Alresford civic chiefs to resist Traveller sites unless other places take their share - Hampshire

From the Hampshire Chronicle

ALRESFORD civic chiefs say they will resist plans for a new Gypsy and Traveller site unless others are provided across the Winchester district.

The proposed town plan would see a small site of about six pitches as part of the housing and industrial development off Sun Lane.

But town councillors are to tell Winchester planners that they want to see other places help hit the target of 35 pitches and for the site to be managed by the city council.

A town council resolution said: “If there are no fair, proportionately appropriate sites in other locations, then we would be unable to seek support from the town.”

But it has warned that if sites are not identified then plans for Gypsy and Traveller sites will have to be approved.

Town councillors have finalised their response to the city council over the town plan.

The council is also worried about traffic for the Sun Lane development and says it should be conditional on new access off the A31 Alresford bypass.

Cllr Roy Gentry said he would like to a see another access off the Bishop’s Sutton road which villagers there strongly oppose.

Traffic slowing measures should be introduced on Sun Lane including a wide curve outside the Sun Hill schools that would create more parking space for use by the schools and the proposed burial ground and allotments.

They also want to see a buffer zone of up to 100m of land between the new development and Bishop’s Sutton.

Farmland west of New Farm Road should be designated for recreational use, meeting a local need, and protecting it from development.

The council also wants to see commercial development limited to office and light industrial. Several industrial firms in The Dean, such as Warwick Trailers, are interested in moving to the new site.

The town council reported that both Sun Hill Infants and Junior Schools are talking to the county council about expanding to meet growing demand.