Green gap lobby wins round one (From This is Hampshire)

Green gap lobby wins round one

3:17pm Friday 12th March 2010 in

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Nursling residents have won the first round of their fight to stop 350 homes being build on a greenfield site in the village.

On Monday, Test Valley’s southern area planning committee unanimously rejected Barker Mill Estates’ controversial scheme to develop land off Redbridge Lane.

However, as the decision ran counter to the officer’s recommendation, the application must go before the borough’s planning control committee on April 6.

Shortly after Monday night’s vote, Mike Maltby, from Nursling and Rownhams Parish Council, said he and other opponents to the scheme were delighted with the result.

More than 100 protesters, some with placards bearing the words “Save our Gap” , had packed into Romsey’s Crosfield Hall for the two-hour debate.

Objectors clapped loudly as councillor after councillor attacked the scheme.

Barker Mill Estates has promised to provided a package of facilities for the village if it eventually gets the green light to build on the land bordering an area of protected woodland.

Giving his reaction to the councillors’ verdict, Tim Jobling, from Barker Mill Estates, said the decision-making process had been “fair and democratic“ and he would now wait to see what happened at next month’s planning control meeting.

Answering members concerns about additional traffic created by the proposed development, Steve Jenkins, from HCC’s highways department, predicted the application could attract up to 1,000 vehicle movements daily.

However, Mr Jenkins also said bus services would be improved as part of a package of measures within the developer contributions.

During the debate, Councillor Nigel Anderdon, who represents Nursling, told his colleagues, that residents wanted to live in a village, not a city.

He claimed the retention of the gap was “essential” as a visual and physical barrier between Nursling and Southampton.

Mr Anderdon added that the application flew in the face of numerous local planning policies adopted by TVBC.

He said it was up to councillors to protect residents from the proposals which have attracted more than 300 letters of objection. Planning officers only received one in favour of the plans.

Fellow ward member Phil Bundy said there was no evidence to support the need for the new homes and he accused TVBC of being prepared to sacrifice the community of Nursling to meet housing targets dictated by central government.

“I urge members to stick to our stated polices and reject the application here and now,” said the councillor. North Baddesley member Steve Cosier said the proposals would be a “blot and the landscape” and would not be sustainable. “It will cover an area of green land in concrete, bricks and plastic and would have a significant impact on the area.”

Valley Park member Alan Dowden said: “This area was identified as a local gap and gaps are spatial planning tools. The South East Plan also recognises the needs for gaps. The gap is essential in the need for shaping the settlement of Nursling.”

Romsey’s Mark Cooper said planning applications of this type put great stress on local residents and it pained him to hear that it would have to be referred to the main planning committee for the last word.

“Having a failed core strategy, let’s deal with this here and now. We’ve got sound reasons for objecting,” said an angry Mr Cooper.

Planning officer Anna Duignan warned that claims for cost would be significant if the applicant’s appealed against the decision and told members it would have to go before planning control after councillors agreed on a number of reasons for rejecting the proposals including unjustified development in the countryside.