14/04/2008 by admin.

By trying to save Emsworth from turning into a ‘housing estate’. They are fighting plans to build hundreds of new homes on green spaces in the town. The strength of feeling was demonstrated last week when more than 160 people crammed into a public meeting to oppose the plans – which campaigners say will change the face of Emsworth forever.Havant Borough Council has been told by the government it must build 6,000 new homes over the next 20 years to meet housing demands.

Residents fears hundreds of homes to be built on green spaces in Havant borough could be in Emsworth.

Among the possible sites for development are 280 homes in the Emsworth Gap, 227 homes to the west and east of  Horndean Road

and 123 dwellings earmarked for Horse Field, south of the A259 in Emsworth.Now a protest group, called Emsworth Fights Back, has been  set up.A public consultation on the proposals finishes in less than two weeks – and campaigners are urging residents to write to the council to oppose the plans.

Penny Salter, of  Birch Tree Drive, Emsworth, said: 

 ‘This will destroy Emsworth completely if it goes through.  There is not the infrastructure and the roads won’t be able to cope with it. It will just turn Emsworth into a housing estate.’ The main concern for residents is the Emsworth Gap –17 acres of fields that separate Westbourne and the town – where 250 homes could be built. The green space is home to tawny owls, buzzards, and foxes. Residents say it would mean the death of Westbourne as a village in its own right.Emsworth councillor Brendan Gibb-Gray said: ‘To have the rate of housing building we are talking about, with no guarantees for the majority of those people, is a recipe for disaster.’ 

The News 14 April 2008  

More at: Emsworth Fights Back

Posted in Planning, Conservation | Print | No Comments »

24/03/2008 by admin.

No. 34 – conversion to 10 one bed room flats 08/50513/008 Area Team: 2 Case Officer Mrs D Haywood Telephone 023 9244 6513
 

64 Havant Road, Emsworth, PO107LQ
Installation of dormers in roof of existing building, two storey extension to east elevation, single storey extension to south elevation. Enlarged accommodation providing 10No. 1 bedroom flats.
Applicant Mr & Mrs Doran 64 Havant Road Emsworth Hants PO107LQ
Agent Edward Caush Associates 11 Southdown Road Cosham

Comment to HBC

Posted in Planning, Emsworth's Environment | Print | No Comments »

21/03/2008 by admin.

A HAVANT BOROUGH COUNCIL is to plough ahead with controversial proposals to build on greenfield sites despite opposition from residents.

Planning officers at Havant Borough Council have drawn up a list of sites suitable for housing – and these include greenfield sites previously off limits to developers.

The majority of homes will be built in areas where there is already housing but about 2,000 will be put in areas of green gap – open spaces that separate towns.

One of the most controversial areas is the Emsworth gap, which separates Emsworth and Westbourne.

At a meeting of the council’s executive last night, councillors launched a six-week consultation period.

Residents have been told to make their voices heard.

The borough needs to find space for 6,300 new homes in the next 20 years.

St Faith’s Ward councillor David Guest said: ‘I stress that this is open to public consultation and it is consultation that we want.

‘The officers must find potential sites, we have an obligation to do that from central government. They have gone through this with a finetooth comb. I dare say a lot of them will raise a lot of public debate.’

The plan for the Emsworth gap concerns 17 acres, home to tawny owls, buzzards and foxes. It is one of several sites protesters are fighting to keep.

John Briggs, chairman of conservation group Bosmere Hundred, said: ‘We’re very unhappy about building on greenfield sites and we’re very concerned about any infringement on the local gap.’

Like all local authorities, Havant is drawing up a Local Development Framework, which decides where houses can be built.

There will now be a series of exhibitions. People can look at the plans and give their opinions. The consultation will run from March 14 to April 25.

Posted in Planning, Emsworth's Environment | Print | No Comments »

01/03/2008 by admin.

Emsworth residents have shown enthusiasm for early plans for a refurbishment of the South Street Emsworth Centre.
The Havant Borough Council- owned centre could be refurbished and made more accessible to the public.

The wider part of the plan takes in the public toilets in the South Street car park which could be demolished for shops and houses and moved.

Havant Borough Council business development manager Tony Lee presented the idea to the Emsworth Community Board last week.

He said: “There is potential to look at the Emsworth Centre and refurbish it to improve the facilities and make it something that would actually address the needs of people in south Emsworth.

“The Emsworth centre could become somewhere people could pop in for a coffee and used as a meeting place – there is huge capacity for usage of the centre.

“The positioning of the building is superb – it is in an area people visiting and walking through will come and see.”

The council is also looking at the idea of selling off the access on to Nile Street at the north of the car park, but still leaving a pedestrian access through.

If the plan goes ahead there would still be access into the car park by the toilets, but the open space would be reduced with shops or houses.

Mr Lee added: “There is potential to transform the retail area of South Street with a series of shops taking the place of the toilets while still allowing an access and egress into the car park.”

Chairman of Emsworth Business Association Brendan Gibb-Gray has been working with the council on the project.

He said: “It just seems to me one of the most attractive streets in Emsworth has gaps in it.

“I think most people will recognise we do not have a community facility in the centre ofthe town.

“Emsworth is such a stunning place when you walk around the harbour, but we have nowhere we can tell people what is on.

“It is exciting because it is for the future – it is not excluding anyone, it is an inclusive plan.”

The centre at the moment plays a vital role holding many community groups and organisations, and if the facilities were upgraded a lot more use could be made of the building.

As part of a bigger and better centre, it could have other uses, such as an extension of Emsworth museum, an information centre for the heritage trail, or an education centre for Chichester Harbour Conservancy.

There was a strong show of hands in support of the project at the community board meeting, meaning the project will move forward.

For more information, or to give feedback on the idea, contact Mr Gibb-Gray on 01243 377355, or email brendan.gibbgray@btopenworld.com

Chichester Observer newspaper29 January 2008

Posted in Planning | Print | No Comments »

18/01/2008 by admin.

Campaigners fighting a huge new Tesco have admitted defeat after a government minister decided not to step in to the row.

Hazel Blears, secretary of state for Communities and Local Government, has announced she will not call in the decision by Havant Borough Council to give the go-ahead to the new superstore in  Solent Road. Had she done so then she could have overturned the decision. But it is now seen that her decision is the final nail in the coffin for campaigners who have been trying to stop the superstore being built.
Ray Cobbett, Hampshire co-ordinator for Friends of the Earth, wrote to the Government Office for the South East, which represents central government in the region, to ask for Havant Borough Council’s decision to be reconsidered. But the council has now received a letter from GOSE saying no action is to be taken.
Mr Cobbett said: ‘We always knew it was a long shot and obviously these things are very rarely called in.
‘But we thought we ought to go the last mile for the 2,000 or so petitioners and not leave any stone unturned.
‘That’s the end of the process now unfortunately. There are no other steps we can think of . We hope for everybody’s sake that the gamble the council has taken pays off.’
The existing supermarket in Solent Road Havant, is to be bulldozed and a new Tesco Extra store more than double the size built in its place. About 2,000 people signed a petition against the superstore, and many traders in Havant are worried about the impact a larger Tesco will have on their businesses.
Mark Sloan, from GOSE, wrote to Havant Borough Council saying the secretary of state would not interfere with decisions made by a local planning authority unless there were issues of ‘more than local importance’. He said: ‘She is satisfied that the issues raised do not relate to matters of more than local importance, which would be more appropriately decided by her rather than the local planning authority. ‘She has therefore concluded that the application should be decided by Havant Borough Council.’ 

The News 18 January  2008 

Posted in Planning | Print | No Comments »