2025 End of Year Review
With thanks to Chair of the Council – Cllr Chris Cooper for this look back at 2025.
Botley Parish Council has had a very successful 2025 in terms of delivering on the ambitions set out at the start of the year, (Revels on the Rec, Annual Parish Assembly, Carols in the Square), but also delivering more than expected (Pudbrook Path, Big Sweep, the start of Asset Transfer and a Freedom of Botley). Whilst dealing with significant changes in personnel, with a new Parish Clerk (Dave) and more team members (+ 4 – Justin, James, Christine and Alisia).
A Year of Firsts
Botley Parish Council celebrated many firsts in 2025. Including the first:
- Resilience plan published
- Annual Parish Assembly, first since Covid
- Big sweep
- Freedom of Botley awarded
- Community art project in Boorley Green
- Parish ecologist appointed
- Grounds apprentice studying Horticulture
- Strategy Day held
Other wins
Another Green Flag Award for 2025 (1st attained in 2012!), demonstrating ongoing excellence in our management of the High Street Recreation Ground. Hosting Revels on the Rec in June, which was a massive success for our community in terms of positive feedback and local economic benefits. The youth club at Boorley Green Community Centre continued to grow in numbers of young people attending. The redirected path for Pudbrook opened in the Autumn, required to protect the riverbank from erosion. The opening of the Wallace Avenue Allotments in partnership with Eastleigh Borough Council and the new Allotment Association in October. Wrapping up a successful 2025 with a very well attended and received Carols in the Square in December.
Au Revoir and Welcome
We said goodbye to two staff members in January, Janet and Dennis. We welcomed to the team: Dave (new Parish Clerk) & Justin (grounds) – in January and April; James (new role – Estates Operations Manager), Alisia (new apprentice) and Christine (new role of admin) all in the summer.
Asset Transfer
The expansion in the Parish team is due to the increase in the scope of responsibility that Botley Parish Council is due to take on. Some of this is organic growth due to the new homes in the parish, whilst some is due to Local Government Reorganisation, with Eastleigh Borough Council transferring its assets to Botley Parish Council.
What does this mean? Botley will be wholly responsible for grass and tree maintenance for many parts of the Parish, as well as Mortimer Road Car Park from the 1st April 2026. Two new team members are due to join in early 2026 – both becoming members of our estates team. The legal process for first of three tranches of assets to transfer has started with all tranches due to complete by the end of 2026.
Councillors working for Botley
Councillors have owned and put a tremendous amount of time, effort and their skills into various projects across the council.
For instance: The Resilience Plan was led by Cllr Stone, supported by Parish staff and Eastleigh Borough Council. The plan is due to be tested in early 2026 via a desktop exercise. This is a key deliverable for the council to have met and better prepares us for future emergencies.
On the environment front, our successful sewage campaign has seen a reduction in discharges. This is led by Cllr Gurd, supported by Cllr Kyrle wearing his Borough & County hats. Cllr Kitching is leading the pollinators campaign, with a future project in Little Hatts now commissioned that will see the council promoting new hives there.
Cllr Wildin has been the face of the Neighbourhood Plan, with his social media video shorts and his presence under the gazebo on the High Street. Cllr Wildin also led the Freedom of Botley celebration for Dr Colin Mercer’s 50 years of local service. Colin was also recognised in the New Years honours list with a BEM for his 50 years of service to Botley.
The Wallace Avenue allotments opening was led by Cllr Kinloch with support from Cllr Grinham and the parish team. This was a wider team effort with external support from Eastleigh Borough Council and the new allotment association.
Our successful youth club led by (ex-Councillor) Jamie Harding. With Councillors also handling day-to-day enquires and case work. A shout out to Cllr Grinham who has been especially active on a variety of resident case work this year including anti-social behaviour, noise from the bypass construction, sewage in gardens, saving an old oak and helping residents with planning applications.
We welcomed in December a new Councillor, Matt Lamey.
Overall, an impressive return. Which would not have been possible without the support of our excellent parish staff across all these varied campaigns, events and activities. Well done and thank you team. Great work.
Project Success for our Community
Community Projects are typically led directly by the Parish Clerk and team. However, I start with a great example of excelling in an ongoing manner, with another Green Flag award. Well done Dave Bastable and the team, Justin and Alisia.
This year’s Revels on the Rec was a great example of all the Parish staff coming together, with our Deputy Clerk Matthew in the lead seat. Team members also led on the following: the new community art project (Kat); delivering new interpretation boards (Matthew) and re-directed path at Pudbrook (Dave Bastable),Carols in the Square (Christine); Plus, our team delivered the Annual Parish Meeting in April with PCC Donna Jones as our keynote speaker. Along with the Big Sweep in May and the strategy day in October.
Thank you, team, for an outstanding year and all your support.
Changing How We Work
The Parish staff have also been subtlety transforming how they work and preparing for the future. This includes improving our use of technology with new tools such as Parish Online which will be used to manage our green (trees and grass) asset base. Plus, improving our exploitation of SharePoint, Co-Pilot and the myriad of tools available to the council via MS365.
A significant milestone was met in 2025 when the new grounds workshop design was finalised. This is an essential replacement as the current structure is at end of life. The workshop project is led by Matthew (Deputy Clerk) and Cllr Simcock, supported by Cllr Kyrle and the grounds team. This will be a significant investment by the council in the year ahead.
Two new Working Groups
Botley Parish Council has several active working groups, with two new ones created in 2025. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the High Street Working Group. The EWG is led by Cllr Tom Gurd and is being advised by Ian Flux the parish council’s first ecology consultant; with members including Hampshire & IoW Wildlife Trust.
The High Street Working group is preparing for a post bypass future, when the High Street can evolve to be a people centric place. A project called Botley as a Destination has been kicked off sponsored by the working group.
Bypass
Our immediate local vicinity is being shaped by the new Botley Bypass. The noisy pile driving is now over. The public viewing platform is in place. Some members have seen the construction site. Please regularly check the Hampshire Botley Bypass page to keep abreast of the latest developments.
Setback
One setback this year was the withdrawal of the Botley Neighbourhood Plan. Frustrating as this situation is the outlook currently is positive. The intent is to re-submit on the basis the cost to Botley Parish Council is minimal, the examiner is favourable to a new submission, and the local planning authority backs the plan.
Surprise
A surprise to close out this year was Botley being named one of the best places to live in Hampshire. A tad bias, but I wholeheartedly agree. Thank you, Muddy Stilettos.
Thank You Botley
Thank you as well to you the Botley Community for supporting the parish council in 2025. Your attendance at the events, the volunteering and continued use of our facilities. Please sign up for volunteer opportunities and do respond to the facilities survey for our recreation spaces.
Thank you all for a successful 2025. Pats on the back all round. Looking forward to a busy 2026.
Cllr Chris Cooper, Chair Botley Council