Combined March 26 jw v2 - Flipbook - Page 7
News Hayling Herald
Island inspires album
GRAMMY-NOMINATED Richard Walters has
collaborated with Oscar-winning actor Jeremy
Irons to highlight the work of Solent Seascape
Project in protecting our coastal habitats.
Two of the songs were inspired by Hayling
Island. Sea Sisters was inspired by the Solent Outdoor Swimmers who swim year-round from the
beach, and the nesting seabirds of the old oysterbeds inspired Rafts.
The Solent Seascape Project is a five-year,
multi-million-pound partnership of 10 organisations led by Blue Marine Foundation, working to
protect, restore and reconnect key habitats – saltmarsh, seagrass, seabird nesting sites and native
oyster reefs - across the Solent.
Songs from the Solent uses music to spotlight
the Solent’s threatened coastal habitats, the
album celebrates local communities, culture and
the fight to restore coastal nature.
Songwriter Richard Walters
Created during Richard’s artist residency with
the project, the album is inspired by the Solent’s
local community as well as the saltmarshes, seagrass meadows, oyster reefs and seabird sites the
project is working to restore and protect – habitats that lock away carbon, protect shorelines and
underpin marine life.
Available to stream and download, the al-
bum features eight original songs influenced by
the sounds of the seascape and voices of the
Solent, with proceeds helping towards vital restoration of these threatened habitats.
To gain inspiration for the songs, Richard met
with local groups and communities to find out
what makes the Solent and its habitats special to
them, including chatting with sea swimmers at
Hayling Island.
Richard said, ‘To be awarded this residency has
been a real gift, an excuse to get out there and dig
a little deeper, to meet the people that play their
part in Solent communities, to tell their stories
and give voice to the silent elements in need of
our support. The work the Solent Seascape Project does is remarkable and I’m very happy to play
a small part in amplifying their message.’
The songs are available to download now. Find
out more at solentseascape.com
Have your say on the future of community governance of Hayling Island
The consultation on community governance for Hayling Island closes on Monday 23 March – don’t miss your chance to have your say on how residents of Hayling Island are represented in local decision-making. The Community Governance Review (CGR) has been triggered by a petition from
Hayling Island electors and, as the principal council for the area, Havant Borough Council is now conducting the review in line with legislative
requirements.
What is community governance?
Community governance is the way local people and communities are represented and have a voice in decisions that affect their area.
It can take different forms, such as a parish council, an area committee or neighbourhood forum, but must always seek reflect the identities and
interests of the community, and be effective and convenient for local people.
About CGR
The review process takes around a year to complete and as part of the procedure, there will be two rounds of consultation (unless the first phase shows
no appetite for any changes) with Hayling Island residents, workers and visitors to ensure that any final recommendations reflect the views of those
who live, work and visit the area.
The review aims to understand whether the Hayling Island community feels that new ways for community governance are required, and if so what
those new ways of community representation should look like.
Following these rounds of consultation, final recommendations based on this feedback will be voted upon by Councillors at Havant Borough Council.
How to find out more and take part
Information about the potential options for community governance on Hayling Island, including changes to Council Tax, details on how a parish
council operates and what other options are available for Hayling Island, can be found on our website.
To find out more and have your say on community governance for Hayling Island, visit www.havant.gov.uk/cgr.
This is your opportunity to shape and influence the future of community governance on Hayling Island – the consultation closes on midnight on
Monday 23 March 2026. Alternatively, paper copies of the CGR survey and supporting materials can be collected from Hayling Island Library or
Hayling Island Community Centre, with a pre-paid envelope to return to the council free of charge. Additionally, anyone can call 023 9244 6019 to
provide responses to the survey over the phone.
Anyone who would like to speak to council officers and ask questions about the process is welcome to attend the final CGR event being held on Thursday 12 March 2026, between 3pm to 7pm at St. Andrew’s Church, Hayling Island
Please also note that we are conducting a CGR for Emsworth after this was applied for by the Emsworth Neighbourhood Forum. No other areas
within Havant are currently part of a CGR process.
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