A GROUP of local residents are preparing to fight to retain a line of mature trees that currently screen their Bolle Road homes from the Whitedown School and Hampshire Ambulance sites in Albert Road. While not opposed to the proposed redevelopment of these combined sites, the neighbouring residents do, however, want to retain their privacy. And they want to protect their homes from potential light and noise pollution generated by the proposed 28-unit development of 2.5 and three storey flats and town houses, some of which could be built right up to their rear boundary lines. Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Ambulance Trust have joined forces to look at redevelopment of the 1.43 acre site following the move in July of Whitedown School to a larger, purpose-built premises in Bordon, and a requirement for an ambulance station to house taller more modern vehicles. While understanding the need to redevelop what will become a redundant brownfield site, Paul Human believes that removal of the current boundary tree line will be as harmful to potential new residents as it will be to existing householders living in Bolle Road. "This is supposed to be a prestigious development in keeping with the Albert Road conservation area, but the houses at the back will be looking straight into our 60s housing estate," points out Dr Human. His wife Charlotte agrees. She believes that while the trees do not impact on Bolle Road residents at all the new houses certainly would, stripping existing residents of their privacy and totally altering the green and pleasant skyline. Furthermore, despite suggestions from county council officers that the trees may be diseased, according to neighbouring environmentalist Grace Mayo, the trees - mainly conifers - are currently flowering, indicating good health and growth. Neighbours Deborah Watmore and Pat Preston, having lived in Bolle Road for the past 43 years, said they could vouch for the fact that the trees attract a range of insects which act as a feeding ground for resident bats - and bats are a protected species. The campaigners are adamant - this is not a case of nimbyism but it is key to satisfying Bolle Road residents' concerns about the impact of the proposed development on their future well being. Some have already written to Hampshire County Council, to East Hampshire District Council's arboricultural officer and to the chief planning officer. They are hoping to encourage more people to write in order to secure a section one rating to secure public input into the debate when the plan comes up before councillors for decision at EHDC's north planning committee.
