CONTROVERSIAL plans to axe five police houses and replace them with 18 affordable homes have been put on hold pending further information.

The proposal, before East Hampshire District Council's North planning committee last week, called for the demolition of five police houses on Petersfield Road, Whitehill, to be replaced by ten two-bedroom terraced houses, two three-bedroom semi detached houses and six one-bedroom flats.

In his report to the committee, chief planning officer Jeremy Heppell outlined the proposal to erect 18 affordable units utilising a widened access from Petersfield Road.

"The houses would be two storeys high arranged in terraces and one pair of semis, while the flats would be in a three-storey block to the rear of the site.

"Twenty six parking spaces would be provided, principally in two parking courts," he said.

At Thursday's meeting, chief planning officer Keith Oliver told the committee that he had received a further three letters of objection to the proposal on top of the 15 already documented in the agenda, most concerned with traffic and parking.

There was still a full site survey to be carried out which was felt could help the application, as committee members were still unhappy with the lack of detail that the plans went into.

Dr Michael Watkinson made a point of reiterating the objection of the Whitehill Town Council. He said: "The narrow site is totally inappropriate for a development of this kind. It is totally against everything that we are trying to do in Whitehill and Bordon.

"Bordon has had enough difficulties in trying to develop a balanced community. Bordon is now on a national register of towns whose occupants have poor educational qualifications, and this type of housing will attract even more.

"There are enough dull buildings around the area already, and we do not need 18 more," he said.or

These views were backed up by fellow Bordon and Whitehill council David Kidd

Peter Wonson (Binsted) was most worried about the traffic aspect. He said: "The A325 through Whitehill is the most dangerous road in the county, a fact that is widely acknowledged by the county. Why is the safety issue being ignored in this case".

Geoffrey Whittle (Headley) called the plans, "a complete over-development of the site".

Zoya Faddy (Bordon and Whitehill) said: "The houses that are to be demolished are exactly the type of houses that we need in Whitehill. They are roomy and good value, and it is absolutely criminal to demolish them.

"The traffic is appalling on the A325 and it is getting worse, so please object to the plans.

"Let's have some clever and original thinking, and come up with a better idea. Larger houses with a parade of shops would be better for that site".

Anne Storey (Four Marks) pointed out that, in her opinion, the proposal was not complete. She said, " There are a lot of gaps in the facts, and we need all of the facts and figures before us before we can make a decision".

Councillors agreed more detailed plans were required and that an environmental study must be carried out.