Save BASH meet to discuss Buckskin and South Ham project

The Save BASH (Buckskin and South Ham) committee held a meet and greet event in the Howard Park Bowls Club on Tuesday, July 22 from 1pm to 4pm.

The event was attended by scores of residents from the two areas, along with several councillors, including Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's leader, Cllr Paul Harvey.

Save BASH invited locals to share their views on the project, and learn about the committee's goals and upcoming initiatives.

Speaking to the Gazette, chairwoman of Save BASH, Zena Lindsay, explained why the group exists: "We decided that not enough people knew that the homes were at risk and we designed, printed and delivered leaflets to all the houses in the affected area, so that people would at least be aware of what was going on."

As previously reported, Sovereign Network Group (SNG), in partnership with The Hill Group, has been tasked with the rejuvenation of Buckskin and South Ham.

The project is currently in the consultation stage, and no official proposals have been made, but residents of the two areas face the possibility of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) being used to buy their homes as a "last resort" in order to build high-rise flats and a new high street.

This has led to feelings of uncertainty and fear among residents, many of whom are elderly and live in bungalows they purchased to be their forever homes, but are now at risk of being displaced.

Zena continued: "The most vulnerable people in the area tend to be put in the bungalows, but it doesn't mean to say that if you've got a three-bedroom bungalow, you're going to be moved into another three-bedroom bungalow. You could be moved into a one-bedroom flat.

"Well, if you're disabled, what if the lift breaks?"

A major concern discussed at the event was the fact that Buckskin and South Ham are two of the 'least valuable' parts of Basingstoke, property-wise. Residents explained how even if their homes are purchased at market value, they would not be able to buy another home of equal size in the town, as houses everywhere else would cost more than they would likely receive.

David Crosby, 69, is the vice chair of Save BASH and has lived in his current home in South Ham for 19 years with his wife Debra.

He explained that they bought their home with the intention to live there for the rest of their lives, and have invested in it accordingly.

He said: "We put all our money into our home, it was supposed to be our forever home, so that we won't ever have to go anywhere else.

"What SNG have done with this regeneration project, it seems like they have created a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

"Yes, we live in a lower value area, but if we were to be moved on, there is nowhere else in town, no housing, anywhere, that we could afford."

David explained that while Save BASH is not opposed to improvements in the area, he doesn't believe a large-scale regeneration is the answer.

He continued: "They need to approach it with a surgeon's knife, not a butcher's meat cleaver.

"We are not opposed to small changes and improvements, because there are of course, some things can be improved, but we are against the large-scale uprooting of people.

"The whole thing is based on a false premise, they say they have 'ambitions', one of which is to improve health. How is building high-density housing and removing green space going to do that?

"There are lots of things to get right, and the last thing we need is high-density housing."

Anne Horner, treasurer of Save BASH, shared her concerns of transparency and the need for new infrastructure.

She said: "We want them [SNG] to be a bit more transparent. Infrastructure is quite a big thing because we're 10,000 patients over subscription [at the GP], and that is just for the South Ham.

"The general feeling amongst people we've spoken to today is outrage at the fact they've been left in limbo because they don't know what's going on and Sovereign haven't been very concise with what they have said to us."

Mark Brown, who lives in South Ham, is worried about the impact the upheaval of residents would have on their lives.

He said: "We are here to support the community, we want what's right and we don't want the community misplaced.

"My wife has lived here for 56 years and you just have to look outside to see all the memories of this place. We know all our neighbours and we know some who have cancer who are frightened of what might happen.

"There are places here that would benefit from improvements, but not the whole thing."

Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Cllr Paul Harvey spent the afternoon meeting with residents and hearing their views.

He said: "It was really important to hear residents, what they have to say and how concerned they are and also where it goes from here.

"Save BASH as a group, and residents, should take pride in this and be a part of it.

"SNG need to think how they can involve residents and regain their trust.

As a council, we will be making sure that they hear that voice and understand in order to get it right."

Conservative Cllr Sean Dillow was also in attendance.

He said: "It is a testament to the strength of the community and the number of people who turned up today.

"I think it is great that people are able to air their concerns and I think the attention that has come from this and the fact that we have just created an overview and scrutiny committee on the proposed regeneration will only help give an extra level of scrutiny and this means that residents and groups can air their concerns in a public forum."