Yesterday, Friday 30 April, I emailed all seven Prospective Parliamentary Candidates standing in Eastleigh constituency and asked them their views on three issues it seems could have the most major effect on the lives of people in Hedge End:  the Strategic Development Area proposal to build 6,000 houses just north of the town: drilling for oil in Hedge End; and currently most topical overflow Rose Bowl cricket test match car-parking in Greta Park and/or Turnpike Way.

Conservative PPC Maria Hutchings is the first to reply and her views are below:

“Living in West End with my family for over two years has enabled me to understand critical issues that concern Hedge End residents. I have worked tirelessly with local residents' groups and pressure groups to fight many issues. Undoubtedly one of the greatest concerns of local residents is overdevelopment, particularly the erosion of green field areas and allotments. The Lib Dem-controlled Eastleigh Borough Council has ridden roughshod against the wishes of many local residents to preserve our environment from overdevelopment. I have, and will, continue to fight for the voice of local residents to be heard.

 “Strategic Development Area (Nth/Nth East Hedge End)

 “The Labour Government dictated that thousands of homes had to be built in South Hampshire. Lib Dem-controlled Eastleigh Borough Council (the local planning authority), in July 2005, put forward Nth/Nth East Hedge End as an area to take 6,000 of the homes within the Government's South East Plan. So last summer the Labour Government rubber-stamped the proposed SDA into the South East Plan. 

 “BPAG (Botley Parish Action Group), my team and I have campaigned vigorously AGAINST this ill thought-out proposal.

“Contrary to what people may have read in Lib Dem literature, Hampshire County is NOT selling any farmland in this area and furthermore the leader of Hampshire County Council has categorically stated the Council is wholly AGAINST the SDA in Nth/Nth East Hedge End.

“The good news is that if the Conservative Party win the General Election it will scrap the South East Plan, which includes the SDA.   

 “Oil Drilling in Hedge End

“This issue has raised it's head a number of times. Just before the last General Election the Conservative candidate led a successful campaign against this progressing. I will continue to listen and act in the interests of local residents to ensure that their environment is not blighted by commercial ventures that could threaten their communities.

“The Rose Bowl, Greta Park and Turnpike Way

 “Hedge End Town Council has put forward a proposal to use Greta Park and Turnpike Way as a car park for events staged at the Rose Bowl. West End council has refused permission for parking in its area and so now the Lib Dems have focussed on Greta Park and Turnpike Way.

 “Greta Park is a leisure area that many residents use frequently for their families and pets. There is no doubt that local residents want to preserve Great Park as a leisure area NOT a car park and are seriously concerned about the subsequent litter, anti-social behaviour and noisy disruption that might arise. Local residents are obviously also rightly concerned about the effect parking on Turnpike Way might have.

 “Having met with local residents, I am committed to stopping this ill thought-out proposal.

 “Lib Dems have:

· Built on Dowds Farm, even though they promised not to build on this green field area

· Proposed Nth/Nth East Hedge End as an area for the development of a 6,000 home new town

· Concreted over allotments

 “We must campaign now to make sure that Greta Park and Turnpike Way do not become the next casualties and become car parking areas for The Rose Bowl.

 “Along with local residents I am campaigning to save Greta Park and Turnpike Way from being used as car parks. I am running a petition and will press the town council to listen to local residents and withdraw this proposal.

“Maria Hutchings

Conservative Prospective MP for Eastleigh”

For Hedgeendpeople stories on the three issues see:Park and/or Turnpike Way." target="_blank">‘Strategic Development Plan - PUSHing up (6000) houses’, ‘Hedge End’s Proposed 6000 House Development – Botley’s Study Highlights ‘Major Flaws’’, ‘Campaigners Against Strategic Development Plan Petition 10 Downing Street’;‘Is Dallas Coming to Hedge End?’; and ‘Test match parking proposal in Greta Park and Turnpike Way playing fields’, ‘Town Council Meeting Discussion about Rose Bowl Car-Parking at Hedge End Parks’, ‘Save Greta Park’, and ‘Chris Huhne on Greta Park’.

If you’ve any comments on Maria Hutchings’ responses then post your comments now!

And you can post your own views on these three issues against any of the existing stories – or write your own!

Photo from Flickr by foje64.