ANGRY objectors to plans for a campsite in Alice Holt Forest are squaring up for more confrontation with the developers over claims that major changes to the application, the details of which are so far unavailable to the public, are being discussed with East Hampshire District Council. The proposal to establish a seasonal, tented camping ground in the forest north of the Forestry Commission's Research Centre in Gravel Hill Road, Holt Pound, has provoked vehement opposition from local people, who accuse Forest Enterprise, which manages land in the care of the Forestry Commission, and the applicant, Jonathan Clothier, of planning a development that will cause loss and damage to ancient woodland, its conservation, ecology and amenity. It's expected that by February 27, the deadline date for comments, a massive 200 objections will have been received by EHDC. Rumours that the north planning committee will not be debating the issue on March 15, as planned, is fuelling objectors' concerns.. They say it's not fair that the debate has been put back without giving extra time for objections to be received, and they are furious that "very substantial changes" are being planned that are not in the public arena. These, they say, include plans for a pond on the site, and security fencing. So far, neither amendment is on EHDC's planning website. Patrick Butler of Blacknest said objectors were told by the case officer at EHDC that it is "none of the public's business". He said: "They seem to be bending over backwards to allow the developer to improve the weak points, without keeping the public properly informed. How can we make valid and relevant comments if the goal posts keep changing behind closed doors?" Mr Butler is also questioning why there seems to be confusion over the presence of protected dormice on the site, and why "thinning" and marking of trees is already under way. Responding to objectors' concerns, case officer, Tony Whitty, said: "As far as I'm concerned, if the debate is put back, that's our own time, but it is still planned for March 15 and that will be displayed on the website next week. It's in our interests to debate it in March." However, he added that if the application has to be held back, it would go to the April committee, Commenting on the amendments to the plan, Mr Whitty said that he had seen nothing about security fencing, but that changes to the size of the proposed site have been made and will appear on the website shortly. Two small areas have been deleted – the pond area where the eradication of weed is planned, and a deer culling patch. "The development will have less impact now. The applicant thought it was best to contain it in one area," said Mr Whitty. "The issue of dormice is one for our Hampshire ecologists and they haven't come back to us yet. If they say there are none, we'll go with that. If there are some, we will mitigate. If we can't, we'll have to take a view on the application." "The thinning of trees is separate from the application. It's something the Forestry Commission has to do. If residents want to speculate about it, that's up to them, but it sounds like a conspiracy theory to me. I have to take it at face value."
