A GROUP in Alresford which was put together to help with ideas for draft plans for nearly 400 homes has turned its back on the councillor leading it.

The ‘infrastructure needs group’, tasked with identifying various needs for the town for Local Plan Part Two, cast a vote of no confidence against Cllr Margot Power at a recent meeting.

The group comprises local residents, business owners and members of the Alternative Plan Group (APG), which was formed last year and has created its own plan for Alresford.

At the full town council meeting, Sam Kerr-Smiley, of the APG and the infrastructure group, handed out a separate report and asked the town council to submit it to the city council.

He said: “The infrastructure needs group met and had a number of resolutions which were voted on by nearly 50 people.”

He said Cllr Power’s report was rejected by the group and therefore it should not have been included with the town council’s reports which will be submitted as part of the local plan.

Mr Kerr-Smiley added that if the town council did not send the report ‘further action would have to be taken’.

Resident Janet Barker added: “She [Cllr Power] no longer fills her role as a councillor.”

Later in the meeting Cllr Roy Gentry said: “Can I suggest that it is forwarded as an independent report that we don’t comment on?”

Cllr Power said: “It’s not up to us to forward it.”

Councillors unanimously agreed to send both infrastructure needs reports to Winchester City Council, along with the reports for housing, employment and open space.

All have been amended after population figures were miscalculated by planning officials.

Under Local Plan Part Two 500 homes need to be built in Alresford by 2031, with nearly 400 yet to be allocated.