Anger over dumped building site waste (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Topsoil and building rubble dumped in Old Basing

2:00pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News By Simon Moss

RESIDENTS in Old Basing have been reassured that a pile of topsoil and building rubble will be removed from a wildlife spot.

Neighbours say it appeared three weeks ago along the banks of the old Basingstoke Canal, behind Cavalier Road and have been pointing the finger at Mildren Construction, which is building eight new homes at Cavalier Green.

Rick Bourne, of Cavalier Road, explained: “This area is an important wildlife track and residents are particularly angry that it is being dumped on in this way. The community was against these homes in the first place. We managed to get it reduced to just eight homes, but to have this extra trouble on top is hard to take.”

He added: “It is a well-known fact that deer, foxes, badgers, reptiles and birds depend on the natural contours and cover of the canal and its banks.”

The land is owned by health charity The King’s Fund. A spokesman for the organisation said it had not authorised this use of its land and was “looking into” the incident.

But a spokesman for Mildren Construction said the soil would be removed “in the next few weeks”. He added: “We are aware of the residents’ concerns and we would like to assure them that we take our responsibilities very seriously. We are sorry to have caused any concern.”

Graham Hornsey, treasurer for the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society, which looks after the Basingstoke Canal, said the local authority should step in if necessary to protect the remains of the canal.

Councillor Sven Godesen, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council ward member for Basing, said: “Assuming the builder does what he said he will do, then there isn’t a problem.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has confirmed there is no breach of planning regulations as it has been assured the pile is only temporary.