Local elections 2024: What does Havant need?

Affordable housing, support for retail businesses and more dog poo bins. Three wishes from people who live in the Havant Borough Council area. We took our whiteboard and easel into the market to ask people "what does Havant need?" ahead of the local elections.

Jodie Higgins, a shop manager, said she wanted cheaper or free parking in the town centre to help businesses.

She said: "If you want to come into town for an hour, it's too expensive especially when the retail parks and supermarkets are free.

"I think we need to offer an hour free and make it cheaper for a few hours afterwards, that would improve footfall."

Grandmother Joyce Matley said she wanted affordable housing for those in their 20s.

She said: "One of my grandchildren has a baby and two step-children in a tiny one-bed flat.

"They have to sleep on a settee every night and it's not fair.

"They work, get decent wages - but they can't get anywhere affordable"

NHS worker Soyan Joseph said more support was needed for local shops and businesses.

He said: "I've noticed businesses opening and closing down quickly.

"They're going to different places.

"The economic team need to support them, offer loans or reduced rents."

Dog owner Heather Flint said: "I'm carrying poo bags but there's never any bins for it.

"There's too much dog mess on pavements.

"You have to look down all the time to avoid it in Leigh Park."

The Conservative Party said it had brought in a rent to buy scheme to deliver much needed homes for younger people and was encouraging town centre living, affordable developments and giving priority to address housing need across the borough.

"The Meridian centre is at good capacity, with new shops coming in regularly. It's a great time to invest in Havant and we have a great masterplan with money from the High Streets Task Force," said Alex Rennie, leader of the Conservatives.

Labour said the indoor shopping centre could be used much more, including for performances from local schools and events, and that it was not just shops that brought people to the town centre.

Phil Munday, leader of the Labour group, said: "There are brownfield sites which are not being used in the borough. We have to free up this land for affordable housing and stop building on green space. Half of the old Oak Park school site is still derelict 30 years after it closed - that's madness."

The Liberal Democrats said Havant needed a local plan encouraging affordable housing and giving more control over what gets built.

Phillipa Gray, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "I am open to the idea of trying creative ideas out on parking, to see if offering a free hour encourages people into shopping areas like Waterlooville. But we do need to bear in mind, we want to discourage car usage in the long run so we need to improve the pavements, cycleways and bus station."

The Greens said we should not be building affordable homes that are not affordable to live in. The party added that solar panels needed to be fitted and proper insulation included when new homes were being built.

Netty Shepherd, standing for the Greens, said she was concerned sea defences were not being maintained properly and that meant more flooding for residents.

Reform is standing in six out of 12 seats, seeking to raise awareness of the party before the General Election.

Vicky Rhodes, who is standing for the party, said: "The town centre is bustling, most units do have shops in but people are put off by high parking charge - some free parking would be great."

All 36 seats on Havant Borough Council are up for election on 2 May because of boundary changes.

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