This is the place to comment on the Meeting that took place on 10 April.

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I look forward to hearing from you.

Richard (administrator)

One of the issues raised at last nights meeting was whether more houses might be built on the MDA at Waterlooville.

I have taken this up with officers and the answer is good news for Winchester, [our MDA partner] who do hope to allocate some of their extra LDF quota there and bad news for HBC. We apparently have already used all our available land on the site leaving little or no extra room for any expansions. All the potential expansion land is in the Winchester City Council area.

I think this is grossly unfair, as its HBC which has to accommodate the extra shops, services and road infrastructure to support the MDA and yet will receive no extra benefit in housing numbers.

I also hope that the MDA will not be like Leigh Park, something built by Portsmouth CC with an unfair burden being placed on Havant and its severely stretched services. The MDA will be out of sight, out of mind as far as Winchester is concerned.

The debate goes on!

Brendan Gibb-Gray

Comments from Steve Pearce

I think everyone who attended this meeting, including myself, learned a great deal. I would like to thank all those who attended (160 - 170?) and all those who contributed ideas and comments.

I would like to re-emphasise how important it is that all residents submit their comments on the Local Design Framework documents. The Core Strategy (preferred options) sets out 17 linked policies that will guide all aspects of the borough’s activities until 2026. The Allocation Plan (issues and options) identifies potential sites for housing, economic development, environmental improvement, recreation and other needs during that period. The documents, and others identified on the HBC website, will determine the future development of Emsworth and the other parts of Havant Borough for the next twenty years.

Some residents felt that they had already commented on some of the sites allocated for future development. The message from the meeting was that they, and all of us, should comment again in this and all future consultations. And we should comment on all aspects of the proposals and strategies, not just those which affect our immediate neighbourhood. If we do not give our views then others will decide things for us.