No.7 –March 2007

Keeping the residents of Bransgore, Burton, Highcliffe, Hinton, west New Milton and Walkford informed about the prospects of major gravel works and rubbish tips on their doorsteps.

WRAGE ATTENDS PUBLIC EXAMINATION OF HAMPSHIRE STRATEGY

As a result of the level of protest following the Public Meeting at Walkford last July, a whole day of the Public Examination of the county-wide Strategy was on 2 February 2007 devoted to the issues surrounding Walkford Farm and Roeshot Hill.

Three members of WRAGE (Walkford and Roeshot Action Group Executive) attended and, with a representative of Christchurch Council, presented a strong case to demonstrate that the inclusion in the Strategy of the two areas of land (with all that would flow from their exploitation  in terms of loss of rural amenity, noise, dust, smell, heavy lorries, and adverse effect on the National Park etc) was entirely inappropriate.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

   The Inspector’s Report is expected later this year. The Examination was however always about the whole county-wide Strategy, and the real test for our area is likely to come when Hampshire publishes, as part of that Strategy, draft new Local Minerals and Waste Plans showing their “preferred sites” Those draft Plans will themselves then be subject to a further public consultation.

Despite a fair and sympathetic hearing from the Inspector, we could well still see Walkford Farm and/or Roeshot Hill coming forward as “preferred sites”.

     If that happens then WRAGE will of course ensure that residents are notified and your help will again be required in an even more intensive campaign of opposition.

Last October, when Hampshire sought views on plans showing Walkford Farm and Roeshot Hill as areas it was considering for inclusion in the new Local Plans, WRAGE distributed, with the help of many of you as volunteers, over 7000 leaflets informing residents and urging them to object.

A big thank you to the magnificent 5,000 plus individuals who wrote to Hampshire.

A response of that size to a planning proposal is virtually unprecedented and will have left the Council in no doubt as to the strength of local feeling.

Thanks too to Christchurch Council who are continuing, by words and action, to show their opposition to these proposals which are right on their doorstep.

THE BIG BATTLE MAY BE STILL TO COME

-  BUT TOGETHER WE CAN WIN

Published by the Walkford and Roeshot Action Group Executive – 01425 278720 or 01425 280281