What is Popley Matters?
The idea for Popley Matters came out of an article in the
Basingstoke Gazette about 16
years ago, it asked for local people to write in about their interest
groups. The very first edition was produced by a group of people and
agencies under the name of Popley Interagency Project PIP, for short.
The first cover was drawn by Rebecca Dobbey who was an art student at
John Hunt School. In the first five years there were
just
four issues printed, with long gaps in between them.
The
Magazine Update to 2008:-
A group of local people met
in 1996 and arranged
the first Popley Forum in January 1997.
We
were sitting talking about the negative press and how much we all loved
living in Popley. We wondered what we could do to change
what we all felt
the wrong attitude to Popley.
We
also wanted let other people know how much was available in Popley and
what great people lived in our estate. Someone mentioned that there used
to be a magazine called Popley Matters and how good it would be if we
could revive it. Paul Frankum said, "I will do an initial copy, but just
the one". Famous last words! Paul has guided us from an A4 one sheet
fold over, to the booklet
quarterly
and
then
on
to
the
monthly issues that we produce today.
and we are fast approaching our
75th
edition that Paul has laid out. Iris King, David Phillips
and Ron Rowe have been involved from the very first edition. Kate Lomas
was our advertising Manager but failing health prevents Kate from doing
many things she did before.
But
Kate is still serving on the committee David has now moved to live up
north but Iris and Ron still are deeply involved with both the Forum and
Matters.
The magazine is self funding as
the advertisements cover the cost so
that
we can pay the printer. Iris King has the headache of trying to get the
Popley Matters delivered to
nearly 4000
households and local interest groups. We have a whole army of wonderful
people who deliver for you but we always need more, many hands make
light work .
Popley Forum has had meetings around the estate on many subjects. We
have had as few as 10 residents and as many as 120 people, on many of
the different issues. Your
Councillors, agencies and residents have worked together on many issues
over the years. Some of the
positive outcomes being Popley Partnerships, CCTV in Longfellow Parade
and Abbey Road Shops.
The retention of the number 5 bus rout to the hospital, the new Everest
Community college, homes to get around 600 people off the social housing
waiting list, Community Wardens, PCSO’s and two Police Beat officers. We
have also seen a huge project to start to get the drainage sorted, new
paths, more parking and safer crossings on some of our busy roads. The
work continues. Litter, dog fouling, landscape, anti social behaviour,
graffiti are some of the subjects we are tackling in Popley Matter sand
there is still much to do.
The first four
Popley Matters
in the 1990’s
was mainly advertising
however we continue to try to keep you informed and give you a chance to
communicate with all our neighbours and read some interesting articles
too.We try to
promote
what groups are
available,
where and when
they meet.
As an editorial team we try
to make
the Popley Matters both interesting and informative with articles
and reports that people have written
and that you
will want to read. It has proved to be a mammoth task and takes many
hours of work to produce and deliver. We hope you enjoy reading Popley
Matters.
The copies of Popley Matters
upto 117 are in
the order that we have to send them to the printers so it appears that the pages are mixed up, but all the
content is there and ready if you want to print off a copy for yourself. From
118 will be in opage order. The
one's highlighted in blue are available now the rest will be shortly.You can contact the Editor of Popley Matters
via on Email
editor@popleymatters.org.uk
