LEGAL action may be taken by a Winchester pressure group in its battle to prevent the development of 2,000 new homes on a prime greenfield site.

The Save Barton Farm group has until the end of next week to decide whether to challenge the highly-controversial proposal in the new county structure plan.

Earlier this year hundreds of greenfield campaigners opposing massive house building at Barton Farm took part in the one of the biggest protest marches the city had ever seen.

Petitions and individual letters of objection have been sent to the government and Hampshire County Council highlighting how strongly local people feel about preserving the greenfield site.

The possibility of legal action has been discussed at length by the group, but a final decision will not be taken until next Tuesday.

Chairman Gavin Blackman said it was a matter of considering all the implications and possible consequences of legal action.

"We have to decide whether it would be in our interest to challenge the Structure Plan, because if it is delayed Winchester City Council would not be able to get on with its local plan.

"This would mean that if no local plan was adopted, we could end up with planning by appeal, which could lead to development on sites we don't want developed."

Mr Gavin added legal action against the county council's plan could result in court costs of between £20,000 - £40,000, which the group could not meet without the support of a benefactor.

"The government has allowed a six-week period for any legal challenge to be lodged against the structure plan and the deadline is next Friday. We will have to make a decision when we meet next Tuesday," he stressed.

Meanwhile the campaigners have launched a special Barton Farm website, which can be visited on www.savewinchester.co.uk.

The group is also carrying out a special historical study of the site in an effort to build up a case for any future public inquiry.

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