Titchfield Haven cuts could hit staff two days before Christmas

Hampshire County Council is planning to cut costs by closing the cafe and visitor centre at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve and selling the building.

Council documents confirm that Haven House will shut later this month if members approve the scheme, which aims to save £60,000 a year.

They also state that the number of employees at the reserve will drop from 15 to five.

Signs opposing the proposed closure have been placed outside homes in the area. Picture: Hill Head Residents' Association (Image: Hill Head Residents' Association)

Posting on social media, Liberal Democrat county councillor David Harrison said: "The Tories plan to close the centre on December 23, making staff redundant, which is quite a Christmas present."

In a separate post, Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage said the closure of Haven House would be a "massive blow" to the area.

Describing the cafe and visitors' centre and cafe she added: "Selling it would deprive our community of a valuable hub at a time when people need warm, welcoming, friendly places more than ever."

READ MORE: Plan to close cafe and visitor centre at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve

In a statement, the county council said the plans aimed to tackle a £1.8m funding gap at the reserve over the next three years.

It added: "Should the proposals be approved, Haven House visitor centre, including a café and shop, would be sold with the funds reinvested into supporting the reserve.

"The proposals to place Titchfield Haven on a sustainable financial footing follows a five-week public survey."

Titchfield Haven. Picture: Daily Echo Camera Club member Colin Lee (Image: Colin Lee)

A report outlining the responses will be debated by the culture and communities select committee on December 7, with senior councillors making the final decision the next day.

More than 13,000 people have signed a petition launched by Hill Head Residents' Association, which is leading the fight to save Haven House.

Campaigners are hailing it as the largest petition ever received by the county council.

READ MORE: Titchfield Haven: Campaigners fight to save visitor facilities at nature reserve

Haven House has been designated an Asset of Community Value by Fareham Borough Council and will remain on the ACV register for up to five years.

If the county council decides to sell the building it must inform the borough council.

The association would then have six months to prepare a bid for the site, which could not be sold to anyone else in the meantime.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook.