BROADCASTER Clare Balding has signed a petition to save a historic mill in Kingsclere from being developed.

A Grade II listed site, near Gaily Mill, is one of seven sites being considered for the development of up to 50 homes as part of Kingsclere Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Local Plan, which is currently being examined by a Government planning inspector, says that Kingsclere should expect to accommodate 50 homes between now and 2029.

And residents in the village have now launched a petition to save the site from development which has attracted around 600 signatures since being launched last week.

Other sites being considered in the Neighbourhood Plan include land behind Strokins Road, Fawconer Road, Coppice Road, Basingstoke Road, and Poveys Mead.

Mother-of-two Marie Gundry, of Basingstoke Road, set up the petition, along with the Earl of Huntingdon, William Hastings-Bass, and said it would be an “atrocity” to build on the site.

The 60-year-old, whose grandfather was a miller at Gailey Mill, told The Gazette: “We have done quite well. It has been (signed by) about one sixth of the village population. I don’t want to see Gaily Mill built on. It is a Grade II listed building. The traffic on Winchester Road is also diabolical.

“People have looked at it, read the petition and understood what we are trying to say. There is quite a lot of wildlife down there – you get ducks and local children spend a lot of time paddling in the water and catching fish. It is an absolute beauty spot and it should be saved from development.”

Ms Balding, who is 44-years-old, previously lived at Gailey Mill when it was leased to her by her uncle, the Earl of Huntingdon.

Kingsclere Parish Councillor, Sue Adams, who is on the Neighbourhood Plan group, told The Gazette that a decision had not been made about the site but the public would get to have their say at a public meeting on Friday.

She said: “It is one of seven sites the Neighbourhood Plan group has evaluated for possible development. It seems highly unlikely the site is going to be put forward for development.

“We have a choice of the sites so obviously (in the final stages) we are going to propose sites that the majority of people want to see developed. It is local people who will make the decision, nobody else. Clare Balding doesn’t live in Kingsclere anymore and she won’t get a vote at the end of the day.”

A public meeting will be held from 7.30pm at the Fieldgate Centre this Friday. The Neighbourhood Planning Group will present conclusions on the draft plan at the meeting.