It’s been a busy week news-wise for Hedge End.

The Hampshire Chronicle reported last Monday, 8 March, on the end of the ‘bus wars’ between Black Velvet and Bluestar.

The two companies have formed a partnership to bring an improved bus service to the route between Hedge End and Botley, and with return-tickets now valid for use on either company’s buses on that route. Eastleigh Borough Council helped broker the arrangement which follows a year in which issues over routes caused friction between the two companies.

See also Hedgeendpeople stories, ‘Eastleigh MP wants Inquiry into ‘Local Bus Wars’, ’Hedge End Bus Users Get Better Service to Botley’, and ‘Bluestar Bus And Velvet Bus Call A Truce’.

On Tuesday, 9 March, the Daily Echo had the news that Shamblehurst Primary School has submitted a bid to the Daily Echo and Leadbitter’s £6,000 School Build Challenge.

The scheme allows schools to apply for funds to create an outside facility that will add to learning resources, promote exercise, or improve playground or the school’s ‘green’ facilities. Work up to the sums of £3,000, £2,000 and £1,000, will be carried out by Hedge End-based construction company Leadbitter.

Pupils at Shamblehurst Primary want to treat the school courtyard to a makeover, creating an area for growing flowers and vegetables and where pupils can watch birds and use play equipment to improve health and fitness. The idea was drawn up by the school council and the application sent in by Year 6 pupils Beth Mayers and Hannah Summers.

School Build Challenge application forms can be obtained from the Daily Echo and need to be returned by 31 March and all infant, junior and primary schools in the Daily Echo circulation area are encouraged to take part.

See also the Hedgeendpeople story ‘Hedge End News in the News this Week (to 28 February)’ which includes an item on the School Build Challenge.

There was good news for Twixx, Hedge End’s tawny owl, on Tuesday when the Daily Echo carried the story that Twixx has found a new home. The owl was facing an uncertain future when his owner, Wendy Whitfield, was told by the council that Twixx had to be moved from his cage at the bottom of her garden following complaints from neighbours over Twixx’s late-night mating calls.

Following the publicity numerous offers of a new home materialised and Twixx is now the proud resident of a newly built aviary in Titchfield.

See also Hedgeendpeople story, ‘Hedge End News in the News This Week (to 31 January)’ which includes an item on the plight Twixx faced back in January.

The BBC featured an article on Tuesday describing how students from Sholing Technology College have been helping Hedge End-based charity the Philippines Community Fund (PCF) improve facilities at the charity’s school in Manila.

Building a house and an adventure playground, painting a 70 foot mural and contributing to the work of a programme to feed malnourished children are just some of the activities the students were involved with.

See the BBC story for photos and quotes from the students about their experiences, and also the Hedgeendpeople stories,‘Hedge End and the Philippine Community Fund Connection’ posted in October and ‘Hedge End News in the News This Week (to 7 February)’ which reports on the students leaving for Manila.

On Thursday, 11 March, came the news that staff at Hedge End’s M & S are unhappy about new rules covering bank holiday working. The Andover Advertiser reported that members of staff fear that in future they will have to work seven out of eight holidays. The paper reported that currently staff say they have to work only on two of the holidays, with volunteers working uncovered shifts, but that the new arrangement – already part of the contract for new staff – is to be extended to long-term employees.

On the 11th there was also an article about the Hedge End-based VT Group. The Portsmouth News reported that in partnership with National Air Traffic Services Ltd (NATS), which has operations in nearby Swanwick, and Surrey-based weapons firm Thales VT Group has submitted a bid for a contract to handle the UK’s military air traffic systems.

The News said that the MOD refused to give the value of the contract but mentioned it to be estimated 'in the region' of £1bn and that VT Group would be responsible for the construction of any new air traffic control towers and buildings. Thales would supply the air traffic control software and hardware and NATS the staff for RAF bases nationwide.

The partnership, called Aquila (Latin for eagle) is one of many bidders for the Joint Military Air Traffic Services (JMATS) contract and the result is likely to be known in 2013.