News
Hampshire County Council offers staff voluntary redundancy
Hampshire County Council has presented almost all of its workers, excluding school staff with a mutually agreed resignation.
Staff are given the option to step down from their role at the council, in return for payment and no effect on their pension.
Hampshire County Council also ensures that each application to resign will be assessed and will only be approved if they can “successfully maintain” sufficient service.
The council further claims this step is being made so it can avoid the need for compulsory redundancies in the future.
However, this move has been met by criticism from the Hampshire branch of Unison, the public service union, which believes the scheme will “impact services” and “add to the stress” of the remaining employees.
A spokesperson from Unison said: “We’re concerned about this move to fast-track staffing reductions without any consultation.
“Staff are already reporting that workload pressures are affecting their physical and mental health.
“We understand the issues local authorities face, but staff and unions should be consulted, and pension entitlements and notice periods must be honoured.”
Hampshire County Council has been forced to make this decision due to its budget being under “immense pressure”, similarly to many other local authorities nationally.
Recent forecasting has suggested that the council could go bankrupt as early as 2026, with leader of the council Cllr Nick Adams-King suggesting it may need to ask to raise council tax above the 5% threshold if it does not start receiving proper funding or support from the government.
A spokesperson for the council said: “Because of [the budget pressures], Hampshire County Council is now returning to its core purpose and the delivery of essential local services. The resulting organisation will inevitably be leaner, requiring a smaller workforce.
“From 11 November until 29 November, staff are invited to voluntarily resign under the Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) – a scheme that many public sector organisations have used in recent years, instead of redundancy.”
They also state that MARS is quicker and “less costly to the taxpayer than a redundancy scheme”.
News
Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal 2025 launches in Winchester
Communities are encouraged to buy a poppy as this year’s Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is launched in the lead-up to Remembrance Day.

The annual fundraising campaign supports members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, personnel and their families.
The Poppy Appeal remains the Legion’s biggest annual fundraiser.
Last year, more than 32 million poppies were distributed across the UK, and about £51.4 million was raised in donations.
Chris Hayward is managing the Poppy Appeal in North Hampshire & Winchester and said: “Wearing a poppy during Remembrance time shows that you care.”
“It’s a national symbol, and it shows the armed forces community that you appreciate everything that they do.”
She added: “For those who want to get involved, you can wear your poppy, donate to the Royal British Legion, Poppy Appeal, and also participate in the collections and volunteer as a collector.”
Winchester will be recognising remembrance itself, with a service at the Cathedral on Sunday, 9th November, in addition to a service at Winchester Guildhall at 11 am on Armistice Day.
The service will begin at 9:20 am and will include a procession from The Broadway to Winchester Cathedral, as well as wreath laying too.
Donations from the campaign go towards services including mental health support, housing assistance and employment advice for veterans transitioning to civilian life.
For more information on how to donate, volunteer or order poppies online, visit: britishlegion.org.uk/poppyappeal.
News
Does Earth really have two moons until 2083?
Until 2093, asteroid 2025 PN7 will be sharing the Earth’s orbit.
You may have seen circuiting on social media a myth that the Earth has two moons from now until 2083 – sadly, that’s science fiction.
In August of this year astronomers discovered asteroid 2025 PN7.
It is considered a quasi-moon as it orbits the sun in a similar path to Earth.
According to Mike Shanahan, planetarium director at New Jersey’s Liberty Science Centre, the asteroid has been travelling “alongside Earth for 60 years”.
Due to the size of the asteroid, it wasn’t discovered until this summer.
Astronomy fans hoping to see a second moon in the sky are out of luck.
The asteroid is too small and far away to be seen by the naked eye or regular telescopes.
The number of asteroids in Earth-like orbit has been known to exceed 100.
Some orbit alongside the Earth for merely months, whereas others years or decades.
Currently, six other quasi-moons have been recorded near Earth.
News
Tax on SUVs criticised by for disability campaigner
Cardiff is the first UK city to introduce a “tax” for SUVs weighing over 2.4 tonnes.
The tax is to be enforced in residential permit areas, and also includes cars that are powered by diesel.
Cardiff Council is hoping that implementing this will improve congestion, the air quality, and create space on pavements.
The exact cost has yet to be announced, but the council has announced it will be releasing the tax in phases.
Winchester is a relatively small city with many residential permit areas – the question of a similar initiative being introduced locally has arisen.
Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council chose not to respond to Winchester News Online, with Winchester City Council stating that it is not a subject a councillor is likely to comment on, as it is an issue relevant to Cardiff and not yet an issue to Winchester.
Though the council does not yet deem this a possibility, it has gotten the public talking.
Jet Gates, a disability campaigner, said:
“It’s going to have a massive impact on disabled people across the UK
“We are a highly marginalized group in society – it’s just yet another nail in the coffin.”
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