THE chair of a community action group organised drop-in sessions to help encourage residents to object plans to regenerate Winklebury.

As previously reported, Vivid has lodged an application with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) to regenerate part of Winklebury, despite concerns from residents and councillors. 

The masterplan includes 203 homes, which Vivid claims are "highly sustainable and modern” - 40 per cent of which will be affordable housing.

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The plan also includes a new community park on the former Fort Hill School site, a pre-school, a play facility, a new medical centre, multi-use community space and a retail hub that “meets local needs and reflects the changing retail landscape”.

The chair of the Winklebury and Manydown Community Action Group (WMCAG) Mark Peters said that the group, alongside supporting councillors, are now aksing residents to object to the plan.

In order to kick things off the group held drop-in sessions in a bid to help and ecourage residents to reject the plans.

Speaking before the sessions Mark said: "The question that must now be answered is what has changed in those four years that BDBC and Vivid have decided to ignore the earlier commitments and build a substandard and simply too small health facility on the former play council site and instead of the joint health and community hub on Fort Hill, have now chosen to put in a last minute addition of a tiny community facility in Winklebury centre that is clearly not financially viable going forward.

"So we are asking residents to raise their objections by emailing planning.comments@basingstoke.gov.uk or by post to planning development, Basingstoke and Deane borough council, Civic offices,London Rd, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH quoting reference number 22/-1934/FUL."

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The two drop-in sessions were designed for any residents who wanted some help in writing their objections.

For more information search Winklebury and Manydown Community Action Group on Facebook or go to Winkleburyregen.uk.