart District Council to say no to the development. A public inquiry is now likely with the final decision to be taken by the Secretary of State.
Thirsty Fleet: The Fleet Lions second beer festival was deemed a success with a record crowd of nearly 500 drinking every clear pint got out of the barrels.
Clear Sighted: Specsavers staff in Fleet got into fancy dress to raise £120 for young Joshua Wilson who is battling eye cancer.
It Goes On: Parking fees in Fleet have increased by 33% in spite of protests from local people and retail shops. Charges are now £1.60 hour compared to £1.40. (Don't our council members ever walk down Fleet Rd and see the empty shop windows. This sort of narrow view will inevitably lead to even more closures. Is this what the council want? - Webmaster) forum
More Access: Consultation with Hampshire County Council is under way on £6 million 20 year plans to make Fleet more accessible. The county began working on the Fleet Town Access plan in May 2007. (Reducing parking fees would be a nice start - Webmaster)
A Party For Connor: Ten year old Connor Couzens, who is suffering from a life threatening condition, has had his dream of going to Disneyland come true after local people raised £4,000 through a special community party at The Black Horse in Crookham Village.

14 Aug
Centenary Success: In spite of a damp day weather wise Fleet has celebrated 100 years of retail therapy. WC Baker and Son, the Catholic Church, Avondale Tennis Club and the National Scout movement all celebrated 100 years when Fleet came alive with many activities along the high road. Organiser Kevin Whibley from Captured Moment declared Fleet a community town and the day a success.

7 Aug
Office Conversion: Sanctuary Housing Association have applied to Hart Council to knock down empty offices at 125-147 Fleet Rd and build a new care home.
Recycling Website: Elly and Chris Russell from Church Crookham have had some success with their new recycling website www.rehomeyourstuff.co.uk They have 170 registered users in NE Hants and over 70,000 page visits so far.
Grazing Back: Cows have returned to graze on the wet heath at Fleet Pond and Elvetham Heath and will be joined by Shetland ponies later in the year.
Works Complete: Major refurbishment of Hart Leisure Centre is now complete. A state of the art gym which is fully air conditioned and with integrated multi media entertainment and new aerobics and dance studies have been provided. Vibrant colours are decorating the walls and carpets.
Assessments: Both the Hart Leisure Centre and the Harlington Centre have scored well in a Quest assessment which is the UK standard for quality in sport and leisure. Hart scored 73% and The Harlington Centre 65%.
Keeping An Eye On You: There are now 62 cameras located at the Civic Centre's CCTV control room in Fleet. They cover the Hart District Council area.
Grave News: Fleet cemetery has been given a three month tidy up and refurbishment by unpaid workers from the local probation service. They dealt with undergrowth, neglected graves, footpath, boundaries and bench painting.

31 July
QEB Held Up: The Labour government have rejected the plans to build a 1000 new homes at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks. The Secretary of State Hazel Blears wanted more urgent action on affordable homes and thought there was not sufficient funds for schools. It is expected that the developers, Taylor Wimpey, would re-submit an new application.
Fleet Shop Burglar: A shop assistant working at Clarks shoe shop disturbed a burglar as she opened up the shop in the Hart Leisure Centre. The man was at the shops safe and ran away empty handed. He was around 40, 6ft tall, of heavy build with short spiked hair and wearing a black, leather jacket. Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you can help the police.
Successful Artist: A painting by local artist Linda Gresham of Westbury Gdns has featured in the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy in London.
New Boatshed: Following a mammoth fund raising effort a new boat shed has been built by the Fleet Pond Society.
Calthorpe Car Chaos: Posts, which have been erected to stop cars parking along the entrance road to Calthorpe Park to stop compacting the earth and causing tree damage have caused havoc. Parking spaces have been reduced from 100 cars to 20. Some minor accidents have occurred.
Car Show: Around 3,000 people went to the 5th anniversary on the Elvetham Heath car show.

24 July
Blood Doner: Alexander Furneaux from Church Crookham has been has been honoured by the National Blood Service for giving blood 147 times in the last 20 years.
Flats Turned Down: Plans to demolish three family homes and build 33 flats have been turned down by Hart Council. The one and two bedroomed flats were to be built in Reading Rd North by Millgate Homes.
New Bus: Court Moor School have taken delivery of a new 17 seater minibus which has been bought out of funds raised by the schools Society.
Join The Band: Local singer Victoria Beebee is looking for talented musicians to back her at future gigs. If you are between 18-35 then send a demo MP3 with a recent photo to info@victoriabeebee.com
Opposition To Court Move: Local residents are trying to stop the move of a games court next to the new 60-bedroomed care home being built on the old Shotts Nightclub site in Bourley Rd. A plan to move the court to the new 300 home development in Hitchens Lane has been put forward.

16 July
Elvetham Heath Smell: 300 people living on Elvetham Heath Estate who have been suffering from the smell of a nearby sewerage works from across the M3 have signed a petition demanding action from the Thames Water Authority. One stated "Its just like breathing in toilet water"
Carnival Success: Organisers are patting themselves on the back after an excellent weekend at Fleet carnival. Although forced in the last week or so by the local council and the police to run the funfair at the top of the views, thus much reducing the space available for the two processions to gather at the end of their route through Fleet, the organisation was enough to avoid too much crowding and chaos. The Walls funfair has run at the bottom of the views for over 50 years with very little in the way of problems. results

9 July
More Travellers: Travellers have moved into playing fields at Ancells Farm. A judge has given them seven days to leave the site or an eviction order will be applied for.
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: 24 free car parking red bays have been marked out in Fleet. 6 each are in Victoria Rd and Gurkha Square car parks 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.