A LINDFORD protest group is planning to pour cold water on council plans to build a high density housing development in their village.
Protest group Stop Over-development In Lindford (SOIL) is attempting to foil plans for up to 233 new houses in Chase Road after a similar campaign by residents in 1998.
Next Wednesday, a planning inquiry on the issue is due to take place from 10am at Penns Place, Petersfield and SOIL members intend to make their feelings known.
The group has put forward a petition containing 514 names to both EHDC and Deputy PM John Prescott, and are planning a peaceful protest before the inquiry.
They have been rallying Lindford against the plans for the last few weeks and have urged residents to take a stand against the development.
The current EHDC local plan originally targeted an area at the bottom of Chase Road for 100 houses but had to revise this figure to 165 due to new government guidelines.
Consequentially, the number of houses on the site could be as many as 233 if the council gives the go-ahead to a recent outline application from Bellway Homes.
The news has angered SOIL, whose members will be out in force at the inquiry, claiming the new development will raise traffic and increase the chances of flooding.
According to SOIL committee member Frank Lunt, while the development may be good news for local retailers, the proposals could prove disastrous for the village.
Mr Lunt felt EHDC had no proper guidelines with regards to its house building policies, and favoured the developers rather than local residents.
He said: ÒOur view is that thereÕs nothing properly planned - housing is just plonked anywhere it can be and thatÕs the case here.Ó
ÒThese plans will mean more congestion on our roads, over-subscription at doctorsÕ surgeries, overloading of the sewage works and larger class sizes at schools.Ó
ÒThe majority of the Chase Road site is below the 70 metre contour line and is prone to flooding - will it be possible to obtain house insurance on those properties, if they are built?Ó
ÒWe are going from 100 to 230 houses and probably more - there is probably a need for a small number of starter homes within the village but the development of the magnitude proposed is quite unacceptable.Ó
Lindford Parish Council is also opposing the development of Chase Road, claiming the site is not suitable for any major housing.
A council statement said: ÒLindford is a separate community and should not be seen as a suburb of Bordon - the weight of objections offsets and eclipses any development advantages.Ó
ÒThe parish council has consistently objected to any large-scale housing development on this site and in doing so, is expressing and reflecting the overwhelming view of the local community.Ó
The council will be represented by Edward Dawson at the inquiry, while members from both Lindford Parish and SOIL will be holding a peaceful protest outside the council chamber from 9.30-am onwards.
Anyone interested in taking part in the protest next week is asked to contact Frank Lunt on 01420 473685.