PROTESTERS opposing the proposed 276 house development at Ramshill have labelled the governmentÕs decision not to call in the application a ÔdisasterÕ.
The development can now go ahead since East Hampshire District Council approved it in May and the Government Office for the the South East (GOSE) hse given it the go-ahead.
Residents Against Development at Ramshill (RADAR) have fought the proposals all the way, and their chairman, Scott Gibbons, said: ÒWe can be considered unfortunate that the decision had to be made at such a politically inopportune time - in fact GOSE took twice the normal time of three weeks to make a decision.Ó
Deputy chairman of RADAR, David Hardy, said: ÒThe residents had hoped that the government would call in the Ramshill application and at the same time the developer of the Causeway application would have appealed against EHDCÕs refusal of planning permission and it would have been a straight comparison between the two sites.Ó
The original application by Bryant Homes for Ramshill was for 176 homes. This was thrown back into the melting pot when the government brought in new planning guidelines requiring higher densities of building.
Mr Hardy said he believed the council should have made a major review of all its housing sites in Petersfield when the new guidelines were introduced.
GOSE was required to look at the application as it was for more than 150 houses.
Mr Gibbons said: ÒThis disappointing decision represents the end of our campaign to stop this proposal, which we believe is a disaster for everyone who wants Petersfield to remain an attractive market town. I wish to extend my thanks to all members of RADAR for their support, and especially to Mr Ron Tate, our professional advisor, without whom the campaign since May would never have taken off.
ÒWe must now look to the future, and the council can be sure that there will be many Petersfield residents who will be watching critically the impact of this development on traffic, schooling and the overall environment, not forgetting the effect on wildlife.Ó
A summary of GOSEÕs decision said: ÒThe Secretary of State considers that the main matters relevant to his decision in this case are his policies to meet the housing requirements of the whole community (including those in need of affordable housing), widen housing opportunity and create mixed opportunities.
ÒThe Secretary of State is satisfied that the issues raised do not relate to matters of more than local importance which would be more appropriately decided by him rather than the local planning authority. He has therefore concluded that the application should be decided by EHDC.Ó