OVER the past few weeks, The Gazette has featured some thought-provoking contributions to the debate over the future direction of Basingstoke, and in particular the key issue of housing.
THE never-ending house-building debate took another turn over the last week with the announcement of, and reaction to, the Government’s proposal that 945 homes a year should be built in the Basingstoke area up to 2026.
LAST Sunday evening, the spotlight fell on some people to be proud of.
THERE’S no escaping it – these are tough times.
TODAY sees the start of a special week-long campaign that will hopefully leave a lasting legacy.
Get Active Week is being championed by various organisations that are part of the Basingstoke and Deane Sport and Physical Activity Alliance.
The aim of the week is to encourage more people in the town and borough to get active – whether that is taking part in a sport for the first time or making a commitment to do something less strenuous, such as using the stairs instead of a lift to get somewhere.
Across Basingstoke and Deane, schools, sports clubs and local leisure venues are all playing their part in Get Active Week.
Many clubs and facilities are offering free taster sessions to give people a chance to try out a new sporting activity.
The Gazette, which is supporting Get Active Week, hopes many people make the most of this great opportunity to get involved in sport.
Hopefully, it will be a fun experience and for many it could be the start of a whole new interest.
Even those who decide not to participate in the free sessions or other events – details of which can be found on the campaign website at
www.getactiveweek.co.uk – but who pledge to just do some sort of activity, such as the gardening, will be making a difference to their wellbeing.
If residents seize the chance to get active next week, then we can all make a difference in terms of improving the health and wellbeing of ourselves and our town and borough as a whole.
AS you read today’s Gazette, somewhere in the world, men and women from Britain’s armed forces will be putting their lives on the line to protect our way of life.
Some of those men and women will be from RAF Odiham, and that’s a fact that brings their dedication and commitment closer to home.
There are differing views over whether our servicemen and women should be involved in conflicts in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. The simple fact is they are there, and each of them is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the United Kingdom, its Government and its people.
Last Thursday's Gazette featured a four-page focus on last weekend’s homecoming parade in Odiham for the service personnel from the local RAF base who have been on frontline duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Just like so many members of the public did in Odiham, The Gazette is proud to salute our RAF Odiham heroes.
When men and women, like those at RAF Odiham, are risking their lives for our country, it can only boost their morale to receive a strong show of public support.
North East Hampshire MP James Arbuthnot is spot on when he says: “Essentially, they (the servicemen and women) are doing it for us and we ought to have a chance, from time to time, to say thanks to them and to recognise how important and wonderful they are.”
Perhaps an annual parade should be considered to give the public a chance to show our thanks and support every year.
