PLANS to rip down a house in Petersfield's Buckmore Avenue and replace it with two new homes were described as "the thin end of the wedge" by town councillors on Tuesday. Members of the planning committee were discussing an application from Petersfield Kebbell Homes to demolish 4 Buckmore Avenue and replace it with two new homes. It is the latest in a string of applications from Kebbell Homes for development in Buckmore Avenue. The developer made two applications to demolish numbers 2 and 4 Buckmore Avenue in December 2006. The first application was to replace the homes with six detached houses and the second was to put up two blocks, each containing six two-bedroom flats. Both applications were rejected by East Hampshire district councillors and later thrown out by a government inspector when Kebbell Homes appealed EHDC's decision. In February last year, objectors faced yet another application from Kebbell, this time for five detached houses on the site of 2 and 4 Buckmore Avenue. Furious protestors in Buckmore Avenue accused developers of "garden grabbing" and enlisted the support of East Hampshire MP Michael Mates. They called on him to support legislation which would outlaw what they saw as "unacceptable development". The application was later refused by East Hampshire District Council. Kebbell's latest plan divided members of Petersfield town council, some of whom felt they could not object on grounds of density as the plan was well inside planning policy guidelines. Chris Jenner told the meeting: "You can relax planning policy guidelines three in certain areas. You don't have to build slums everywhere as they have done in Ramshill. I believe this application is the thin end of the wedge, particularly in this road. These are good-sized houses in a good-sized street and this plan would upset the symmetry. Planning committee chairman Mary Vincent added: "To be honest, I think they should leave those houses alone. This is a select road and to build these shoeboxes would be detrimental to the street scene." She added: "If they get permission for this application they will go for the other house as well, I agree that this is the thin end of the wedge." Hilary Ayer said it was possible to give roads with particular character special protection through planning policies. She said it could be possible to protect Buckmore Avenue due to its special beech hedge. Councillors decided to object to the plan on the grounds that it would be detrimental to the street scene and the character of the area.
