MORE than 80 Lindford residents packed into the villageÕs working menÕs club last Friday to find out what they can do to stop 233 new homes being built in their village.

The public meeting had been called by Lindford Parish Council to launch its campaign to fight the planning application which seeks permission to build the homes at the bottom of Chase Road.

Football pitches, a changing room and a riverside walk would also be constructed as part of the development.

Chairman of the parish council, Ian Skelton-Smith, explained to residents that an extra 233 houses in a village of 900 households would generate 25 per cent more traffic in Lindford.

He said that the council was doing all it could to fight the plans, but needed help from residents.

Chairman of the councilÕs planning committee, Eric Birkett, spoke about the residentsÕ continued opposition to the Chase Road development, and pointed out that the village lacks sufficient open space to comply with local authority directives.

He said that the area of the land the developers have allocated to open space would be under water in winter.

He added that the development would result in Òunacceptable levels of trafficÓ on the villageÕs roads and that jams at the fire station crossroads in Bordon, coming from the Lindford direction, would also be worsened by Òan extra 300 cars a day using these roads, causing extra pollutionÓ.

The recent decision to allow more than 40 homes to be built at RE Lines and St Lucia Lodge, next to the crossroads, would also add to the problems, the meeting heard.

Lack of facilities, sewage problems and poor public transport were also highlighted as reasons why residents should fight the application.

So far 15 letters of objection have been sent to the planning authority, East Hampshire District Council, which has the job of agreeing or refusing the planning application.

If the council receives more than 20 letters, then a resident and the parish council will each be able to speak for three minutes at the crunch planning meeting where the application will be discussed.

Mr Birkett emphasised the need for residents to write in to the district council to air their views over the plans.

Ernie Smith, the chairman of SOIL (Stop Overdevelopment In Lindford), explained that the residentsÕ protest group had been activity campaigning against the housing development.

It has been lobbying key decision-makers and has organised a petition against the housing, which has been signed by 500 people.

Frank Lunt, another member of SOIL, asked residents to write to EHDC by Friday, October 17, which is the deadline given for members of the public to respond to the application. The parish council has until November 30 to make its response to the application.

It is believed that the district council will discuss the application at the end of the year.

Ian Skelton-Smith told The Herald that he believed that the meeting was a resounding success.

ÒThis was a very constructive discussion session in which speakers from the floor commented on, and asked questions about, their concerns,Ó he said.

ÒThe next three months are critical. We must show that we donÕt accept this proposal, we need as many letters as possible. Numbers count.Ó

l Anyone wishing to comment on the plans should send their views to EHDCÕs planning department, quoting application number F.38503/001, by October 17.