SYMPATHIES with the plight of Lindford, which faces the construction of more than 200 new homes, has been expressed by the district council this week as battlelines over the proposed development were drawn.

On Wednesday morning, residents gathered outside the district councilÕs offices in Petersfield to protest against plans to build the large number of homes on land at the bottom of Chase Road.

The SOIL (Stop Overdevelopment In Lindford) group was hopeful that its presence would help emphasise the strength of feeling in the village against the homes being built.

This week the district council was hosting an inquiry into its proposed new edition of its local plan which guides development in the district. An independent inspector is scrutinising the plan before it is officially adopted.

In the previous version of the plan, the council allocated the site for 100 homes but now wants to increase this to 165 in line with government guidance over housing densities.

But developers Bellway Homes have made their intentions clear and, as reported by last weekÕs Herald, is seeking planning permission to construct 233 homes on the site.

At the inquiry, East Hampshire District CouncilÕs principal planning manager for policy Alistair Speirs expressed sympathies with Lindford over the housing allocation which, he explained, had originally been included in the previous review of the local plan against the wishes of the district council.

He said: ÒThe district council has every sympathy with Lindford Parish Council. At the last local plan inquiry we opposed the development of this site.Ó

The officer explained that the inspector at that time disagreed with the district and parish council and recommended that the site be included in the plan as suitable for 100 homes.

ÒThe council has to take on board the inspectorÕs advice and unless there is an overwhelming reason why we shouldnÕt we accept it,Ó Mr Speirs said.

ÒWe have been trying to make the most of this allocation in terms of getting some additional community facilities and meeting a shortfall of open space in the parish.Ó

But at the inquiry, the parish council fought its case in the hopes of persuading the inspector and district council to either drop the site from the local plan altogether or to not increase the allocation beyond 100 homes.

Speaking on behalf of the parish council, consultant Edward Dawson, parish clerk Wendy Noe and planning committee chairman Eric Birkett told the inspector that Lindford did not have the facilities to sustain the proposed new housing.

The fact that the site is predominantly a green field one, traffic, flooding and sewage problems and the threat to the River Wey were among the list of reasons given by the trio as to why no homes should be on the site.

However, the district council stuck to its arguments that the site had to be included because of the previous inspectorÕs findings and that, contrary to the views of some residents, new homes were needed in the village.

Mr Speirs said: ÒA housing need survey carried out by the parish council showed that there was a need for 30 low cost homes and small dwellings and the need to keep them affordable. There is a need for housing in Lindford and in the rest of the district.

ÒWe need to balance up a whole range of things which it comes to sustainability. It is balancing economic, social and environmental factors with meeting housing needs.

ÒIn east Hampshire we have a lot of landscape which is of very high quality in our AONBs (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and we have to look at protecting it and meeting these other needs in the context of east Hampshire.Ó

A report from the inspector over the Chase Road site with a recommendation about its future is not expected until next year.

Despite the arguments put forward at the meeting, which will shape the local plan, the inspector conceded that the inquiry may be undermined by the recent planning application.

The developers are seeking outline permission, to the the go-ahead in principle, for 233 homes, new access roads, playing fields with changing facilities and a riverside walk.

If permission is granted then, the inspector said, his views would become ÒredundantÓ as the planning permission would overrule any view he may have.

But he emphasised the fact that the application will be dealt with using the previous review of the local plan, where 100 homes are proposed, and not the second review.

However the SOIL protesters and parish council are hoping to avoid that happening and plans for a public meeting to fight the application are in the pipeline.

Public consultation over the application is now under way and letters have been sent out to more than 50 homes near the site informing them of the plans.

Environmental groups, water companies and other experts have also been consulted along with Lindford Parish Council, Hampshire County Council and Whitehill Town Council.

Comments on the plans should be sent to planners by mid-October although no decision on the application is expected for some time.