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We'll fight to preserve our green spaces
NEIGHBOURS of a proposed new town which could see thousands of new homes built say they will fight to keep their green spaces.
Winchester City councillors for Wickham and Knowle, which will be at the northern border of the new town, are campaigning to preserve the rural areas around the picturesque villages.
They fear the 7,000 to 8,000 homes, known at the moment only as the North of Fareham strategic development area (SDA), will create an 'urban sprawl', destroying the region's character and environment and removing the current gap between them and Fareham town.
Fareham Borough Council has to take the SDA as part of the 80,000 homes allocated to south Hampshire under the South East Plan.
The SDA had originally been earmarked for 10,000 homes and Fareham is waiting to hear if its bid to lower the number of homes it contains has been successful.
Wickham ward councillor Angela Clear said: 'It is important that we keep the green fields, especially around the Knowle section.
'We have always fought for Wickham and Knowle to remain countryside. We are only little villages but we will fight to make sure we do not become part of this big sprawl.
'The impact on traffic through Wickham will be unbelievable. I never say never, but I do realise we have a big fight on our hands to stop it and I don't think it will be easy to win.
Last week the SDA was given eco-town status by the government which, Fareham council hopes will bring extra cash to create better infrastructure.
Liz Leffman, the Lib Dem candidate for the new Meon Valley seat in the forthcoming general election, added: 'Although this is intended to be a zero-carbon community, 7,000 houses will mean at least 7,000 more cars on the roads in the area,'
'This proposed development will have a serious impact on the local infrastructure and road network, and will inevitably mean more traffic on the already congested A334 running through Wickham.'
And councillor Therese Evans, also representing Wickham, said: 'It is vital that the green fields bordering on Knowle and Wickham remain as countryside.
'We local councillors are fighting hard to ensure that Wickham and Knowle do not become part of an urban sprawl.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Wednesday 15 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
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