Present:
Chairperson Rosemary Stephens
Councillor David Pearcey
Councillor Dennis Curling
Councillor Jane Rutter
Councillor David Spurling
Councillor Julian Hamblin
City Councillor Keith Wood
County Councillor Jackie Porter
Clerk Hilary Graham
Public Participation:
Residents of Headbourne Worthy
D Earley, M Squire, V Kilroy, C Welland, A Vigor-Robertson, J Dryden, G Hammilt, G Shillito.
Other:
J Stephens, I Gordon, E Gordon, S Brine, J Beckett, C Slattery, A Mitchell, P Fisher, P Warriner, E Fullaway.
Plus others who did not sign in.
Councillor Stephens addressed the meeting and opened by outlining the hall’s facilities.
She welcomed the public and explained that the meeting had been called to address the effect of the development of Barton Farm on Headbourne Worthy and to frame the Parish Council’s response.
Questions or comments from the floor were invited.
The following points were made:
1. Councillor Warriner, Kings Worthy Parish Council (KWPC)
Kings Worthy are in support of Headbourne Worthy Parish Council (HWPC)’s objection.
He is familiar with the development at Beggarwood Lane in Basingstoke. The high density and narrow roads there make parking very difficult. Barton Farm would be the same. Also, if there is high density would this mean fewer families?
2. Mrs Squire
This could be the thin end of the wedge for the other green field around the site.
Traffic is a major issue with at least 2,000 extra cars, with the resultant increase of traffic along Springvale Road. The HWPC Councillors must be proactive rather than relying on Traffic Commissioners.
3. Mr Gordon, KWPC
Winchester Council doesn’t seem to accept that there is a traffic problem for Wellhouse Lane. Everyone wanting to go to the M3 will use this route rather than the A34 which is already overloaded.
4. Mr Beckett, Save Barton Farm action group
They are putting forward their own objections to the Planning Committee.
These will include:
Traffic. The rerouting of Andover Road will only reroute the pedestrian issues to both ends of the old Andover Road.
Winchester’s infrastructure. The hospitals etc are already running at overcapacity.
Flooding issues in an area where there has already been flooding.
Green sites. In 20 years the nation will have difficulty feeding itself and we should retain as much agricultural land as possible.
5. Jackie Porter, Hampshire County Councillor
Cala hasn’t acknowledged that the traffic will be a problem. Hampshire County Council will be putting in an objection. Laura McCulloch will be dealing with it. Wide and heavy loads are an issue as the new Andover Road is not wide enough going south. Cala has not planned for this yet.
Also there is an unimaginative provision for Park and Ride as 200 car spaces are not enough.
No account has been taken of the potential for flooding. Cala has talked about putting in a non-porous surface on the new Andover Road because of wide loads, but this would make matters worse.
Also there is no real description of how to revitalize public transport.
6. J Stephens
Down Farm Lane has not been mentioned
7. Mrs Slattery, CPRE
Headbourne Worthy will be swamped by development if this goes ahead. Cala owns all the land up to School Lane. There are brownfield sites that could be developed to address the housing quota but they are not being used because developers are suffering because of the credit crunch.
8. Steve Brine, potential Conservative MP for Winchester
Barton Farm enables the Council to tick the relevant box for the current government’s housing targets. He does not agree.
9. Councillor Wood
A. Should it be built?
B. Impact if it is.
Hampshire County Council will determine the traffic issues and HWPC must therefore state clearly what the issues are.
Also the Park and Ride is too small at 200 spaces. 800 are required.
The phasing of the build is important. Cala intends to start at the Wellhouse Lane end. It would be better if they started at the bottom end towards town, otherwise that junction will be snarled up for years.
Cala will have to make a contribution to the infrastructure, but does HWPC think that it is enough?
The application should be determined by the 16th March. If it is not Cala can appeal and it will go to a Government Inspector. The same will happen if Winchester Council objects.
Objections that are received by Winchester Council past the deadline will be listed.
The weight of opinion can make a difference, it is not a fait accompli.
10. Claire Welland
She is concerned about schooling for her three year old. Will there be enough spaces at Henry Beaufort.
Jackie Porter said that there is spare capacity in Henry Beaufort and Kings.
11. Councillor Warriner
Will these houses be given to local people? Councillor Stephens said that there are 5,000 on the housing list but the list is not restricted to local people. There has been a sharp rise in this number recently.
12. Former Councillor for Bath
The density is too high and there are not enough open spaces. The road through the estate will be dangerous for children, particularly as the school is there.
To close Mrs Slattery said that she appealed from the heart because the approach to Winchester down Andover Road is a lovely setting for the city.
Councillor Stephens said that HWPC would now frame their response. |
