RESIDENTS have slammed borough council Cabinet members for ignoring public opinion over a controversial housing scheme.

Plans to build about 40 houses and a park on former allotments in South View, Basingstoke, were approved, despite 88 per cent of consultation responses opposing any houses on the land at all.

More than 10 residents spoke at last week’s Cabinet meeting against the proposals, and accused members of ignoring their opinion.

Questions were also raised about Cabinet member Councillor James Lewin’s comments in a recent Gazette article when he said a park was never viable. He tried to justify this by telling the meeting the site was already earmarked for development.

Labour Norden ward member Cllr George Hood told the Conservative Cabinet: “It doesn’t matter how you seek to justify your decision tonight, you are taking one third of the existing open space away. You’ve been told by the residents that they do not support your proposals for housing.”

Labour group leader, and fellow Norden ward member, Cllr Laura James added: “This process is a joke. We are well aware that you will ignore us and our residents. But by doing this you bring this council and local democracy into disrepute.”

Fellow Labour Norden ward member Cllr Paul Harvey said the council needs to ask the Secretary of State for permission to decommission the allotments before they can be used for anything else. There are 61 people on a waiting list for an allotment in Norden, and he said this showed a need for the land to be used for this purpose.

Louise Shurlock, from Walton Road, said she was trying to make the land into a town green.

She added: “Our own council is prepared to annihilate this treasure trove for financial gain. If you leave the land as it is, you won’t get any gain, but you won’t spend any money either because we will set up a group to look after it.”

Victor Cherrett, 62, from Kingsclere Road, questioned why the option of a park was included in the consultation.

He added: “When you knew that something was no longer viable, why didn’t you put that back to the people and explain that you are sorry that option is no longer viable, and that people might like to look at it again?”

Frank Pryce, 46, from Deanes Close, said he used the space to walk his dog. But Cabinet member Cllr Clive Sanders said: “As much as it’s important for people to be able to walk their dogs, it’s also important for someone to have somewhere to live and bring up their family.”

After Cllr Lewin said: “I regret bitterly that we can’t please everybody”, someone shouted in response: “You could please 88 per cent.”

As well as giving the go-ahead for the housing scheme, the Cabinet also approved the option to leave the Vyne Meadow car park in Vyne Road as it is.