Fishbourne ‘affordable homes’ plan - Student, 13, raises safety concern at public meeting

Plans were submitted by Fishbourne Developments Limited to construct 35 homes at Bethwines Farm, Blackboy Lane, tailored to first-time buyers. Read more here

At a meeting on January 21, Fishbourne Parish Council lodged an ‘initial objection’ to the proposals.

To give all residents ‘a chance to express their views’, a public meeting was held at the Fishbourne Centre on Friday (January 31).

A spokesperson said: “More than 100 residents packed the hall to have their say on the use of a new criteria for planning applications, called an Entry Level Exception Site.

“Recently introduced by the government, the scheme enables developers to build on sites of not more than one hectare regardless of neighbourhood plans or the Local Plan as long as all the homes are ‘entry level homes’ ‘suitable for first time buyers’.”

The council is hopeful that residents’ views will be heard as the government guidance said such applications ‘should’ be supported rather than ’must’.

Parish council chairman Geoff Hand said the use of the word ‘should’ implied there could be ‘mitigating circumstances’ when it is ‘essential’ that the views and concerns of residents are heard.

Concerns were expressed about whether the development proposal was of the right type, in the right place and at the right time.

“With 30 per cent of the houses being three or four bedrooms, could these really be described as for first-time buyers?” the spokesperson continued.

“This location will result in unnecessary irreparable damage to quality farmland with iconic views.

“Why not wait for the revised Local Plan when areas most in need of affordable housing would be identified.”

Mr Hand argued that Fishbourne’s ‘substantial growth’ without increase in infrastructure is now ‘beginning to have a marked effect on the quality of life of residents’.

The spokesperson added: “Fishbourne Parish Council is already finding difficulty in meeting the demand from the district council for 250 houses and a further enforced 35 houses will increase the strain on the infrastructure to breaking point.”

Cameron Hill, a 13-year-old student at Bourne Community College, was the youngest resident at the meeting,

Cameron was concerned about the danger to schoolchildren cycling or walking on Blackboy Lane ‘which has no lighting and has no pavement at one end’.

Objections can be submitted on the planning application (19/03141/FUL) until February 18.