MORE than 140 residents from Overton and beyond have aired their views on plans to build 24 new homes on land close to the village school.

Natta Building Company Ltd has lodged an application with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to build 24 homes on land next to Court Drove.

Within the Overton Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted in 2016, the allocation for the site is only for 11 dwellings, but the developer has said as the borough council is unable to demonstrate five years of deliverable sites to meet housing needs and “great weight should be given to this in the determination of the application”.

In just over a month 144 residents have written to the planning authority, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, to have their say on the development.

READ MORE: Plan for 24 homes near school in Overton comes under fire

Sarah Norris of Winchester Street said: “I wish to very strongly express my huge concerns about the development proposal Court Drove, in the village of Overton.

“The current residents of Overton are not the only people struggling with the development and extra housing that Overton has had to sustain in recent years, all of this without the infrastructure in place to sustain this growth. Everything in the way of services, particularly traffic, parking, doctor’s surgery and primary school are all stretched to the limit.

“It is insanity to propose more housing, most especially in a sensitive area where more development can only escalate the problems currently causing issue to Overton.”

Another resident raised concerns about the doctor’s surgery. Toni Conduct wrote: “The doctors is already struggling with the amount of people within the village.”

SEE ALSO: Plans submitted to secure future of golf club near Overton

Jenny Fowles of Sapley Lane wrote: “I object to the proposed development on the grounds of poor access giving rise to safety concerns.

“The road leading up to the site is already congested due to traffic going up to the primary school which already lacks parking, resulting in significant narrowing of the road particularly at drop off and pick up times.

“An increase in traffic to build and service the houses is a huge safety concern. With the potential of causing further congestion making it potentially difficult for emergency service access. The road leading up to the school is also enough of a safety risk for children walking to school an increase in traffic volume is hugely concerning.”

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