For the next few months, I have accepted an opportunity to write a monthly column for the Romsey Advertiser. 

I have been a local resident for over 43 years, raised three children, one born in Romsey Hospital, and all went to local schools.

Over the years I have enjoyed being part of many local organisations and prior to retirement spent six years as the Town Centre Manager. I intend to draw on my experience, pet hates and contacts to share something I hope will be of interest. 

We are fortunate to live in such a wonderful community, living within such an historic and picturesque setting, thankfully many residents volunteer giving of their time to litter pick, undertake conservation work in local nature reserves and even keep the railway station spick and span. 

But do we residents do enough? Some would suggest that keeping our streets clean and our nature reserves in good order is the role of “the local council”, given well publicised cash restraints we will wait a long time for councils to take up some of this work.

Hampshire Chronicle: Mark Edgerley

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At the recent Volunteers Fair in the Town Hall additional volunteers stepped forward to help Wilder Romsey and Romsey and District Society (RDS) had conversations with local people who wished to join in RDS activities to improve local footpaths and encourage property owners to tidy up the external aspects of their buildings, especially those within the town centre.

Individuals do make a difference to the town’s visual appearance; taking care to ensure their garden hedges don’t grow to block pavements but do enough of us offer help to neighbours that might be struggling to keep their gardens in order? An occasional hour can make a huge difference to your neighbour and maybe make you a new friend.

Larger projects will beyond the ability of volunteer skills or require specific safety risk assessments so need professional input which is where groups such as Romsey and District Society working with partners can engage property owners to create change. For example, following direct contact Network Rail have recently told RDS that the Winchester Road Bridge will be considered for maintenance and hopefully repainted next year.

People power works, but requires effort over time for the best results.