Botley Parish Council – Annual Parish Meeting

Last Monday Botley Parish Council held its Annual Parish Meeting bringing together residents, councillors, partners and guests to reflect on achievements from the past year and to look ahead to priorities for the upcoming year.

Reviewing 2025: A Year of Community and Progress

The Chair highlighted that 2025 was a strong year for Botley, marked by major community events, environmental action and long‑term planning.

• Revels on the Rec (June 2025) welcomed around 4,500 attendees, with over two‑thirds having a direct connection to Botley. The event received 5‑star feedback, supported local suppliers, generated income for the local economy, and significantly strengthened community wellbeing. The next Revels is planned for 2028.
• Carols in the Square (December 2025) was the biggest yet, supported by local musicians, volunteers and community organisations, with further improvements planned for 2026.

Investing in Place and Environment

• Botley retained its Green Flag Award in 2025, extending a record of excellence that has run for over 10 years.
• The Clean River Hamble Campaign, led by Parish Councillors and partners, made positive progress and continues all year round.
• Over 1,200 new trees are being planted across the parish, alongside continued care for Pudbrook Path and other green spaces.
• A successful Strategy Day for councillors and staff set the direction for making Botley the best place to live, work and play.

Community Projects and Resilience

Significant work took place across the parish, including:

• New Wallace Avenue allotments, opened in October 2025
• A Community Art Project at Boorley Green Community Centre
• Testing of the Parish Resilience Plan in February 2026
• Large‑scale community clean‑ups, with further “Big Sweep” events planned

Looking Ahead to 2026/27

Key priorities for the coming year include:

• Delivery of the new High Street Recreation Ground play area, with community consultation on design
• Ongoing preparation for a post‑bypass future, including work through the Future Towns programme
• Keeping up the Christmas lights through January following strong resident support
• Preparing for local government reorganisation and potential community asset transfers, including Boorley Green facilities

The meeting concluded with a keynote presentation from Kitty Budden (Eastleigh Borough Council) on asset transfer opportunities and future ownership of key community assets.

Click below to see the slides from Kitty’s presentation

Botley Parish Council thanks residents, volunteers, partners and staff for their continued support and involvement in parish life.