Alresford residents have their say on 'biased' housing plan exhibition

A packed sports hall at Perins School heard from Alresford locals who said they were “appalled” by the way the plan had been handled by the town council.

The meeting was held to discuss the latest exhibition which outlined alternative proposals to build the homes on several different sites around the town, rather than having one large housing development on a site at Sun Lane.

But the angry crowd slammed local officials over the “biased” exhibition which they said represented the alternative plan in a more negative light.

At the meeting, chairman Lisa Griffiths admitted the alternative scheme was “presented unfavourably”, sparking uproar and cries from residents.

Marilyn Weston, of Jacklyns Lane, said: “I’m astounded that you can sit there and say what you say and hold yourself high. You all should be hanging your heads in shame.

“You had one opportunity to get it right and you got it wrong, again. For two years you have got so much wrong.”

Winchester City Council’s Local Plan requires 500 new homes to be built in Alresford between 2011 and 2031, and 386 of those are yet to be allocated.

The alternative scheme could spread the development across sites to the west of New Farm Road and north of The Avenue, but the town council says it may not be able to provide a new site for businesses.

It also reduces the amount of open space, has no provision for a new burial ground, and would still include 150 homes at Sun Lane.

Steve Opacic, head of strategic planning at Winchester City Council, assured residents that at this stage the council is still “planning the plan”, with nothing yet decided.

After the meeting Mrs Griffiths said the town council would have to hold another meeting before the end of the month to decide on what their response was to the plan.

She added that the council could also make no recommendation to Winchester planners, but that would leave them with no right to give input to future plans.