RESIDENTS of Alton and Holybourne are to be asked by Alton Town Council to put forward suggestions for naming the public open space adjacent to the Barley Fields development on the former Chandos Lodge site.

Speaking at the April 12 meeting of the town council’s open spaces committee, Holybourne Village Association chairman David Tomlinson said that falling within the Holybourne ward, association members held strong views on the name of the field, which was due to be transferred into town council ownership for use as public open space.

Holybourne Village Association felt the name Barley Fields, given by Persimmon to the development, had no real historic significance and felt the ‘gap’ field should have a more appropriate name.

As the former owners of The Grange hotel, and members of Holybourne Village Association, Andrea and David Levene had suggested Balloon Fields – a name associated with the field for many years as the place in Alton from which balloon flights were launched.

Mr Tomlinson further registered a plea to the town council that any future issues relating to Holybourne be referred to the village association for comment.

Committee chairman Graham Hill was keen that not only the residents of Holybourne but those from across Alton should be consulted over the naming of the site.