THREE councillors who oppose mass development in Winchfield have called for the latest edition of Hart District’s Council’s newsletter to be pulped.

Conservative councillors Andrew Renshaw, Anne Crampton and Tim Southern described the article in Hart News, about future development and the possibility of building a new town at Winchfield, as “propaganda” and could affect the outcome of a public consultation.

The article provides an update on the district council’s Local Plan, a blueprint for future development.

The article states that Hart’s preference is to build a new settlement at Winchfield which would be “a large scale project that would fundamentally change that part of Hart”.

Cllr Renshaw said: “Copies of Hart News should be pulped along with those responsible for this propaganda which comes out before a new consultation on the housing options.

“It is disgraceful to put out this one-sided article which can only serve to direct views ahead of the consultation and prejudges the issues.”

He said the article “renders the consultation meaningless” by focusing on one option when there are others that are being considered.

As reported in The Gazette, a majority of councillors at Hart voted last year to test Winchfield as a site for a new settlement.

In a statement, the district council said the article reflected the council’s decision in November that its preference “is for a new settlement to be built in the area that comprises Winchfield”, and added this did not yet represent council-adopted policy.

Cllr Stephen Parker, leader of the council, said: “Notwithstanding the decision of council last year, I am determined to give people another opportunity to give us their views on the strategy for delivering the housing we are required to provide for.

“This is an opportunity for all residents to influence the direction of travel for development for the next twenty years, and I trust that they will avoid diversion by the scaremongers on all sides but grasp the opportunity for all our futures.”