Plan will affect all of us (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Plan will affect all of us

2:25pm Friday 8th January 2010 in

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Sir.–A recent Gazette article reported on an east-west split in the town over the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).

This is not an east-west split since the plan will affect us all.

This is a Government-imposed allocation of 18,900 homes in the borough, an additional 40,000 people by 2026, as part of the South East Plan.

I have not seen one crumb of evidence which convinces me of the need for such a draconian increase in Basingstoke or for that matter the rest of the already overcrowded South East.

If population growth and economic growth are two factors used to justify these figures, then God help us. Government forecasts are notoriously unreliable including, as it does, a continuing economic growth of three per cent made before the recession.

The SHLAA identifies areas which could be built on. How the River Loddon flood plain to the east of Basingstoke was included is beyond belief. I can only assume that the planners had the map face down on the desk when they thought of this one.

Climate change is already producing extremes of weather and the existing flood risk would only increase due to increased run off from hard surfaces amongst other things. Would any councillor buy a new house here? I don’t think so.

I understand that the Hampshire Wildlife trust has already expressed its concern that the SHLAA does not consider areas of high biodiversity, landscape value and the affect on wildlife.

If the council is not strong enough to reject this draconian imposition then don’t make fools of yourselves by putting the Loddon flood plain in the SHLAA. This battle is for everyone in the borough if you care about the environment and the future.

–Peter Bloyce, Old Basing.