Cllr Jay Ganesh

27/08/2026

🌳 A big step forward for The Chute Play Area

It was really encouraging to receive an update at last night’s Sherborne St John Parish Council meeting on the extensive work that has now been carried out to put right the problems left behind by the previous contractor.

I also took the opportunity to have a look during the day, and it’s great to see the new turf now laid. A huge amount of work has gone into rectifying the earlier issues, and I know everyone involved is keen to see the play area reopened for local families as soon as possible.

The Parish Council confirmed last night that the intention is to open the play area at the earliest opportunity. However, after the recent hot weather, it’s important that the new turf has time to establish itself properly and that the safety matting settles as intended. That means giving everything the best possible chance by keeping it well watered and allowing it to bed in before children return to enjoy it.

I’m sure everyone appreciates your patience while these works have been completed. I know it’s been frustrating, but I’m sure everyone would much rather it takes a little extra time now to ensure the play area is safe, durable and something the village can be proud of for years to come.

Well done to everyone at Sherborne St John Parish Council who has worked so hard to get us to this point. We’re nearly there!

Cllr Jay Ganesh
Councillor Karl Rand - Sherborne St John and Rooksdown
Councillor Rhydian Vaughan MBE

27/08/2026

Pemberley Place Fire Safety Works Update

Many residents have been asking about the long-awaited external fire safety remediation works at Pemberley Place, so I wanted to provide the latest update.

I have continued to chase VIVID for progress, as the programme has now suffered significant delays. The current situation is simply not acceptable, and I have been pressing for clear answers on when work will finally begin.

VIVID has confirmed that the delays are entirely due to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approval process. The full remediation plans were submitted back in November 2025, with any subsequent queries from the regulator answered promptly. The current forecast is for a decision by 18 August 2026, although this remains subject to the regulator’s timetable.

There is, however, some positive news. Homes England has now fully approved the funding package, meaning there are no outstanding funding issues and no costs will fall to leaseholders or shared owners. VIVID has also confirmed that Lawtech Group remains appointed as the contractor, ready to proceed once approval is received.

The neighbouring blocks, Netherfield and Longbourn, have also been surveyed and will require remediation works. As these buildings are below 18 metres, they can follow a different building control route and have also secured Homes England funding. VIVID is currently planning for all three buildings to be delivered by the same contractor, helping to coordinate the works and minimise disruption where possible.

Once work begins, residents should be aware that this is a major project and is expected to take up to 90 weeks to complete.

Whilst it is helpful to have a clearer explanation for the delays and confirmation that funding is in place, residents have already waited far too long. The continued delays are unacceptable, and I will keep pressing VIVID and the Building Safety Regulator for progress and will provide further updates as soon as I have them.

Cllr Jay Ganesh
Councillor Karl Rand - Sherborne St John and Rooksdown
Councillor Rhydian Vaughan MBE

27/08/2026

Great to experience the fun and celebrations during the parade in last night, with my Cllr colleague Cllr Jay Ganesh

16/08/2026

🚨 CRANESFIELD APPEAL NOW OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY 🚨

I have now received formal confirmation that B.Yond Homes Ltd has appealed against Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s refusal of its application to build 26 homes on land at Cranesfield, Sherborne St John.

The appeal will be decided following a full public inquiry—not simply through written representations.
The council confirms that:
📌 All comments previously submitted have been forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate and will be considered.
📌 Residents can submit further comments, or amend or withdraw their previous representation.
📌 The deadline for representations is 15 September 2026.
📌 The council’s formal Statement of Case is expected to be published by 17 September 2026.
📌 Community groups can also apply immediately for “Rule 6 status”, allowing them to present evidence formally and cross-examine the evidence of other parties at the inquiry.
To comment, use the Planning Inspectorate’s portal and quote:

🚨 Appeal reference: 6013081
🚨 Council appeal reference: 26/00033/REF
🚨 Planning application: 25/02051/FUL
🔗 Submit comments to the Planning Inspectorate⁠
https://appeal-planning-decision.service.gov.uk/.../enter...

This appeal matters greatly to Sherborne St John. I will continue to oppose this development and work alongside the Parish Council, residents and our local campaign team to ensure the community’s evidence and concerns are heard clearly.

Please do not miss the 15 September deadline—and please share this information with neighbours who may wish to take part.
We fought this application before. We will make our case again.

Cllr Simon Minas-Bound l Councillor Rhydian Vaughan MBE l Councillor Karl Rand - Sherborne St John and Rooksdown l Cllr Jay Ganesh

25/06/2026

🚔📢 Have Your Say on the Future of Policing in Hampshire & the Isle of Wight 🗳️🏡

The future of policing in our communities could be changing – and your opinion matters.

The Government is considering proposals to merge existing police forces into larger regional organisations across England and Wales. These changes could affect how policing is delivered across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for years to come.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight is inviting residents to share their views before any decisions are made.

💬 Whether you:
👮 Support locally focused policing
⚖️ Have concerns about larger regional police forces
🏘️ Want to protect strong local accountability
🗣️ Or simply want your voice to be heard...

This is your opportunity to take part.

📝 Complete the survey here:
👉 [https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/91139326/Police-Force-Merger-Consultation-Have-your-say]

⏱️ The survey takes just a few minutes to complete, but your feedback could help shape the future of policing in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

🤝 Strong policing starts with strong communities. Before decisions are made that could reshape local policing, it's important that local residents have the opportunity to have their say.

🙏 Thank you for taking the time to participate.

📣 Please consider sharing this post so more residents can take part.

🗳️ 🚔 🌊 🛡️ 👮 📋 🗣️

Cllr Simon Minas-Bound l Councillor Karl Rand - Sherborne St John and Rooksdown l Councillor Rhydian Vaughan MBE l Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & Isle of Wight l Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary l Basingstoke Cops

24/06/2026

🚨 Potential New Housing Development Proposed in Sherborne St John 🚨

As your ward councillors, we believe residents should be informed at the earliest opportunity about proposals that could affect our community.

We have recently been contacted by representatives acting on behalf of B.Yond Homes regarding land at Sireburn Close / east of Aldermaston Road, Sherborne St John. We have been advised that the developer is considering submitting a planning application later this year.

At present, very little information has been provided. We understand the proposal could involve new housing on the northern part of the site, with the southern section retained as public open space. However, no planning application has yet been submitted, and we have not been provided with details on the number of homes, access arrangements, traffic impacts, design, drainage, infrastructure requirements, or the potential impact on local services.

As many residents will know, our local infrastructure is already under significant pressure. Concerns are frequently raised about road congestion, access to GP appointments, school capacity, drainage and flood risk, water supply, and the availability of community facilities. Any proposal for additional housing must be accompanied by the necessary infrastructure to support both existing and future residents. Development cannot simply be about building houses; it must also address the services and facilities that enable communities to thrive.

The developer has indicated that a public consultation is expected to take place during July before any planning application is submitted. We would strongly encourage residents to participate and ensure their views are heard at the earliest stage possible.

Should a formal planning application be submitted, residents will have the opportunity to comment directly through the Borough Council's planning portal. Representations can be made in support of, or in objection to, the application, and all material planning considerations raised by residents must be taken into account as part of the decision-making process. We will share details of how to do this, along with the application reference number, once it becomes available.

While it is important to keep an open mind until the full details are known, it is equally important that local people are fully informed and have a genuine opportunity to scrutinise any proposal that could have a lasting impact on our village.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and will share further information as soon as it becomes available.

📢 Please share this post with neighbours and local community groups to help ensure residents are aware of the proposal and can participate in the consultation process.

Cllr Simon Minas-Bound l Councillor Karl Rand - Sherborne St John and Rooksdown l Councillor Rhydian Vaughan MBE

24/06/2026

Friends of the Earth Briefing: Sherborne St John & Rooksdown – The Headlines

Friends of the Earth have published a ward-level environmental briefing for Sherborne St John & Rooksdown, drawing together data from a range of national datasets. While some of the figures are based on modelling rather than direct local measurements, they provide an interesting snapshot of our area.

Key Data

🏠 706 homes (12%) are poorly insulated (EPC bands E-G)

🌊 130 homes are currently at high flood risk, rising to an estimated 191 homes under future climate scenarios

🌡️ 36.3°C was the highest temperature recorded locally during the 2022 heatwave

🌳 11.4% tree canopy cover, compared with a recommended minimum of 20%

🚶 73% of residents live within a 15-minute walk of greenspace

A More Balanced Picture

As with any ward-wide report, it’s important to recognise the diversity of Sherborne St John & Rooksdown.

Much of the ward has seen significant new housing development over the last 15 years, meaning many homes already benefit from modern insulation and energy efficiency standards. Indeed many recently have been built with solar panels.

Equally, large parts of the ward remain rural in character, with fields, hedgerows, woodland edges and open countryside making an important contribution to our local environment and quality of life.

Our Focus

Rather than simply highlighting problems, the focus should be on practical action that delivers results. As your local councillors, we will always focus on ensuring developments include substantial tree planting and green infrastructure from the outset, protecting existing hedgerows and mature trees, improving flood resilience, supporting residents to make older homes more energy efficient, and maintaining access to high-quality green spaces for residents.

By planning properly, insisting on high standards from developers, and protecting the character of our villages and neighbourhoods, we can ensure Sherborne St John & Rooksdown remains a great place to live while leaving the environment in a better state for future generations. 🌳🌾🏡

Cllr Jay Ganesh | Councillor Karl Rand - Sherborne St John and Rooksdown | Councillor Rhydian Vaughan MBE

18/06/2026

🐉✨ The Beast of Basingstoke Has Awakened! ✨🦄

Something magical is stirring in our town centre!!!

The wait is finally over! The giant egg has hatched, the mystery has been solved, and 'The Beast of Basingstoke' is ready to meet its people as the 15th Basingstoke Festival gets underway.

Join more than 20 community groups, local schools, and over 500 marchers for the spectacular Parade of the Mythical Beasts, a magical celebration filled with dragons, unicorns, phoenixes and many other mythical creatures.

🎺 Featuring:
🥁 Wilson’s Second Liners
🎶 Basingstoke Silver Band Cavaliers
🎵 Royal British Legion Band

📅 Date: Friday 19th June 2026
🕠 Starts at 5:30pm
📍 Cross Street, Basingstoke

The parade will travel through Church Street, past the Willis Museum, along Wote Street and finish at the Festival Place Amphitheatre.

The fun continues with:
🎉 Mr Wilson’s Second Liners performing crowd-pleasing 90s club classics
🤹 Tit for Tat Circus presenting their brand-new show, *A Disorder of Knights*
✨ An unforgettable evening of music, entertainment, magic and mayhem

Whether you're a local resident, visiting the town, or one of the creative minds who helped design the Beast of Basingstoke, this event is for everyone.

Bring your family, friends and your most "roarsome" energy and help launch three fantastic weekends of festival fun!

⏰ Performances are expected to conclude by approximately 7:30pm.

We look forward to seeing many residents from Sherborne St John and Rooksdown ward and across the borough enjoying this wonderful community celebration.



Cllr Simon Minas-Bound l Councillor Karl Rand - Sherborne St John and Rooksdown l Councillor Rhydian Vaughan MBE l Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Basingstoke Festival Celebrate 15 years of creativity, culture and shared experiences at Basingstoke Festival. BASINGSTOKE FESTIVAL WEEKEND ONE Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June See everything in one day BASINGSTOKE FESTIVAL WEEKEND TWO Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 June See everything in one day BASINGSTOKE F...