It’s not quite the end of the month but here’s a round of news that caught my attention.
Hayling Herald, September 2026
The big news in the Hayling Herald in September was the planning inspectorate approving outline plans to build 300 homes at Rook Farm, off St Mary’s Road. The decision was met with dismay from Hayling Island Residents Association and the Save Our Island group who had raised nearly £50k to fight the planning appeal lodged by developers Gladman and Barratt. Havant Borough Council had not got around to making a decision on the outline application and the appellants argued that the planning authority had failed in its duty to make a decision in good time. Havant and its planning department didn’t even bother to fight the appeal and left residents as lay people to do the job councillors and their officers are supposed to do. The main concern about the 300 extra homes is that the single road to the mainland is already heavily congested and that adding hundreds of extra drivers would make matters much worse. I quite agree. The appeal decision is here.
That single road route onto and off Hayling — Langstone Bridge — is also to undergo much needed repairs. However, a start date has not been given by Hampshire County Council which is responsible for the crossing, reports The Herald.
The Phase 2 consultation on creating a parish council for the island was “corrupted” by persons unknown casting multiple votes. In August the paper had reported that most people were against the creation of the island council but this was a mistake because Havant council revealed that around 300 duplicate votes cast against the proposal had to be excluded with the result being that a slim majority of those taking part were in favour. Elections for the council will be held in the spring next year.
Hayling RNLI has a feature in the Herald on its very important work from the lifeboat station, and its staff and volunteers who experienced a very busy summer. (More about the RNLI below).
There’s lots more to read, and some fantastic photography, in the 48 page edition which is available at various distribution points on the island. The publishers don’t yet have an online archive of back issues of the Herald.
National press — not a good image of Hayling Island
Hayling was in the national news for all the wrong reasons in mid-September after RNLI lifeboat crews found themselves on the receiving end of abuse after rescuing around 140 people from a single small boat just south of the Isle of Wight. Balaclava-clad, far-right, anti-migrant activists blocked the marina at Eastney causing a stand off with the police. The man behind the action, Danny Thomas, apparently comes from Hayling Island according to a BBC report.
The protesters directed abuse at the lifeboat crews and others joined in on social media which led the RNLI to quite rightly condemn the perpetrators. RNLI charity chief Peter Sparkes said the protesters had “generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding” and condemned threats by “those who would hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard”, reported the BBC.
However, due to the threats received, the RNLI had to suspend its service at Portsmouth.
Thomas was later arrested and detained by Hampshire Police after a second incident where he filmed himself drawing a knife and slashing the side of a rubber dingy while a rescue worker was on board. He is pleading “not guilty” and due to appear at a crown court on Tuesday 29 September.
Many people living on Hayling volunteer with the RNLI and the island has its own lifeboat station from which brave men and women have been saving lives at sea for generations, and remain on call, all day, and every day. You can show your support for the RNLI by making a donation.
Round Hayling Challenge 2026
Hayling Island Sailing Club’s annual Round Hayling Challenge took place on Saturday 12 September with 140 different craft completing either a 14-mile circumnavigation of the island or an out-and-back to Langstone Bridge. “Kuba Staite (Wingfoil) was first around the Island, setting a new course record of 43 minutes, 36 seconds — a phenomenal effort that saw him retain his title from last year and shave around 9 minutes off his 2025 time,” reported HISC.
An exhausted, but elated Roger Turner took more than two hours to get around and recalled his experience for Windsurf Magazine.
The 2027 event will take place on Saturday 4 September.
Hayling Island Beach Hut Association
Hayling Island Beach Hut Association (HIBHA) posted an update from their acting chairperson saying they have had a busy summer liaising with Havant Borough Council on behalf of Hutters. The update has news of hut maintenance, charges by Havant for moving huts, and improvements to the boardwalk in front of Chichester Avenue (pictured above). They also detail how you can make a complaint to Havant BC.
Hayling Island Residents Association AGM
Hayling Island Residents Association will hold its annual general meeting on Monday 5 October 2026 at the community centre in West Town. There will no doubt be a de-briefing on the planning inspector’s decision to allow 300 homes to be built at Rook Farm.
From The Hayling Buzzard
The Buzzard published its first articles, reporting on the forthcoming improvements to the Hayling Billy Trail, local government reorganisation plans under review, police seek driver after collision on Havant Road, coastal defence work at Eastoke, appeal hearings for two housing developments, and a public consultation on a revised taxi licensing policy.