Save our Loddon Valley Environment
(SOLVE)

From Peter Bloyce (SOLVE)
Old Basing

Meeting at the Village Hall
Saturday 5th June

It was standing room only at the meeting at Old Basing Village Hall on Saturday 5th June with over 150 attending and over 100 more residents signing up to SOLVE.  A fantastic turnout and thanks to everyone who attended.

Clive Pinder gave an excellent presentation and contributions from our local MP, Maria Miller, as well as local councillors indicated their strong support for our cause.  Those present were left in no doubt as to the threat and difficulties ahead.  A number of actions are being taken forward from this meeting.  By the time this article is published in the Basinga the SHLAA public consultation period will have ended (21st June).  However, the work does not end there.  A number of important council committee meetings lay ahead and SOLVE will be present with, we hope, a number of residents also attending, details later.  People power is so important.

Despite the end of the SHLAA public consultation residents can write to the Borough Council at any time on any subject including development issues.  We recommend you write to the Council Leader, The Chief Executive and on housing and development issues Cllr Rob Golding.   Always insist on a proper reply, don’t be fobbed off.

Members of SOLVE, Country Watch and others visited the Council SHLAA exhibition at BCOT on 4th and 5th June where we managed to talk to developers and others about their plans.  Detailed plans for the Loddon site are not available having been temporarily withdrawn for reworking by Taylor Wimpey (The developer and one of the largest house builders in the UK incorporating Laing Homes, Bryant Homes and others.).  Should it go ahead this would be TWs biggest development in the UK.  TW have had a number of meetings with the land owners ‘The Kings Fund’ and have secured long term options on the land.  They have not consulted with local residents.  SOLVE has written to The Kings Fund and received a generic response failing to address our concerns on the destruction of countryside habitats, biodiversity and historical landmarks as well as the  contravention of numerous local, national and EU policies, guidelines directives and obligations.  We have now written to the President of the Kings Fund, Prince Charles.

A recent announcement by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles MP) has set out the coalition intention to - “rapidly abolish Regional Strategies and return decision making powers on housing and planning to local councils”.   At the time of writing Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council had not announced any changes to their policies. 

Find us on www.solveloddon.org

Pictures by Tony Tuck