Hey there, incredible readers!
I couldn't be more thrilled to welcome all our new subscribers. đ Following the buzz around the Hythe Pier article in the last edition (1.5k eyeballs on release day alone), our readership has grown immensely and I couldn't be happier to have you all here.
If you're new, get comfy! We've got some exciting investigations and stories brewing, so stay tuned and keep those eyes peeled for what's coming next.
In case you missed itâŚ
Whatâs coming up in this editionâŚ
We speak to Hampshire County Council about disabled bus users losing free companion tickets
Whatâs happened in the New Forest recently
Busker asking for support after complaints and Police warnings
Latest New Forest crime stats
Local government reorganisation and May elections update
And if you have any news to share or issues youâd like me to look into email editor@newforestbusinessnews.co.uk.
Kerri L Watt
Editor
Disabled bus users to lose free companion tickets left âdistressed and outragedâ
Hampshire County Council have announced changes to their concessionary travel scheme for 200,000 eligible disabled and elderly residents due to âfunding pressuresâ.
The changes include the removal of free carer or companion tickets for disabled customers and free weekday travel now beginning from 9.30am.
Charities have begun campaigning to stop the changes and many residents are âoutragedâ and âdistressedâ.
The new regulations are said to save Hampshire County Council ÂŁ75,000 a year and will begin April 01.
A local carer told us their client uses the bus daily and is âvery distressedâ as these changes will cost her an additional ÂŁ100 a month, on top of already paying for one-to-one care.
Another carer said, âHow does allowing a person to have someone sit next to them on the bus free of charge to keep them safe have any financial impact on the council?â
The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 entitles eligible residents in England to travel for free on eligible off-peak services and bus operators are reimbursed for concessionary passengers.
The bus pass team at Hampshire County Council confirmed âfunding pressuresâ as the reason for not providing enhancements âover and above Hampshire County Councilâs statutory obligationâ.
âDisabled and pensioners are being targeted in every way.â
Speaking with Hampshire County Council this week, they confirmed the changes were agreed by the councilâs Cabinet on October 14 along with additional savings across services, followed by a âwell-publicisedâ public consultation.
A spokesperson for the council said, âThe unprecedented financial challenges facing the County Council have meant that we have to focus our limited resources on providing the core services that we are legally obliged to deliver.
âAfter careful consideration of the consultation feedback and examination of every possible option, the Cabinet opted to scale back the original savings proposals for passenger transport services.
âWhile some savings looked at in isolation may seem relatively small, the County Councilâs budget position requires that all areas of expenditure are looked at, as every pound is crucial for balancing the budget and ensuring long-term financial stability.â
âWe appreciate that the changes will mean some people may need to make adjustments to their travel arrangements, or pay for some journeys, however bus pass users will continue to be able to use their bus pass enabling free travel 9.30am-11pm.â
New Forest resident Kate, 32, said, âIâm disabled and already facing constantly rising costs. Losing free companion bus tickets may seem small but it is huge to us.
âI know many people who will be greatly impacted by this and they will potentially not be able to access their day centres, trips out, or to meet family. This makes me really sad.â
Many frustrated Hampshire residents have taken to social media stating, âWe should be supporting independence, and carers are enabling that!â and âDisabled and pensioners are being targeted in every way.â
Waterside Changemakers have created a petition calling Hampshire County Council to stop the âdamaging changesâ, removing the âlifeline for many disabled and elderly peopleâ.
They believe these cuts will âincrease isolation and financial strain on the most vulnerableâ, worsening the mental health crisis.
For more information or to sign the petition challenging the changes: click here.
Whatâs happened in the New Forest recentlyâŚ
New Forest District Council announced their new waste collection plans for 2025-26. New Milton, Lymington and surrounding areas are the first of three phases, beginning from June. Phase two begins October including Ringwood and Fordingbridge, and phase three including Waterside begins March 2026.
Plan for 200 new homes (with 35% affordable homes) on 60-acre Holbury site by Wates Developments has been validated although local residents have mixed views.
In Fordingbridge, La Lambretta has closed and The Branch Cafe reopened.
The Little Doughnut Company are consistently selling out of their popular donut deliveries (weâve tried them and theyâre amazing!)
New Forest District Council are asking for help to shape their local plan - click here.
Local resident, Daniel Coombes, childrenâs book on divorce launches in high street shops and Amazon.
Trial to lure New Forest ponies away from licking gritted roads with saltlicks named a âsuccessâ and will save animals lives.
Over 60 animals were seized at three locations in Pennington, Sway, and Lymington by Police and RSPCA warrants for one individual.
Costa Coffee in Lyndhurst closed abruptly with no explanation.
Priestlands School in Lymington decided to extend school days by 10 minutes starting in September for an additional week off in the autumn half-term.
Busker asking for support after complaints and Police warnings
Local busker, Tobias Strongman, has reached out for support online after multiple complaints and Police warnings against his performances in Lymington.
Mr Strongman âloves buskingâ and says his passion is âto sing and bring joy to people.â
He claims a small number of market traders reported him to the market manager and the Police âsaid they could arrest me for breaching the peaceâ should any additional complaints be received.
After Strongmanâs plea for support on social media there has been an outcry of encouragement from businesses and residents.
The Highstreet Kitchen âlove listeningâ outside their restaurant and Mountain Warehouse staff welcomed him to be outside their store.
One resident even invited Strongman to sing by her house instead and others booked him to sing at events.
Latest New Forest crime stats
Data taken from the month of December 2024
47 reported crimes in âNew Forest Heartâ, including 10 burglary and 4 arson
124 reported crimes in Lymington, including 27 criminal damage and arson
179 reported crimes in Hythe, including 30 for shoplifting
Local government reorganisation and May elections update
New Forest District Council has been invited by the government to work with councils in Hampshire and the Solent to develop a reorganisation proposal.
Due to this process, elections for Hampshire County Council in May will now be postponed to May 2026.
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Nick Adams-King said: "This is exciting news for Hampshire. Devolution represents the biggest change to local government in a generation.â
Councillor Jack Davies, Lymington, is âdisappointedâ to see elections cancelled as elections are a âfundamental part of democracyâ.
Talking on which councils will merge, he said, âThey should do it properly and keep the whole of the New Forest separate or split the forest based on where each part looks to, north to Wiltshire, west to Dorset, east to Southampton/Test Valley.â
âWhat worries me more is the very real possibility that the timeline slips further and elections get postponed again past 2026.
The reorganisation is expected to be in place by April 2027 or 2028.