ANGRY Winchfield residents have formed an action group to fight against plans for a ‘new town’.

A scheme for a large scale urban development of 4,000 houses on greenfield sites in Winchfield has prompted local people to form the Winchfield Action Group, WAG.

The group believes that the plans, formed after a group of landowners put forward sites to Hart District Council, would “destroy the character of the whole area”.

Tristram Cary, chairman of the action group said “Winchfield forms an invaluable green space between Fleet, Hook, Hartley Wintney and Odiham.

“Winchfield is the last undeveloped Domesday Village remaining in Hart and needs to be protected from urbanisation.

“The proposed new town would create an urban sprawl which would destroy the character of the whole area.”

The preferred development strategy of Hart District Council does not deem a large new settlement in Winchfield appropriate.

This strategy, which has the backing of Winchfield parish council, has not yet been submitted for approval to the Government and there are concerns that, without this approval, developers will be able to impose towns on rural communities against their will.

Mr Cary said: “The Winchfield Action Group will fight hard to ensure that developers cannot overturn Hart’s chosen strategy and spoil the character of the whole area.”

Maria Morgan, spokeswoman for Winchfield Development Group, a coalition of landowners seeking to develop 299 hectares at Winchfield, said their plan would be phased in over 27 years. She said: “Our proposal is for a sustainable eco-village and most people currently protesting will be long gone by the time it is finished, as will I.”

Winchfield Action Group can be contacted by anyone interested at winchfieldaction@gmail.com.