Cllr Neil Gwynne’s suggestion in his letter (‘The fair way to deal with the housing problem’) to disregard parish councils’ neighbourhood plans demonstrates a total disregard for the several years’ work undertaken by volunteer parishioners in the preparation of the neighbourhood plans and a total disregard for democracy as the plans are voted for in a referendum by the parish community (Advertiser, Letters, August 9). 

Who else but local parishioners know their neighbourhoods and their needs? 

Parishioners see the local flooding, the sewage problems and pollution of local rivers and understand the importance of respecting and preserving environments and historical buildings. Living in these neighbourhoods, parishioners see the traffic congestion, the poor state of the roads and know what public infrastructure and transport links their villages need to survive. 

Local neighbourhood plans have identified housing development needs, but until politicians address the more pressing matters of flooding, sewage and infrastructure needs (not just transport, but doctors, dentists, community amenities etc) the land cannot accommodate more housing development in these areas. 

Our politicians and borough councillors spend more time fighting each other, rather than respecting the volunteers who give time freely. Borough councillors need to work together to address the more pressing matters affecting the Test Valley and surrounding areas rather than trying to point score against each other. 

Chala Fiske,
Woodington Road,
Wellow

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