COUNCIL chiefs are still not ruling out 2,000 homes being built at Barton Farm, despite a rally to save it.

About 600 people marched through Winchester, the largest protest on its streets for more than a decade.

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They accused the city council of ignoring calls to save the greenfield site east of Weeke and Harestock.

Later, Councillor George Beckett, who leads the authority and watched the rally, said he could not rule out using Barton Farm.

He said: “I don’t accept that we haven’t listened, but we have listened to other groups as well as the Save Barton Farm Group.

“We’ve listened to what residents across the Winchester district have said, and professional planners along with the Government’s instructions.”

Westminster has told the council to identify enough space for more than 12,000 houses by 2026.

Cllr Beckett said: “All of the options will upset somebody.

The Save Barton Farm Group, unfortunately, has not come up with realistic alternatives.”

The group vented its opposition on Saturday’s march from the Westgate to the guildhall in The Broadway.