News

Pyestock inquiry: Public to have say

By Stephen Lloyd
September 05, 2008

Worried residents will get a special say over plans for a massive warehouse between Fleet and Farnborough.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend an evening meeting debating plans for a mega-depot on the Pyestock site during a forthcoming public inquiry.

Hart District Council’s planning committee threw out the controversial scheme at a packed meeting at Aldershot’s Princes Hall in March.

But joint developers Prupim and Astral have appealed and the issue will be thrashed out before government-appointed planning inspector Christina Downes during a public inquiry starting in November.

It was Ms Downes who suggested the special evening session for residents during a pre-inquiry meeting held at Hart District Council’s Fleet headquarters on Tuesday.

She said: “If there are local people that can’t attend the inquiry during the day an evening session is something that can be quite helpful.”

The inquiry will be held in the council chamber of the civic offices, starting at 10am on November 25.

Ms Downes asked: “If a large number of people do come on the first day are we going to be able to fit everyone in?”

Bob Schofield, leader of the campaign group SPLAT (Stop Pyestock bLot Act Today), said: “The answer I think would be no.”

The inspector asked if the council could set up an audio link to another room in case a large number of people came. She added: “It’s a public inquiry and everyone must be able to come. If they can’t then we won’t be able to proceed.”

The meeting estimated that the council chamber could seat up to about 100 members of the public.

It was told that about 60 people attended the first day of the inquiry into plans to build 1,000 homes at the former Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Church Crookham last year.

However, hundreds of people packed into Aldershot’s Princes Hall for an evening session to discuss the mini town plan, along with a scheme to restrict the popular Bourley Road car park to just a handful of parking spaces.

Ms Downes said another room linked by audio would be helpful or the inquiry could be held elsewhere.

Neil King, QC, representing Hart, said the council would look into the matter.

Mr Schofield asked if members of the public could turn up for the evening session even if they had not attended the first day of the inquiry.

He added: “We have no control over the public — we only represent them. If we can publicise the fact that people will be able to speak at a public meeting then that could help control the numbers.”

Ms Downes said she would hold one public session during the day and one in the evening.

She also questioned if the council would need to appoint a programme officer to deal with the sessions.

For more on this story see this week’s Fleet News out on Friday, September 5.

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