A WHITCHURCH borough councillor has said that plans to build 34 homes on an allotment site should be rejected.

Councillor Keith Watts has spoken out about the application for Bloswood Lane, which will be decided by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on May 7.

He said: “Five years ago two allotment holders came to a meeting in Basingstoke to support my move to remove this site from the earliest stage of the Local Plan.

“We were successful then and I have opposed its re-introduction every year since.

“My other reason for opposing the plan is that the new houses would be too close to factories in Ardglen Road, possibly causing disturbance to the new residents and leading to complaints against the factory owners.

“Now a very active group of volunteers is working on a Neighbourhood Plan for Whitchurch that will eventually be put to a vote in a referendum.

“If that leads to a decision that the allotments should be built on, I shall have to revise my view but, until then, this planning application should be rejected.”

If the plan is approved, the borough council is obliged to provide an alternative site for allotment holders within two miles of the current site.

*Do you have an allotment on this site? Let us know what you think of the plans by calling Emily Roberts on 01256 337410 or emailing emily.roberts@basingstokegazette.co.uk.