BISHOP’S Waltham residents have formed an action group to fight a local brewery’s move to a greenfield site.

Upham Brewery submitted plans in January to build a new state-of-the-art facility at land between Ashton Lane and Winchester Road, having outgrown their current property at Stakes Farm.

But residents have voiced concerns over planning policy and traffic, arguing such a move would decrease the value of their homes.

“We were pretty upset about this," said founder Libby Cleaver.

“This is not right because the site they’ve chosen is against every planning policy. It is outside the newly determined settlement boundary which extends to the national park right before the fields.

“They are outside the new settlement and therefore are inside the national park.

“There are probably a dozen more in South Hampshire. We just can’t think why they would have gone for a site that’s not permitted.”

The brewery says it is vital to remain nearby for access to the area's unique water taste.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Campaigner Colin Palma on the land off Ashton Lane

Bishop’s Waltham Parish Council unanimously opposed the plans at its meeting last Tuesday.

Upham Brewery director David Butcher said he’s grateful for any alternative suggestions but the company has fought hard to find the right site.

“We have searched high and low,” he said. “We want to stay true to our locality and we have spent 18 months trying to find the new site.

“If people have good ideas that are still economical then we will listen, but this is a business and we have got to have a good reason to build there.

“We either have to stop growing and lose our entire heritage and all the prominence of being local or we continue and bring jobs to the area.”

Mrs Cleaver added: “We love Upham Brewery but we just can’t let them go on that site. The jobs they offer would still get the same advantages. As long as they stay local we’ll be happy.

“We are quite concerned about industrialisation in greenfield sites generally, so this is a national issue not just a local one.”