A CAMPAIGN group trying to stop large-scale development around Romsey is putting the pressure on borough planning chiefs to withdraw their blueprint for 1,300 new homes at Whitenap.

Romsave has designed and printed 12,000 leaflets with detailed information on how to make objections and representations to Test Valley Borough Council on the proposed Whitenap development ,which is included in the latest draft of the Borough Local Plan.

An army of volunteers is putting the “Save Romsey from the Planners” leaflets through letterboxes across the town and nearby villages.

“We sent out an email asking for help,” said Romsave chairman, Simon Curtis, adding: “The response was amazing. Over 50 people contacted us volunteering to deliver our leaflets wherever we ask them to go.”

He said Romsave members, Bryn Bridges and Liz Franklin, had worked out the most efficient way to deliver the 7,500 leaflets needed for Romsey and the remaining leaflets for villages close by. Mr Curtis pointed out that about 40 different delivery routes were looked at.

“It really shows how much people care about Romsey and we are so very grateful for all the offers of help we’ve received,” said Mr Curtis.

Anyone who doesn’t receive a leaflet should go onto Romsave’s website or Facebook page by searching for saveromseyfromtheplanners. All objections to the draft Borough Local Plan must be sent to Test Valley Borough Council by 4.30pm next Friday, March 7.

Comments can be emailed to LDF@testvalley.gov.uk, or posted to TVBC at Beech Hurst, Weyhill Road, Andover, SP10 3AJ.

- DON’T use flooding as a reason to object to controversial plans to build 1,300 homes at Whitenap. That’s the message from Romsey’s county, town and borough councillor, Mark Cooper, to people writing to planning chiefs to comment on the Draft Borough Local Plan.

Mr Cooper who is vehemently opposed to the inclusion of farmland at Whitenap being used to meet borough housing targets, warned that the planning inspector would disregard flooding as a reason for objecting, because the proposed site is not on a floodplain, as listed by the Environment Agency.