This week's column for the Herald and Post reflects on some of my recent visits in the constituency...
I had the great pleasure of visiting Liss recently for the official opening of the new pump track. For those of you who don’t know what this means (and, yes, I was in that camp before the visit!), it’s an undulating track designed for children (and adults) to scoot, roller blade, skateboard and cycle on. It’s great fun and a fantastic addition to the West Liss Recreation Ground.
It’s also an example of community activism. A selfless act by people who want to make their community better. A singular vision brought to fruition. The local parish council, and those that supported them, must be applauded for what they have achieved.
The next day, I was at Edgar Hall in Alton for the official opening of Alton Men’s Shed. This group literally began life in a garden shed (which they built themselves) and have now expanded into the former St John’s Ambulance building in a partnership with Dementia Friendly Alton.
If you don’t know about Men’s Shed, it has been set up to provide a space for men to come together to build and fix things for the community. Their membership includes those who have recently become unemployed and are looking to develop new skills, those recently bereaved and looking for companionship, those with a real flair for DIY looking to put their skills to good use and those who just want to get involved and do something positive for the community.
So far, they have refurbished a bus stop bench in Holybourne, fixed all of Alton Town Council’s notice boards, built flower planters for community gardens and created a giant domino set for use by elderly residents in a local care home. The list of projects is far too long to mention here.
Both the pump track and the new premises for Alton Men’s Shed would not have been possible without the commitment of local volunteers. Yes, they have both been helped along by funding, but the real reason these local projects have succeeded is because of the drive and passion of the people involved. Seeing the community spirit alive and kicking in Liss and Alton, despite our soggy summer, was hugely inspiring.