CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans to stop 1,000 homes being built at Church Crookham have clashed with Natural England over green issues.

The QEB Campaign Group challenged a representative from the Countryside and Land Management Agency during the resumed public inquiry into plans to build a minitown on the former Queen Elizabeth Barracks site.

David Harrison, a senior specialist with Natural England, confirmed it believed the proposed development was unlikely to have a significant effect on the nearby Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA), land protected because it is the habitat for a number of threatened bird species.

He said Natural England believed the SPA would be adequately protected by a package of measures proposed by developer Taylor Wimpey.

These include cutting the Bourley Road car park to five spaces and providing a new Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).

Mr Harrison told the inquiry Natural England believed that people living on the proposed minitown development would use the SANG rather than the SPA land.

He said that Natural England believed there was enough information to conclude there would be no increased disturbance to species on the SPA as a result of the proposed development.

But Colin Gray, secretary of the Fleet and Crookham Civic Society, asked how allocating a new 40-space car park on land designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) within 15 minutes walk of the SPA would not have an adverse effect on it.

Mr Harrison said the new proposed car parking area was “less sensitive” to the SPA and with proper management it was more likely that people would choose to take their walks there rather than on the SPA land. He told Mr Gray: “I understand you may disagree with that conclusion but that’s our view.”

Mr Gray replied: “My experience is that people tend to walk for more than 15 minutes — they walk for an hour at least. This seems to me to be sacrificing one area of the SPA for another.”

Cllr James Radley, Hart District Council’s cabinet member for planning, who is attending the inquiry on behalf of the QEB Campaign group, also quizzed Mr Harrison.

He asked him if he was comfortable that a sufficient amount of wardens could be provided to patrol the SPA in perpetuity. Mr Harrison replied: “Not necessarily.”

Cllr Radley asked Mr Harrison how the proposals tackled the problem of young people setting fire to parts of the SPA.

Mr Harrison said the problem could not be avoided but the site was further away and arson attacks were less likely.

But Cllr Radley said the re-development of the QEB site would increase the risk of fires.
He said a reduction in spaces at the Bourley Road car park would not stop young people cycling or walking to the site.

“In fact, with less adults using the site, it may even encourage them to go to the SPA,” he said.

Mr Radley asked Mr Harrison: “Are you saying that access to the Bourley Road car park should be restricted regardless of whether the QEB development goes ahead or not?”

Mr Harrison replied: “I’ve never considered that question. It’s part of a package of measures put forward for this development.”

The inquiry continues.