A VILLAGE fighting a “new town” development is to increase its part of the council tax by nearly 350 per cent to help fund the fight against major house-building in the area.

Councillor Andrew Renshaw, chairman of Winchfield Parish Council, said the money will go towards legal advice in fighting the plan to build thousands of homes in the village.

As reported in The Gazette, members of Hart District Council have agreed to test Winchfield as potential site for a new development for thousands of homes.

Its preferred strategy for future house growth would see between 1,800 and 2,400 homes built in the village in the first phase, with up to 5,000 homes built in total.

The total amount Winchfield council will receive from householders in the village will increase from £6,000 to £26,820, the parish council’s January meeting heard. It would mean a taxpayer living in a Band D property would see their parish council bill rise by around £65.

Cllr Renshaw said: “I think it’s true to say that probably over something like the last 10 to 12 years, Winchfield has had the smallest precept that it could possibly have and has been the cheapest place based on the amount of council tax.

“The fact is that the time has now come where if we are going to employ lawyers, we are going to have to lift the amount considerably.

“It would be an enormous increase, that’s no doubt about it. It’s very important we spend it wisely and on top people.”

The meeting heard that the parish council already has a fund of £6,250 that will be used to fight the development.

Other projects that the money will cover include a new website for the parish council and the funding of a parish lengthsman to clear ditches and spot highway problems. Members agreed unanimously to increase the precept.

The parish precept forms a small part of ratepayers’ annual tax bill, which also includes levies from Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.