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ADD UPDATE, 6 July 2018: In our post of 23 June – ‘Eastleigh publishes Local Plan – CRUCIAL final consultation launched. Reality bites. Action required!‘ – we said we would post guidance today on how to make valid representations to the Planning Inspector on the soundness and legal compliance of Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC)’s Local Plan.

However, over the last couple of weeks, it has become apparent that EBC has decided to abandon the Planning Inspectorate’s standard guidelines on how members of the public and expert bodies should make representations – and adopt a new online system. We’ll post our advice as soon as we’ve digested this new system.

Stay tuned!

ADD UPDATE, 23 June 2018: Eastleigh Borough Council has just confirmed with us that all documents relating to its Local plan, including the supporting evidence, have now been published on its website. Click here for its ‘new and updated evidence base’. This fires the starting pistol for a six week ‘Reg 19’ consultation period, which will run until midnight on Monday 6 August.

We urge everyone opposed to Eastleigh’s shocking Plan, individuals and organisations alike, to submit their representations against it. Please note – and this is IMPORTANT – that any representations MUST relate to the ‘soundness’ of the plan.

The ADD team, together with all our professional advisers, are already ploughing through the documents to assess the council’s evidence. We will post guidance on how to make valid representations on Friday 6 July. All representations will then be taken into account by the Planning Inspector when the Plan goes to him or her later in the year. If you would like guidance on what you might say, please look again on 6 July. Alternatively, if you already feel comfortable writing about how Eastleigh’s Plan is clearly unsound, you will be able to ‘consult’ via this link from midday on Monday, 25 June.

This is the stage of the process we have all been waiting for – and have always fully expected! It’s now critical we all play our part in ensuring the Planning Inspector has ALL the evidence in front of him or her when the time comes. On 6 July, we will post again on how best you can make the Planning Inspector aware of the Plan’s numerous failings.

Thank you.

Eastleigh News, 20 June 2018: Campaigners opposed to the construction of thousands of homes on countryside north of Bishopstoke say they are “delighted” to have been given the support of a butterfly conservation group. A spokesperson for ADD told Eastleigh News that Butterfly Conservation was the latest group “to add to the long list of organisations concerned about Eastleigh council’s plans to devastate the most environmentally sensitive parts of the borough.” But responding, Council Leader Keith House said he is “confident” the new development will “increase bio-diversity” not diminish it. Butterfly Conservation say surveys carried out 10 years ago show the site chosen by Eastleigh council for 5,200 houses has previously supported a diverse variety of butterfly habitats and could still be home to even more species.

ADD UPDATE, 15 June 2018: Butterfly Conservation, the charity devoted to saving butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout the UK, has added its concern for Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC)’s Local Plan.

Steve Wheatley, Butterfly Conservation’s Senior Regional Officer for South East England, told us: “The land on which EBC plans to build 5,200 houses and a new road [just north of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak] is currently a really lovely area with a nice variety of habitats. 25 different butterfly species have been recorded in this area and several more butterfly species have been recorded nearby.

“A butterfly survey was walked in this area for fifteen years (1994 to 2008) as part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). This highlighted the presence of these butterflies, including the White Admiral, a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) species and Species of Principal Importance in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 (see image). It is important that local authorities take steps to conserve and enhance populations of such priority species.”

Steve Wheatley also noted that “other lovely butterflies already recorded in the threatened area include the Marbled White, Silver-washed Fritillary and Purple Emperor” and suggested that “other UKBAP species could be found, including the Grizzled Skipper and the Dingy Skipper”.

He added: “More searches and surveys for butterflies are encouraged. In addition to being lovely to see, butterfly diversity and abundance are widely accepted as an indicators of a healthy environment and a healthy ecosystem.

Steve concluded: “I hope butterflies can help to inspire support for this threatened landscape. I strongly urge local people to record butterfly sightings using the free (and fun) iRecord Butterflies app. The data collected contributes directly to the national dataset (one of the best insect databases in the world) and provides crucial evidence of the wildlife that is present and could be lost. Indeed, it would also be great if the old transect survey could be revived. This would be one of over 1,000 walked every week around the UK, providing objective methodically collected data that can be compared with other sites and which planning authorities should consider.”

If you would like to take on this weekly survey please contact Steve Wheatley on [email protected] who will connect you with Butterfly Conservation’s Hampshire & Isle of Wight Branch (www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk).

ADD UPDATE, 9 June 2018: Eastleigh Borough Council’s Local Plan, which includes the development of 5,200 new houses in countryside north of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak, has drawn severe criticism from many quarters for its lack of soundness. As the long list of opponents from many walks of life point out, it is simply unsustainable and undeliverable. Owslebury, just outside Eastleigh in Winchester, is one local village that is up in arms about the Plan’s significant failings, particularly with regards to transport infrastructure, and the way in which decisions have been made.

Owslebury villagers have sent ADD this video (below) that they have made to broaden awareness within their community about the Plan’s failings from their perspective and to campaign against it. We thought it was worth sharing. Do take a look: it’s short, to the point, beautifully made and extremely alarming.

ADD UPDATE, 29 May 2018: Would you and your family and friends like to be official Guinness world record breakers? If so, now is your chance! Come and support our campaign and be part of an official attempt to break the Guinness world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as trees (currently 1,000 people!). The purpose of the event is to have fun – and to draw attention to the terminal threat posed to our seven ancient woodlands by Eastleigh’s Local Plan (click on map here).

When: Saturday 7 July 2018 – 1.30pm to 3.00pm

Where: Stoke Park Junior School, Underwood Road, Bishopstoke, Hampshire, SO50 6GR

Dress according to Guinness guidelines: brown trousers, green top and headdress with branches and leaves on it (these can be fake or the real thing) – see picture above. Alternatively, design your own head-to-toe tree costume. This will need to be pre-agreed a few weeks in advance by Guinness, so please contact the organisers direct (see contact details below).  

Bring as many people dressed up with you as you can! All branches of your family and neighbourhood welcome, whatever age! This will be a truly memorable, and hopefully historic, event! 

The current world record of 1,000 ‘trees’ is held by the people of Mumbai, India. Can the people of South Hampshire do better? Surely! Root for our trees and join us.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD HOWEVER YOU KNOW HOW!

Minimum £1 donation to enter. 

To find out more, contact Charlotte and Mark: email: [email protected]; mobile: 07775 693994.

Daily Echo, 4 May 2018: THE Liberal Democrats have again emerged as the winners on Eastleigh Borough Council with a landslide victory in yesterday’s election. But it wasn’t all plain sailing, as they lost all three seats in Bishopstoke to Independent candidates with deputy leader Anne Winstanley being one of the Lib Dems to lose out. After the count, which saw all 39 councillors up for election, the Lib Dems have won 32 seats to the Conservatives’ four, along with three Independents. Jubilant Independent candidates: Lou Parker Jones (who won the most votes, pictured), Ray Dean and Gin Tidridge said they were expecting such a result and felt overwhelmed with the support they had received. Watch video of Independents celebrating being elected to Eastleigh Borough Council!

ADD UPDATE, 1 May 2018: Ahead of the local elections this Thursday, 3 May, ADD has invited each candidate standing for Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC) and Winchester City Council – as well as in the parish elections in Allbrook and North Boyatt, Chandler’s Ford, Hiltingbury, Colden Common & Twyford and Owslebury – to supply us with up to 350 words on their views on EBC’s Local Plan.

As you will be aware, on 11 December last year, EBC chose ‘options B and C’ for its Local Plan, namely proposals for 5,200 houses and a major new road north of Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Allbrook and south of Colden Common, Owslebury and Upham, significantly affecting Boyatt Wood, Chandler’s Ford, Hiltingbury, Otterbourne, Brambridge, Highbridge, Twyford and Bishop’s Waltham.

As part of this virtual hustings, Chris Yates, Conservative candidate for Hedge End South, has sent us the following email:

“I am standing as a Conservative candidate in Hedge End South with Jerry Hall and Andrea Lunnon. I am currently a Hedge End town councillor and have been since 2015. I was not able to involve myself in local politics before this as my previous employment precluded me from doing so.  There can be no argument that I am new to this process but that said I have lived in Hedge End all my adult life and Botley during my childhood. 

I have watched the areas change from small villages to almost one sprawling town. Where have the green fields gone? We all know the answer to that.  The over-development in Boorley Green, Hedge End and Hamble alone beggars belief. The road networks cannot cope with the traffic already and will only get worse, doctors’ surgeries are oversubscribed etc – and there’s still no Local Plan!

I honestly believe it is time for change but the only way to do that is to remove the councillors that are currently in post and this coming election is the ideal opportunity to do this. All borough seats are up for election and the Conservatives are the only party that have a realistic chance of beating the Lib Dems. This will only happen if people get out and vote and are vocal. Residents of Easleigh borough need their stories not just told but heard so that others can see that what we have is not a bed of roses.”

Chris Yates, Conservative candidate for Hedge End South on Eastleigh Borough Council

ADD UPDATE, 30 April 2018: Ahead of the local elections this Thursday, 3 May, ADD has invited each candidate standing for Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC) and Winchester City Council – as well as in the parish elections in Allbrook and North Boyatt, Chandler’s Ford, Hiltingbury, Colden Common & Twyford and Owslebury – to supply us with up to 350 words on their views on EBC’s Local Plan.

As you will be aware, on 11 December last year, EBC chose ‘options B and C’ for its Local Plan, namely proposals for 5,200 houses and a major new road north of Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Allbrook and south of Colden Common, Owslebury and Upham, significantly affecting Boyatt Wood, Chandler’s Ford, Hiltingbury, Otterbourne, Brambridge, Highbridge, Twyford and Bishop’s Waltham.

As part of this virtual hustings, Ray Dean, Independent candidate for Bishopstoke on Eastleigh Borough Council, has sent us the following email:

“Having never been a member of any political party, I am standing as a truly independent candidate for the borough council elections on 3 May.

I believe that there is no room for party political “bun fighting” at local government level and that councillors should represent the views of their electorate.

I have supported ADD’s campaign from the start because I feel that EBC’s options B and C for the Local Plan will be disastrous for our community: increasing traffic, not providing the homes required to meet the local need, destroying our countryside, and over-stretching our infrastructure and local services.

For truly independent representation at the borough, vote Independent. Thank you.”

Ray Dean, Independent candidate for Bishopstoke on Eastleigh Borough Council

ADD UPDATE, 29 April 2018: Ahead of the local elections on 3 May, ADD has invited each candidate standing for Eastleigh Borough Council (EBC) and Winchester City Council – as well as in the parish elections in Allbrook and North Boyatt, Chandler’s Ford, Hiltingbury, Colden Common & Twyford and Owslebury – to supply us with up to 350 words on their views on EBC’s Local Plan.

As you will be aware, on 11 December last year, EBC chose ‘options B and C’ for its Local Plan, namely proposals for 5,200 houses and a major new road north of Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Allbrook and south of Colden Common, Owslebury and Upham, significantly affecting Boyatt Wood, Chandler’s Ford, Hiltingbury, Otterbourne, Brambridge, Highbridge, Twyford and Bishop’s Waltham.

As part of this virtual hustings, Sue Toher, Labour candidate for Bishopstoke Ward on Eastleigh Borough Council, has sent us the following email:

“I’m against options B and C. I’ve lived in Bishopstoke all my life and am passionate about the area. Stoke Park Wood and the surrounding countryside have been my playground, although there’s not as much of it now due to all the developments that have encroached on the land over the years. That’s why it’s important to fight to keep what’s left. I don’t want to see Bishopstoke become one large housing estate.

We’ve seen increased pressure on the infrastructure, nightmare journeys travelling between Fair Oak and Eastleigh (and that’s without any accidents on the motorways), not to mention long waits to see a GP. The proposal by Eastleigh Borough Council to put a main road, 5,200 houses, employment land and schools north of the woods will not help things, it will only make them worse.

If options B and C were such a good idea, I believe the council would have had no trouble getting all the supporting evidence early on in the exercise.  It is common knowledge the council is still trying to pull everything together, with no guarantee that will happen in time for their plan of a June/July consultation.

Regardless of the outcome of these local elections, I believe that the council has left itself no option but to go ahead and try to get its Local Plan passed by the government inspector. They have simply run out of time to do anything else. I also believe that Local Plan will fail, and my fear is that will leave our area open to any number of hostile planning applications.

That’s why I think it’s important that Bishopstoke gets a Neighbourhood Plan (NP) in place as soon as possible. I am the lead councillor on the steering group for the NP, which is made up of interested parish councillors and residents. It will be a plan for Bishopstoke, made by Bishopstoke residents, and I encourage all who are interested in preserving our community to become involved.”

Sue Toher, Labour candidate for Bishopstoke on Eastleigh Borough Council