A ROMSEY businesswoman has launched a campaign for work to start on an “eye sore” town centre site that has been vacant for years.

Dr Samantha Price is hoping that an online petition will be sent to the Houses of Parliament in a bid to get work started on the Old Brewery Site.

Romsey MP Caroline Nokes has promised that she will deliver the petition to the House of Commons and has called for a change the law on developing brownfield sites.

For years the site in Station Road has remained empty despite planning permission being given by Test Valley Borough Council to the owners Stanborough Developments.

Aside from “sporadic” building work, nothing concrete has taken place.

Samantha said: “Having overlooked this eyesore for the entire 20 years since I started the practice in Station Road, and spoken to hundreds of patients and local people, everyone agrees that something needs to be done to force John Stanborough to develop the site and I am appreciative that Caroline has come along today to meet me to discuss this. 

“I’m now delighted to hear that Caroline is going to raise the issue in Parliament very soon – at last maybe something will happen.”

She hopes that 1,000 people will sign the petition.

The petition says there is a need to build houses in the area.

It goes on to say: “Because under the current law the owner of the site Stanborough Developments has no timescale to complete it, all the efforts made so far to persuade them to complete the development have not been successful. 

“We want a change in the law which means that there is an end date to developments where there is a local need, and that a breach of end date results in punitive measures like being forced to sell at a peppercorn price to the local council. 

“We urge you to make the necessary representations in the Houses of Parliament to change the law and get these sites developed.”

Ms Nokes said: “There cannot be anyone in the town who does not want a positive resolution to the eyesore that is the Romsey Brewery Site. 

“It has been in its current state for decades with only sporadic action on the part of the developer. 

“I have raised this in Parliament numerous times, with DCLG Ministers and will continue to do so. Dr Price’s petition is a reminder that we still need a solution which suits all Romsey residents.”

Stanborough Developments refused to comment.