Horndean Matters gives me a good platform to be clearly visible with views and opinions, but the rest of the District and Parish Councillors are also working hard to support and fight local issues. The White Dirt Farm application by Taylor Wimpey where they have persisted in linking the development with the wrong Parish Council is one issue that has clearly, and understandably irritated Horndean Parish Council who will become the authority who are responsible for the electorate, provision of service, and partly accountable for any Section 106 funds ( Developers Contributions) if any permission is granted.
At the exhibition Taylow Wimpey assured me they would hold a proper consultation in Horndean, but as of yet they have not followed up with proposals to achieve this.
In the meantime the text from The News website following Horndean Parish Council’s letter to the paper is below as is a link to Horndean Parish Council’s letter:
A FURIOUS parish council has criticised a developer for holding a public consultation about a proposed development in Horndean – in Clanfield. Controversial proposals are in place to build 220 homes on ancient chalk downland at White Dirt Farm. But despite the development being in Horndean parish, developer Taylor Wimpey held a public exhibition at Clanfield Memorial Hall. A strongly-worded letter has been sent from Horndean Parish Council to the company.
It said: ‘The parish council wonders why Taylor Wimpey commissioned a company (Turley Associates) to invite residents to a presentation and consultation in a village hall in Clanfield, an adjoining parish, for a development that they are planning in Horndean? ‘There are five large community halls in the parish of Horndean but none were approached to host this exhibition. ‘There are only two in Clanfield, but the consultants chose the Clanfield Memorial Hall’. ‘The reason put forward by Turley Associates was that this hall was the closest to the field in question but this is incorrect.’
More than 600 people attended the exhibition last month.
As of yesterday, Taylor Wimpey’s website still referred to White Dirt Farm being in Clanfield.
East Hampshire District Council’s list of potential housing sites refers to it being in Horndean.
The letter states that the farm is a local gap and prevents the merging of Horndean, Catherington and Clanfield. It adds that there are other housing sites that are earmarked for development – such as Hazleton Farm and Pyle Farm on the other side of the A3 – that would be considered by residents as more appropriate for development. The letter adds: ‘The vast majority of people in the surrounding communities do not want the field at White Dirt Farm to be built over. ‘There are other better and more suitable sites which can be considered to meet Horndean’s new housing contribution for the years up to 2028.’
A spokesman for Taylor Wimpey said: ‘Our public consultation event at Clanfield Memorial Hall, which is approximately 1.5 miles from the development site, was extremely well-attended, with more than 600 people coming along to find out more about our proposals. ‘The consultation as widely publicised in advance in the local press and with a letter drop to the 1,350 residents living closest to the proposed development site, and we are currently processing the feedback.’
Click on this link to read the Horndean Parish Council letter to Taylor Wimpey: Letter to Taylor Wimpey Apr 14
horndeanmatters 
Having received a letter from Taylor Wimpey today (18/07/14) with a revised plan for the area,it still seems that they regard this as a done deal. All be it with a few alterations. This in no way reflects the views of the majority of people who went to the presentation. It seems that “consultation” means we listen but do what we want anyway. There is no respect for the concerns of the local population,just how much money can be made,because it has no direct impact in those associated to Taylor Wimpey.
Hi Bill, the Land East Of Horndean plans have the potential for full support as long as we get the right community facilities. Even an application which has this potential for support could not be considered a ‘done deal’. I fully agree that Taylor Wimpey are very bullish about their proposals, but of all the applications we have this will be the toughest fight. I also agree that the quality of their consultation has been very very poor. Keep watching here for updates and how we fight the plans. Guy.