Marchwood Parish Council

03/06/2026

The play park behind the Village Hall has been re-opened.
The anti-social behaviour has been reported to the police and the fire service have also attended the play park to check the substance.
Marchwood Parish Council ground staff have jet washed the entire play park.
Thank you to Dave & Rob and also thank you to Little Gardners Nursery for providing the water for the jet washer.

27/05/2026

14/05/2026

NFDC Update

Phase 3 waste collections begin this week

New waste collections for phase 3 have started this week.

Phase 3 includes homes in Hythe, Fawley, Lyndhurst, Marchwood, Totton, and surrounding areas.

This final phase marks the completion of the new waste service rollout in the district and brings improved recycling services to 36,000 more homes.

Since the rollout began in June 2025:

• over 4 million collections have taken place

• we are collecting an average of 78 tonnes of food waste per week for recycling

• over 300,000 bins and food waste caddies have been delivered to more than 80,000 homes

• more than 200 staff members have been trained to follow improved collection routes, and use new vehicles and technology

If you are in phase 3, your new collection day may be different than your previous black and clear sack collection day. To check your collection day and which waste we are collecting each week, you can check online.
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/FindYourCollection

We will no longer collect sacks unless we have confirmed this with you directly – for example, if your property has been assessed as unsuitable for bins, or you are awaiting bin delivery.

Our teams collect your waste anytime from 6am to 2pm. As they settle into new routes, vehicles and technology, we’re working hard to keep everything running smoothly.

Food waste caddies and wheelie bins are collected by different vehicles, at different times.

If your collection hasn’t taken place by the end of the day, our apologies. Please report it by midday the following day on our website.
https://newforest.gov.uk/missedcollections

Thank you for working with us to recycle food waste, and reduce waste in the district. Our Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, has written a message for residents, reflecting on the changes and progress made so far: read on our website.
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/4237/Waste-and-recycling-service-Open-letter-from-Cllr-Geoffrey-Blunden-12-May-2026
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Our services over the May bank holiday

The next bank holiday is on Monday 25 May 2026.

Recycling and rubbish collections will not change over the bank holiday. This includes glass recycling and garden waste collections. Please present your waste as usual.

You can check your normal collection day on our website.
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/findyourcollection

Our information offices and customer services will be closed on the bank holiday and over the weekend, but you can still access many of our services on our website.

See our emergency contact information.
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/contact
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Hampshire County Council election results

The results of the 2026 Hampshire County Council elections, held on 7 May, are published on Hampshire County Council’s website.
https://democracy.hants.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=38&RPID=71672611
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Stallions in the New Forest

On Monday 11 May, 25 stallions were released into the Forest for breeding season, which will last 6 weeks.

Please keep your distance from the ponies, as they can be unpredictable. As always, drive with care and remember to stick to the speed limits on the roads.

To protect our environment and the wildlife that calls it home, there are two Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) in place. These PSPOs ban the petting and feeding of ponies and donkeys and lighting of fires within the Forest.
https://newforest.gov.uk/PSPO

Read and follow the New Forest code on Forestry England’s website.
https://www.forestryengland.uk/new-forest-code
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Community banking sessions in New Milton

You can get support with banking services at weekly community banking drop-in sessions.

The drop-in sessions are taking place at New Milton Town Hall, BH25 6AS:

• Lloyds and Halifax will be offering support every Wednesday from 9am to 3.30pm.

• Santander will be offering support every Thursday from 9am to 4pm.

These community banking sessions offer help and support to those who might be unable to visit their local branch or access their website. Please note that assistance with cash transactions is not available at these sessions.

Find more money support and advice on our website.
https://newforest.gov.uk/WelfareAndMoneyAdvice
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Protect yourself from tick bites

The UK Health Security Agency is reminding everyone to be aware of ticks this spring and summer to avoid the risk of catching tick-borne infections, such as Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is an infection which is spread by some tick species. People can get the disease if they’re bitten by an infected tick, particularly when spending time outdoors in green spaces.

You can reduce the risk of being bitten by a tick by:

• wearing clothing that covers your skin to make it more difficult for ticks to bite you

• keeping to clearly defined paths and not brushing against vegetation

• using insect repellent

• wearing light coloured clothing so that you easily spot ticks and brush them off

• checking yourself, your clothing, pets and others for ticks after spending time outside

• removing a tick as soon as you spot it using a tick removal tool or fine tipped tweezers

Find more information and advice, including the signs of Lyme disease, on the UK Health Security Agency’s website.

https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/03/21/what-is-lyme-disease-and-why-do-we-need-to-be-tick-aware/

11/05/2026

County Council Election Results Declared

The votes for the County Council election on Thursday 7 May have been counted, and no single party has achieved overall control.

As no party has a majority of more than 50% of seats on the County Council, the parties may now enter a period of negotiation to decide the make-up of the new Administration. At the County Council’s Annual General Meeting on 21 May the new Leader of the County Council will be elected, alongside a new Chairman and Vice Chairman.

The new political leadership will shape the Council’s approach to key local priorities, including roads, transport, education and social care.

Of the 78 seats on the County Council, the political make-up of the County Council is now:

Conservatives - 27
Liberal Democrat - 26
Reform UK - 20
Green Party - 1
Labour - 1
Independent - 1
Whitehill & Bordon Community Party - 1
Community Campaign (Hart) - 1

The full breakdown of results by electoral division is available on the County Council website.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the election.

We look forward to continuing working with you in support of Hampshire’s residents.

30/04/2026

NFDC Update
Bin delivery update
Most homes in your area have now had their new bins and food waste caddies delivered.

We are still delivering to some homes in Copythorne and Netley Marsh. If you live in one of these areas, please wait until the end of this weekend (3 May) to report a missing bin delivery, unless your nearby neighbours already have theirs.

For homes sharing communal bins, food waste bins and caddies will be delivered up to the May start date.
If you have not got your bins and/or caddies yet, please report a missing bein delivery as soon as possible so that we can sort it for you.
https://newforest.gov.uk/bindeliveries
Before reporting missing food waste caddies, please check to see if they have been delivered inside your wheelie bins.

If you have already reported a missing bin or caddy, there’s no need to make a report again. We have your details and are arranging delivery before your new collections begin.
We will start collecting the new bins and outdoor caddies during the week beginning Monday 11 May – please do not put them out for collection before then as they will not be emptied.
Deliveries of larger or extra bins
We can collect extra general waste from eligible homes. This includes homes with specific medical needs, 6 or more people, or 2 or more children in nappies.

All residents can request us to collect extra recycling.

How we collect extra waste depends on what works best for each property. We may provide a larger bin or an extra bin. If your home has been assessed as unsuitable for wheelie bins and is using sacks, we may collect extra sacks.

We are currently focusing on the initial delivery of bins to homes in your area, so we cannot yet confirm when larger or extra bins will be delivered.

If your application for us to collect extra general waste has been approved, we will still collect this before your larger or extra bin arrives. If you are unsure how this will work for your home, please email [email protected] and we will check this for you.
Find out more about larger or extra bins
https://newforest.gov.uk/BinRequest

Your first food waste collection
As part of our new waste collection service we will be collecting food waste, every week.

After your usual collection next week (4 to 8 May), you can start putting food waste in your grey indoor caddy.

To help keep your indoor caddy clean, you may wish to line it. Once the starter roll of liners (delivered inside your caddy) has run out, you can use newspaper, reuse small bags (such as bread bags), or buy liners. All liners are mechanically removed at the anaerobic digestion facility where your food waste is processed for recycling.

When the indoor caddy is full, tie the liner if you’re using one and empty it into:
your brown outdoor food waste caddy, or
your brown‑lidded wheelie bin if you share communal bins
You can add any uneaten food (whether raw or cooked, out of date, or mouldy) to your food waste caddy. Examples of food waste you can put in your caddy include:
plate scrapings
meat and fish, including bones
tea bags and coffee grounds
fruit and vegetables including peelings, and other parts you can’t use such as pips, stones, and stalks
shellfish and seafood shells
dairy products, such as cheese
bread, cakes, pastries
eggs and eggshells
rice, pasta, and beans
pet food
solidified cooking fat
Please do not put anything other than food in your caddy, including:
packaging of any kind (except what you are using to line the caddy)
glass
liquids, such as milk, liquid fat, or gravy
oils, such as used cooking oil
any material that is not food waste, including cat litter, animal poo, pet bedding, or garden waste
You can watch this video by Hampshire county Council to see how your food waste is recycled once it is collected.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw-RQHG22lM
Look inside your food waste caddy
Inside your food waste caddy you will find your ‘Get Set’ leaflet explaining the new food waste collection service, and your starter roll of caddy liners.

We have also hidden five golden tickets inside food waste caddies. If you find one, you can choose from a selection of prizes.

So far, two golden tickets have been found: Lee from Hythe has chosen a water butt, and Reece from Totton has chosen a year of garden waste collections.

Other prizes to choose from include a one‑week family swimming pass at a Freedom Leisure centre, a compost bin, a bulky waste collection, or a £50 donation to the Chairman’s charity.
Waste collections over May bank holidays do not change
Recycling and rubbish collections will not change over the upcoming Monday 4 May bank holiday – your collection day will be the same day of the week. This includes glass recycling and garden waste collections. Please present your waste as usual.

You can check you normal collection day on our website.
https://newforest.gov.uk/FindYourCollection
In the next email…
Next week we will send another email with more information to help you get ready for collections starting during the week beginning Monday 11 May.

This will include reminders about:
how your new collection schedule will work
how to prepare for your first collection day under the new service
what goes in each bin
For more details, please check the leaflets delivered to your home or visit our waste and recycling webpages.
https://newforest.gov.uk/article/3809/Changes-to-recycling-and-rubbish-collections-from-2025-to-2026

This email is for residents in the phase 3 area for new waste collections.

Phase 3 covers East and Northeast New Forest: Applemore, Ashurst, Colbury, Bartley Park, parts of Beaulieu, Blackfield and Langley, Bramshaw, Butts Ash, Calmore, Totton, Copythorne, Dibden, Dibden Purlieu, Eling, Exbury and Lepe, Fawley, Furzedown, Holbury, Hythe, Langdown, Lyndhurst, Marchwood, Minstead, Netley Marsh, Rushington, Testwood.

We are introducing a new waste collection service for the New Forest district from summer 2025 to spring 2026. It will be introduced in 3 phases, with different areas starting at different times. 

29/04/2026

Marchwood Parish Council are pleased to let you know that the football goals have been put up at cork field. A small area of the centre field has been cut ready for you to enjoy playing some football.

29/04/2026

NFDC Update
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Services over May bank holidays

The May bank holidays are on Monday 4 May and Monday 25 May.

Recycling and rubbish collections will not change over the bank holidays. This includes glass recycling and garden waste collections. Please present your waste as usual.

You can check your normal collection day on our website.
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/findyourcollection

Our information offices and customer services will be closed on the bank holidays and over the weekend, but you can still access many of our services on our website.

See our emergency contact information.
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/contact
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Voter ID – Hampshire County Council election

Remember your photo ID to vote in Hampshire County Council’s election on Thursday 7 May.

There are many forms of valid ID including passports, driving licences (including provisional), Older or Disabled Person’s bus passes, and Oyster 60+ cards.

Check what you can use as photo ID.
https://newforest.gov.uk/VoterID

You must bring the original document with you. We cannot accept scanned images, copies, or photos of your ID shown on your phone. Your poll card does not count as valid ID.

If you do not have an accepted form of voter ID, the deadline to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April (tomorrow).
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/VoterID

Out of date identification will be accepted if the photo is still a current likeness.

Find out more information about the scheduled Hampshire County Council elections.
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/3608/Hampshire-County-Council-elections-Thursday-7-May-2026
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Your rights as a tenant
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/rentersrights

The Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on 1 May 2026.
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/4225/Renters-Rights-Act-information-for-renters

This gives tenants new rights, as well as introducing new rules for landlords.

It means:
• ‘no fault’ evictions (Section 21) are banned
• rent increases are limited to once per year
• there is an Advance Rent Payment cap
• tenants have more protection against discrimination
• more rights for pet owners
• stronger landlord controls, enforcement and penalties come into force

If you own a property that you rent out, it’s important to comply with the new legislation. You can find information for landlords on our website.
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/4226/Renters-Rights-Act-information-for-landlords
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Community safety events – free bike registering

Our community safety team is hosting community events across the district over the next few months.

We’ll be joined by our local policing colleagues at the sessions, where you’ll have the chance to find out how we’re working together to target crime and antisocial behaviour across the district.

You can also bring along your bike to any of the sessions, which can be marked for free and added to the National Bike Register Database.

The sessions are taking place on:

• Wednesday 13 May (9am to 12pm), Ringwood Gateway
• Tuesday 19 May (9am to 12pm), Hythe market
• Wednesday 3 June (9am to 12pm), New Milton market
• Wednesday 1 July (9am to 12pm), Totton precinct
• Wednesday 8 July (9am to 12pm), Lymington, St Thomas Street car park

You can find more details about the engagement sessions on the Safer New Forest website.
https://www.safer.newforest.gov.uk/article/3511/Community-engagement-events
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Funding for energy efficient home upgrades

You can register your interest to get fully funded improvements that make your home more energy efficient from the Warmer Homes programme.

If your combined household income is £36,000 or less per year, you may be eligible for measures such as insulation, solar panels, or a heat pump. These upgrades can help reduce heat loss and lower your energy costs.

The funding is available to homeowners and private renters. Landlords can also apply, with full funding available for their first property and 50% funding for additional properties.

The scheme, run by Portsmouth City Council, is available for homes of all fuel types, and applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis.

Find out more and apply on the Warmer Homes website.
https://www.warmerhomes.org.uk/
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Avian flu update

Mandatory housing measures for poultry and flocks of more than 50 captive birds were lifted earlier this month.

This means they no longer need to be housed and can be kept outside, unless you are in a Protection Zone or Captive Bird Monitoring (Controlled) Zone. You can check whether you are in these areas on the GOV.UK website.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu-cases-and-disease-control-zones-in-england

The housing measures were introduced across the whole of England on 6 November last year to prevent the spread of bird flu.
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Home fire safety visits

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service provide free home fire safety visits to vulnerable people to help protect them and their home from fire.

Some of the ways they can help include identifying potential fire risks and giving advice on how to prevent or reduce the risk, making sure people have working fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, putting together a household fire escape plan, and more.

In an emergency, always call 999.

Find out more about home fire safety visits.
https://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/safety/home-safe-home/safe-and-well/