FIGHT4FOURMARKS campaigners are challenging Alton residents to join them in the battle for "fair and sensible planning in the right location". With East Hampshire planners accused of "failing local communities in a major way by allowing building before infrastructure" the call is for "a solid campaign which will return a degree of democracy to the planning process". Concerned over the community's ability to cope with the number of new households moving into the area, Four Marks campaigners have already enlisted the support of Medstead residents in flying the flag for sustainability. They want planners to put a halt to development pending purposeful debate on sustainability, key to which is the provision of adequate infrastructure. The Fight4Fourmarks campaign was sparked by proposals to build high density back garden development which they feared would change the character of the entire area. The applications raised awareness of the potential impact of a government planning policy that has given brownfield status to back gardens, opening the floodgates to "urban- style" infilling. At the same time, they are bracing themselves for a new 185-home development on a major development site between the A31 and Brislands Lane, raising questions over whether infrastructure and services can stand the strain. According to Fight4Fourmarks stalwart Ingrid Thomas, during the time the campaign has been running, members have become increasingly concerned that, with many services centred on Alton, and they are asking "can the town cope?" Mrs Thomas told The Herald: "It has been noticeable for a long time that Alton is struggling to cope with the population it now serves. Parking is limited, leisure facilities insufficient and shops increasingly crowded. "Then there is the whole area of education. Most of the schools are full and parents are no longer able to send their children to the school of their choice. Trains and station car parking are a problem. Emergency services are stretched." Mrs Thomas continued: "As it is East Hampshire District Council policy to work for sustainable development and to put in infrastructure before building is carried out, we believe it is time to ask why this is not happening. "In Basingstoke they have a moratorium on building until the infrastructure has caught up with the builders. Let's have that here too," Fellow campaigner, Mike Sanders, is keen to broaden the debate over sustainability. He is challenging local councillors to defend decisions which appear to take no heed of sustainability issues. "As representatives of the people they jolly well should consider these issues - after all when we choose to live anywhere these are the things we look at. What happens is that slowly developers change our environment to make a profit and run, and we (the residents) are left holding the baby in a non sustainable community." Having scrutinised EHDC's sustainability policy, Fight4Fourmarks campaigners are keen to reverse the building before infrastructure trend before the whole area is plunged into crisis. In urging Alton to join Four Marks and Medstead in the debate, Mike Sanders has sent out a challenge to the planners: "Before any more stuffing in of houses on every square inch within the settlement boundaries of towns and villages in North Hampshire, I call for a complete rethink on this whole sustainability issue," he commented.