Today's most viewed
Barton Farm group say survey flawed
CLAIMS that three-quarters of
people in the Winchester district
are backing housebuilding on
farmland near Winchester have
been rubbished by campaigners.
Winchester City Council now
believes there is no realistic longterm
option other than to develop
Barton Farm off Andover Road.
It held a public consultation earlier
this year that drew more than
3,000 responses. More than 1,000
people attended seven workshops
across the district.
Some 322 responded to a question
about the site best suited for
major development: 77 per cent
favoured Barton Farm; 15 per cent
said south of Winchester, namely
Bushfield Camp; four per cent said
south-west Winchester, around
Pitt, and three per cent said west
ofWinchester.
But campaigners say the survey
was "flawed" and the figures
"wrong".
The data also revealed that residents
opposed major expansion
at Alresford or Bishop's Waltham,
but it was acceptable atWhiteley.
The public's response will be
used to create a long-term strategy,
called the Local Development
Framework, to identify how the
district can provide 12,000 new
homes by 2026.
Councillors met on Tuesday to
discuss the interim findings.
But Alan Weeks, of the Winchester
City Residents' Association,
challenged the figures for
Barton Farm. He said the residents'
association and Save Barton
Farm Group had both objected.
Officers replied that opposition
from a group only counted as one
response.
Mr Weeks asked why Barton
Farm was on the city council's
agenda, while the county council
had ruled it out until 2011.
Head of strategic planning,
Steve Opacic, said: "If we're looking
three years ahead then we
don't need 2,000 homes at Barton
Farm.
"If we're looking 20 years
ahead then Winchester will have
to play a significant role in housing
provision and there might not
be another option."
Cabinet member for housing,
Cllr Tony Coates, said: "Winchester
is a working town, and it's
also a fact that if there hadn't
been development at Stanmore,
Weeke, Badger Farm and Teg
Down, then it wouldn't be the
case."
Council leader, Cllr George
Beckett, said no decision had
been taken on Barton Farm.
He said: "This is an interim
report, and no conclusions can be
drawn from it.
"The interim report has come
forward because, following the
consultation earlier this year, it
would be unreasonable if nothing
emerged for more than 12
months."
The council is due to submit its
draft strategy to Westminster
next year, which could come into
force by 2011.
After the meeting, Cllr Beckett
declined to say if Barton Farm's
development was now more likely.
He said: "People can draw their
own conclusions from the work so
far, but the final version will be
influenced by whatever we hear
from the minister and if the housing
figures change."
Gavin Blackman, who chairs
Save Barton Farm Group, said the
greenfield site would not be
needed if brownfield sites -
such as Hampshire Constabulary's
HQ - came forward.
He added that the survey was
produced in a way that gave residents
little option but to select
Barton Farm.
He said: "This was Hobson's
Choice and an insult to the residents
of Winchester, who have
repeatedly rejected any need for
development on the greenfield
site at Barton Farm."
He added that they delivered
516 objections to the council by
hand.
"In addition to the responses
we personally delivered we know
that many supporters responded
by post and e-mail to the city
council," he said.
"We therefore challenge the
council's findings and the quoted
percentages."
* What do you think? Add your comments below.
10:29am Thursday 17th July 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Oliver Joseph, Winchester District on 10:44am Thu 17 Jul 08
The anti Barton Farm Crew are not living in the real world, Winchester is dying economically, is this what they want? What is their alternative, New York style high rise in the city centre? it is Winchester that needs a vibrant population so dumping it on the rural areas is not a solution. The rural towns also need some development to keep them vibrant but is is all about proportion. Barton Farm is the least worst option for Winchester.
The anti Barton Farm Crew are not living in the real world, Winchester is dying economically, is this what they want? What is their alternative, New York style high rise in the city centre? it is Winchester that needs a vibrant population so dumping it on the rural areas is not a solution. The rural towns also need some development to keep them vibrant but is is all about proportion. Barton Farm is the least worst option for Winchester.
Posted by: steve robinson, winchester on 12:09pm Thu 17 Jul 08
I agree that there is a requirement for more housing in the Winchester city area. However I cannot support a spawling development as proposed at Barton Farm which will significantly alter the character of the area. A more sutainable strategy offering less localised negative impact would be acheived by spreading the development into various sites around the city. The planned city centre development at Friarsgate , and maybe the redevelopment of the existing Police HQ site should help stem the demand for housing, and are good examples of spreading the impact of development as proposed.
I agree that there is a requirement for more housing in the Winchester city area. However I cannot support a spawling development as proposed at Barton Farm which will significantly alter the character of the area. A more sutainable strategy offering less localised negative impact would be acheived by spreading the development into various sites around the city. The planned city centre development at Friarsgate , and maybe the redevelopment of the existing Police HQ site should help stem the demand for housing, and are good examples of spreading the impact of development as proposed.
Posted by: not sitting on the fence, london, formerly Winchester on 12:15pm Thu 17 Jul 08
I agree with previous comment. When ever i come back to visit the folk there is always another retail outlet which is vacant. Building Barton Farm will increase the demand on the local structure and provide businesses the trade with which to remain open for longer. Another thing, do not destroy small communities (villages) for the sake of development. Barton Farm is an appropriate 'wedge' within the City boundary that would be far suited to this type of development.
I am all for it
I agree with previous comment. When ever i come back to visit the folk there is always another retail outlet which is vacant. Building Barton Farm will increase the demand on the local structure and provide businesses the trade with which to remain open for longer. Another thing, do not destroy small communities (villages) for the sake of development. Barton Farm is an appropriate 'wedge' within the City boundary that would be far suited to this type of development.
I am all for it
Posted by: Philip Ross, Winchester on 12:24pm Thu 17 Jul 08
I agree entirely with Gavin Blackman that the survey was written to try and force people into the council preferred option on most things including Barton Farm. We sent a separate note to the council at the time to complain about the balanced survey. I am totally any development at Barton Farm and it appeared that until recently the council were as well. How did Cala Homes convince the council to stand on their heads?
I agree entirely with Gavin Blackman that the survey was written to try and force people into the council preferred option on most things including Barton Farm. We sent a separate note to the council at the time to complain about the balanced survey. I am totally any development at Barton Farm and it appeared that until recently the council were as well. How did Cala Homes convince the council to stand on their heads?
Posted by: jon on 1:14pm Thu 17 Jul 08
"Building Barton Farm will increase the demand on the local structure and provide businesses the trade with which to remain open for longer."
What it may do is simply provide more people who will drive to Basingstoke or through Winchester to Southampton. Winchester's centre is and will always be constrained by its size and accessibility. Building hundreds of houses on Barton Farm will never, ever solve that. With respect to the need for the development to address housing, the second poster is accurate, development should be spread around and in the city. If the new residents did try to come into the city, Barton Farm or Bushfield Camp would mean a huge increase in traffic on only one accress route.
"Building Barton Farm will increase the demand on the local structure and provide businesses the trade with which to remain open for longer."
What it may do is simply provide more people who will drive to Basingstoke or through Winchester to Southampton. Winchester's centre is and will always be constrained by its size and accessibility. Building hundreds of houses on Barton Farm will never, ever solve that. With respect to the need for the development to address housing, the second poster is accurate, development should be spread around and in the city. If the new residents did try to come into the city, Barton Farm or Bushfield Camp would mean a huge increase in traffic on only one accress route.
Posted by: bob on 1:22pm Thu 17 Jul 08
Government response to South East Plan out today increases the housing requirement for Winhcester District by a further 2,000 homes - I.e. approx 13,000 before 2026. Not all of that can go within the City or other settlements. Some greenfield releases will be necessary. Barton Farm is one of the most sustainably located, being so close to all the shops, services and facilities in the City Centre. Only a matter of time....
Government response to South East Plan out today increases the housing requirement for Winhcester District by a further 2,000 homes - I.e. approx 13,000 before 2026. Not all of that can go within the City or other settlements. Some greenfield releases will be necessary. Barton Farm is one of the most sustainably located, being so close to all the shops, services and facilities in the City Centre. Only a matter of time....
Posted by: Good bye, Winchester on 4:44pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Fact. The council have already made the decision to develop Barton Farm. More council tax for no more infrastructure. Good deal for them. Bad deal for us. Time to leave...France looks good or maybe Spain!! bye
Fact. The council have already made the decision to develop Barton Farm. More council tax for no more infrastructure. Good deal for them. Bad deal for us. Time to leave...France looks good or maybe Spain!! bye
Posted by: Shoon on 9:12pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Just wish they would get on with it!
Just wish they would get on with it!
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
