Alison Fitch

24/03/2026

I’ve noticed that Cedrus Butchers on East Street is currently empty, such a shame as it was a good shop with a great choice of products.

Businesses are definitely struggling at the moment.

They’re such an important part of our community and high street.

Wishing Cedrus Butchers all the best.

23/03/2026

Dear Hickley’s, your time is up.

There have been so many different issues over the years at Hickley’s, the photo used was from an incident a couple of months ago.

So, it’s good to see Surrey County Council and Gregory Stafford MP addressing this area of the town.

A long time ago, I was at the scene of an accident there when, sadly, a young lad lost his life. In many different circumstances over the years, Hickley’s has been a problem, and I know how unforgiving it can be.

I understand that various assessments have been carried out following three recent accidents at this location, one of which tragically resulted in the death of a young man.

This action is well and truly overdue, and I’m glad it’s finally being addressed with some urgency. However, I cannot understand how anyone could conclude that the lighting at this crossroads does not raise concerns. The lights are positioned so high that they seem to illuminate the sky rather than the road. For them to be effective, they need to be at traffic-light level so drivers can clearly see as they approach. As it stands, the current conclusion regarding the lighting is very, very poor.

Let’s hope a solution is found very quickly, slowing down the traffic which come through at high speeds…. And lighting the area properly … Could be a starter.

23/03/2026

I went into Maidenhead Aquatics for a quick look…

Tucked inside the Country Market, this place is packed with an incredible variety of fish.
If you haven’t been, it’s 100% worth a visit, whether you’re into aquatics or just want to see something a bit different.

Maidenhead Aquatics Farnham

22/03/2026

Another change for West Street.

Sad to see the "Mirage" sign over an empty window today.

Our local high street is constantly shifting, but it’s always tough to lose another independent shopfront.

Wishing the best to whatever chapter comes next for Mirage and this space.

21/03/2026

I’m genuinely concerned about the direction we’re heading in when it comes to our national currency.

Across the world right now, we’re seeing what happens when currencies are weakened or devalued, confidence drops, economies struggle, and the country itself begins to look less stable on the global stage.

A nation’s currency isn’t just money, it’s a symbol of trust, strength, and independence.

So why are we so quick to dismiss our own cash as “dirty” or outdated?

Physical money has served this country for generations. It provides freedom, privacy, and security in a way that purely digital systems never fully can.

Yet more and more, it’s being pushed aside, as if it no longer has value.

But when you devalue your currency, whether economically or socially, you start to devalue the country itself.

Cash is not the problem. Losing faith in it is.

Cash is, and always will be, king.

19/03/2026

Well, it looks like we’re within a week of the new food hall opening!

And for those who love a jammy doughnut, you’ve got to try these new matcha jammy ones, I can highly recommend, with the word Matcha and the fact they are green I feel like they are almost healthy.

Marks & Spencer’s is almost here… hooray

18/03/2026

Recently, I wrote to the Home Office regarding a specific but important aspect of the UK’s approach to serious violence, knife surrender schemes.

These initiatives, often delivered through the Serious Violence Unit and local partners, are designed to give individuals a way to dispose of knives safely and without consequence. In principle, they are a sensible and welcome part of a wider prevention strategy.

But in practice, their effectiveness depends heavily on how they are implemented. One issue that deserves more attention is placement.

At present, most amnesty bins in Surrey and Hampshire are located at police stations and civic buildings:

Surrey: Staines, Guildford, Caterham, Woking, Elmbridge, Epsom

Hampshire: Aldershot, Andover, Basingstoke, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Lymington, Newport, Portsmouth, Southampton, Totton, Waterlooville, Wi******er

While operationally convenient, this can discourage people from using the bins, fear, stigma, or lack of anonymity makes approaching a police station intimidating.

I have asked the Home Office whether updated guidance, pilot schemes, or funding support could be considered for more discreet placements, and how local areas such as Surrey and Hampshire might engage with this work. Evidence from other areas shows that more neutral, accessible locations like parks or community hubs increase participation and reduce risk.

Knife surrender bins only work if people are willing to approach them.

17/03/2026

I’m a big fan of Royal Mail, perhaps in a slightly old-fashioned way.

Meanwhile, my kids are all about Evri, InPost and pretty much anything but Royal Mail.

That said, from 7th April 2026, a 1st class stamp will cost £1.80 (up another 10p), that’s a 137% rise compared to six years ago.

If you’re planning ahead for Christmas cards this year, it might be worth getting your stamps in before 6th April…

* 19p First Class Stamp 1988

16/03/2026

Three years on from the devastating fire at the Angel Pub in Midhurst, many in the town are still feeling worried and frustrated that nothing seems to have happened with the site.

We were in Midhurst last week and couldn’t help but comment on what a shame it is to see such an important part of the town left in this state for so long. The Angel has always been a well-known landmark and part of the town’s character, so seeing it sit untouched three years later is really disheartening.

It would be great to see progress and a clear future for the building so it can once again be something the community can be proud of.

Midhurst deserves better than an empty reminder of what was lost.

16/03/2026

Day Late on the Mothers Day Flowers but all is forgiven 😎

16/03/2026

What would William Cobbett make of this area today?

Two hundred years ago, William Cobbett, who lived in Farnham, rode through this area while writing Rural Rides. As he travelled through the countryside around Alton and Selborne he admired the valleys, wooded hills and farmland that have defined this landscape for centuries.

Cobbett loved rural England deeply, and was also outspoken when he believed poor decisions were damaging it. He wrote,
“The beauty of England lies in her villages, her fields, and her farms.”

Fast forward two centuries, residents are asking whether that beauty is now under pressure.

Anyone who drives our roads locally already experience the reality of traffic here. The roads are often heavily congested, particularly around Hickley’s Corner, as commuters from Alton and surrounding villages head towards Guildford, the A3 and into London.

With large housing developments being discussed along the A31, a simple question arises, how will the existing road network cope?

If significant areas of land around Alton were to be developed, it could mean vast numbers of new houses and inevitably many more cars using roads that are already under pressure. For those who rely on their cars to get to work, school or the station, there is understandable concern that congestion will worsen and journeys will take even longer.

More traffic would also mean more pollution, affecting both the health of residents and the character of what has always been rural market towns surrounded by countryside.

This landscape has inspired generations, from Cobbett himself to Jane Austen in nearby Chawton and the naturalist Gilbert White in Selborne.

Growth must be carefully planned so that roads, services and infrastructure keep pace. Otherwise, the very landscape and character that have made this area special for centuries could be fundamentally changed.

Groups such as The Alton Society and A31 Alliance continue to work hard to ensure local voices are heard as decisions about the future are made.

Nearly 100 residents gathered at the Wickham Institute in Binsted last week as the A31 Alliance shared its views on emerging local plan proposals from East Hampshire District Council.