Page last updated at 09:06 GMT, Friday, February 3 2012
Hedge End, West End and Botley
There are six wards which elect 13 Councillors to the Hedge End,
West End & Botley Local Area Committee. The three
communities are also represented by two Parish Councils Botley and West End) and one Town
Council (Hedge End). There are
some 35,000 residents living in these communities, making this the
largest of the five local areas. Geographically the area sits
at the heart of the Borough with Eastleigh and Winchester to the
North, Southampton, Fareham and the Hamble to the South. Each
of the three communities, whilst closely situated, have a different
history and character.
Hedge End has been at the centre of this rapidly expanding area
with easy access to the M27. However, the original settlement is
believed to get its name from a farm at the end of a hedge on a
road from Botley. Like much of the Borough, Hedge End was a
rural farming area dating from the 13th Century. In the late
19th Century it became known as the 'Strawberry Village' with a
substantial market garden and strawberry growing areas. Today
it is a modern town with office parks, out of town superstores and
residential areas, on the main transport route of the M27.
West End is still known
as 'the village' to local residents and has always been known for
agriculture and market gardening as well its paper mill on the
River Itchen. Now known as Gaters Mill, in 1686 it belonged
to the Company of White Papermakers. Wooded hills and views
across the Itchen have drawn many people to West End. Hatch
Grange, once part of the grounds of a large house, is now a public
park enjoyed by the local residents. West End has the lovely
Itchen Valley Country Park on its door step.
It can also claim to be a centre of sporting excellence as it is
the new home of Hampshire County Cricket Club and the Hampshire
Tennis and Health club.
Botley is an historic village which obtained its charter from
Henry III for a market in 1267, although there has been a
settlement here since at least the 10th century. Between 1806
and 1820 it was the home of the famous journalist and radical
politician William Cobbett who described the village as the most
delightful in the world. There is a memorial stone to William
Cobbett in the village square. Flour mills have existed in
Botley for over a 1,000 years and the old Botley Mill is at the end
of the High Street. The fine Market Hall built in 1848 and
old coaching inns can be found in the High Street together with
many interesting houses.
The new Wellstead Primary School on the Dowd's Farm
development.
Local Area Plan - Policies and Priorities
Volunteers from the 31st Amazon sea scouts have
planted over 1500 miniature daffodils in the Hedge End area in
response to a request from elderly residents wanting their area to
look brighter in the Spring. The daffodils were funded by local
business sponsors as Council funding has been suspended following a
budget review.
Andrew King from the Amazon Scouts
commented. "We were pleased to do the autumn planting day -
the daffodils look great in the spring and it is particularly nice
to know that they are appreciated by the local
residents".
A public art project at Dowds Farm Park has recently been
completed with the inclusion of a jetty on the parklands lake. The
jetty has been designed to ensure full accessibility to the
waterside. The jetty was funded through the provision of Developers
Contributions from Bovis the main developer of Dowds Farm
community
For more information please contact
your Local Area Co-ordinator
Jonathan Riddell
Telephone No.: 023 8068 8437
email: jon.riddell@eastleigh.gov.uk
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