Nursling villagers urged to speak out against 350 new homes (From This is Hampshire)

Nursling villagers urged to speak out against 350 new homes

9:42am Friday 3rd September 2010 in

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CAMPAIGNERS have issued a call-to-arms ahead of a public inquiry over controversial plans to build 350 homes in a Hampshire village.

Developers want to build the new estate on land between Nursling and Southampton at Redbridge Lane.

But the proposal has angered villagers who fear that the area’s already creaking infrastructure would be unable to cope with the influx of new residents.

Now protesters are urging those affected by the plans to have their say when the matter is thrashed out in public next week.

A public inquiry is taking place over seven days at Romsey’s Crosfield Hall – and campaigners are allowed to make short representations if they register on the first morning.

The hearing comes after developers Barker Mills Estate appealed against a decision by Test Valley Borough Council not to approve an outline planning application.

Green gap Placards protesting against the scheme were left at Nursling Village Hall when the company staged an exhibition of its plans earlier this summer.

About 3,000 residents were invited to the display, but only 74 people attended over the two days the plans were on show.

Many fear that the scheme would spell the end of the green gap that separates the village from Southampton.

Nursling and Rownhams Parish Council clerk Lorraine Wheeler said: “We have had a lot of support from residents and we really want to keep up the momentum. The more that can come along and voice their objections the better. It is imperative that residents do attend and continue the support that they have already given – it will show the inspector the strength of feeling there is against the plans.”

The inquiry comes a week after Test Valley Borough Council announced plans to lower the number of houses that must be built in the area over the next 16 years. Councillors will be asked to agree to slash the housing quota for the borough by 300 from 3,920 to 3,620 after tough Government targets were scrapped.

The Redbridge Lane public inquiry begins on Wednesday, September 8, at 10am at Crosfield Hall in Romsey. On September 14 and 15 it will move to the civic offices at Duttons Road, before heading back to Crosfield Hall for the remaining two days.