Last Friday, 30 April, as Community Publisher for Hedgeendpeople I emailed all seven Prospective Parliamentary Candidates standing in Eastleigh constituency and asked them their views on three issues it seems could have a 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 overflow Rose Bowl cricket test match car-parking in Greta Park and/or Turnpike Way.

Conservative PPC Maria Hutchings and UKIP’s Ray Finch have already replied – see ‘Conservative PPC Maria Hutchings on Greta Park Parking and Other Hedge End Issues’ and ‘UKIP PPC Ray Finch On the Strategic Plan, Hedge End Oil, and Greta Park Car-parking’ – and below Liberal Democrat candidate and former MP Chris Huhne sets out his views on these issues.

“The essential Liberal Democrat attitude towards housing development is that it should be undertaken on previously developed brownfield sites wherever possible, and not on greenfield sites. This is why we opposed the Conservative county council plan for a new town on Allington Lane, which would have destroyed the gap between our villages and towns of Eastleigh, Bishopstoke, Fair Oak, Horton Heath, West End and Hedge End. It would have turned Eastleigh into just another part of Solent City, which no local residents want. That is also why we oppose the development of a new town of 6,000 homes north and north east of Hedge End. Instead, the borough council has pushed the development of the old Pirelli and Causton factory sites in Eastleigh, and has taken some tough decisions to meet the targets imposed from central government. But we have preserved our greenfields. By contrast, the record of the last Conservative government shows that theypushed through more greenfield building than at any time before or since, which is why so many of the leading mass housebuilders or their owners make large financial contributions to the Conservative party (Persimmon, Sir Lawrie Barratt of Barratt Homes, and Tony Pidgley of Berkeley Homes). The housebuilders love greenfield sites because they do not have to do costly preparations as they have to do with brownfield sites. The Liberal Democrats do not represent any vested interest, but merely the interests of the local people who vote for us.

“Strategic Development Area north and north east of Hedge End

“I have campaigned against this proposal from the first, presenting the Botley Parish Action Group petition against the SE plan to ministers, organising the Stop the Sprawl petition, calling a specific debate on the issue in which the minister admitted that consultation on the proposal (which was the responsibility of the Conservative-controlled county council) had been inadequate, and speaking in other debates on the South East plan in which I made clear its flaws and our opposition. The Liberal Democrats are committed to scrapping the plan if we are elected, and starting again. Contrary to Conservative misinformation, Eastleigh Borough Council has consistently opposed this proposed 6,000 home new town as the minutes of its council meetings on its website show. The Conservative-controlled Hampshire county council was not only responsible for the shoddy consultation, but also owns much of the land on which the new town would be built. All it has to do to stop this proposal is to announce that it will not sell its land, but instead we have had mealy-mouthed statements merely that it “has no plans” to sell, which is not the same. I will keep campaigning to stop the new town. The Conservatives simply cannot be trusted on overdevelopment, as can be seen from Hampshire County Council’s proposal for a gravel pit on the site of the Hamble airfield. The airfield would thus become a brownfield site, making it easier for owners Persimmon Homes to build houses there. The local Eastleigh Conservatives have sadly failed to persuade their Conservative colleagues who control the county either to refuse to sell new town land near Boorley Green, or to drop the Hamble gravel pit proposal. On these issues, the local Conservatives are all talk and no action.

“Oil drilling in Hedge End

“Because oil drilling is about mineral rights – like gravel pits – this is a matter for the Conservative-controlled Hampshire County Council, not the Liberal Democrat- controlled Eastleigh Borough Council.  When Northern Petroleum last proposed to drill for oil in Hedge End, I campaigned against the plan and the county agreed to block it. Apparently there are new proposals, and we must be vigilant to ensure that they are resisted especially since the company is politically well connected. One of the largest shareholders in the company is a major donor to the Conservative party. Hedge End is a quiet residential community, and it would be wholly inappropriate to allow industrial development to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the area.

“The Rose Bowl, Greta Park and Turnpike Way

“I understand that the proposal from the Rosebowl to Hedge End Town Council, which has been published for public consultation, is to allow temporary use for a few international test match days a year of Greta Park in Hedge Endas a ticketed car park. Clearly, this is a matter for the town council, but I personally would like reassurance that such a decision will not set a precedent that might eventually deprive local people of the use of these leisure facilities for longer periods. At present, Greta Park is an attractive area with facilities for different age groups, and it should remain a “green lung” in the centre of Hedge End for the use of all local residents.”

If you’ve comments to make on any of the above points, post them now – or you can comment on any of the individual Hedgeendpeople stories on these issues: ‘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’.

Or you can write your own story about your views on these or on any subjects that are important to you in Hedge End and will affect the way you vote on Thursday 6 May.

Photo from Flickr by Misterzee.