Green gap war waged in cyberspace (From This is Hampshire)

Green gap war waged in cyberspace

2:32pm Friday 5th March 2010 in

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RIVALS are battling it out with websites in a row over controversial plans to build 350 homes near protected woodland at Nursling.

Protesters and the applicants are using the internet to woo support.

Barker Mill Estates says it launched its on-line site to dispel myths behind its plans to build the homes on a local green gap on land off Redbridge Lane close to the Southampton city boundary. The major south Hampshire landowner has also been carrying out leaflet drops in the village and it follows mounting opposition to the plans.

Tim Jobling, a trustee of the Barker Mill Estates, says in a leaflet to people in Nursling “I want to let you know of some of the benefits our proposed new development at Redbridge Lane will have for surrounding residents. This is no ordinary development and the proposals seek to add considerable improvements to the local amenities currently available.”

He adds: The Barker Mill trustees have been supportive of projects in the village in the past and we believe we can offer a lot of benefits with this application.” Protesters set up their own website last month and they say Barker Mill Estates latest bid to gain support won’t wash. Lorraine Wheeler, from Save our Gap, said: “We got the first leaflets on Tuesday. They are just trying to sell it to us on the basis they are providing more facilities for the village, but the fact is that any developer has to provide this under a section 106 agreement with a planning application.

“Many people have already said they don’t want an extra classroom at the school, because the housing plans will lead to more traffic.” Test Valley planners have received nearly 300 letters from people objecting to the scheme and also a petition against the development.

Barker Mill’s website is www.redbridgelane.co.uk and Save our Gap’s site is www.saveourgap.org.uk, where further information can be found.

Test Valley councillors are due to debate the scheme next Monday evening in Romsey’s Crosfield Hall, at 5.30pm Last month, the application was due to be debated, but the planning meeting ended in shambles after a sound system relaying the meeting to the public failed and discussion on the scheme was deferred to this month.

This led to uproar and both the applicant and opponents were angered by the deferral decision