Community Benefit

Community Benefit Scheme – Solar Farms

Thanks to the solar farms in the parish we will receive Community Benefit payments over the coming years to be spent for the benefit of residents on environmental, educational or amenity projects and wherever possible, towards the promotion of sustainable energy and uses.

If you have any ideas as to how this money might be spent, please contact the Chairman or Clerk.

The first project is the replacement of footpath stiles by self-closing or kissing gates. If you know of any stiles which would merit being replaced, please let us know.

The first stiles were replaced in September, October and November 2017 with help from members of the North East Hampshire Ramblers under the guidance of Emma Broadbent, Countryside Access Ranger with Hampshire County Council’s Countryside Service. Also involved in the work were parish councillor Meyrick Williams and the parish footpaths warden Chris Griffin.

A major project to upgrade Footpath 4 from Pale Lane towards Dogmersfield was completed in 2018. And in March 2019, three self-closing gates were erected at Footpaths 8 and 10 in Bagwell Lane and at Footpath 501 on Totters Lane.

Work to continue to improve footpaths in the village is ongoing with work to Footpaths 5 and 6 proposed for spring 2023.

For details of the footpaths in the parish, see the separate page on Walks in Winchfield.

The Community Benefit Fund had also been used to support a tree and hedgerow planting scheme in the village.

Community Benefit – Parish Council Fund

The Parish Council sets aside funds each year that will be used for projects that benefit the village. We welcome applications from any individuals or groups who have ideas and would like to discuss potential funding.

Money has already been used to support a Christmas party for young people living in the village and to set up a new choir group.

S106 Funds

The Parish Council has access to funds, held by Hart District Council, that have been collected as part of the process of granting planning permission for sites within the parish. S106 funds are made available to mitigate the loss to the community of access to land that has subsequently been developed.  S106 funds are therefore available to support projects that seek to make available new open spaces or facilities for inhabitants of Winchfield or to increase capacity, or access, or to allow existing facilities to be used more intensively.

We have already supported Winchfield Village Hall Committee in accessing some of these funds to help make improvements at the hall including acoustic rafts, improved IT provision and a new website.  Please get in touch if you have a project idea.

Funding from outside bodies

The Parish Council often has access to other sources of funding that we can apply for alongside groups for example funding was sourced, and matched by the Parish Council, for events in the village to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee and the Coronation.