COUNCILLORS and Whitchurch residents have expressed their opposition to the proposed building of 36 houses on an allotment site in the town.

The council’s development committee voted unanimously to ‘strongly oppose’ the application in Bloswood Drive while residents also attended a presentation by the developers to make their feelings heard.

Concerns raised included the access to the site, the proposed new allotments, the increased noise and the use of the new homes as a ‘windfall site’.

Richard Cross, giving a presentation on behalf of landowner St Cross, said: “It is hoped these houses in the existing settlement boundary will relieve pressure on the council and release a greenfield site in Whitchurch.

“A planning requirement that we are supporting is that we must give enhanced facilities, and this gives us the opportunity to provide more allotments for residents with extra facilities.”

However, Councillor Allan Vaughan highlighted his concerns over the access to the site, saying: “Caesars Way is a narrow and winding road with children playing in and around it, which really isn’t suitable, in my opinion, for a great deal of traffic.”

Residents also questioned the limitations of the site for the new allotments due to the slope of the land.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough councillor Keith Watts said: “I am resolutely opposed to this application. In collaboration with allotment holders, I have continually, and so far successfully, opposed the selection of the site for development in the Local Plan.

“But I am not optimistic about this. As Basingstoke and Deane hasn't yet got an approved Local Plan, permission will probably be granted on appeal if it is refused by the council. This site is within the Whitchurch Settlement Policy Boundary so the presumption of development applied under previous national policies.”

A deadline date for a decision has been set for November 18.