Barton Farm group say survey flawed

10:29am Thursday 17th July 2008

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CLAIMS that three-quarters of people in the Winchester district are backing housebuilding on farmland near Winchester have been rubbished by campaigners.

Winchester City Council now believes there is no realistic longterm option other than to develop Barton Farm off Andover Road.

It held a public consultation earlier this year that drew more than 3,000 responses. More than 1,000 people attended seven workshops across the district.

Some 322 responded to a question about the site best suited for major development: 77 per cent favoured Barton Farm; 15 per cent said south of Winchester, namely Bushfield Camp; four per cent said south-west Winchester, around Pitt, and three per cent said west ofWinchester.

But campaigners say the survey was "flawed" and the figures "wrong".

The data also revealed that residents opposed major expansion at Alresford or Bishop's Waltham, but it was acceptable atWhiteley.

The public's response will be used to create a long-term strategy, called the Local Development Framework, to identify how the district can provide 12,000 new homes by 2026.

Councillors met on Tuesday to discuss the interim findings.

But Alan Weeks, of the Winchester City Residents' Association, challenged the figures for Barton Farm. He said the residents' association and Save Barton Farm Group had both objected.

Officers replied that opposition from a group only counted as one response.

Mr Weeks asked why Barton Farm was on the city council's agenda, while the county council had ruled it out until 2011.

Head of strategic planning, Steve Opacic, said: "If we're looking three years ahead then we don't need 2,000 homes at Barton Farm.

"If we're looking 20 years ahead then Winchester will have to play a significant role in housing provision and there might not be another option."

Cabinet member for housing, Cllr Tony Coates, said: "Winchester is a working town, and it's also a fact that if there hadn't been development at Stanmore, Weeke, Badger Farm and Teg Down, then it wouldn't be the case."

Council leader, Cllr George Beckett, said no decision had been taken on Barton Farm.

He said: "This is an interim report, and no conclusions can be drawn from it.

"The interim report has come forward because, following the consultation earlier this year, it would be unreasonable if nothing emerged for more than 12 months."

The council is due to submit its draft strategy to Westminster next year, which could come into force by 2011.

After the meeting, Cllr Beckett declined to say if Barton Farm's development was now more likely.

He said: "People can draw their own conclusions from the work so far, but the final version will be influenced by whatever we hear from the minister and if the housing figures change."

Gavin Blackman, who chairs Save Barton Farm Group, said the greenfield site would not be needed if brownfield sites - such as Hampshire Constabulary's HQ - came forward.

He added that the survey was produced in a way that gave residents little option but to select Barton Farm.

He said: "This was Hobson's Choice and an insult to the residents of Winchester, who have repeatedly rejected any need for development on the greenfield site at Barton Farm."

He added that they delivered 516 objections to the council by hand.

"In addition to the responses we personally delivered we know that many supporters responded by post and e-mail to the city council," he said.

"We therefore challenge the council's findings and the quoted percentages."

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