Planning News

Good news! The Inspector has delivered his verdict on the Hicks Persimmon application to build 250 houses on the Sandford Farm infill site, and has said, for all the right reasons, that it should not be allowed. However, the saga continues, with The Oracle Corporation applying to build a corporate training centre, including a 250 bedroom hotel for residential courses. Their proposal would not involve transporting the putrescing rubbish across the Loddon into Hurst - an improvement on the previous application - but would nevertheless have a strong impact on the westward view from Hurst and, importantly, build on land designated as agricultural and outside settlement boundaries. If the local plans are to mean anything, they mean that development should not take place here! Both the Parish Council and The Society are opposing it.

Many people have expressed concern at the proposal to divert Footpath No 9, which runs from opposite the Green Man to the corner of Hogmoor Lane, and, at the same time, to "upgrade" part of it to a bridleway. We believe that the bridleway proposal would be of no practical benefit to riders, while causing a traffic hazard at a narrow part of busy Hinton Road. One of the attractions of the existing diagonal route across the field is the sense of open space, and the proposed diversion would take this away. We think that most of land-owner’s legitimate concerns could be met in other ways, without moving a right of way which has been there for over 250 years.

The Society has expressed its concern to the Chairman of the Highways Sub-committee of WDC, which met on 22nd July to consider the proposal. The next step is for formal notice of the proposal to be posted, in the local press, and at both ends of the footpath. Formal objections should then be sent to WDC within 28 days.

John Lemon

Not a keep fit campaign but did you know that a skip is delivered to the car park of the Village Halls on the 1st Wednesday of odd months at about 9am? It is for your use but please remember to place rubbish in the skip, not on the surrounding ground - and, please, domestic rubbish only.