Village Dilemma

It may be a pleasant country scene, yet this meadow is set to stir the proverbial hornet’s nest in the quiet village of West Wellow, bordering the New Forest, and midway between Southampton and Salisbury.
The controversy centres on proposals to build 26 houses on the land and though proposals have only just been put formally to the planning authority, already villagers are voicing their objections to the plan.
One of the prime issues argued is that the land is designated as a greenfield site and not earmarked on the local development plan for residential use. But there are questions also being posed over the ability of the present lane to cope with additional traffic which the proposals would generate and access to the meadow or new development from the lane.
In addition, talk of further development in the village on three additional sites is raising concern among villagers.

One summed up the issues: “It appears we are in danger of losing our village to creeping urbanisation.”