Homebuilding is top concern at Fareham debate
Hosuing, infrastructure and hunting were among the main issues at a fast-moving, good-natured political debate.
The News' hustings came to Fareham College yesterday evening, where five of the Fareham constituency's candidates, Alex Bentley (Lib Dem), James Carr (Lab), Peter Doggett (Green), Mark Hoban (Con) and Steve Richards (UKIP), faced questions from voters.
Libby Mitchum asked the five their views on the provision of infrastructure such as roads, schools and GPs surgeries at new housing developments including north Fareham.
Mr Bentley said: 'There are plans for up to 10,000 houses here and at the moment the roads aren't working to acceptable capacity. The homes will put pressure on the whole area and we need extra roads to carry all the extra traffic new homes would bring.'
Mr Carr said: 'We need schools as well. There was supposed to be a school built at the development at Whiteley, but I've not seen it. There must be open spaces built in, too. Without them the environment's degraded. But we do need more housing, as people have to have affordable homes.'
Mr Dogget added: 'Cherque Farm was built with no regard to provision of schools, medical facilities, or even shops.
'These are supposed to be places where people live. I'm upset at the development at north Fareham because that's greenbelt and should be protected, but if we must have it it must be properly provided for.'
Mr Hoban said: 'Councils must be required to draw up plans which include where roads should be and how many schools and other facilities are needed, for the good of the people who move there, and those who live nearby.'
Mr Richards added: 'We need better laws on infrastructure but also need to look at why the housing is needed. Why are we running out of room in the south east?'
During the closing quickfire 'yes and no' section of the debate, candidates were asked whether they supported hunting.
Mr Hoban said he'd never hunted, but supported it, Mr Richards said 'yes' due to belief in freedom of choice. Mr Bentley, Mr Carr and Mr Doggett all answered 'no'.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 15 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
