Lola Crossman

A four-bedroom semi-detached house in Southlea, Cliddesden, Basingstoke, is listed for £750,000 through Purplebricks. The extensively remodelled property includes a double-storey rear extension, luxury kitchen, three bathrooms, four bedrooms, landscaped garden, double garage and additional off-road parking.

Crown Heights Medical Centre in Basingstoke closed until further notice because the building has no running water, making safe clinical operations impossible. Face-to-face appointments were cancelled, while GPs continued consultations remotely and phone lines and Klinik remained available for urgent queries. The practice is working with its landlord and South East Water to restore the service, and patients needing further medical assistance were advised to call 111.

A new application has been submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to develop a vacant grass paddock near Headley into a site for up to four Gypsy and Traveller families, including static and touring caravans, day rooms, parking and drainage infrastructure. The Planning Inspectorate approved the proposal on appeal in 2022 after the council rejected it in 2019, but the site remains undeveloped and the original permission required work to begin by November 2025. Ashford Hill with Headley Parish Council continues to oppose the scheme, raising concerns about its scale, road safety, light pollution, community integration and potential harm to waterways and protected wildlife.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, offering emergency accommodation and support to rough sleepers during a period of extreme heat. People sleeping rough, or those concerned about someone in that situation, were urged to contact Alongside Charity, StreetLink or the council’s housing team. The UK Health Security Agency issued an amber heat-health alert for Hampshire, with temperatures in Basingstoke forecast to reach 29°C.

Hampshire Constabulary released CCTV images of three men who may have information about the theft of £589 worth of confectionery, toothpaste and skincare products from the Co-op on Greenlands Road in Rooksdown, Basingstoke. Police described the men and asked anyone who recognises them or has relevant information to contact 101, quoting reference 44260327696.

Marie Greenhalgh, relationships director at Inclusion Education, has been shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution at the National Children & Young People Awards after more than 16 years of work in youth mental health and suicide prevention across Hampshire. Her work includes Project Iris, which supported more than 100 young people aged 11–25, and Baton of Hope Basingstoke, which brought together over 130 people and 66 organizations before developing into Hope Basingstoke and helping establish a Hope Hub. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on October 22.

Food and drink producers in Basingstoke and Deane received one- and two-star honours in the 2026 Great Taste Awards. Fulling Mill’s Coppa and The Homemade Brownie Company’s Peanut & Caramel Chocolate Brownie won two stars, while products from Cat’s Creations, The Homemade Brownie Company, Tim Way Poultry, Hornet Chilli and Summerdown Farms received one star. The Guild of Fine Food blind-tastes more than 15,000 entries annually, judging them on flavour rather than packaging or marketing.

Fraudulent emails are targeting residents in the Basingstoke area by impersonating Wellington Country Park and offering fake annual passes, personal-data requests and, in some cases, Amazon vouchers. The park says it is not running any such promotion, does not sell passes or request personal details by email, and advises recipients not to click links or share information. Visitors are encouraged to verify sender addresses, contact the park directly with concerns and report phishing emails to Phishing.gov.uk.

Hartley Wintney FC warned that ongoing drought, heatwaves and sharply reduced water pressure could prevent it from staging home fixtures at The Memorial Playing Fields. Volunteers have worked to maintain and water the pitch, but the club may need to reverse fixtures, move them to neutral venues or postpone them until the surface is safe to play on. The situation has already increased costs after pre-season friendlies were relocated, while the Isthmian League has said at least one fixture cannot be rearranged.

MP Alex Brewer says Christopher Harborne’s registration as a voter in Stratfield Saye raises serious questions about whether a Thailand-based billionaire can use UK electoral-registration rules to make exceptionally large donations to Reform UK. Harborne has donated £9 million to the party, followed by a further £6 million, while an earlier £5 million donation prompted an investigation after it was not declared by Nigel Farage. Proposed legislation would cap donations from overseas voters, but may not affect Harborne because he registered as a domestic UK voter. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and the Electoral Commission stressed the importance of accurate registrations and warned that false declarations can constitute an offence; Harborne and Reform UK did not provide comments.

Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court sentenced a series of defendants for driving, assault, drug and weapons offences. Warren Kirk avoided immediate imprisonment after receiving a 10-month sentence suspended for 12 months for dangerous driving that injured a pedestrian in Fleet and for failing to stop. Other outcomes included fines, driving bans, community orders, rehabilitation requirements, conditional discharges and prison sentences, including an eight-month term for Joshua Spreadbury following an assault and threats against Ruth Spreadbury.

Plans to convert the disused Andwell Brewery near Hook into five two-bedroom homes have been withdrawn by the applicant, AHK Andwell LLP, so Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will not consider the application further. The proposal included converting most of the existing brewery, demolishing later additions, and replacing concrete yards and fencing with gardens and landscaping. Andwell Brewing Company closed on May 1, 2025, citing economic pressures. The site’s future remains uncertain, with no alternative applications publicly announced.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has submitted a planning application to fly a Black History Month flag outside its Civic Offices each October. The council began the practice in 2023 as part of a wider programme of flag-raising events marking national and community observances. The article outlines the UK history of Black History Month, which has been observed nationally since 1987, and describes the flag as a symbol of the borough’s commitment to inclusion, diversity and celebrating Black heritage.

A body was found at a property on Cross Street in Farnborough during the search for 58-year-old Janna Fuller. Four Farnborough men, aged 47, 52, 33 and 29, were arrested on suspicion of murder; the 47-year-old remains in custody while the other three were released on bail with conditions. Hampshire Constabulary said its investigation is ongoing and appealed for information from the public.

Jason Nicholas, 53, suffered severe injuries and permanent cognitive impairment after Ben Talbot, who was high on cocaine, crashed head-on into him on the A32 near Alton in May 2024. Nicholas spent two and a half weeks in an induced coma, now requires lifelong care, and cannot return to his job as an aircraft fitter or enjoy motorcycling. Talbot was convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drug driving and received a 32-month prison sentence, followed by a 46-month driving ban after release. Nicholas and Hampshire Constabulary are sharing his experience to highlight the potentially permanent consequences of drug driving.

Basingstoke is forecast to reach around 32°C, prompting an amber heat-health alert across South East England from 9am on Wednesday, July 29 to 9am on Thursday, July 30. The UK Health Security Agency warns that vulnerable people face increased health risks from the heat and advises residents to avoid strenuous activity, stay hydrated, keep homes cool, check on vulnerable neighbours, and never leave people or animals in parked cars. Dry, sunny conditions and temperatures near 30°C are expected through Wednesday, with overnight temperatures remaining unusually high.

Liam Farmer, 29, of Tadley, was sentenced to three years in prison at Winchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to threatening to kill, possessing a knife in public, criminal damage, using violence to enter premises, and racially or religiously aggravated fear or provocation of violence. The offences occurred on June 9 at properties on Priors Road and Almswood Road. Police arrested Farmer near the scene and recovered the knife; he was also given a restraining order. No one was injured, and Detective Constable Michael Cole praised the victims for calling 999 and warned of the wider dangers of carrying knives.

A disused public toilet block in Buckingham Parade, Kempshott, could be converted and extended into a café seating about 24 customers. Plans submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council include a kitchen, storage, accessible toilet, solar panels, an air-source heat pump and high insulation standards, with the project aiming to approach near-passive or zero-carbon performance. The building has been unused since 2013, when the council closed it as part of cost-saving measures, and the proposal would reuse the structure while providing a new local amenity.

Three people were charged after a racially and religiously aggravated incident at the Shiva Cultural and Community Centre in Aldershot on July 23, 2020. Police said three men and a woman were assaulted, two cars and a mobile phone were damaged, and responding officers were also attacked. Ezra Daley, Kirstie Clarkson and Lowan Daley face charges including harassment, criminal damage, affray and assaults on police or emergency workers. All three were bailed after appearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court and were due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on August 26.

The High Court is expected to rule in August on West Berkshire Council’s injunction restricting further development and occupation at an unauthorised traveller site on Reading Road near the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston. The injunction followed unapproved development work and remains in force after hearings in January 2026. Local residents have petitioned against the site, citing safety and anxiety concerns, while the council says the order is necessary to prevent further breaches of planning control. The ruling will concern the current injunction, not the site’s planning-permission status or permanent residential use.

A bin lorry fire in Yateley caused by improperly disposed electrical items led crews to unload more than three tonnes of waste to safely extinguish the flames, days after a similar small fire in Fleet triggered by a laptop battery. Hart District Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue warned that such incidents are becoming more common, citing lithium‑ion batteries as a frequent cause of waste‑sector fires. Councillor Alan Oliver urged residents to use the council’s weekly small electricals recycling service and proper disposal points to prevent further risks and service disruptions.

An inspection at the B&M warehouse in Basingstoke found widespread mouse droppings, poor cleaning standards, and failures in food safety management, resulting in a one-out-of-five hygiene rating. A Freedom of Information request revealed that staff had ignored pest control warnings and allowed overstocking that hindered proper cleaning. The council stated that the report no longer reflects current conditions, while B&M said the issues were swiftly addressed and that subsequent checks found no further problems. The store remains rated as one due to no rescore request.

Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokesperson, died at her home in Devon, prompting tributes from Hampshire WI, where she had been scheduled to speak at an October event in Basingstoke. The Autumn Live! programme had promoted her as a former politician turned TV personality. Police and government comments referenced security considerations for former MPs following her death.

Students from Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School celebrated their 2026 prom with a variety of colorful outfits, arriving in style for the end-of-year milestone. One standout arrival featured a bright orange ballgown paired with a ribbon-adorned Volkswagen campervan. A selection of photos will appear in a special prom supplement published by the Basingstoke Gazette on July 16.

Police are investigating a large fight outside The Crown pub in Kingsclere that left a man in his 20s injured and taken to hospital. Two men from Basingstoke and Reading were arrested on suspicion of offences including grievous bodily harm, affray and drug possession, and later released on bail. Officers are seeking additional witnesses, including anyone inside the pub at the time, and are asking the public to provide any relevant photos or videos.

A woman in her seventies had £1,600 stolen after a distraction theft at the Next store in Festival Place, Basingstoke. Police released images of two women they want to speak to and urged anyone with information to contact them. Authorities also issued safety advice encouraging shoppers to secure their bags and wallets. The investigation is ongoing.

A joint investigation by Hampshire Police and U.S. authorities uncovered a website linked to a global child abuse ring, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of over one million indecent images of children. Hampshire resident Ethan Orchard was convicted for uploading manipulated sexual images of women he knew and encouraging online harassment. Coordination with the FBI led to U.S. law‑enforcement action, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement seizing the website and identifying more than 50 child victims across several countries. Police emphasized the extensive harm caused and commended the victims for their cooperation in the prolonged investigation.

Multiple defendants received sentences at Basingstoke Magistrates Court, including conditional discharges, community orders, fines, driving bans, compensation orders and custodial terms for offences such as assault, drink-driving, drug-driving, shoplifting, resisting police and breaching court orders. Cases involved residents from Basingstoke and surrounding towns, with penalties varying based on the nature and severity of the offences.

Royal Mail warns of delivery delays across several Basingstoke postcode areas due to resourcing issues at the local delivery office. Tens of thousands of residents may experience disruptions, and the company has issued an apology while promising updates as the situation improves.

A woman from Basingstoke received a 10‑month jail sentence after admitting to nine thefts totaling more than £950 from Tesco, Boots, Hobbycraft and the Co‑op over several months. Police said her actions harmed local businesses and the community, stressing that shoplifting drives up prices for the public. Officers encouraged continued reporting of incidents to support enforcement efforts.

Two people sustained potentially life‑changing injuries after their Peugeot 306 struck a tree on Railway South in Basingstoke between 1pm and 1.15pm on July 4. Both were taken to the hospital, and Hampshire Constabulary has appealed for witnesses or dash‑cam footage to assist the investigation, asking the public to reference incident number 44260317803.

Solent University researchers are collaborating with Basingstoke Festival organisers to assess the event’s economic, social and community impact, focusing on audience behaviour, engagement and representation. Students are conducting fieldwork and interviews while gaining practical experience. Local officials emphasise the importance of understanding community motivations to shape future festivals. The university is also contributing creative work, including film documentation and a student art exhibition in War Memorial Park.

A 44‑year‑old woman, Emma Quinn, has been charged with nine counts of shoplifting involving multiple stores across Basingstoke between March and June. The affected shops include Tesco Express, Hobbycraft, Boots, and The Co‑operative Food. Hampshire Constabulary confirmed the charges, and Quinn is scheduled to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court.

Police stopped a man on the M3 only hours after he was banned in court for driving without a licence or insurance. Officers from the Roads Policing Unit seized the vehicle after spotting it travelling on the motorway, noting the driver ignored his new disqualification. The man is required to return to court following the incident.

Police released an e-fit of a teenage male sought after a four-year-old girl was seriously injured in an e-scooter collision in Calthorpe Park in Fleet. The child remains in hospital with a serious head injury. The individual is described as a white male aged 14 to 16, around 5ft 5in, slim and athletic, wearing a white shirt and grey joggers. Enquiries are ongoing and police thank the public for information already provided.