THE public’s response to Winchester civic chiefs’ house-building vision has been released online.

More than 2,000 complaints, remarks and letters of support have been published by Winchester City Council as part of its project to build 2,000 homes across the district by 2031.

Residents, interest groups and parish councils have all raised concerns over sites from rural villages to the city centre.

Scrutinising the comments, Thursday’s local plan committee heard fears over flood risks in Wickham, overdevelopment in Waltham Chase and a gypsy and traveller settlement in Colden Common.

Cllr Ian Tait, the council’s former housing chief, said residents who oppose new affordable housing in Kings Worthy should “feel absolutely appalled”.

“Kings Worthy is one of the most popular areas for people to ask to be housed,” he said.

“We have a chronic shortage of affordable housing.

“I’m an affordable housing need, and I don’t see myself as a two-headed demon.”

The village is set for 250 new homes under Local Plan.

A report identifying sites for gypsy traveller settlements has been “badly delayed”, said Steve Opacic, the council’s head of strategic planning.

Controversial pitches in Ashbrook Stables, Colden Common have been scrapped after the land changed hands, but Mr Opacic said several sites still needed to be identified.

He added that objections “will always outnumber” letters of support no matter which sites are allocated.

More than half of the 2,082 comments address development controversy in Alresford, where residents are angry about plans to build most allocated housing on one plot off Sun Lane.

Alresford comments will be discussed at an all-day meeting on Monday March 30, along with Winchester town, Bishop’s Waltham, Denmead and smaller rural areas.