Spring 2012 - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

emember
Golden talent blossoms!
Young artist Chloe Pritchard will be helping Olympic excitement to
grow in the borough – quite literally! The nine-year-old from Overton
was the winner of a competition run by the borough council to
design a London 2012 themed flowerbed to be planted in Eastrop
Park. Chloe’s original design (shown above) has now been adapted
by a bedding plant company so that it can be recreated in flowers
and foliage for visitors to the park to enjoy in the spring.
Chloe said: “I’m so excited that a picture that I’ve drawn will be on
show in a park for the Olympics.”
A street party
fit for a queen
Street party organisers usually need to take out individual
insurance to cover events on public land, such as in a street
or a park. However, as 2012 is a special year, the council is
arranging a group liability insurance to cover most activities
residents will be planning on public land. To take advantage of
this, organisers need to let the council’s events team know well
in advance what they are planning.
The events team is also holding free street party workshops,
covering the key areas involved for organisers. These include
organising road closures and diversions; planning and
budgeting; hiring equipment and minimising the potential
hazards.
Workshops are being held from 7pm to 9pm at:
• Vyne Community School on Wednesday 25 April
• The Hurst Community College on Thursday 17 May
One of the parties held to mark the Royal wedding was
organised by Jaki Robbins of Old Basing. It went so well that
she’s planning another in June. “It made the whole street much
more friendly,” said Jaki. “Organising it seemed quite daunting
at first and there seemed so much red tape, but the events
team at the council talked me through it and made it really easy
to plan my party.”
Making an
Olympic splash
Hosting the Olympics so near to the borough is a great
opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by encouraging more
people of all ages to try a new sport and learn to love exercise.
One example of this is the regular free courses teaching people
over 55 to swim.
Myfanwy Whitehead, from Overton, who has just finished one
of the courses held at Basingstoke Sports Centre, said:
“I would definitely recommend it to other people. Our
swimming instructor Nick Mutalama gave us real confidence,
explaining it all and making it fun.”
For more information about free swimmig courses for the
over 55s see www.basingstoke.gov.uk/go/55swim
To book a place at one of these workshops please
contact community.training@basingstoke.gov.uk or call
01256 845622. For more advice on planning a street party
see www.basingstoke.gov.uk/go/streetparties
Mayor’s View
Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Cllr David Leeks said:
There is no better opportunity to celebrate the
borough’s fantastic community spirit than the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics. It would be great if the
lasting legacy of 2012 was new initiatives that bring our
communities even closer together.
Basingstoke & Deane Today 7