VILLAGERS aired their concerns about a plan to build a new housing estate and care home in Odiham.

More than 150 people came to a public meeting at The Vine Church, in London Road, about the plan to develop the Hatchwood Farm site off Farnham Road.

Developer Bell Cornwell wants to build up to 89 homes and a 60-bed care home on the site and is currently consulting local residents before submitting an outline planning application.

Odiham Parish Council called the public meeting last Thursday. Councillor Helen Fleming said the plan was more likely to be approved than in previous years because Hart District Council currently does not have a five-year supply of new houses, as is required of local planning authorities.

She urged people at the meeting to take part in the consultation, “to make it as good as possible”.

But residents were quick to voice their dislike of the plan.

Andrew Burnett, chairman of the Odiham Society’s planning committee, said: “The Odiham Society believes that this major development on such a sensitive and visible sight at the entrance of the village of Odiham would be detrimental to the setting and character of the conservation area, and in particular to five listed buildings adjacent.”

Joe French, of Waverley Close, Odiham, said Hart’s lack of housing supply was “an appalling lack of planning in this area”.

Simon Cubbage, of Farnham Road, Odiham, said: “The care home is an enormous building. To have that on the entrance to a village is totally unacceptable.”

Other speakers denounced a lack of infrastructure to take such a development, a “self-serving” recreation area, and its single access point from Farnham Road.

Cllr Jonathan Glen, who represents the village at Hampshire County Council, said he could see faults with the plan but added it would need “radical thinking” from villagers to oppose the application.

After the meeting, Cllr Fleming told The Gazette: “I thought it was very good that so many people turned up and expressed themselves and let’s hope Bell Cornwell and their clients are listening and pay as much attention as they possibly can.”

The consultation, which is available at bell-cornwell.co.uk, ends tomorrow.