Welcome to the Alton Society. We hope you find our website interesting and informative. We would love to hear from you so tell us what you think, both good and bad! Contact us at thealtonsociety@gmail.com.
Our Summer Newsletter is now available! Browse our online copy. Previous newsletters can be found here
Outstanding Services to Alton Award 2022
Nominations Now Open!
The Outstanding Services to Alton Award is given to people who work tirelessly to make a difference in Alton, either through their working career or voluntary activities. The rules for this award can be found on our Awards page along with information about recent winners.
Please send your nomination to thealtonsociety@gmail.com – it should contain no more than 150 words and the process is confidential so dont tell your nominee. This avoids disappointment.
Alton Society Litter Pick
Our litter pick on April 9th was the biggest turn out of volunteers ever! 76 adults and children took part in the Alton Society Spring Litter Pick, held in conjunction with the national Keep Britain Tidy campaign and co-organised by the Guild of Optimists. The massive turnout meant we covered the Town Centre, car parks and alleyways and many roads off including Drayman’s Way, Basingstoke Road, Butts Rd, Wilsom Rd, Ashdell Rd, Kings Pond and Mount Pleasant Rd.
As in previous years the main problem was discarded cigarette butts. Cans and bottles featured as well, but there were fewer plastic bags. The town’s car parks contained the most litter. There is an increase in drug equipment such as plastic straws and nitrous oxide canisters. We collected over 70 bags of dropped litter!!
The Alton Society would like to thank everyone, members and non-members, who turned out to help make Alton a town we can be proud of. We are grateful to our partner groups too for their assistance.
We are particularly pleased to have the support of other local groups. These include Alton Climate Action Network; Alton Lions; Alton Herald; Ashdell Residents Association and the Church Triangle Residents Association. We are particularly grateful to Giles Lock of the Ashdell RA who kindly provided an Easter Egg for all the children who took part.
Thanks go to Alton Town Council for providing us with the litter picks, rubbish bags and help with disposal of the rubbish, and to Bottega dei Sappori for providing a free hot drink voucher to all the volunteers who wanted one.
Say ‘NO!’ to 1,200 Houses at Chawton Park Farm!!
We are delighted with the huge turnout for our Protest at The Butts, Alton, on Saturday 18th September against the monstrous, out of place, unsustainable Chawton Park Farm development proposal. There was a great atmosphere of a community united and of one mind. Four great speeches, not just from the Alton Society (Carol Palmer) but also from the Chairs of Chawton and Beech Parish Councils (Jason Simper and Graham Webb respectively), and from EHDC Councillor Stephen Hunt.
Please also register your concern by signing this petition. Details about what we’re aiming to achieve with this petition can be found here.
Thank you for your continuing support of this cause!
Background Information
Alton is threatened with a ‘garden village’ of 1,200 homes, primary school and community centre in a narrow scenic valley bounded by Ancient Woodlands and Sites of Interest to Nature Conservation. The Alton Society has protested in the strongest possible terms to East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) against this development.
After guidance from Angela Glass, the Chair of the Planning Policy Committee (PPC) at EHDC, the committee voted in favour (one against) of taking only this site forward for further investigation out of the original 10 sites that were identified in 2019.
See The Alton Society’s Statement for further details including points to raise with our MP Damian Hinds, EHDC Councillor Angela Glass and Simon Jenkins, Head of Planning at EHDC & Director of Regeneration & Place.
We need your help!
Please come and join our Built Environment Group (BEG). The BEG keeps an eye on local building applications. The planning authority publishes plans on a weekly basis and most are non-controversial. However, due to our scrutiny we are able to alert Altonians to developments which often have a far-reaching effect on our Town and environment and this can lead us to help modify or indeed stop poor developments. Clearly, some planning expertise is preferable but not essential. You will have help from colleagues.
Please contact the Chairman on 07786 983 679 for more information or send an email to thealtonsociety@gmail.com
Community Groups
Head over to our Community pages for information on specific groups and activities to support Alton’s communities.
Alton Society Grants
Hop over to our Grants Application Page for news of the grants recently awarded to local community initiatives. Click on “About Us” then click on Grant Applications.
Wey Valley Radio 101.1FM and online
We have a regular slot on Tuesday morning at 10a.m. Tune in and have a listen! We give an update on local issues and Society news.
Friends of Flood Meadows – Community Action
Come and join the Friends of Flood Meadows to help with tidying, clearing litter and maintenance. We meet at the meadows at 10am on the third (3rd) Sunday of the month. Our next session is on 18th September 2022. Our August meeting has been cancelled. Meet at the Tanhouse Lane end of the meadows at 10am with gloves and wellies. See you there!
The Friends are a family friendly group. Children are welcome and it helps them to learn about our local environment. Bring gardening gloves and wellingtons (though we do have some spares)! We finish with a coffee or tea and a biscuit……or two.
The Alton Society 