For general enquiries please contact: info@sway-pc.gov.uk
Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer
Katie Walding
Katie Walding has been the Clerk to Sway Parish Council since October 2017. She holds the Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) and is a Principal of the Society of Local Council Clerks. Outside of work, Katie is a keen runner and a practising commoner with a small herd of New Forest ponies.
Apprentice Clerk
Estela
Hernandez Smith
01590 718116
I moved to Bransgore as a young girl where I quickly became acquainted with the community by joining the local youth club, this was a big deal for me as at my previous town I was very involved, whether that being a part of the brownies and scouts to volunteering at local supermarkets and care homes. I always enjoyed giving back to the community, that is why when I was given the opportunity to become part of Sway PC, I took no time in gladly accepting. I am very grateful to become part of the team and be able to support our local citizens.
Parish Councillors
Howard Millett (Chair)
07846 557588
Nicky Bowler (Deputy Chair)
07968 864508
Mike Butler
07491 142839
I’m Mike Butler, and I moved to Sway in 2020 after hearing it is a friendly and welcoming village that is really well located right on the forest edge for walks and cycles, and close to the sea – the best of both worlds. Since moving here it has certainly met and even exceeded my hopes and expectations! For many years I have wanted to get involved in my local community but have been time restricted through a combination of children growing up, full time work, commuting, and general life. Now that I am semi-retired I have more time to support local community initiatives. I have joined the local tennis club (you may see me cycling down Brighton Road with tennis racket in tow) and the Lymington Town Sailing Club. Once established as a Sway resident next on my list was the Parish Council.
Astrid Clifford
07942 369777
I moved to Sway 10 years ago with my two young children. Prior to that I worked for HSBC for 22 years, in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, Armenia, Dubai, Oman, Jersey and the US. I have always volunteered when possible and have been a trustee of various animal charities. Sway is a fantastic village and I am keen to contribute my time and skills as needed for the benefit of the community. In my free time I enjoy martial arts, playing the drums and walking my dogs on the forest and the beach.
Elaine Cooper
01590 681262
I moved to Sway about four years ago, having previously lived in Bournemouth for over twenty years. During my time there I was a councillor at the unitary authority and then later was Mayoress when my husband Rod was the elected Mayor. I am keen to be involved in the community here in Sway and look forward to meeting residents.
Peter Dance
01590 719338
Peter Mann
07980 660200
Emma Monk (Deputy Chair)
07967 114063
I joined the Council in November 2020, in the midst of the worst days of Covid. I didn't get to meet my fellow councillors in real life until the summer of 2021! I've lived in Sway since 2007, when I moved here, pregnant and with a toddler in tow. Sixteen years on, my children are growing up and moving on. As one of life's natural volunteers, I did 5 years on the Little Flyers' committee, 7 years on the PTA at St Luke's and just ended 10 years on the Junior Football Club committee. And now I'm 3 years into being a Parish councillor! My council interests are planning (I'm chair of the Planning and Trees Committee), and looking at the "people" objectives of the Council. I was heavily involved in setting up the Community Hub (formally the Warm Space), of which I'm hugely proud, and continue to volunteer there regularly. I'm also really looking forward to helping out at the new Youth Club.
Neil McLocklin
07715 475135
I joined the Parish Council as I am keen to support and add value to the community. Since I moved to the village I have been a Sway football manager and coach (6 years) and a member of both Sway Junior Football Club Committee (5 years) and Jubilee Field User Group (4 years – 2 years as chair). In this capacity, amongst other things, I managed to secure a grant in excess of £20k for maintenance of Jubilee Field pitches. My football team players are now all over 16 and so no longer able to play for the Junior Club, and so I have spare time to commit back to the community. I have a background in real estate and management consultancy which I believe may also be good competences to bring to the Parish Council.
Alex Pepper
07752 388227
I'm Alex Pepper. We moved to the village from Hordle in 2014 where I was also on the Parish Council and involved with various projects including several to enhance the public open space areas, such as Dudley Avenue. I've been involved with various committees and working groups during the past six years. My motivation to join the Council is to try and help ensure our village has what it needs and access to the right facilities and amenities, some of which might be provided by others. I am particularly interested in supporting our village shops and businesses, the railway station, public open spaces and green spaces.
Alan Perry
07958 224425
Having partially retired by 2018, my wife Janice and I moved from London to Sway and our only regret is that we didn’t do it earlier. My working career was in construction and the management of commercial buildings, all in the central London area. Coming to Sway was a great move and as soon as we arrived, we were made to feel very welcome by our neighbours and the local community. As newcomers, we quickly learnt to appreciate the benefits of village life and community sprit to which my only input to date, is as a volunteer driver for SWAG. Hopefully, I can be of use to the SPC
Helen Schneider
07952 881426
I grew up near Ringwood and so consider myself one of the 'children of the New Forest'. As such, I feel immensely privileged to have spent my childhood and teenage years here, and even more so to have had the privilege of returning after so many years away. Of course there have been many changes over that time with increased tourism, in-migration and population growth. Whilst positive in many ways these trends also increase the pressure on the local areas and its facilities. Affordable housing and sustainable transport are of particular interest to me, alongside my passion for wildlife conservation which I maintain through voluntary work in the Forest, principally monitoring bird populations. I am a trustee of The Hampshire Ornithological Society, promoting the engagement of young people in bird watching which to date has been dominated by middle aged, middle class men! I am keen to promote equality, diversity and inclusion [EDI] through trying to ensure equal access to opportunities and services across the community.
Representations of Councillors
Planning & Trees Committee: Cllrs Emma Monk, Peter Dance, Peter Mann, Howard Millett, Helen Schneider (Reserve: Nicky Bowler)
HR Committee: Cllrs Nicky Bowler (Chair), Peter Dance, Howard Millett
EcoSway: Cllrs Nicky Bowler, Alex Pepper, Helen Schneider
PC Newsletter: Cllr Peter Mann
Tree Representative: Cllr Howard Millett
Rights of Way: Cllr Mike Butler
Allotment Association: Cllr Nicky Bowler
Jubilee Field User Group: Cllr Nicky Bowler, Cllr Alex Pepper
Sway Village Hall Committee: Cllr Nicky Bowler
Sway Youth Centre: Cllr Emma Monk, Cllr Neil McLocklin
Sway Welfare Aid Group: Cllr Alex Pepper
(NFALC) New Forest Association of Local Councils: Cllr Peter Dance
(HALC) Hampshire Association of Local Councils: Cllr Peter Dance
NFNPA SW Quadrant: Cllr Helen Schneider
New Forest Consultative Panel: Cllr Helen Schneider
Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP): Cllr Helen Schneider and Claire Muir
Community Rail Partnership: Cllr Howard Millett
Patient Participation Group: Cllr Peter Dance
Who to contact to get things done
Forest Animals www.verderers.org.uk
- In the event of a road traffic accident involving an animal: phone 999 (non-emergency 101)
- Sick, injured or distressed pony, cow, donkey, pig or sheep (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm): (other than one involved in a RTA), phone the Verderers on 02380 282052 www.verderers.org.uk
- Sick, injured or distressed pony, cow, donkey, pig or sheep (24hrs): phone the Forestry Commission on 0300 067 4600 or www.forestry.gov.uk/newforest
New Forest National Park Authority www.newforestnpa.gov.uk
- Planning applications and permission: phone the Duty Planning Officer on 01590 646615 or http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/planning/
- Trees: phone 01590 646620 or http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/planning_category/tree-work-applications/
- Planning enforcement: phone 01590 646626 or http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/planning_category/report-a-planning-breach/
If you want to see any planning applications in person you can visit the NFNPA offices at Lymington Town Hall; or for recent Sway applications please arrange to view with the Clerk.
Hampshire County Council www.hants.gov.uk/
- Road problems inc. potholes, traffic lights & signs, pavements, trees, hedges, drains, flooding: phone on 0300 555 1388 - 8.30am to 5pm or www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems (Please note: that although some Sway residents have had more success using the website www.fixmystreet.com/HCC Highways do appreciate a direct approach to their site first because then they get a precise location. For issues of roadside ditches and hedges the name and address of the landowner is also helpful.)
- Faulty streetlights: phone 0800 048 2437 or www.lightsoninhampshire.co.uk/Public/ReportFault.aspx
- Rights of Way: phone 0300 555 1391 for access and other issues on footpaths and bridleways (not roads, pavements or alleyways) or www.hants.gov.uk/landplanningandenvironment/rightsofway/reportaproblem
New Forest District Council www.newforest.gov.uk or phone 023 8028 5000
- Flytipping and Abandoned vehicles: http://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/17662/Enviro-Crime
- Reporting dead animals: http://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/4165/Reporting-a-dead-animal
- Recycling, rubbish and waste: http://www.newforest.gov.uk/recyclingandrubbish
Trains http://tinyurl.com/cwoznyn
- Phone 0845 6000 650 (option 4); or 01590 682338 Mon-Fri 06:35-10:00 for Sway Station ticket office
POLICE Sway is in the 'New Forest West' area.
- Phone 999 in an emergency
- Phone 101 for non urgent enquiries and reports
- To report a crime online, please click: https://www.hampshire.police.uk, click 'Report' and select the type of crime to report.
(You can also use 'Tell us about' for a selection of other alternatives)
The nearest police station is Lymington Police Office, New Forest District Council Offices, Avenue Road, Lymington SO41 9ZG
Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day
