VILLAGERS in Steep were celebrating this week when a field which was mysteriously bulldozed earlier this summer, was returned to its original state.
On Wednesday East Hampshire District CouncilÕs planning enforcement manager Lesley Wells told The Herald she had visited Churchfield before contractors left and was satisfied with the work.
ÒWe visited the site on Monday and we are satisfied with the reinstatement work, but we told the contractors that it still needs reseeding with grass,Ó she said.
The reinstatement work marks the end of a battle which began earlier this year when furious neighbours told EHDC that the controversial piece of land had been bulldozed.
There was outrage last year when developers who owned the field tried to have it included in East Hampshire District CouncilÕs local plan for housing.
It caused a divide among villagers when members of Sheet Church backed the move, hoping that the development behind St Mary Magdalen would include a new church hall.
The developers failed in their bid to have the land earmarked for housing. But when it was bulldozed at the end of July villagers feared they could be ÒtrashingÓ the land to make it appear more like a brownfield site in a bid to ease the road to planning permission.
Nick Philp was one of the Sheet villagers who formed RADISH (Residents Against Development in Sheet), and who watched in trepidation when the bulldozers arrived. He said he believed the developer was blatantly flouting planning laws.
But EHDC planners were quick to slap a stop notice on the field after villagers complained.
They also served enforcement notices requiring the land to be reinstated.
Mrs Wells told The Herald: ÒThe notices were served by the council to protect this sensitive area, which is within Sheet Conservation Area and the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, from development which is detrimental to the character and appearance of this attractive rural location.Ó
Chairman of the south planning committee, Sue Halstead, added: ÒWhere development takes place without the benefit of planning permission and is harmful to the environment, robust action will be taken by the council to bring about its swift cessation.
ÒThis will be followed up by the appropriate action to remedy the situation.Ó