Save our Loddon Valley Environment
(SOLVE)

From Peter Bloyce (SOLVE)
Old Basing

SOLVE is a non-political residents group formed to preserve the Loddon Valley and prevent inappropriate housing development east of Basingstoke.  Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (BDBC) is being asked to endorse a plan that could result in up to 10,000 new homes in the Loddon Valley adjacent to Old Basing, Chineham and Newnham.  This is equivalent to a town the size of Tadley and would adversely affect the River Loddon, its wildlife habitat and the way of life in the surrounding villages.  This proposal is part of an ambitious government housing plan in the South East; however the Council’s obligatory consultation with the local population has been limited.

The planners have ignored the advice from The Environment Agency against building homes here. This includes the dangers of building on a flood plain and the destruction of a unique natural valley and its world famous chalk stream.  Additionally there are no credible plans for the local infrastructure which cannot cope with existing demand, let alone a development the size of Tadley.

Our on line petition can be found at http://www.petitiononline.com/SOLVE2/petition.html .  With this and our paper petition we have over a thousand signatures.  Some signatories question the case for additional housing in Basingstoke whilst others prefer well considered housing plans determined by local people.  SOLVE is not against appropriate development if this can be achieved without detriment to the local environment and while improving the water quality and habitat of the river valley.  We will be presenting our case to the Council planning committee when they next meet to consider the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), which outlines the proposed development areas.

Our thanks go to those that have signed our petition and to those who have volunteered to help in various ways.  Further help is always welcome and if you would like to do so then please contact Kate Tuck at  kate.tuck@solveloddon.org or Tel: 01256 324043.

We have a web site, still under development, at http://www.solveloddon.org/  and further updates will be reported in future editions.
Our aim is to SOLVE a problem before it happens.