Villagers vow to fight £240m housing plan

More than 100 people crammed into Beltinge Village Hall to unanimously oppose a planned £240 million housing development.

The lively crowd gathered to voice their anger at a controversial scheme to build up to 1,375 homes on land in Hillborough. Everyone voted to fight the proposals, choosing to form a Beltinge and Reculver Residents’ Association to help the cause.

Michael Britton, who lives in Reculver Road, organised the meeting and voiced his fears about the plans to those who turned out. He said:

"As residents we have to fight this lock, stock and two smoking barrels. This is going to destroy what we consider to be ‘our place’. Any application to build houses on that land has to be opposed in its entirety."

The proposal - put forward by Kitewood Estates - would start at the end of next year if a planning application is successful. Building work would be staggered over three phases and include as many as 1,375 homes, a shopping centre and a foot crossing over Blacksole Bridge.

But fears have been raised about the size of the development and the infrastructure in place to cope with it. There are also concerns more houses would lead to traffic problems in the surrounding area. Laura Calder, who gave a presentation at the meeting, said:

"I want to try and help residents articulate their concerns. Should something like this get the go-ahead, it needs to be done in the right manner, with the local community being consulted on what they want to see."

Kitewood boss Mike Dolan welcomed the meeting, adding that he hopes revised plans for the development will be complete in the next 10 days. It is thought a planning application will be submitted early next year after the council has revealed areas for development in the new Local Plan.

Mr Dolan said:

"In addition to the meeting, I hope as many people as possible will visit our website and read what is actually proposed rather than rely on the uninformed urban myths that are starting to spread on this topic."

HB Gazette 20th Oct 2011 joewalker@thekmgroup.co.uk