August public consultation on Kingsclere's draft Neighbourhood Plan

Seven possible sites whittled down to two

SEVEN sites identified for potential development in Kingsclere’s Draft Neighbourhood Plan have been whittled down to two and will go out for public consultation in August.

At a Kingsclere Parish Council meeting last Monday, chairwoman of the village’s Neighbourhood Planning Group, Sue Adams, told parish councillors: “We still have two options on the table.”

The two sites are a strip of land along the A339, and also land at Porch Farm.

Ms Adams said the group aimed to put the draft Neighbourhood Plan out for a six-week public consultation later this year.

“We are aiming for late August, after the summer holidays,” said Ms Adams. “That will be the only occasion residents will have to comment on the plan.

“We are hoping by this time next year it [Kingsclere’s Neighbourhood Plan] will be done and dusted.”

The draft plan was to be prepared by a consultant, as Ms Adams said: “It’s too complicated and involved for us to write.”

She added the group was confident of securing the necessary extra funding to pay expected consultant’s fees of several thousand pounds, including £5,000 earmarked by the parish council, as the group’s funds were currently in deficit by £192.

The draft plan would include an ecology briefing paper and transport and access review, provided by developer Linden Homes, in respect of the Porch Farm site.

Parish council chairman John Sawyer thanked Ms Adams and her team for outstanding work. “We realise it’s enormously difficult, with lots of gates to jump and hurdles to get through,” he said.

In October, 400 people packed out a meeting at Kingsclere’s Fieldgate Centre, to hear about a possible seven potential sites for development in the village.

These included between Coppice Road and the A339; between Fawconer Road and the A339; between Strokins Road and the A339; behind Poveys Mead; between Basingstoke Road and Yew Tree Farm; the field next to Gaily Mill; and a portion of a field at Porch Farm next to the footpath behind Keeps Mead.

Ms Adams also confirmed comments collated at last October’s public meeting, including answers to questions raised, had been posted on the Neighbourhood Planning Group’s website.

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