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Water refill stations installed across New Forest towns and villages




WATER refill stations have been installed across the New Forest to help entice people back onto the high street.

The taps were introduced by New Forest District Council in towns and villages including Milford, Brockenhurst, Lyndhurst, Ringwood, Fordingbridge and Hythe. Many of them can be found outside public toilets.

Funding for the scheme was under the government’s Welcome Back Fund, which aims to encourage people to shop locally.

Brockenhurst's water refill station
Brockenhurst's water refill station

Cllr Michael Harris, cabinet member for business, high streets and tourism, said: “Making high streets more appealing and encouraging people to shop locally is one of the key economic development aims outlined in our corporate plan.

“And one way to do that is to add convenient and environmentally friendly facilities for people to use. So refill your own bottle, protect the New Forest and help save planet Earth.”

NFDC is to claim back pandemic spending of nearly £200,000, which also paid for stickers, floor graphics and diversion signs.

These were procured by New Milton town, Brockenhurst and Burley parish councils to block off parts of their high streets to help social distancing.

It also funded a safety operative for Lymington market and safety packages and hand sanitiser procured by Ringwood Town Council.

Other schemes made possible by the fund included the introduction of five new solar-powered compaction bins on Lymington quay, which have sensors to alert the council when they need emptying.

Other schemes included free e-learning sessions for local businesses on disability awareness and developing a legacy campaign Supporting Our Community.

It has also produced two new online advertising videos showing off the district, which were produced with Lighthouse Marketing Ltd.

Claire Upton-Brown, executive head of planning regeneration and economy, told the A&T: “The Welcome Back Fund had specific criteria for projects and all claims were assessed by the government to check eligibility.

“All successful claims will be paid back retrospectively to councils, which for us will total approximately £196,000.”



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