The Hampshire Villages Initiative (HVI) Funding Opportunity  

The HVI Programme Manager at Hampshire County Council Anna Longley has contacted Hart to inform us of a funding opportunity. Funding may be available to the Parishes of the district through the HVI programme. The initiative is looking to put forward a programme of projects for funding over the next two years 2006-2008. Anna is particularly open to helping parishes realise schemes that have been identified via the parish plan process with a wide backing from the local community. War memorial enhancements, ponds, village green improvements and the reduction of erosion by vehicles in several locations, seating, new village signs and finger posts, new timber bridges to improve access through villages, lighting and village entrances are some examples of projects from the last year to which the HVI programme has contributed funds. Funds are not available for Parish hall building improvements or maintenance, there needs to be an element of enhancement. The initiative proposes to match fund schemes up to 50% or 80% in special circumstances. It is important to note that there is no assurance of funding if you are put forward as part of the programme, confirmation of funds can only be given after the programme has been reported to the councillors. There is more information about the Hampshire Villages Initiative below.

If you have a scheme that you feel would be eligible please contact Anna Longley with a proposal:

HVI Programme
Environment Department
Hampshire County Council
The Castle
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 8UJ
E-mail - anna.longley@hants.gov.uk

What is the Hampshire Villages Initiative?

The Hampshire Villages Initiative was set up to carry out schemes of environmental enhancement in Hampshire's villages. In recent years countryside issues have increasingly become a focus for the Government and other organisations and the HAMPSHIRE VILLAGES INITIATIVE is in line with Hampshire County Council's commitment to maintain and extend investment in the rural community.

Aims and Objectives

The Initiative, with its emphasis on partnership working to address local environmental and traffic safety issues through schemes which enhance the distinctiveness and quality of Hampshire's villages, brings into focus the three Council corporate aims:

• Maximising Life Opportunities;
• Stewardship of the Environment;
• Building Strong and Safe Communities.

Within the remit of these strategic aims a number of specific objectives have been formulated to establish guidelines for future projects. The Hampshire Villages Initiative will:

• Facilitate schemes of enhancement which are of the highest standard
  A pre-requisite of any project undertaken by the Hampshire Villages Initiative is that it should be of a high standard of design. This objective applies to the whole project and encompasses the overall design through to the choice of materials.
• Impact on the public domain
  This does not imply that projects necessarily have to be carried out on land within public ownership, but they must contribute to the overall scene within a village and be of benefit to the community at large.
• Reflect the wishes of the local community
  All projects should reflect the wishes of the local community, expressed through the Parish Council or other local organisations, or be the subject of a consultation exercise undertaken expressly to elicit a response to a particular scheme.
• Reflect local character
  Each village has its own unique sense of place which may well be defined in a Village Design Statement. Schemes must reflect this character through, for example, design solutions, the choice of materials, the use of plants and the selection of street furniture.

Selection Criteria

Within the four overall objectives, schemes to be included within the programme should be within the public domain and seek to achieve the following:

• create a sense of identity and place, including on arrival at the village;
• remedy an existing eyesore;
• have an individual treatment based on the distinctiveness of each village;
• have immediate and significant impact; and
• reduce street clutter.

Priority will be given to schemes which:

• inspire a continuing programme of improvement beyond the immediate project;
• link and add value to the existing highway or other environmental schemes;
• offer the likelihood of attracting additional funding from other public and private sources; and
• enjoy a high level of local support.

Links to Other Programmes

The Initiative will tie in with local aspirations expressed through parish and district councils, local councillors or identified in Parish Plans, Village Design Statements and other Government Initiatives including the emerging community strategies. While the Hampshire Villages Initiative may be involved in the implementation of projects identified on their own merits it is anticipated that the Initiative will principally build on and add value to existing programmes, including those initiated by local and parish councils as well as the County Council's own Highways Capital and Maintenance Programmes and the Safer Routes to School Programme.

Emphasis on Quality

The Initiative will aim for high standards of workmanship and ensure that landscape planting, paving and street furniture with which the Initiative is likely to be involved reflect the quality and appropriateness reflective of the unique sense of place of Hampshire Villages. To this end the emphasis will be on:

• the use of heavier than normal landscape planting to create an immediate impact;
• the use of materials which exceed `standard' treatments;
• the inclusion of street lighting and street furniture which is attractive and well coordinated; and
• the promotion of opportunities, where possible, of public art.