Village green bid to stop Fareham-Gosport bus route
A bid to block a £20m bus route by getting key areas of land designated as village greens could go before a public inquiry.
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme along the old railway tracks through Gosport and Fareham has already had work partially halted pending the outcome of a court hearing.
Now residents are looking to completely derail the scheme.
Applications have been made to turn two parcels of land - one between Woodside and Fareham Road, and the other off Tichborne Way - into village greens.
Residents must prove that the land has been used by the public for at least 20 years.
If given the go-ahead village green status means the land can only be used for recreation purposes - preventing it from being used as part of the proposed new bus route.
Hampshire County Council's planning committee will consider the plans on Thursday.
But the council officers have recommended holding a public inquiry.
Gerard Lidgey, spokesman for the Bus Rapid Transport Action Group, is hoping to make presentations to the committee on both applications.
He said: 'The majority of people who live adjacent to the railway line are against the BRT.
'I would like them to play it fair and give us an inquiry, otherwise we're prepared to go to the High Court.'
Hampshire County Council needs to have the work on the controversial project finished by March next year or lose the 20m government grant.
Numerous residents have written to the county council explaining how they have used the areas for dog-walking and playing games on for decades.
But in the report Hampshire County Council officers said evidence of recreational activities on the two sites was 'trivial and sporadic.'
Residents living along the track say the BRT will disrupt their homes and wildlife.
Campaigner Vivian Morge has taken the council to court. An appeal is set to take place next month.
Councillor Ken Thornber, the leader of Hampshire County Council, was unavailable for comment.
But he has previously said he would not comment on the implications for the scheme from these applications ahead of any decision.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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