Despite treacherous snow and icey conditions on Tuesday 5 January over 30 people headed to the Headbourne Worthys Parish Council public meeting at St Mary’s Hall Kings Worthy.
The parish council called the meeting to allow local residents, councillors and other interested parties to debate the CALA Homes proposals which will create a massive housing development of 2000 homes at Barton Farm, the majority of which lies within Headbourne Worthy Parish Council’s boundaries.
Councillors from Kings Worthy Parish Council also attended as well as WCC Councillor Keith Wood, HCC Councillor Jackie Porter, Steve Brine PPC together with representatives from Council for the Protection of Rural England and from the Save Barton Farm Group.
Rosemary Stephens, HWPC Chairperson opening the meeting, explained that it had been called to address the effect that this massive development will have on Headbourne Worthy.
The discussions that evening would allow the Parish Council to assess the residents concerns before formulating its response to the proposals.
She then outlined the key issues that will dramatically affect Headbourne Worthy forever and indeed Kings Worthy as well, should this outline planning application be approved.
She went on to say that anything of this size and nature is going to change Headbourne Worthy from a semi rural village and will turn it into an urban suburb.
From the floor local residents expressed their real concerns regarding increased traffic chaos, overloading of the existing narrow roads and lanes in the wider surrounding area and the resulting road safety issues.
The re-siting of the main Andover Road through the development was seen to be dangerous, especially for children with the proposed primary school being adjacent.
Availability of schooling in the area for both young and older children who may have to travel further (bussed) to other locations was raised by a young mum.
Pressure on other already overloaded local facilities hospitals, surgeries, policing, public transport, leisure etc was also raised.
Others said that the density was much too high and this development would be ‘the thin edge of the wedge‘ for other adjacent green field sites around the northern villages.
Chris Slattery from CPRE said that Headbourne Worthy would be swamped by the development and that there were many other Brownfield sites available in the area, which could and should be developed before Barton Farm to meet perceived housing needs.
Cllr Jackie Porter said the proposals have not recognised the real traffic problems, HCC Highways will be objecting on a number of vital issues.
Increased flooding risks along with lack of public transport facilities were also other real concerns she added.
Cllr Peter Warrener Chairman of KWPC said that they fully supported Headbourne Worthy in their objections to the development.
He was concerned that the new housing may not fully benefit local people.
John Beckett from SBFG advised the meeting that they will also be putting forward their objections to the Planning Committee.
These will include:
- Traffic issues and the rerouting of Andover Road.
- Existing infrastructure cannot cope. Winchester’s hospitals etc are already running at overcapacity.
- Flooding issues in an area where there has already been flooding.
- Restrict building on green field sites. In 20 years the nation will have difficulty feeding itself and we should retain as much agricultural land as possible.
Steve Brine, PPC for Winchester, said that Barton Farm enables Winchester Council to tick the relevant box for the current government’s housing targets. He did not agree with the development.
Following the informative discussions and excellent comments made, Cllr Stephens thanked those attending and said that the Parish Council will now consider all the comments and formulate their response.
Residents should send their objections to the City Council by 15 January, but they will be accepted up to 31 January.
The Barton Farm planning application Ref 09/02412/OUT can be viewed and comments made online here or by email planning@winchester.gov.uk quoting the planning application reference, to arrive by the due date.
Alternatively post, quoting the planning application reference, to arrive by the due date to:
Head of Planning Management
Winchester City Council
City Offices
Colebrook Street
Winchester
Hampshire SO23 9LJ
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