BASINGSTOKE’S MP has written to councillors at all levels to gain support for her petition calling for the borough council to slow down house building.

At the start of September, Maria Miller launched a petition urging Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to slow the rapid housing growth, which is putting a strain on public services.

Ms Miller has said that the current construction in the borough has “ballooned to an unsustainable 1,200 new homes a year”.

READ MORE: ‘Slow it down’ - MP’s call on Basingstoke council to put an end to ‘unsustainable development’

The MP has now written to parish, borough, and county councillors within the Basingstoke constituency to gather their support for her petition.

She said: “It is clear that many people across the borough agree that enough is enough.

"Therefore, I am writing to all elected representatives in the Basingstoke constituency, at parish, borough and county level, on a cross party basis, to make sure they are fully aware of the strength of constituents’ feelings. I want to encourage their support and participation in this process. I hope together we can unite as a whole borough to seize this opportunity and push back on decades of overdevelopment.”

Ms Miller recently came under criticism for her petition from Bradley Phillips, Labour candidate for Sherborne St John and Rooksdown in the 2022 council elections.

SEE ALSO: Former election candidate criticises MP's 'confusing' petition to slow down house building in borough

He said: “I have seen the petition and, of course, I agree completely with the idea behind the petition, but I do have some problems with it. Firstly, the number proposed comes from the Government and Maria voted for those legislations to be in place and that put that onto the council.

“She voted for all of that and then when she finds out, she then seems to be shocked about it.”

You can add your name to the ‘Slow It Down’ petition by visiting Maria’s website: maria4basingstoke.co.uk/campaigns/slow-it-down-stop-overdevelopment