EHDC Draft Local Plan

We welcome the proposals for the development of the rural economy (page 193ff). Farming, forestry and horse-related activities are the traditional rural employers, and those involved in them are key to management of the countryside. We can see nothing in the draft that would cause concern. It all seems measured and sensible.

We welcome the proposed Policy S17 (page 214), which reinforces the Local Planning Authority’s priority, which is to protect the countryside for its intrinsic value, while allowing some flexibility for appropriate developments to be considered in the countryside in certain circumstances.

We welcome the proposed Policy S18 (page 216), which provides that “Development proposals must conserve and wherever possible enhance the special characteristics, value and visual amenity of the Area’s landscapes”. Our proposed Vision in our emerging Neighbourhood Plan notes that the parish is “surrounded by beautiful countryside of farms and woodlands, with fine tree and hedgerows. There are good views and a number of protected local green spaces”. Bentworth parishioners attach importance to the maintenance of the current views. Wealsosupportproposed Policy DM26 (page 222) on the protection of trees, hedgerows and woodland.

We welcome proposed Policy S27 (page 249), stating that “New development will be permitted where it would help to establish a strong sense of place, by reinforcing or enhancing local character, and would function well in its surroundings…” This mirrors language in our emerging Objectives and Policies stressing the importance of new buildings being of high architectural quality, including design, materials, fenestration and palette, reflecting the local vernacular.

We welcome the recognition in proposed Policy S29.2 (Page 279) that “development proposals must consider all of the infrastructure implications of a scheme: not just those of the site or its immediate vicinity”. We have some concern that proposed developments in Alton and Four Marks/Medstead might have some negative implications for Bentworth.

In particular we have the following concerns:

• We are worried that additional growth of population in these neighbouring towns might further increase the traffic through Bentworth. Our traffic surveys already indicate a 33% increase over the last couple of years, particularly in the number of heavier vehicles using our roads, causing enhanced traffic noise, pollution and potholes. This trend has been accentuated since the start of 2019, with the closure of the Butts Bridge in Alton. We believe that particular care must be taken in the development of new road infrastructure and signage to ensure that vehicles use major rather than minor roads and avoid “rat-runs” through rural villages like Bentworth.
• We are concerned that the additional development will create increased pressure on localhealthcare providers, particularly GP services. This could have a negative effect on access to healthcare for our parishioners. Bentworth has an ageing population and thus an increasingly heavy reliance on already hard-pressed GP surgeries.

Interim Infrastructure Plan

We note with some concern that the draft does not envisage any increase in Primary Care provision in either Alton of Four Marks/Medstead, but only in Whitehill & Bordon (page 33 of the plan).

As regards education, we note the statement (page 22ff) that education provision is the remit of Hampshire County Council (HCC) and the estimated pupil numbers at each phase of education determines the school provision in the area. Plans to add to existing schools are proposed. But our understanding is that HCC cannot build a new school. New schools must be built as an Academy or Free School – see the new Mill Chase Academy being built for Bordon.