RESIDENTS have reacted angrily to retrospective plans for a caravan site installed on land near Culhams Mill, in Little London Road.

The application sent to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council would see the use of land changed to be suitable for 13 plots including day rooms and construction of hardstanding and access road.

This proposal has been submitted following an unauthorised establishment of the site earlier this year which saw villagers vote unanimously in favour to object at a Silchester Parish Council meeting in February.

Applicant William Connor said the site was chosen for its secluded value and it being within close vicinity of Silchester and Tadley.

However, the parish council has strongly objected to the proposals as it says the site does not fall into the sites which can be developed in the village’s local plan.

Since being the application went in, more than 300 letters of objection have been submitted against the plans.

A statement from the parish council read: “Granting permission would establish a precedent that is likely to lead to harmful intensification and extension of the use onto other land around the application site.

“The development has potential to impact upon nondesignated heritage assets of archaeological interest associated with the former Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum.”

The parish council also stated that, if approved, the development would act as a ‘substantial highways risk’ as it claims the junction of Little London Road has insufficient visibility and as this part of the road is not under the control of the land owner, no improvements can be made.

The Silchester Community Speedwatch team also collected data on the road showing that less than 25 per cent of motorists on the road abide by the 30mph speed limit.

Further objections have been submitted by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the Forestry Commission.

A spokeswoman for the Forestry Commission said: “Planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland and the loss of aged or veteran trees found outside ancient woodland, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.”

A decision is due to be made by November 7.

For more information go to planning.basingstoke.gov.

uk/online-applications and search using the reference code 17/00653/RET.