Comments on local plan

Why when significant development areas have been identified are they not being fully developed during the plan period? This would ensure there is suitable funding for the necessary infrastructure and facilities improvements required and reduces the impact upon the wider borough. If new businesses or employers are required, as they will undoubtedly are by the plan, then these are far more viable with a larger population in their catchment. Spreading the develops around the borough means the problem is spread and particularly, when seeking to create sustainable communities, employment and facilities should be created near to the developments.

Fundamental to a sustainable community is the provision of suitable health facilities.

Section H7 states that the GP practice, Watership Down Health, is currently over capacity, before the existing permitted developments, not included in the plan are built. It also recognises that the practice has limited or no ability to expand to cater for future capacity.

Yet Overton has been allocated one of the largest, by proportion, increases in population. This issue should be seen as a critical not essential priority level for the Overton proposed development site.

As was identified when Watership Down Health was formed there is no public transport provision between Kingsclere and either Overton or Oakley. Between Oakley and Overton there is only a bus service between the villages and it is not located close to the Oakley Surgery. The new plan makes no provision for improving the connections between these villages that would improve the current issue where to gain an in person appointment patients invariably have to travel by car. This is borne out by the level of overcrowding that occurs in the practice car parks. 

Sports Facilities

This section is completely dominated by "artificial turf pitches" and "grass pitches", presumably aimed at football.

It is not imaginative or creative enough. Where is the provision for broader provision that the borough is currently lacking?

Swimming pools, like the community pool at Tadley, or supporting the community pool in Overton should be included in the plan.

Athletic tracks and general field sports should be considered, alongside cycle tracks and/or BMX/MTB trails.

Skate parks are not mentioned. In Overton local residents had to fight to gain a small amount of funding for the regeneration of the popular existing skate park, despite a new housing development having been built adjacent to the site. Now residents from around the borough visit this park, often travelling by car, due to a lack of provision elsewhere, causing parking issues in the newly developed housing estate.

Item C "Provide for permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches, proportionate to the size of the site when considered in relation to the overall need for pitches as set out in the latest version of the Gypsy and Travellers Accommodation Assessment;"

This statement is contrary to Basingstoke policy HSG9 which states. "The council will meet the identified need for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople through the provision of plots and/or pitches as part of Greenfield allocations."

The proposed site at Overton Mill is a brownfield site not a greenfield allocation.

It is noted that the "parking facilities can be oversubscribed at peak times". This is as a direct result of the closure of Overton Mill.

Prior to the closure of the mill a parcel of land, owned by the mill, was make available for the parking of rail travellers. This section of land now makes up over 50% of the site currently located in the plan for parking/employment facilities.

What the plan is therefore seeking to do is justifying the development by providing parking that previously already existed.

The policy does not go far enough. It should actively address, for each of the proposed development areas how the transport requirements will be met.

What is stated is too aspirational and lacks detail.

There are already significant challenges with the transport network that have not been addressed following developments in recent years. The include, but are not limited to:

• B3400 from Whitchurch through to Basingstoke - the road is narrow, poorly maintained and not up to current standards in terms of sight lines and visibility.
• There are hardly any dedicated cycle paths in the borough, especially in the rural areas.
• Current developments are being built with no EV charging facilities.
• Lack of parking provision is an issue throughout the borough. Parking has not met with demand since new developments are created with limited parking to encourage other forms of transport but this policy has had little impact upon behaviour as public services, especially in the form of train and bus have been repeatedly cut in recent years. Examples of the inconsiderate parking, blocking public rights of way, that has resulted can be seen from the attached photographs, taken in Overton, which have previously been reported but not resolved by the council.

Do not agree with the rural village of Overton being included as a district centre.

It is a local centre, similar to Kingsclere, that has suffered significantly following recent over development of the village with no investment in local facilities, most notably public transport provision, traffic free cycle routes and parking.

It has also suffered with the loss of a major employer and currently has vacant commercial and retail properties.