From: clerk@oldbasing.gov.uk
Sent: Friday, August 4, 2023 10:06 AM
To: matthew.james@hants.gov.uk
Subject: Response to consultation by Hampshire County Council (HCC)/Tibbalds on proposed new housing East of
Basingstoke – site 001/SS3.9 July 2023
Importance: High
Good morning
Please see below the response from Old Basing & Lychpit Parish Council to the “consultation” on the above.
LAND EAST OF BASINGSTOKE
On behalf of Old Basing and Lychpit Parish Council I am writing to respond to your consultation on Land East of Basingstoke. I will be writing separately to the Chief Executive of Hampshire County Council to complain about the consultation exercise itself. The so-called ‘consultation’ was poorly publicised, designed to be as brief as possible to avoid public scrutiny, and solicit only favourable opinions. Turning to the site in question, this area is opposite Pyotts Hill and runs alongside the A33. It was previously at the centre of development disputes because 450 houses were allocated to this site in 2016. Residents nearby and in the wider Parish were disappointed with this news but are angry to hear that an additional 450 houses have been proposed. We strongly dispute the need for additional houses for five key reasons, briefly summarised below:
Damage to the environment.
The Inspectors report of 2016 noted that development would result in ‘the loss of key habitat’ as well as contributing to an ‘increase in watercourse phosphate concentration in the River Loddon’. Both of these factors will be further exacerbated by any additional homes.
Odour.
Odour from the Basingstoke Sewage Treatment Works can already be overwhelming at times. Indeed in the
Inspector’s report the odours were described as ‘unacceptable’. How would those living in much closer proximity react?
Traffic and noise.
The Inspector reported that ‘there will be noise from the A33, the incinerator and sewage works’. It was also noted that the development would lead to ‘congestion and delays upon the surrounding transport networks’. Residents of Old Basing and Lychpit already endure intrusive levels of traffic using the village as a rat run. Any additional development will greatly exacerbate the problems. The proposal for a bus gate is unworkable and, like so many elsewhere, will disappear in time becoming a general route through the village. This development will be totally car dependent and it is dishonest to pretend otherwise.
Water and Sewage.
The Loddon is one of the five north flowing chalk streams in the world and an extremely rare
habitat. Peat bogs are the UK’s ‘Amazon rainforest’ for carbon storage and the river has environmentally important peat bogs ‘black lands’ dotted along its length. Raw sewage already flows into tributaries several times a year. Our water is supplied from the aquifer which is also providing water to the springs at the source of the river. Additional homes will only worsen the frequency of raw sewage overflows and create abstraction issues.
Doctors, Dentists and Schools.
There is one surgery in Old Basing and Lychpit serving the 7,140 residents of the Parish. Adding more people to the Parish will require additional GP facilities to serve new residents. There are no plans provided currently to suggest that this will be the case. The number of patients per GP is already above the average for England and at least four more GPs would be needed to maintain the already stressed situation. One BUPA private dental practice is located in Old Basing and Lychpit. There are currently no NHS places at this practice, forcing residents to look outside of the Parish. Also, there are currently no NHS places at the dental practices in neighbouring Chineham or anywhere in the locality as the remaining NHS dentist is about to close. The Parish has an Infants and a Junior school in the Parish, both with few spare places, and no secondary schools.
When Lychpit was developed in the late 1970s new residents were promised a primary school. It was finally built 20 years later. Residents have no confidence in any promises given by Hampshire County Council.
As recently as August 2021, the Council refused the building of just four houses within the private grounds of a house on Pyotts Hill which backs onto site 001. The reason given was the development would ‘erode the rural character’ of Pyotts Hill and be a threat to an archaeological monument. How would 900 houses be more acceptable?
Regards
Sandra Tuck
Clerk to Old Basing & Lychpit Parish Council
T: 01256 462847
M: 07507 514498 (urgent matters & emergencies only)
E: clerk@oldbasing.gov.uk
W: www.oldbasing.gov.uk
